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56th Fighter Group Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Nightlife Bars American (Traditional), Bars [Edit]
7160 Republic AirportEast Farmingdale, NY 11735
(631) 694-8280
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Music:
- Background
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for 56th Fighter Group Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The beer cheese soup was awesome." In 3 reviews -
"The atmosphere is world war 2." In 5 reviews -
"...it here and look forward to stopping by for Sunday brunch." In 6 reviews
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Charles V.
Glen Head, NY
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome brunch, I went here for brunch this past Sunday. My first word of advice, don't go before noon. The free mimosas and bloody Marie's are not served prior, real bummer. I tried a little of everything and if your looking for a good brunch spot this is it. I have also went here for dinner and everything is always consistently good and service is always friendly.
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Review from Lorraine A.
Homosassa, FL
5/18/2012
Very disappointing experience. The service was very good but the food was mediocre and way to expensive for the size of the portions. Don't consider having a draft with the meal. The beer was $6.00 per glass and the mashed potatoes were fake. We had good company so the evening wasn't a total loss. The 7 of us will never return.
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Review from Calvin H.
New York, NY
3/4/2012
Very cool restaurant, popcorn at the bar, fun looking out the window at the airplanes. Was disappointed to learn that the place isn't real / is fake (in terms of, it was never any kind of base - it was built strictly as a restaurant / event space, and dressed up to appear as an old outpost).
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Review from Evil A.
Massapequa, NY
12/27/2011
Great atmosphere and friendly waitstaff. I've gone a number of times and had the same positive experience each time. Between my friends and I we have had over half the menu and highly recommend the food. The all you can eat buffet style Sunday brunch is also a winner.
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Review from K R.
Brooklyn, NY
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Quaint place with nice atmosphere.good for a date or for families that gaze out the window at the fighter planes ...a beautiful fireplace within the restaurant.
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Review from Danielle M.
East Northport, NY
9/12/2011
Even though I'm not a huge fan of buffets, I loved their Sunday brunch buffet. The food was simple but well done. I absolutely loved the ravioli a la vodka and the chicken fricassee.
Even though I am not one that can truly appreciate the preserved World War II atmosphere of the place, it did feel like the right place to be on September 11th. I also did appreciate the view of Republic Airport. I've always loved watching planed take off and land. Combining that with my love of food, this place is certainly on my favorites list. -
Review from Lucy L.
East Meadow, NY
1/24/2011
I like this restaurant. The ambiance is super old school and that's the point and it's different and that's so rare in Long Island, so I'm down with it.
I've been here for dinner three different times in the past year and a half and tried the Sunday brunch buffet for the first time this past weekend.
Every visit, the quality of the food ranged from good to great (with the exception of their vegetable pasta dinner dish - don't order it), the service is always professional, prompt and friendly, and the bathrooms and dining area are clean.
I am a super harsh critic and most of my Yelp reviews don't go beyond a 3, so I'm surprised to hear so much negativity about this place.
Shrug - I dig it and I'll keep going. -
Review from LaShanda W.
Hempstead, NY
12/11/2011
Went for brunch with good friends. Nice place however I've had better buffets and for much less. Waiter staff was great and atmosphere was nice.
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Review from Mike C.
Wyandanch, NY
4/5/2011
Went there with my parents on an early spring night after just about everywhere else we looked on a Saturday night was packed.
A lot of people here complained about the atmosphere, but I thought it was very cozy and welcoming. They had a couple of burning fireplaces, with nice nighttime views of Republic Airport.
Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. The food was reasonably priced. We had some tasty bruschetta for an appetizer and everyone liked their entrees -- a flounder special stuffed with crab, shrimp scampi and my very good flatiron steak.
As for the bar/club section, I didn't go inside, but I did overhear a group of five or so guys complaining about how "it used to be better." Most of these guys looked like they had just beamed in from the 70s because they all had on striped shirts with lots of chest hair. So maybe it's a good thing that guys like these don't like the place. Hopefully they'll stay away. -
Review from Jaime C.
Old Bethpage, NY
3/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I've been here many times for lunch or dinner, but this is the first time I've ever been here for their Sunday brunch. The selection was better than I'd expected with an omelet station, pancake/waffle station and what I THINK was a fajita station.
There was also crab legs, mussels, smoked salmon, fruit, scrambled eggs, sausages, chicken marsala, and other dishes I can't remember. A surprising omission (to me) was that I didn't see any eggs benedict. What's a brunch buffet without eggs benedict??
