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57th Fighter Group Restaurant
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
3829 Clairmont RdAtlanta, GA 30341
(770) 234-0057
- Hours:
Tue-Wed 11 am - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
54 reviews for 57th Fighter Group Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The beer cheese soup is incredibly yummy." In 9 reviews -
"You can't beat the planes taking off and landing." In 4 reviews -
"...french farm house used as an aerodrome during World War II." In 5 reviews
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54 reviews in English
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Review from Beth Y.
Atlanta, GA
4/22/2012
Have always enjoyed my experience here. Really love the patio when the weather is warm. Food is very good, service is great and atmosphere is fun.
Had dinner here last night and wanted to mention the exceptional service we received from our server Matt. Thanks for everything! -
Review from Cameron L.
Atlanta, GA
5/20/2012
I recently came here for dinner after work one evening and *boy* was I underdressed. Throngs of upper-middle-class white people gave me stinkeye as I took a seat on the patio. Our server wasn't particularly attentive, but managed not to get charged for things we didn't order.
Our party of eight shared the food around, which ranged from the delightful (ginger-soy salmon, collards, squash medley) to the disappointing (the 57th sandwich featured some of the driest beef I've ever put in my mouth).
The decor is, of course, delightful, though it's a little odd that they choose to play Churchill speeches in the restroom. Also, you get to watch planes take off and land! I'm sure I'll have a better time once I show up dressed a little more formally than my workplace requires. -
Review from Adam I.
Alpharetta, GA
4/7/2012
One of my closed friends show me this restaurant. The front yard of this restaurant laid with a military airplane, a cannon, carrier vehicles, .. what a view!
57th Fighter Group restaurant is a restaurant that honors military veterans, and our country's aviation history. Located at Peachtree DeKalb airport, this Atlanta icon was originally opened in 1981 by World War II bomber pilot.
Foods are delicious. I tried a New York steak. Good !
I find that flight passengers of "Biplane Rides Over Atlanta" could take off from the back yard of this restaurant. We see lots of taking-off, landing, while the foods were serving.
Music are soft '30 '40. Plenty of parking space.
http://www.gpb.org/geo... -
Review from Alex H.
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a nice place. The setup is good, and I'm sure nothing beats the patio on a nice clear spring day watching the airplanes take off. There's a comfortable feeling of history and continuity to this place.
I was hoping for something that could really compete with Ray's on the River for the best Sunday brunch buffet. The Bananas Foster sets them a step up. Endless mimosas is also a very nice touch. However, those two things aren't going to make a convert out of me. -
Review from Zewditu D.
Atlanta, GA
3/2/2012
Just came here for lunch today with co-workers. What an interesting experience. First, there is the ride down the long drive lined with military vehicles. Hmmm...ok. Then we get in the doors. Which way do we go? It was so confusing lol. Well, we do find our way to the actual restaurant which has a WWII theme. Kinda fun! There is outdoor seating with military style lighting, as well. You can see the planes take off from both indoors and outdoors.
We are seated quickly. And drink orders are also taken quickly. They had like 4 or 5 specials for the day. I am not used to seeing that for lunch time. You get complimentary garlic bread rolls with your meal. Not very garlickly and a little on the dry side, in my opinion.
For my meals, I opted for the quesadilla with steak ($11). It was very good. Ate it for lunch and dinner. Another person got the quesadilla (she a problem with her order though...they gave her steak instead of shrimp), two got the reuben (which our waiter said is one of their top dishes), and the other ordered the salmon. A couple of people also got the beer cheese soup (another one of their specialties). Everyone was happy with their food. AND loved the atmosphere.
Our waiter was very good. Very attentive. Removed dishes promptly and made sure our water glasses were kept full. He even gave one my co-workers a to-go cup with soda.
I really enjoyed my lunch and plan on revisiting sometime soon. -
Review from leah v.
1/30/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This review is for Sunday brunch.
It is an all-you-can-eat buffet with such delicious plates as hot-off-the-griddle waffles, grits, cuts of meat, cheeses, fruits, make your own hot chocolate, cannoli, cakes, omelets, etc, etc etc. And, you can get as many mimosas as you want. All for $27 a person.
Really?! You mean I can sit and watch planes and enjoy a leisurely Sunday stuffing my face with breakfast items, all while washing them back with a champagne cocktail? Sign. Me. UP.
Ohhhh, you should certainly make a reservation in advanced if you want to do this. It is a big hit with the locals. -
Review from Reba Jean B.
