If they want crabcakes, they can choose between G&M or Gunnings. Both pretty easy to reach from the airport.

There's a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place on Aviation Blvd. very close to the airport that I remember as being pretty good. Think it's called Los Portales. Blue Agave it ain't, but it would seem to fit the bill here.

Mexican food before a long flight to Afghanistan? You must've suggested that because you won't be sitting next to him!

Olive Grove has very affordable prices and decent Italian food and Crab Cakes.

Seaside Restaurant at 224 Crain Hwy. N in Glen Burnie. It is only a 10 minute drive from the airport and they have the best seafood and crabs in the state. They also have a children's menu and their prices are reasonable.

Hanover and Arundel Mills are down the road from the airport and there are tons of cheap places to eat, chain or otherwise, more than willing to take a party of 11.

I have two brothers who served in Iraq, so I wouldn't put a price on any meal I would have with them before sending them off.

Mama Lucia's is in the same strip shopping center as Little Spice. They have reasonably priced, pretty good italian.

My neighbor swears by Timbucktu. I know they have large servings and can seat large parties.

Little Spice is what instantly came to mind. It's quite reasonable, good food and close by. They have a room off to the back/side that certainly would hold 11, given a little notice.

Snyders, Hammonds Ferry Road, (right down from G&M's.. if you like G&M's... sorry those just are not Maryland crab cakes), quite good selection, variety of prices, very good crab cakes, recommend a reservation to handle a big party and tell them the reason... very accomodating.

Los Portales, Aviation Blvd, very nice Mexican, very affordable.

Matsu, Japanese, Camp Meade Road, just a couple minutes from the airport, good variety of food.

Greenhouse Grille, Ritchie Highway, about 15 minutes from airport, family oriented, good food/American.

Zevonista: Presuming you are referring to the Gunnings on Camp Meade Road... it closed a few years back. There is a new place in there now, Springhouse Cafe I believe. I've not been in there yet.

Actually I used to live right by the airport... The Rose Restaurant is a nice choice. Howard's is a little local place that has tons of regulars. G & M is kinda redneck, but at lunchtime there is always a big business crowd--might be too crowded. Olive Grove has great food and not expensive. If you like chains, there is always Ruby Tuesday by the movie theater.

Olive Grove (not to be confused with the chain Olive Garden) is definitely the place the place for your group. It has a varied menu, very good real food, can easily accommodate a group of your size and is close to the airport.

After all the years I worked at the airport, I never knew it existed. It took a business trip back to Baltimore after we moved to Kentucky for me to discover it.

We often go there when we return to Maryland to see the kids who now live in Harford, Howard and Northern VA. Its central location and relaxed atmosphere make it a great meeting place.

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions! Now I feel like I can make an educated choice. I truly appreciate everyone's help!!!!!

Olive Grove and the Rose would both be good options and are less than 10 minutes from the airport. Linthicum has a fair amount of 'old school' restaurants like these- very friendly 'hon' type waiters, basic meat and potatoes food that is prepared well in good portion sizes, and a throwback kind of atmosphere. i think both of those places would be more than able to accomodate the large party and would be a nice fit for such an important meal.

I've been debating whether or not to say this... but the Olive Grove, G&M's, and the Rose are "not good". I can't bring myself to say what I want to in a public forum. But if these guys are about to ship overseas for dangerous duty, take them somewhere nice.

It's beyond me why people continually suggest G&M's. The crab cakes are huge but flavorless. The service is poor at best.

I already suggested Snyders. They do have a kids' menu, which would help the little ones.

If money is very tight there is a Ruby's Tuesday's on Nursery Road (about 10 minutes away from BWI). I believe there is also a Bob Evans there.

I don't want to be attacked, so Elizabeth if this is too inflammatory, don't use it. But the 3 restaurants I mention as being "bad", are just that. I can never understand why they have lines out the door.

People are not to be attacked on this blog.

Gotta agree with Misha regarding Olive Grove - I don't think it's that good. While the service is indeed pleasant, the food is disappointing. I was dragged there in December for a family gathering that also needed to be near the airport, and had a very forgettable pasta dish drowned in watery red sauce. The bread was dry, and the house salad was edible, nothing more. My husband and father reported that their seafood appetizers were tasty, but that didn't make up for the rest of the meal, in our collective opinion.

I have to agree with JLA - my company has a facility in the industrial park off of Aviation Blvd and we go to Los Portales whenever we have to visit there. It's kind of a hole in the wall on the basis of the location but it's still always packed at lunchtime; as for affordability, the lunch specials are a great value.

I second Mama Lucia's. Perfect for families and I love their pizza! They also offer so many Italian dishes that are very resaonably priced and tasty. About 5 min. from the Airport on Dorsey and Ashton Rd.

Misha, I've got your back. You are absolutely right. The only change I'd make to what you said is that I don't think G&M is bad. I think it's horrible.

I have not tried Snyder's.

Misha, not sure what you heard but Gunnings is in Hanover off of the old Dorsey Road. It is still live and kicking. Great seafood and Cream of Crab soup

Misha - I'm on your side, I don't understand the lines either.

Zevonista: Presuming you are referring to the Gunnings on Camp Meade Road... it closed a few years back.

Nope, I'm referring to the place on Parkway Drive, off Coco Cola Drive, in a strip mall past Timbuktu. It's still there...or it was when I was there a couple of weeks ago!

I dislike saying bad things about restaurants in a public setting like this. Someone out there is going to absolutely love a place that I absolutely hate.

My reason is that in the past month I've had to say good bye to two friends who have both been deployed to Iraq. I'd open up my home for a goodbye dinner before taking them someplace questionable.

There isn't alot close to the airport, which makes all of the suggestions very dicey. Someone's close is another far away. My Mom kept saying "suggest The Sunset". The Sunset is further away in Glen Burnie proper but it is a good choice. Similar to Snyders in the traditional Maryland crabcake, seafood, and various other dishes. They do have a full lunch menu (basically their entire menu just a smaller portion) and a very good price.

I just hope these families have a nice day out for an event that can be painful for the spouses and kids and that they come home safe.

I wanted to bring them back to my house for a last home-cooked meal, but my nephew doesn't want to go far from the airport (and I am only 10-15 minutes away).
His buddies families won't be there, since they are all from Louisiana.
Luckily I got some good suggestions; now we will just have to see how the winning choice fairs.
Thanks again!

Susan, please let us know which place you chose and how it went. Also, please let the guys know that we pray for their safe return.

Update:
We went to Olive Grove. I called G&M and explained the situation (large group; 4 guys deployed to Afghanistan; unsure about exact time due to their need to check their huge amount of equipment first) and G&M was absolutely unaccommodating. I even spoke to the manager and he was just as bad.
I then called Olive Grove and explained the same situation. They were absolutely wonderful and told us they would hold the table until we got there, and not to worry.
The service was great, the food was pretty good, and most importantly, the four guys got to relax, eat a meal and drink some beers before they left for the war.
Thanks again to everybody for your help!!

Another black mark for G&M.