A search indicated a food court landside in the main terminal and past security I believe in the US Air terminal. We are flying US 3033 Flight operated by Chautauqua Airlines doing business as US Airways Express leaving LGA at 8:29 pm from gate 6. We likely will try to eat in the US Air Terminal.

Listed there are Cibo Bar, Cibo Express, Joey's Pizza, McDonalds, Papaya King, Sky Asian Bistro and Slip Mahoneys. Except for McDonalds I am unfamiliar with them. Any suggestions? What is the difference between Cibo Bar and Express?

We plan on leaving mid-town around 5:30 pm and getting to the airport by 6:15 pm or so on a Friday. How long a security line should we expect at that time? Hopefully we will have an hour to eat.

Now if we can escape the city by 4 or so, is there a hotel connected to the airport with decent food or a recommended nearby restaurant? That is a long shot for now but who knows.

We could eat in the city and head to the airport at 6 pm but if caught in traffic or a long security line that might be a bit tight so we will either eat at or near the airport.

There is no hotel directly connected to the airport. There are a few hotels nearby which involve taking an airport shuttle but none really have any outstanding places to eat to make it worth it. Your best bet, time permitting, would be to grab something to eat in the city. The restaurants at the US Airways terminal sell typical airport quality food that is overpriced. It's OK if time is tight and you need to eat. JetBlue has Cibo Express, Papaya King and Sky Asian Bistro at their JFK terminal and has a brief description on their website of these restaurants - http://www.jetblue.com/about/jfk/food.html. Joey's pizza has not so typical NY pizza and other "fast food" Italian food.

As far as the security lines go, there is an elite line which should help speed things up. Usually, the security lanes at the US Airways shuttle gates at the far end of the terminal have a shorter wait. You can get to all gates using this entrance.

Giving yourself 45 minutes from midtown to LGA at 530PM on a Friday might be a stretch, and if it is raining, forget about it. Would do an hour for good weather, maybe a tad more. and closer to 90 minutes for bad weather. Particularly if your flight is the last out for the day.

Check this site:

http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html

As noted by RxCapt, the line at the Shuttle entrance is often shorter (although not according to the TSA stats in this particular case) and all gates are connected airside. Go to whichever security line looks shorter when you get there.

Also, there is a nice foodcourt landside at the Central / Main Terminal, however you would then need to take a shuttle bus to the US terminal and clear security there. Probably easier to settle for the airside food at the US terminal.

About a 5-10 minute taxi ride from LGA is Kabab Cafe, a wonderful, unique little Egyptian place in Astoria. While getting a cab to the airport might be a challenge (they don't typically cruise that area looking for fares), it's also just a couple blocks from the M60 bus, which should take less than 20 minutes (with wait time) to get you to the airport. Just make sure to bring a Metrocard or lots of quarters ($2/person), because the bus doesn't take bills. Or get the phone number for a decent Astoria cab service before you go and have them come get you.

Any decent (somewhat healthy) food options in the AA terminal at LGA?

Pizza and Dunkin Donuts just outside security, it doesnt get much healthier than that

Behind security? Don't hold your breath. There's a pretzel stand and maybe one other small thing. Outside of security is a quite different story -- right outside AA there is (IRC) a Burger King, Au Bou Pain, etc., and then just about a four minute walk towards United will lead you to the food court.

Edit: Check out for yourself: http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTrave...g_retails.html

outside of the D concourse there is Famiglia Pizza, Wendy's, Au Bon Pain, Dunkin Doughnuts. Behind the ticket counters (on your way towards the C Concourse, there is a NYC Sports Bar, and another bar type place (jet Rock) with great food.

Inside both D and C concourses there really aren't any places to eat. Auntie Ann's Pretzels, Au Bon Pain, small deli with extremely expensive sandwiches.

There is a food court past the C concourse that you have to go down an elevator to visit. I think there is another Famiglia's Pizza, Chinese, A Deli, and a sit down place.

No Burger King in this concourse at all.

I guess none of you is impressed that the small deli in D is Todd English's Figs oupost. LOL! That explains the prices.
At the end of D there is a stand with sandwiches, yogurt, drinks, snacks. Nothing to write home about.
There is always the pretzels in the Admirals Club!

There's a Wendy's there, I'm happy with that, depending on the length of flight I'm about to hop on. Wouldn't want to take down a full meal there and hop on a 3 hour flight though - bad news.

actually in the food court past the c councourse that you take the escalator to there is a very nice full service figs restaurant and bar that has excellent food and decent wine. if you have the time it is a pleasant place for a meal (granted we are in an airport)