Atlanta, GA
3/3/2012
57th Fighter Group is just one of those places that makes me happy. It's a great place to have a drink with the others parents. Its also a great place to change up the atmosphere a lil with close friends. Sure, most of the bar clientele is well into their 80s and 90s, but isn't this part of the charm??? Plus, Churchill over the speaker in the restroom? How cool is that? Can't wait for the warmer weather to use the outside patio, too!
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Review from Amanda W.
11/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Some people say that the only people who frequent 57th Fighter Group are geezers and prom goers. Yes, this restaurant is perfect for those types - but overall I do dig this place.
The World War II decor can seem a bit cheesy, but I kind of like that. But my favorite aspect is that the restaurant is so close to Peachtree-Dekalb airport. I could sit on their patio all afternoon, with a tasty adult beverage in my hand, and just watch the planes take off and land.
Now onto the foods. I know some say the food is kind of meh - but I like it, as it's just simple, classic Americanish food. Don't come here expecting farm-to-table type food or having your steak smothered in a Jack Daniels-Bourbon-Bacon-Chipotle-Ranch sauce like some restaurants do. The steaks are of decent quality and don't need that stuff. Plus, in my opinion, 57th Fighter Group is a welcome addition to the Buford Highway area. I live in that area and as much as I love the authentic Asian and Latin cuisine you can get, sometimes this honky just wants a steak dinner with no frills. i had the prime rib awhile back and it did not disappoint at all. Pair that with some garlic mashed potatoes and a glass of red wine, and you have one satisfying meal.
I haven't been to the brunch yet, but I intend to someday. There's also dancing and such on the weekends. I have yet to check it out. But some night when I want to party with some geezers, I just might. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Tucker, GA
3/7/2012
I took my co-workers here for lunch today, as a suprise. One is a diehard plane, war, vet, history freak. I personally have no interest. The food was amazing. The shrimp appetizer was the best!!! Even the salad had me scraping up the last bite. It was quite interesting to watch the planes land and take off and the food was amazing. It was a wonderful lunch break!!
-
Review from Colleen M.
Roswell, GA
12/4/2011
Love this restaurant! Went there with the kids and husband and all of us- ages 3 to 40 loved the place. It was a bright and crisp December day so we had drinks and aps outside on the terrace so we could watch the planes take off and land. Might have to do a biplane ride next time! Then our waitress was very nice when we wanted to move inside for the rest of lunch. The food was very good with plenty of choices for every age. This restaurant is a great value also, as we spent 45 dollars for the five of us and left happy and full. We had a great time looking at all the photos and memorabilia from WWII and got fantastic pictures in the old jeeps and trucks.
I am only giving it four stars because, yes, it could use a remodel. Both the carpets and the menu could join us in the 21st century. Very basic Americana. Actually, this restaurant is the closest place I have been to with the feel of a real Officer's Club since my husband left the Navy. Right down to the guys that didn't fly today, but who still wore in their flight suits! -
Review from Shally S.
Norcross, GA
6/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This is my all time favorite Sunday Brunch destination and one of the best kept secrets in Atlanta. Its a World War II homage, and the patio overlooks the back part of the Dekalb airport. If you sit out on the patio under the trees you get a nice breeze from the runway and you can see the planes land and take off. Not many flight and its not loud. I love watching the prop planes and the biplanes take off and land. Occasionally you get a jet which can be a bit louder but its very infrequent, this is after all a regional airport.
Inside you can sit at a table next to headphones and listen into channel 9 which is the pilots talking to the tower, its kind of fun if you are curious about aviation. Sometimes they play old British and American WWII radio broadcasts which is a really fun way to experience the history.
But the food...
I begin by saying everything is fresh made in house from scratch. After 12:30 on Sunday the buffet includes free mimosas or champagne. There's a cool cappuccino station where you ca make it any way you want with real whipped cream and candied cherries - a necessary food group for my little girl. The omelette and egg station chef keeps a secret stash of fresh jalapeño so just ask an he'll bring them out for you. He also doubles as the Bananas Foster chef so he keeps busy but does an excellent job. There's a carving station with prime rib and roast pork. The pork or ham is very tender and much better than the rib. We make prime rib at home better than this, but the quality is good enough for an upscale buffet, and of course you can't beat the quantity. The horseradish sauce is just on the mild sice, and made fresh.
