57th Fighter Group Restaurant | accessAtlanta
11/25/09 10:30 AM
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FOOD & RESTAURANTS 6:33 p.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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By Bob Townsend
For the AJC
Get the latest news on ajc.com and wsbtv.com
Dramatically located next to the busy runways of the DeKalb Peachtree Airport, the 57th Fighter
Group Restaurant opened in 1985 and quickly became one of Atlanta’s quirkiest fine dining
destinations. After closing for a few years, it recently underwent a round of renovations and
reopened in October.
Enlarge photo
World War II vintage
Turning onto the long, tree-lined driveway from Clairmont
Road, there’s the fleeting impression that you could be
approaching a farmhouse in the French countryside. But
WWII vintage army vehicles, weaponry and aircraft signal a
different retro theme, as does the stucco building, with its tile
roof, mullioned windows and bombed-out chimney.
Becky Stein , Special
Winston’s Chicken, a grilled chicken
breast with a stack of thinly sliced deli
ham, apple wood-smoked bacon and
melted cheddar cheese added to it,
proves to be as full-bodied as its
namesake.
Enlarge photo
Inside, the sprawling space is divided into a series of dining
rooms, most with fireplaces. WWII photos and memorabilia
document the 1940s heyday of the 57th Fighter Group in
Europe. Tables look out on the airfield, giving diners closeup views of private jets taking off and landing. A wall of
banquettes built into private nooks offer a cozy romantic
getaway for two. A party room features a bar and sunken
dance floor, and beyond, there’s a spacious terrace with a
fire pit and an outdoor bar.
Hearty American
Becky Stein , Special
The beer and cheese soup at the
57th Fighter Group Restaurant is a
signature dish and is now made with
Sweetwater 420 and topped with
bacon.
Today on accessAtlanta
The decor may be French, but the menu is hearty American
with Southern accents. At dinner, steaks, seafood, roasted
chicken and braised short ribs are served in hefty portions
with a starch and vegetables. Longtime fans may fondly
recall the signature beer and cheese soup, a rich, bright
yellow concoction, now prepared with Sweetwater 420 and
topped with crumbled bacon. Georgia shrimp cocktail,
zucchini fritters and lobster rigatoni squares are among the
other starters.
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At lunch, sandwiches include a grilled portobello wrap,
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blackened grouper on a toasted ciabatta roll and a classic
Reuben on marble rye. Black and blue salad is a spicy/tangy
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melange of baby spinach topped with blackened sirloin tips,
roasted tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles and crispy onion
rings.
During a weekday visit, another 57th staple, Winston’s Chicken ($10.95 at lunch/ $15.95 at
dinner), proved to be as full-bodied as its namesake. A simple pounded and grilled chicken
breast is transformed into heaping corpulence by the addition of a stack of thinly sliced deli ham,
apple wood-smoked bacon and melted cheddar cheese. The vegetable of the day, lightly
sautéed zucchini, yellow squash and onions, made for a crunchy and delicious contrast.
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Nominate: Best holiday light show
Vote: Best soup
Winners: Best Thanksgiving-to-go
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Special occasion kitsch
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Service is attentive to the edge of formal, but very friendly. Of course, this is the kind of place
that easily accommodates special occasions and private parties. Aviation buffs, WWII vets, kids
and aficionados of kitsch will all have fun. And on Sundays there’s an old-school champagne
brunch buffet ($24.95), with carved steamship round and omelet and waffle stations, among
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57th Fighter Group Restaurant | accessAtlanta
11/25/09 10:30 AM
other offerings.
Dining out
The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant, 3829 Clairmont Road, 770-234-0057
Signature dish: Beer and cheese soup
Entree prices: Lunch: $8.95-10.95; Dinner: 14.95-$29.95
Hours: Lunch: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Dinner: 5 -10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 511 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Brunch: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. Lounge and patio menu available
daily at noon.
Reservations: Yes (and for private parties)
Credit cards: Yes
Online: www.the57th restaurant.com
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