Downwind Restaurant and Lounge

This is one of my favorite places in Atlanta and I always go back when I visit. The food is fresh and tasty and I think their burger and turkey club sandwiches are some of the best in town. And don’t forget to order the fried pickles!

It is a v interesting and fun place to spot all size airplanes while eating and drinking. The staff is v friendly and nice. I really like that the silverware was in a small envelope (great hygiene consideration!). A low key relaxing place. I enjoyed my pork chops on a Saturday afternoon and will recommend this place for a fun time.

The nicest people work here, we were greeted like old friends at the door and service was friendly and fast. The view from both the covered and uncovered porches is second to none-- I think we had more fun than our son did watching the planes take off and land. We all left happy and stuffed to the gills. There's a very nice and well kept playground right next door for the kids to run around on after dinner. On Fridays it's adults only after 630pm so if you have a family, plan on an early dinner! (Love that they do this for the folks who want to enjoy an adult night out.)

Atmosphere was great. Server was nice and attentive. Food was good. Great place for kids as they can spend the meal time watching planes land and take off. Cute playground right outside. Blackened Mahi Mahi tasted fishy but nothing too terrible. Broccoli was fresh and the mashed potatoes was good. Hubby enjoyed his salmon salad. Kids grilled cheese looked rushed as part of the cheese wasn’t melted but daughter didn’t complain. Fries were crunchy! Would recommend!

Decent food. Cool place right on the airport - kids love watching the planes take off and land. It’s neat. Menu prices don’t look bad, but they upcharge for everything…extra sauce, crispy fries. Food portions are fine, but it’s all frozen food fried or prepared otherwise. Drink prices are obnoxious for what you get. $6 up charge for regular Elijah Craig in an Old Fashioned. And the drink is already $13.50. Way excessive especially when that’s a house bourbon at so many places. Hendricks gin, $4 extra. Insane. Probably won’t go back, but definitely won’t get drinks if we do.

Amazing food at reasonable prices! Great service from the entire staff. The views of the runway are awesome as well! No complaints at all and I can't wait until our family can visit again!

Can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet. I always enjoy going here, especially to sit outside, watch planes, and have a beer. They don't have a lot of good options, but there is always one that's good enough.The food is alright, a mix of bar food and nicer food, and always good. Just now I had fish and chips and my wife had a chicken salad, they were good, and the kids had chicken fingers and a hot dog, all good. We'll come back soon enough I'm sure.

I love everything about this place - not because the interior of the restaurant is beautiful (it is not) or because the food is gourmet (it is not). Rather, the atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is great, the food is fine, everything is reasonably priced, and sitting on the flight line is fun. It was a pleasure to see the planes coming and going. The only ‘complaint’ (which is actually my wife’s complaint) is that the waitress was flirting with me, but I did just turn 37, so it was a needed ego boost. Lol! Seriously though, if you have some time to kill and someone you enjoy spending time with, then this is a great place to visit. But I would not recommend the margarita.

We came here for lunch a few weeks ago. The restaraunt is located at the top of a old navy airplane hangar . The menu is limited but the burgers are good. A little on the high side but probably because you're paying for the military and airplanes ambiance business model. Sitting on the deck you can view the planes coming in and taking off! Great for a date night or relaxing lunch.

The Good: All staff is friendly and helpful. The view is amazing of course! My husband really liked his freshly made burger. Customers all around were friendly as well. The Not So Good: I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich but the chicken was an odd shape 2x7 inches so was awkward to eat. Why not cut the chicken to fit the bun? Sloppy and lacked flavor. Fries didn't seem fresh.

I am giving this restaurant five stars, as somebody who took children here to entertain them. If I was going here by myself and looking for gourmet food, it would probably be more of a 3.5. The entrance is certainly strange and I felt lost multiple times. But once I was sure I had found the right place, the restaurant itself was very nice. We did have to wait a little while, but that was fine. Our server was wonderful. We had some food sensitivities amongst our party, and she took it very seriously and even went to the kitchen to make sure that their products were free of allergens. The food itself was fine, nothing extravagant. It was probably a little more expensive than I thought it should be, but it was fine. The view of the planes was definitely the best part, and the kids loved it. To be honest, the adults did too. Planes are just cool, man. If I had one suggestion, it would be to add plane themed coloring placemats or something for the kids to do to keep them busy at the table.