There's always a seasonal fresh fruit selection with standard choices, The strawberries are always top notch, never been dissapointed. The cheese board includes some variety but always has at least cheddar jarlsberg Gouda pepper jack and goat cheese
The pastries rotate but I've seen muffins, croissants, bagels and rolls. There's always cold-smoked salmon with capers, and peeal-and-eat shrimp. The selection of salads and stir fries rotate prety regularly but there's always a fish, pork, chicken and beef choise, as well as three vegetarian selections, a pasta and a rice choies. I've had the curry tilapia, and the broccoli pepper beef tips. Not bad for a buffet.
Desserts are deadly! The cheesecake selection is impressive with at least three varieties including traditional. They have brownies and cookies, a fresh key lime pie made in the tradditional floridian way with very high egg custard. There's always some kind of fruit pies, and there's always a bananas foster sation which you can wait for if you want made to order, or you can get served from the ones already made in the chaffing dish. -
Review from Jena H.
Duluth, GA
6/16/2011
I ate dinner at 57th fighter for the first time on a Wednesday night recently. It was a special night to celebrate my recent masters graduation. Being a swing dancer, I was especially looking forward to the dancing that evening. I called ahead to confirm they were still doing their swing nights and was assured they were. (I'd heard a rumor they'd stopped doing this, but was glad to hear otherwise).
The ambiance and décor was neat and kept to the theme. We sat by the window and were able to see the runway and planes - one of the draws to the restaurant. Another neat feature can be found in the bathrooms - war era recordings are played through the speakers.
We ordered the cheese appetizer and giggled trying to eat the bread that came with it. To say it was hard as a rock was an understatement. The fact they served mojitos - made up for this. I had the honey glazed duck and having never had duck before, I thought it was good.
After dinner my date and I were ready to dance. We walked to the other portion of the restaurant where the dance floor was...
..and you could have heard crickets.
I asked one of the staff members (they were all congregating in there) if there was going to be any music and I received one of those looks that lets you know they're laughing inside at you. The answer was that there wouldn't be any music and that whoever answered the phone must have been misinformed.
It turns out swing night had been cancelled for some time after all even though they still advertised it on their website calendar.
I was very disappointed. This has been the deciding factor in our decision to dine there that night.
I might go back as something different to do with older members of my family, but based on my experience with the staff, I don't think I'll return with a date. -
Review from Caitlin B.
Douglasville, GA
1/3/2012
So I was dragged here for some New Years Eve party and I was crazy hesitant about it. I have to say that I was definitely the youngest one here but at least 15-20 years, and I'm 29. Defintely a place to look for a sugar daddy/mama. Drinks aren't terribly expensive though. Decent-sized dance floor and PLENTY of parking.
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Review from Food T.
Atlanta, GA
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Outdoor seating is solid. Reminds me of Italy, Croatia or France with the cobbled together architecture.
The bunker entrance is excellent and our kids enjoyed the overall ambiance of the Red Cross cars and ancient Army jeeps lining the road on the way in. Another plus is being able to watch planes take off and land.
There is a replica fighter jet that takes off from the restaurant and is fun to watch. Perfect for the kids when it's quiet on the deck. -
Review from B B.
6/13/2011
Oh, fun! Airplanes and World War II and beer and burgers! Neat place!
Situated right at the Peachtree DeKalb airport, with an entrance just south of the main airport entry, this bar/restaurant/dance club is a perfect place for pilots to hang out and feel airplaney, and for earth-bound guys like me to soak up some airplane vibes and a nice libation or two.
The steak salad is especialyl good, with big juicy chunks of steak. Yum. -
Review from Jim B.
1/27/2011
This is a wonderful theme restaurant that is also a very good place to eat! They replicate a french farm house used as an aerodrome during World War II. This ambiance is enhanced by the restaurant's direct view out onto the PDK runway, and in some locations scattered through the restaurant ... there are headsets so you can listen to aircraft radio traffic (typically Pilot to Dispatch or Pilot to Tower). For an ex-Air Force guy like me ... this is serious fun!
The beer cheese soup is good enough for a special mention ... but there are other stars. Try the grilled romaine salad, for one. The set menu is great, but try to come for the lunch buffet one afternoon. You'll get to sample many of their dishes ... and you can return for an additional plateful or two or three. You'll have to be rolled out to your car!
Unlike some previous reviewers, I have always found service to be excellent, and the restaurant to be very child friendly.
A bit pricey ... but good fun, and good food. -
Review from Theresa J.
Atlanta, GA
10/29/2010
We Were Bullied by the General Manager - Tricia Clancy
During a recent visit to 57th Fighter Group Restaurant our view of this place completed changed because our encounter with Ms. Clancy.