On the other hand, I had MORE than enough to eat. There was a waiter always ready to refill our coffee cups or orange juice glasses. There was even capuccino available (but you had to help yourself).
I did see a waiter with a tray of bloody marys, but I didn't inquire if they were included or extra (sorry). I love the atmosphere of the 56th. I've never had a complaint about the food for dinner or lunch (and the Beer Cheese Soup remains one of my favorites) and now I can add "Brunch" to the list too.
It ain't cheap (it came to $35 a person including tax and tip) but I definitely feel as though I got my money's worth. If you don't have a big appetite, you may want to look elsewhere. -
Review from Lisa P.
Syosset, NY
6/22/2009
Keep in mind I was only here..outdoors..on a Friday evening. I didn't eat anything, just had was there for happy hour and beyond.
The drink specials were great..the average age was older (ie 30something) than a lot of other LI places..the music was decent.. and I had a great time with my friends. That's all that matters. :) -
Review from Franco C.
Updated - 8/28/2008
1940's theme restaurant and bar.
This chain of restaurants used to be THE place about 15 years back. They were located all over the country, mostly adjacent to regional airports and they all had names invoking World War Two themes - such as this one.
The decor when you pull up to the front of the place, puts you in the mind that you are popping in at a aerodrome somewhere in England or France during the war. It is interesting in a historic kind of way and when you couple it with the actual sounds of planes taking off in the background, it kind of works.
The place is a restaurant / club but the charm of the place, like the war, have long ago passed it by.
This used to be the place where most of the offices on the Route 110 corridor would empty out and go to on a Friday after work. Nowadays you do get some people but mostly small groups looking for bar snacks and a few drinks.
There is a DJ in the evenings and I believe there is a Latin night - but it is nowhere like it used to be back in the day.
There is a huge outdoor area and if the management ever put their mind to it, they could really do something with this place as it can accommodate quite a lot of people out there.
The restaurant half is still available, although I haven't sat down in there for some time now.
The best part, to me in any case, is when walking down the corridor to the restaurant from the bar area, they have tons of old war memorabilia on the walls and play "big-band" 1940's tunes - pretty cool when you are taking a leak!
Big parking lot outside.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/1/2007 First to Review
This place has really gone down the toilet in the last few years.
The place is set up like a World… Read more »
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Review from Kristy R.
11/27/2008
Very, very cool place to eat. You're surrounded by planes and right near an active runway. That said, the food is good (we went here for Thanksgiving dinner). It can get a little cramped (hence the loss of one star) so be careful when traveling back from the lounge (where the buffet is) to your table.
There are 4 or 5 different rooms to sit in. The bathrooms are huge and have a TON of mirrors so you can stare at yourself in every possible angle. There's an observation deck upstairs but I have yet to check that out. The staff is friendly but can be a little slow.
Not sure why this place only has an average of 3 1/2 stars. I like it here and look forward to stopping by for Sunday brunch. -
Review from Tom C.
Long Beach, NY
4/5/2011
The family (cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, even a guy who plays for the Jets) came here after my uncle's funeral for the traditional after services luncheon. The place is decorated in WW2 decor with old fighter aircraft in display in the back (my cousin's hubby is a pilot and appreciated it) and old army jeeps in front. 1940's era music plays constantly on the sound system (Go Andrews Sisters!!) The food they put out on the buffet (sliced steak, penne vodka, tom and mozz salad, salmon, veggies, etc) was excellent and the desserts of cheesecake and chocolate mousse tasted great. It was just nice to see the family again after such an occasion and feeling like I lost another piece of my childhood with my uncle gone. In any event, this is a nice place on a weekday and they have good food :)
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Review from Daniel P.
6/22/2008
"...What do you think?"
"I think it's like a wax museum with a pulse."
Vincent Vega and I have many things in common, one of which is our dislike of theme restaurants. They're maudlin, they're uncomfortably hokey, and they usually result in poor operating standards, awful service and shit food. Sometimes they result in twist dance contests.
Fine, I can't get away with saying this place is shit. It's not worthless, either. The food, while not at all worth the money, is better than one might expect. I tried to be disgusted by it, but I ended up eating my entire portion. My salmon was a bit undercooked with some kind of tomato vinaigrette, dill, and came with well prepared asparagus spears and delicious mashed potatoes. Not worth $17.95, though, considering I make better. I still smell of dust and dill as I write this.
I should say there was a large amount of value in having a place to bring my World War II veteran grandfather for a belated Father's Day that elicits from him emotion and old war stories of sleazy French brothels, deserted champagne factories, and dead Nazis.