Delicious food, great service & nice views. The staff were especially friendly. A few things to note is the enclosed porch area wasn't cooled & the main reason to come is the view. If you're handicap or struggle with stairs this isn't a good option. There is a stair lift on the other side of the building but it requires the assistance of a security guard who is rarely available to help you. There will be a lot of waiting.

Fun spot to enjoy watching planes while grabbing a meal. They have a small outdoor patio area and an indoor patio area; both with the runways in view. Seating was quick and the service was standard. I enjoyed the food and thought it was portioned well.

I've been eating here for many years and they still don't have adequate AC in the summer. Food is descent but not awesome. Main complaint is the AC!

I've never heard of this nor was there any mention of it on menu or from waiter. There was less than 1 cherry tomato and 4-5 slivers of shredded cheese. Food tasted bad as well. Instead of downwind it's down hill. We won't be back. Ps the food also tasted nasty. I barely ate any leaving it. Told waiter no to taking home for later. The place also seemed dirty to me. should have been a sign but used to really like this place. Too bad it is really bad now. The location is great. Hopefully, they'll close and a really good restaurant will open up. Note, no elevator so handicapped, beware.

On Wednesday evening, myself and two girlfriends, along with our seven children (three of whom are my own) decided to play at PDK airport park, and then take our kids up to Downwind Restaurant and Lounge to have dinner. We arrived around 5:30pm, and were seated on the enclosed patio. Two of the three of us had been solo parenting all week, and it felt nice to not think about making dinner. Our children are all five and under, and, to put it plainly, they were loud. They were joyful, excited to be with their friends, and had a hard time staying in their seats. For the most part they stayed right around our table, but we had to chase some rogue one year olds and four year olds a few times. A minute or two after we put our orders in, a manager came up to our table, looking quite stern, and things unraveled quickly. The manager (Kip, I believe?), began talking to us like we were five years old, asking myself and my friends twice if we were listening, despite us clearly giving him our full attention. He then proceeded to tell us, in a voice dripping with disdain, that we were too loud, and that our kids must remain seated for the duration of dinner (it should be added, at this point, that Downwind is not a fine dining establishment, but rather a casual bar/restaurant). That said, all businesses deserve respect, and we were loud. However, it was in no way the message that proved offensive, rather how it was delivered. You don't have two or three kids without occasionally being told you are too loud, and I always do my best to rectify the noise/issue after someone brings it to our attention. Kip's address to us moms was a clear scolding, the disapproval evident in his voice, and the way he was glaring at us. After he left, my friends and I all glanced at each other in amazement that someone would be so rude, and we fairly quickly made the decision to ask for our food to go and to let our kids eat outside. Kip walked back and forth a few times heading to other tables, and I finally got up the nerve to say something to him. I said, "Excuse me, I just wanted to let you know that the way you spoke to us earlier made us feel terrible about ourselves and really hurt our feelings. We are moms doing our best, our husbands are out of town this week, and we were just trying to get out of the house." That is not a direct quote, but it is correct in essentials. He proceeded to respond that when he saw three moms not parenting their kids, he felt the need to talk to us. After my friend responded, "Excuse me?" He then said that parents come in here to have them (the restaurant) babysit their kids, and that other parents (gesturing around the patio) manage to control their kids. He then proceeded to claim he wasn't saying we had done this, but, (please don't insult our intelligence) he had very clearly said we were A) bad parents and B) couldn't control our kids. As moms who work so hard to raise thoughtful, loving, kind children, this felt devastating- even if we knew it wasn't true in our hearts. I told him he was being very rude, and he asked if I wanted to talk to the owner (which should have been a very clear sign that the owner would react exactly as he did). When the owner finally graced me with her attention, I relayed the entirety of the story, including that I was trying to show the manager that we were simply people, tired from a long week without our partners, and that what Kip had said was incredibly hurtful. She responded by shaking her head and saying, "Well, he's a nice man." I repeated what he had said, all of which was decidedly NOT nice, and she retorted with, "I don't understand what your husbands being out of town has to do with anything." I told her I was just trying to show her we moms were humans doing our best, people that need grace. She then proceeded to say condescendingly to me, "I think you are tired." At this point the owner and her manager had insulted myself and my friends in every way imaginable, and it was time to go. She thanked me for telling her, but I could tell I was being completely, wholeheartedly dismissed. A grandmother stopped us on the way out and said, "I saw what happened to you- you didn't bother us at all. That was shameful." I don't want the other staff to be negatively impacted, but goodness, the manager and owner acted incredibly rudely, and, should you have the choice, I think there are other restaurants who deserve your business more. In fact, the 57th Fighter Group has always been incredibly kind to our family- so maybe that should be your PDK airport choice.