My son was looking at the model planes parked on the lawn and was herded away from there by Ms. Clancy like herding an animal, later she rudely demanded my son who was standing up looking at the fire pit to sit down; when I protested the manner of her speaking she told us to leave if we did not like their 'kids-remain-seated' policy.
I do not like the policy but they have the right to make whatever policy they see fit. My problem is with the messenger - Ms. Clancy, the General Manager, her tone of voice, facial and body gestures were condescending, to say the least. When I asked the name of the owner, she dismissed my question by waving her arms saying 'I have better things to do' and took off.
My 6-year-old son who was well behaved the whole time told me that the lady (Ms. Clancy) made him feel very bad. The customers surrounded us and the staff were quite sympathetic towards us. We got Ms. Clancy's full name, the owner's name from the staff and decided to leave. A staff requested another manager to speak to us and also suggested to seat us inside.
A manager came over to talk to us about the situation, since she was quite nice we were considering to be reseated until Ms. Clancy injected herself into our conversation; she shamefully accused my son running wildly on the runway, and me yelling at her. I told her she was unprofessional and disrespectful etc, and she tried to dismiss us by saying that we were making a scene. I only read about and saw on movie/TV of individuals smearing others with lies to justify their own faulty behaviors, to experience it personally is something heavy to take in, because it is not easy to explain to a 6-year old that a person with this type of quality can be 'the boss' of the place, and why she won even she was rude and lying and we had to leave with empty stomach.
We left and went somewhere pleasant to eat, and we taught our son that we left because we do not tolerate bullies, dishonesty will not prevail, we will share the bad experience with the owner and the rest of the world via Internet.
My family travels all over the world and we had never experienced this type of 'unkindness' from anybody at anywhere until this encounter at the hospitable south of United States of America. I wish the owner of this restaurant would work on improving the professionalism and communication skills of his staff.
@Pilot E from 57th Fight Group' comment below...
If you are Ms. Clancy I don't expect you to take any responsibility for your unprofessional and disrespectful behavior.
If you are not Ms. Clancy, you were not present when we were bullied.
The point of my review is that we had no problem with whatever policies you have, we had problem with the manner you treat your patrons. There were so many ways Ms. Clancy could deliver the message and we would have no problem to comply; how about explain it was a private party on the lawn? how about suggesting seating us inside? Tone of the voice and body languages are universal, there was no misunderstanding from our side. Ms. Clancy was simply RUDE and SURLY!
I don't feel your apologies here are sincere at all. Please examine yourself and seek improvement! It would be good for the business. -
Review from Douglas O.
Atlanta, GA
1/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I love airplanes and good food, I put them together and I really enjoy this place. A variety of people have had unique experiences, but every time I go I love all aspects.
The place is a bit rustic on the inside, you feel like it is OLD, because it is an old military installation that has not been renovated in what would seem a very long time. The restaurant has a full bar area, panoramic views of KPDK, booths, private dining rooms and tables for small and big groups.
The beer cheese soup is incredibly yummy. I took a chance and had 13 of us from work visit 57th for dinner during a meeting in Atlanta. While it seemed forever away from our meeting area at the CP Ravinia area, everyone complimented on what a great selection.
Whether you like seafood, beef, vegetarian, this place will have something for you. The wine is also a good variety, one word of caution, they may not have the bottle you order and will substitute the other. The price can be from $25 up to $65 and you realize it as you are drinking it, and not very fond of it.
The staff has always been friendly across the various visits. I may be a bit biased by seeing the planes pass by, but 13 of us could not be that wrong to have a wonderful time! Our bill in total was $480 with tip, alcohol, food and apps!
2011-#5 (1/4/2011)Listed in: 365 Reviews on #Yelp in 2011, Aviation
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Review from Mark B.
Atlanta, GA
5/16/2011
This is a 5 star beergarden. The best in Atlanta. I cannot believe how cool it is. You won't even know you're in Atlanta.
The rest of the place is cool too, could use better management, but drinking outdoors doesn't get any better than this! -
Review from Erika M.
Atlanta, GA
3/16/2011
First visit to the 57th last night - won't be our last!
Good:
Service - thanks, Stacy!
Drink specials - $3 draft beer, $3 margaritas
Nachos - pile of deliciousness. Chicken was meh - skip it and go for the pile of chips and cheese.
Ok:
Unexpected trivia night. MC needs to speak up. We had trouble hearing and we thirtysomethings were by far the youngest people in the place.