But I was uncomfortable here, nonetheless. It is the kind of weird mood that overcomes me at hotel buffets, cut-rate museums, or the Queen Mary in California. I can't pay very good attention to anything, I get very quiet, and I can't wait to leave.
Still, the whole exterior aesthetic of the place is pretty perfectly executed, to such an extent that, upon driving into the parking lot, someone in your car inevitably asks "Well, where the hell is this place?"
They've outfitted the ramshackle buildings with antique paraphernalia such as wooden fences, military Jeeps, wooden barrels, and even bombed out portions of the buildings themselves, missing parts of the roofs and walls. It's actually quite cool. I'd probably love this place if it was simply a museum or bar. I should also mention this restaurant is located, literally, right next to the Republic airport, so small planes are constantly taking off while you eat, and right outside the main dining room sit WWII fighter planes, including, I believe, a P-51 Mustang.
None of this coolness can save the place from the fact that it's a little untidy, and unattractive. The inside is mostly wood, with depressing green table cloths and lots of photos and signage to make you feel "like you're on the airbase." Or something. I don't know if it was entirely up to code. I wouldn't recommend eating here just to eat here. Only come here if you have a war veteran in your company. Or if you're desperate for big band music.
I discovered, after walking around for a while, that there were about sixty army soldiers in the bar area, pacing around and seemingly at home. I guess it makes perfect sense that this place would attract military.
A few minor side notes: While the bathrooms were really fucked, I loved the radio broadcasts from the war playing, and I liked that this place was big and empty enough (and, I should say, poorly managed enough) to allow me to walk leisurely about, into rooms I probably wasn't allowed in (what does "servicemen only" mean?) and to amuse myself. It also helps to have a really beautiful maitre d'hotel running shit.
I wouldn't say that the place had charm, but it had something--maybe a dose of old-fashioned, red-blooded, war-hawked nostalgia for a country that no longer exists. Take that as you will.
Anyway, to make a long, long, story a few sentences longer: My waitress was complaining to her cohorts about patrons' tips, my bread had a spot of something blue on it, my salad was a bit brown, and I don't think I'll ever come here again. Still completely worth it for that story about naked French prostitutes gathering for a midnight line-up, though. -
Review from Lynee G.
West Hempstead, NY
4/18/2009 6 photos
Came here my 2nd time for a party. Nothing special. We were seated in the private room upstairs which was nice, overlooking the vintage planes and runway. Today was 70 degrees out, beautiful. Heat rises, there was no air conditioning on. My family and I lost a few pounds just sweating. No matter how many times the air conditioner was mentioned, we were told it was on. Bull.
The service was good, considering we had 1 waiter for our whole party (of about 50 people) he busted his ass. When I got my glass of wine, it was dirty. I didnt say anything about it, I wiped it with my napkin and sucked it up...I figured the waiter may have been overwhelmed. The penne ala vodka was decent although the penne was overcooked. This isn't an Italian restaurant so I knew not to expect much. I ordered the Chicken Marsala. It was ok.. In a dark (almost black) gravy sauce. The mashed potato and veggies were great! My boyfriend had the salmon. Nothing special. Overall the food was pretty run of the mill. I think the prices are on the higher end so I would expect the food to be a bit better.
After preparing for the ride home, I made a pit stop to the potty. I was surprised to find it looking like your typical gross rest stop bathroom off the side of the highway.. A restaurant (especially one that wants to be considered up scale) should have a clean bathroom. My cousin said her pant legs got wet. Either people are peeing on the floor or the bowl leaked...either which way they should check up on the bathroom and clean it. My boyfriends experience in the mens room was (in his own words) "disgusting" .
I would recommend coming here if your an avid lover of airplanes, military aircraft or a pilot. Try coming during the brunch, maybe you'll have better luck. -
Review from Kevin M.
Boston, MA
6/28/2008
Ok, so it's not a 5 star restaurant, but let me tell you why it's good... The buffet brunch! You may think you've been to a buffet brunch, but you haven't seen anything until you've been here.
They have everything from chicken fingers and tater tots to creamsicles, muffins, chicken marsala, eggs, french toast ,etc,..
Sure the decor is a little hokey, but the food is good and the service is great! -
Review from Jennifer M.
Long Island, NY
10/5/2008
Kevin M. below me hit the nail right on the head...it didn't have charm, but it had something. The entire time, I felt freaked out. I had an eerily uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach the entire time I was in here. I couldn't wait to get the hell out of this place.
