Heston Blumenthal may now be doing his version of airport catering over at Terminal 2 with the Perfectionists’ Café, but it’s Gordon Ramsay who was the first celebrity chef to dip his toe into Heathrow, back when Terminal 5 opened in 2008.
Happily, in the intervening years, Plane Food hasn’t simply relied on past accolades, but has kept pace with culinary trends. The pulled pork sandwich (£12) is here rendered like a smart burger, and was perfect in every detail, with a firm bun and flavoursome meat and pickles. Chips (an extra £3.50) were also beyond reproach: hand cut, crisp, and perfectly seasoned. If you’re tempted by brunch before boarding, they’ve got that covered, too; and if your flight has been delayed, you can always settle in for something more substantial, such as a dry-aged steak.
The menu is more interesting than you’d expect from its airport location, with salt-and-Sichuan-pepper baby squid offered alongside quinoa salad and several decent vegetarian options. Service is fairly speedy - but if you’re worried about making that plane on time, Plane Food sells ‘picnic’ takeaways in dinky insulated bags for £12.95 that are a cut above most airline food.