Burger. Nothing special, but didn't suck.
Bad:
Beer cheese soup. What the heck is everyone raving about? Bowl of salt. Barf.
Next time we'll pick a nicer night and hope for more planes. We'll also stick to drinks, nachos and maybe a burger. -
Review from Paul P.
Atlanta, GA
8/10/2010 ROTD 10/31/2010
I hadn't been here in several years, I think they went through some ownership change in the meantime. Somewhere, I had the impression that they had more of a Greek menu in their latest incarnation, and that it wasn't that good, but I don't see any clues to that in previous Yelp reviews, so I don't know where that came from.
So for lunch today, I was pleased to find a good menu and good food, not too expensive, and great atmosphere (runway views) and decor (esp. the jeeps outside). I'm not really into military motifs in general (pun!), but this place has some character and evokes a different era, that's for sure.
For lunch, I had the bourbon glazed salmon with garlic mashed potatoes. I wasn't offered the fresh vegetables instead of the mashed potatoes (the menu says this is an option), but the mashed potatoes were very good and probably a better accompaniment anyway. Tasty, nicely done, and a moderate portion, $11 before tax and tip, pretty good. The menu isn't extensive, but there were enough appealing possibilities that that wasn't a problem.
Hope to return again soon and check out the playground and more of the artifacts, since today was kind of a quick get-away from the office. -
Review from Margaret M.
Atlanta, GA
11/16/2010
Granted the great honor of representing the men and women who
were "the greatest generation." 57th Marks its entry into dinning history as
being not only a remarkably cozy example of French farm house meets
Uncle Sam but an elemental heroic atmosphere not to be found in any other
venue in Atlanta. If you want deep just look at the fire place where the
signatures of those who survived have paid tribute to the hero's who did not.
57th is truly one of those special places I hope this city will never loose, and
what it represents is nothing short of what has defined us as a people today. -
Review from Nelson J.
Atlanta, GA
1/2/2011
Excellent food & decor, watching planes both take off & land over a romantic dining experience nothing beats it.
Service needs improvement, steaks are PERFECT... -
Review from Emily K.
1/23/2011
I went here for a birthday dinner last Thursday. They get points for the concept, decor, & set up of the grounds. The food, however, was just okay. Most of us ordered off the bar menu. I got the grilled chicken sandwich with provolone and bacon. The chicken was dry, but the chive mayo was good. The chips were also good. I doubt I'd go here again unless it was a smaller group and someone else was paying. Everyone who ordered off the regular menu seemed pretty happy with their food.
The server started out a bit snotty, but got better. I didn't think his service warranted above the automatic tip, though. -
Review from Sweet S.
Atlanta, GA
2/12/2012
The boyfriend and I had heard they have a good dance floor and we enjoy that, so we decided to try dinner there as well. It was Sat. Night and they had a good crowd. Since we did not have reservations we had to wait a short while, but watching the dancers in the bar was very entertaining. Most of these folks were serious dancers using steps etc; not just freestyle like myself. I went with the basics for dinner; I ordered the beef tenderloin, $23 and the boyfriend ordered the stuffed trout. Sides do not come with the entree, but are very reasonably priced as sides. Overall the prices and portions are very reasonable. A decent red wine for $6 per glass is hard to find in this city! We started with arugula salad-quite good and large with pears, pecans and blue cheese. The rolls were tasty yeast type brushed with butter. The fish was good, but the stuffing was really too much. We both agreed that a nicely seasoned grilled version would have been better. The shrimp in the stuffing were large and not very tasty. My steak, ordered medium, was delivered rare and returned rare again. finally I got it cooked right, but it had no seasoning and was not very good. The mashed potatoes and burgundy mushrooms were good. The braised greens were flat tasting; needed vinegar or lemon to brighten.
I think this place has potential, but the kitchen needs to simplify, yet add more flavor and care to each dish. I hope it improves, because the after dinner dancing was great fun. -
Review from Sarah E.
Lawrenceville, GA
8/2/2010
I have happy memories of the Sunday brunch at 57th Fighter Group and have been meaning to check it out since the restaurant re-opened last year. So yesterday when my husband and I couldn't figure out where to eat, we decided to give the brunch a try.
Sadly, I found the food disappointing. I don't think it's so much that the food quality has gone downhill, but more because my happy memories of it were from my early to mid twenties and I've been spoiled on so much really good food since those days. The buffet has all the old standards you'd expect - eggs Benedict, made to order Belgian waffles and omelettes, carving station, bacon and sausage, and a ridiculously huge dessert table. It's just that none of the items were that impressive to me. The cheddar cheese grits were pretty solid but everything else was mostly... meh.