The decor inside was a bit tacky, with old WWII memorabilia plastered all over the walls. The best way to describe it was like walking into a time warp, old school SNES Super Mario Bro. style. You walk in and suddenly you are transported to 1940, with depressing 1940's music and dusty, old furniture, reminiscent of an old lady's garage sale. It was just plain creepy.
The wait staff appeared to have had no idea what was going on, they screwed up my order and I overheard them screwing up a large party order behind us. The food was okay, I just wanted to get the hell out of there. It was like an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark...you walk into the restaurant and you step into a time warp into 1940 and all dead people are serving you. It took me a good 20 minutes after we left to shake the creepiness and return to normalcy. I will not return.Listed in: wall of shame
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Review from Bridget B.
Oyster Bay, NY
7/5/2008
Good place to go during the summer after work and meet up with friends.
Two out door bars and one in door bar. Free happy hour food-which is always nice. - usually they service a hot dish and a hero with side dishes.
If you love to dance as much as I do - The DJ starts later in the evening. This place gets so packed that they have valet parking.
You should try it at lest once during the summer if you are in the area. -
Review from Robert J.
Farmingdale, NY
8/10/2011
I took my family there last week for dinner. It was great!!! The beer cheese soup was awesome! Steak cooked perfectly. Wife had French onion soup and Chilean sea bass, said it was great! We will be back soon!
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Review from Angelo F.
Hatfield, PA
5/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The atmosphere is world war 2. Maybe it was my imagination but it smelled like it! It seemed musty and dirty. The food was medocure arriving on chipped china. I started with the beer soup which was ok. Mine came with a little bacon but another at my table did not. No consistency. The 3 of us had turkey clubs and they were plain, nothing special. It was served with a melon cup, which I thought was a nice Jester until I realized they were far from ripe. Hard and bitter.
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Review from Nick M.
Nassau, NY
11/13/2009
If you like airplanes and especially WWII-era motifs, this is a great place for Brunch. Descent American fare, not too pricey, good svc, and a great view of Republic airport and the various era static displays. There is a nice view of KFRG from the observation deck for photo ops.
Although it primarily attracts a more senior crowd, it's not without it's charm, and a good quiet place to grab a bite and even debrief after a local flight with a pilot friend or flight student. -
Review from Marina E.
Bronx, NY
6/13/2009
I went here for lunch, food was OK, but service was fantastic. I had the beer cheese soup, a small salad, and a turkey croissant sandwich and it really is pretty decent. If you are into planes (old and new), they are everywhere and it's located right next to a little airport. It's worth a try folks.
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Review from Sherley k.
Glen Oaks, NY
4/4/2010
I go here for sunday brunch from time to time. It's not so bad. There are a ridiculous amount of buffet courses to nosh on. It's not a bang for your buck unless you are an EATER! It's really nice in the summers. I like the outdoor seating area where you can watch planes take off and land.
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Review from Laura H.
New York, NY
12/16/2008
The Sunday Brunch here is great. The service was pretty good as well.
You get Mimosas and/or soda/juice. There is a great buffet that has ready to cook stations, fresh fruits, breakfast items, lunch items and lots of great desserts.
It is a bit pricey but I would say its a good place to go with family every once in a while. -
Review from Gary K.
Massapequa Park, NY
3/18/2010
Took the family there for a special buffet Easter brunch a few years ago. Not cheap. Even though we had reservations within the advertised brunch hours, the buffet food hadn't been replaced and most items had been picked over or depleted entirely. The management couldn't care less about the customers.
We have never been back. Happy hours can be great, but my recommendation is to stay away when it comes to dining. -
Review from Hannah B.
Woodhaven, NY
4/9/2011
We came here for my hubby's birthday lunch after his first flight lesson. With old army jeeps in the front, antique fighter planes in the back, and a bomb hanging from the ceiling, this place was full of old world charm. The food was decent and the prices are fair. The servers were attentive, nice, and accommodating. I liked the 1940s music they play. Overall, it was a very cute, themed restaurant.
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Review from B D.
New York, NY
12/6/2009
Dined here Saturday afternoon with two other adults and three children. The waitress service was so-so (she forgot parts of our order) but she was pleasant. The food in general is average, but the beer-cheese soup is definitely something worth ordering. I would come here just for the soup. Also, the atmosphere at this restaurant is spectacular. The restaurant is on the runway at Republic Airport, and historic planes, jeeps, etc are parked all around the place. The kids especially enjoyed the ambiance.