Not for everyone, but definitely for me. Food is usually very good. Service, same. Prices reasonable. And who doesn't love airplanes?

Our favorite server Frank is gone. He always gave us the best service and always took care of us. After Frank left, service has been a hit and miss. Not going back! Food is ok but overpriced. Ambiance-l - blah.

If I could give this place a 6, I.would. We walked in and we're seated immediately on the deck where we could watch the planes take off and land Our server, Bennett was all the things a server should be; friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. The food was delicious. My wife had the baramundi and I had a pastrami Reuben. Both of ourm eals were delicious and we will definitely be back.

Wonderful views; but the restaurant needs updating. My daughter and I went recently at 4p.m. We asked if we could sit at a table next to a window with 4 seats but we were told that he was keeping the larger tables for big parties. (Only one group of two came in while we were there- they got a window seat.) We got Greek salads -they were disappointing. Some of the lettuce was brown and not much feta cheese; few olives.

A very unique spot! Great food, service, and you can sit next to the runway! Get the burger!

I am a pilot who flies to/from the Peachtree Dekalb Airport frequently. I've been a customer for a long time. I wish I could be more positive, but the service and food quality have declined over time at this local institution. I recently ordered a hamburger and fries, and requested extra ketchup. The amount of ketchup in the photo is accurate, about a tablespoon for the whole meal. I asked for more but didn't receive it. The quality of the burger and fries was OK, but not the premium quality that they used to serve. The restaurant was not particularly busy and I was seated in the atrium. Also, the air conditioning in the atrium, the best place to view airplane takeoffs and landings, is inadequate, so it is uncomfortably warm during the lunch hour (recent visit, outside temperature in the mid-80's). Other customers relocated to the inner part of the dining area because of the heat. On a positive note, the fish and specials can be quite good, although not inexpensive. Too bad about the declining status, because I am a strong supporter of local businesses and airport restaurants in particular.

I enjoy this place because the sandwiches are so yummy! I've had the club, the chicken sandwich, blackened chicken and the BLT. I asked for pepper Jack and bacon on my blackened chicken sandwich. The best! The cook knows exactly how to grill chicken. It's juicy every time. Their BLT is LOADED with thickly cut bacon. To die for! It is most enjoyable to watch the planes land, too. If you don't mind the outdated surroundings, then give it a try.

I've been here twice now-- for my best friends birthday in 2021 and 2022. The staff is very nice. The food and drinks are good. Service can be a bit slow but it was also busy. Great view of the runways and airplanes.

Sunday brunch! Old-fashioned, abundant, tasty and affordable. We didn't believe it could be possible, but were proven wrong.

A longtime favorite. A unique setting at PDK airport with great Greek dining options as well as many excellent specials including fresh seafood daily. A must visit. On a nice weather day it's wonderful sitting outside above the runway.

I took my son and nephew here after plane watching at PDK. They were both excited to eat and watch the planes. The restaurant is kinda difficult to get to but there are signs to lead the way. We were able to select our seats so that the boys could see and watch the planes. The menu has plenty of options. No kids menu which was odd to me. The staff was dressed interestingly...kinda like a hooters for an older clientele. But it seemed to be family friendly. Shrug. Food was good. 12$ for a turkey club, so a bit over priced. The view was great. Service was mediocre. Turkey club was a 3/5. I tried my kids chicken tenders, also a 3/5. Fries also 3/5.

The food is great every time we come here! Great aesthetic and the service is fast. Highly recommend this family owned business.

Food is still basic pub food, but drinks are still reasonable. Service is always excellent and we love when the have live music. Fridays after 6:30 pm is no children.

Have been going here for years! Great burger and cool atmosphere. Really cool watching the planes takeoff and taxi while you dine. Highly recommend!

I'm gonna go with a 3 here because I have mixed feelings. The restaurant could use some work on the ascetics. It feels old and outdated but not in a cool vintage way. Simply putting in new tables and flirting would make a big difference. However it's pretty cool to sit at the restaurant and watch the planes go in and out. My nephew is a pilot in training so it's perfect for him. Food wise I can't complain. Everything is simple and taste good from my experience. The burgers are fresh made, seasoned well and on a good bun. I do love the turkey sandwich as well. They roast the turkey fresh just like mama on Thanksgiving! I wish they wouldn't shred it up so small like they do though.