If you've been to the old 57th Fighter Group restaurant, you may remember the beer cheese soup. That was also on the buffet, and it might have been as good as I remembered it being if only they could have managed to keep it hot. As it was, it still tasted pretty good at a moderately warm temperature.
Methinks the secret item that keeps the masses coming (and believe me, they're coming - the place was PACKED) is the all-you-can-drink champagne and mimosa. Unfortunately, I did not avail myself of this option because I'm pregnant (sneaking that in since I'm too shy to formally announce it most places). Maybe if I had, I would have felt more satisfied about paying $26 a person for this buffet.
What elevated the experience enough to make it worthy of the 3 stars I gave it was that it was pretty entertaining to watch the planes taking off while we ate. Also, our service was on point and my husband and I enjoyed the made-to-order Bananas Foster. Still, there are a lot of other buffets and brunches where you can pay $26 or less and leave feeling more satisfied. So unless you're a plane junkie, I'd suggest skipping the Sunday brunch.
We may consider coming back to 57th Fighter Group at some other time to order off the menu, but it may be a while. -
Review from Alison B.
7/10/2010
The only reason to come here is to enjoy the expansive patios while watching the planes come back in to PDK airport in Chamblee. As we ended up sitting inside due to a threatening storm and high temperatures which extended well in to the evening, we missed out on being able to enjoy drinks al fresco.
The food is mediocre based on what everyone is our group tried, ranging from decent (the cheeseburger) to awful (the potato skins). I tried the bunker salad and it was alright, a generous portion of fresh greens, studded with blue cheese and toasted pecans along with a few dried cranberries, but the apple cider vinaigrette was a little off flavored. A balsamic vinaigrette, while trite, would have very likely tasted better with this combination of ingredients.
Service was spotty as our food came out at wildy different times despite being ordered close together and critical components such as silverware or a sauce for a dish being delayed or forgotten. -
Review from Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
3/27/2010
The best kept secret in Atlanta for Saturday night fun.
Take Johnny's Hideaway, remove the red crushed velvet, the stank from the smoke, and the preppies on the weekends. Add in a shitton of fighter pilot memorabilia (including old military trucks in the front drive and a winding barricade-like walk to the bar) and a view of Peachtree Dekalb airport. Then bring in some serious "we've taken 42 lessons and we WILL GET THIS RIGHT" empty-nester swing dancers, and you've got 57th.
I can't comment on the food or anything beyond my one Saturday night experience here, but I can tell you that I will be back. And soon. I mean, the dance floor is sunken to make the people watching optimal: that's GOTTA be a good sign.Listed in: Plenty of Parking.
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Review from Edward W.
Atlanta, GA
8/1/2010
Haven't been here for a full-blown "fine dining" dinner yet, but I spent a really fun happy hour on the patio and have tried a few items off the bar food menu.
I agree with the reviewer that gave an A+ for the decor and atmosphere. From the moment you pull up onto the property, the 57th Fighter already has more personality than 99% of the restaurants in Atlanta. The long winding driveway features military jeeps and a "checkpoint," and the restaurant itself is a bombed-out French farmhouse with a big ol' fighter jet on the front lawn. Make your way inside and you'll notice a front entrance with sandbag walls before you make it to a dining room which is complete with WWII propaganda and other military paraphernalia on the walls. Something else that was pretty cool is in the men's room they play audio from Winston Churchill speeches. Nice touch.
57th also has probably the most unique patio in Atlanta. Where else drink a beer and eat a burger outside while G5s and Cessnas takes off yards away? With several fire pits and tons of space, it is a great place to spend an evening. I came here with a group of about 8 folks recently for our monthly happy hour, and it was such a hit we decided to hold it there the following month even though we usually move it somewhere new each time.
Eventually I'll come here to sample the true dinner fare like the steaks, but I have enjoyed the bar food I've had - the 57th sandwich is a huge philly cheese steak hoagie on steroids, the beer cheese soup is good and definitely "beer-y" as well as cheesy (its really good if you have some bread to dip in it), and the nachos and potato skins were tasty. I'm also pretty interested in checking out their Sunday brunch based on the menu I looked at.
The 57th is really one of those places where there is something for everyone, and anyone who goes there has to walk out feeling like they've never been to a place quite like it.
**Update - I did go back and try dinner as well as the brunch. The blue cheese sirloin was pretty damn good. Didn't like the balsamic reduction so much, though. The brunch, however, was freakin' amazing. Has to be one of the best in Atlanta. The eggs benedict was the best I've ever had.
My scorecard for the 57th is:
Sunday Brunch: 5 stars
Dinner: 4 stars
Bar Food Menu: 3 stars
Atmosphere/Location: 5 stars -
Review from Amy S.
10/17/2011
We elected to throw a birthday diner here last week, and we were pleasantly surprised.
I made reservations not knowing the crowd on weekday nights, and we were sat directly by a window. The atmosphere was very quiet and classy. The service was perfect, offering suggestions and plenty of time for us to make our decisions. The menu is impressive and offers numerous choices, so I was thankful for that. I decided to go with the pork chops. I realllly want to try those blue cheese grits. Everything was super delicious. The pork chops were a tad overcooked, but I'd rather have that than undercooked. The grits and greens made a great compliment. The boyfriend had what I refer to as "massive chicken platter." I think it consisted of 2 chicken breasts, ham, bacon, a mountain of mashed taters and beans and carrots, all under a mass of melted cheese. It looked awesome. And, I can say, he was not able to finish, which is not a frequent occurrence. I can see how hungry pilots would gravitate here after a long flight. Gargantuan proportions!
The decor is really cool. It's designed to make you feel like you're in a WWII bunker or something like that, and it definitely delivers. It's one of those gems that you can tell hasn't been re-furbished in forever, and you hope it stays that way. Never, ever change, 57th.
Side note: next time I go, I want to check out the bar atmosphere. It seemed lively! -
Review from Todd P.
4/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I live almost within walking distance of this place. My friends introduced me to it a few years ago when I first moved to Atlanta, telling me it's a great place to sit on a nice patio, have some beers and watch the airplanes take off and land at DeKalb Peachtree Airport. Hell, I can practically do that from my back yard, especially if they take off to the South. But not with friendly, efficient servers bringing me pitchers of beer and tasty bites of food. So....hello 57th!
The patio here really is awesome for drinks and bar snacks. And the ambiance is cool, with several gas fire pits and a beautifully landscaped yard. I've not dined inside, and it seems a bit foofoo/shishi since there's a sign that indicates there's a dress code ("Proper attire only"). This caused me pause as I wandered through the dining room/bar area out to the patio in my shorts and t-shirt, but felt instantly comfortable when I noticed others casually dressed outside.
We shared an order of nachos: huge plate with lots of melted cheddar, fresh chips, and grilled chicken with generous amounts of fresh guacamole and sour cream. Very good.
After that (and between pitchers of beer), roast beef sliders with house made chips. Three of these little buggers on the plate with a pile of fresh tater chips. A lot of food for about 8 bucks. The meat was well seasoned. These sliders were goooooood.
The middle-aged (or older?) DJ mixing up the dance tunes for the disco ball-spinnin' dance floor was entertaining. He pumped out quite the eclectic mix of tunes. And for people watching...just imagine awkward wedding reception dancing and you've pretty much got the idea.
"Waitress, another pitcher, please." -
Review from Shannon H.
Atlanta, GA
4/7/2010 14 Check-ins Here
Love having lunch here on a sunny day. The 57th fighter group restaurant is at the end of a runway and is a stopping point for one of the open cockpit planes, so there's good aviation watching. The decor is old WWII memorabilia and other time-specific accoutrements, with everything from a sandbagged circular entrance that makes it feel like you're going into/through a well fortified barricade to a "latrine" off to your left upon entry.
The service is white napkin, but the food and casual feel is definitely more accessible. Food is basic but tasty and the wait staff is excellent. In short, it's a fun destination restaurant for lunch that's enjoyable for aviation or history lovers that also sounds like it's fun after dark.
Note that there's plenty of parking and that the entrance is not on the main airport, but rather off of Clairmont Road down a wavy, can-lit road decorated with old military vehicles (medic, jeep, etc.). -
Review from Chloe M.
Atlanta, GA
10/18/2009
Now back by popular demand and under new management and a new chef! I grew up eating at this Chamblee institution and it was always such a treat to watch planes taking off and landing at the PDK airport while having a leisurely meal.
Notable dishes include the Beer Cheese Soup, the Spinach Salad, and the Chicken Salad Sandwich. Their Salmon Cakes are the best!!!
Tasty food in an exciting, adventurous setting. -
Review from Stormtrooper H.