I love this place! I don't come here enough to be honest. Hard to get to and not a lot of signage but you drive straight back through all the way to this warehouse looking building and go up the stairs and down the hall. Honestly I would probably never have found it if I hadn't been with people in the know. It's so much fun though. Great space to sit outside and watch the planes at the PDK airport! They have a regular American menu with classic sandwiches and sides. I got the chicken sandwich and it was fine but truly nothing beats sitting outside enjoying a lovely evening watching the planes. I would come in spring or fall when the weather isn't too hot. They have a fun playground outside for kids to hang out on. This is a unique restaurant for a fun time out!

I have frequented this place for 6 years. Never bothered. Music good when I went for that. Ate several excellent offerings by one helluva chef. Danced and enjoyed the usual folks that are there, and the conversations.

I have taken my son here sporadically for the last 24 years to have lunch and watch the planes land and take off. It's always had good food for lunch. Their burgers are juicy and the BLT's are exactly what one would expect. No surprises, just consistently good food. The Greek salad has a flavorful dressing on it. The French fries are just regular fires and the ketchup is on the table is a squirt bottle. One really comes here to watch the planes. It's great for kids on the deck in the fall and spring. Otherwise stay on the covered porch.

The Barramundi Fish with lemon butter & cappers was awesome!! Thanks Frank for the recommendation- we will be back again!! Delicious food, very reasonable prices and 5 star local service.

Really a fun, old school place. No frills, but a cool location and a fab burger. Truly a hidden secret. They need to do a better job with social media. Instead of a daily menu photo on Facebook, they need to add many different photos of the restaurant on a daily basis and get an Instagram account. Free advertising!!!!

Neat place to hang out for a beer or margarita! The open deck is awesome and you get great views of planes as the come in for landings. I've been here on a number of occasions and have always had good service. This is mostly traditional American fare (I believe grilled hamburgers ARE, right?) - I've had several and they've all been your good, basic meat-on-a-bun so no complaints. I see this is less a destination spot and more of a casual hang-out for after work drinks - with that in mind the food is much better than most typical sports bars - since I don't do sports watching the planes is much more appealing to me. There's that perfect time right when the sun goes down that adds a bit of magic. Have a beer just before and get your cocktail ready for just that moment in time and you'll see what I mean.

I immediately liked this place. The owner was on hand, seating people, talking up his patrons, many of whom seem to be regulars. I learned he's been running this restaurant for 27 years. He says he's famous for the burger. I tried the swordfish special with veggies--it totally hit the spot. Staff here is very friendly. They say they don't seat incomplete parties, but that didn't stop these folks from letting me occupy a table and whipping out the laptop while I was waiting for my friend. Downwind is on the 2nd floor of the admin building at PDK airport. If the burger doesn't intrigue you, there are plenty of other sandwiches and entrees on the table which may strike your fancy. There's a certain Greek influence to things. Alongside traditional sandwiches, you'll find things like spanikopita and gyro. There is plenty to try. AND they've got a full bar. But even if the food and drinks weren't enough, one extra draw for this place is the fantastic porch. There is plenty of seating to overlook PDK's runways, where you can satisfy your inner aerophile while you relax with a beverage and a burger. It's good stuff. I'm looking forward to my next visit. Holler if you're coming with.

I am so happy to see the improvements at Downwind over the past year. This is my updated review after a delicious meal with very good service. The Pastrami Reuben was lean and delicious. It had sauerkraut! And they gladly brought us extra when we asked for more. We really love our Reuben with sauerkraut! The others in our party also had good meals. The crab dip appetizer was excellent. Also the barley soup, very good. Our server was very good. She knew the menu and kept us happy. Also some needed upgrades to the decor. New chairs. Keep it going! Downwind is back! So happy! Review below from 2017. Updated above We have been to Downwind many many times over the past 15+ years. It has had its ups and downs. 1. They recently raised the price of a pitcher of beer from $12 to $24 without a warning. No alcohol prices on the menu. We ended up with a much larger bill than normal for a group of friends we eat with weekly. 2. The staff is changing frequently lately.....again. And the new staff isn't trained. Though very nice, they are unfamiliar with the food and preparation. 3. They also increased food prices significantly, but they were underpriced before in the current market. Result, we will probably not return for awhile to give them a chance to pull it together again. Then we'll give it another try because the location and porch is special. Advice? They should have fixed things up both physically and service-wise before they raised prices. Ps. It would be nice to be welcomed back each visit with an acknowledgement that we are/were "regulars". The pastrami Reuben is delicious.....but a Reuben has sauerkraut. Please step up your game again! We miss you!