Atlanta, GA
8/29/2010
Today was my first visit back to 57th since they reopened and I had high hopes for our brunch.. They were quickly dashed as I looked around the dining room.
The restaurant had basically the same appearance as before (minus a few planes outside) and STILL looks like it could use a good top to bottom cleaning.
We were the first table seated in our section and had to flag down a server any time we wanted to get our beverages refilled or plates cleared.. except when to servers got in an argument at our table about who was getting the tip (still not bothering to clear it while they were standing there).
The food was on par with what it had always been, some good and some really-really bad (like the previously frozen breads that tasted of freezer burn).
I would give 57th 1 star if it were not for the atmosphere, which makes me really sad as I had high hopes for the new owners to bring back the previous glory.
Bottom line: for $27 a person (at brunch) I expect much better food and service, and can get it at any number of restaurants in town.
Go luck 57th and this will be our last mission together.Listed in: Patio places, Breakfast & Brunch
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Review from Nicci R.
Atlanta, GA
7/10/2010
Great place for families with kids. Food is alright, but atmosphere and location make this a fun visit. Reuben and salads at lunch were very good. Beer cheese soup is tasty, but I'm not sure what all the hype is about. Steaks for dinner were pretty good, but my strip was 30% fat.
Check out their weekly specials for deals. Also a bar menu for small plates.
Outside patio will be great this fall. -
Review from Chuck E.
Gainesville, GA
3/26/2010
Went there for lunch and it was my first time going. I like the location of the place. It is cool seeing the planes take off and land. The service was friendly.
I had the 57th sandwich which is a basic Philly cheese. The sandwich was dry and could have used a little more seasoning. I also had the beer cheese soup which was the best thing that I had for lunch.
I went with a large group and we ordered 3 desserts to share. The best one was the chocolate cake. It was very rich and had a great dark chocolate taste. The other 2 (key lime and coconut cake) was also tasty.
I would go back and try something different but like I said the best part was watching the planes take off and land. -
Review from David S.
Long Island City, NY
5/12/2010
This place gets an A+ for decorations, A+ for location and and C for food... But who really comes here for the food anyway? Seriously.
You will like this place if: You are a history buff, or like strange, unusual, and fun places around the city. One of the few gems around the city like Dante's Down the Hatch.
You will not like this place if: You like going to trendy restaurants in Midtown blasting House music with signature Cosmopolitans.
All in all a good time to be had here. Seems to be a bit of an older crowd, but they do have swing dancing which is cool, -
Review from Daniel N.
Atlanta, GA
3/11/2010
Drab décor? Really? A restaurant full of authentic WWII-era tchotchke, flanked with sandbags and fighter planes is drab? Interesting...I thought the environment was the best part.
Sadly, the quality of food was not quite worth the price. The cheese plate was average (only 1 of the 3 cheeses were remarkable). My girlfriend got the $22 Chilean sea bass which was quite bland by both our estimations. The stuffed grouper was slightly better but nothing to email grandma about.
The bar/dance floor area looks promising, however. I will be back to wildly and inappropriately gesticulate my hips as if to channel Beavis gettin' down to the BeeGees.
All in all, the 57th Fighter Group is a neat place to nestle in for a quiet, well-decorated and interesting dinner, but the food really could be better. -
Review from Jeff M.
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow, I had no idea how busy Dekalb-Peachtree Airport was. Planes taking off or landing no more than two minutes apart. Who are these people flying through here?! I need to know! It's a really cool experience if you're sitting outside. The experience is completely unique. I was not impressed by the food. In fact, the best thing I ate were the home-made potato chips. I was not a fan of the beer and cheese fondue; it's heavier than if I drank a soup of liquified gold. The fried fish sandwich was pretty bland. My waitress was really attentive and incredibly pleasant. If the food were better, I might have considered ****. You should go here once for the experience.
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Review from Matt H.
6/20/2010
The atmosphere is cool but the food is way overpriced for the quality. The best thing we had was the chocolate cake for desert. We both had "Winston's" chicken, which we both felt was a tad dry - $16/ea. The rooster sauce is really I believe just Boar's Head honey mustard (actual mustard with honey, none of that mayo based crap). That made it better but the place is just alright. If you're looking for great food, this isn't it. It was cool however to see planes taking off though.
Granted we had a party of seven, we were there for two and a half hours. Not just partying it up, mostly waiting on food. One entree they got wrong, so that was part of it. Then more wait on side veggies - I totally didn't get that.