Had a great relaxing meal on the patio overlooking the PDK runway. The food isn't fancy but it is good. Service was great. Felt like a family owned place where 2-3 generations were all working together that night.

I went to the Downwind today for lunch! The food and service were both outstanding! I'm so happy they're up and running since theCovid shutdown!

The seating outside to watch the airplanes come and go is ok but the food is less than stellar. We had to send back the tasteless spinach and artichoke dip that came with round Tostitos, it was that bland and nasty. Ordered burgers and fries and they were ok, nothing special. This seems like a place that has been there forever and the employees look as though they've been there FOREVER too. The place left much to be desired but it was close to our heli ride so it was a matter of convenience. My waitress looked as though she was having a bad day as well and was not friendly at all. Oh well, we all have them.

I love The Downwind and am thrilled that it has REOPENED after all the pandemic restaurant shutdowns of 2020-2021. I have been having lunch and dinner here for years and was jones-ing for one of their gyros after over a year. Good news: gyros are still on the menu - still very tasty and highly recommended! Plus, airplanes - can't go wrong with the location.

Stopped in after buying a new SR20 for our flight school in Florida (Berichi Aviation). This Airport Restaurant is great. Perfect view of the runway and the food is delicious. Excellent portions. Very innovative, we had the smoked salmon BLT! I highly recommend trying it! Their potatoe salad is homemade and one of the best I've had. Staff is friendly and quick. Will definitely come again next trip to ATL!

One of my favorite spots in Atlanta. The patio is one of the best, you can watch all the airplanes land and take-off! Make sure you ask about the specials, and if none of them strike your fancy, the grilled salmon is to die for. Make sure you get mashed potatoes as one of your sides!

2.5 Dirty feel (completely gray wet wipe when cleaning a high chair AFTER they "cleaned" it with cleaning solution). Carpet on the floor. So much grime. Everywhere. Meh food. Do not do not do not get the panko crusted sole sandwich. Unless super greasy fishy tasting overpriced deep fried fish sticks are your thing. Just no. The all natural burger is crossed off on the menu. Husband got the regular burger. No complaint from him. Wish I would've had a salad. Those looked decent. Left so very disappointed. And went home to eat. Because I couldn't finish my food. Big waste of time and money. UPDATE: was contacted by someone who I am assuming was a manager who filled me in on the restaurant's most recent health score rating, which is a 92. Which is good. I did appreciate the contact and that someone is paying attention to feedback. So they can have the 3 stars instead of 2 since for me the experience was between the two. So hopefully they'll have a chance to take a look at the cleanliness of the high chairs, maybe rework the sole sandwich, and go from there. A little bit of care and attention has softened me a bit. We will see if the next visit is better.

Located Inside the DeKalb Peachtree Airport, this is the sort of find you don't really want to share with people. But since I'm keen on being your wingman, here you go. Of course, you want to see if you can sit outside, so you have a view overlooking the taxiways and runways. It's a trip having a beer and seeing any number of small charter planes taking off, I'll tell you that much. The place is family-owned, and you can tell. I mean our waitress and her daughter were both working on the night we were there, and they were as cool as polar bears. Just good people. But the real reason to come here is, believe it or not, the super food. And by that I mean their cheeseburger, which might have been one of the best hunks of meat I've ever tasted. Oh, and that artichoke dip is pretty friggin' good as well. On Fridays, it's "date night," and you have to be 13 years or older to come! How cute is that? Fridays also showcase some live music, so get ready to boogie down. All other times, little people are more than welcome (our waitress informed us that the place is overwhelmed with them during the weekend days!).

Basic pub food and full bar on the PDK airport flight line. Best bet is to stick with the specials board. Fun to watch planes during nice weather. Also various events during the week, like Trivia Night at 7:00pm on Wednesday.

I love this restaurant and location. They offer many different items on their menu, but you'll never find a better place to grab a bite to eat with such a great view. Whether it's stopping by for a drink to watch the planes, or getting a bite between flights there is something for everyone. Today I had the special which was a Philly cheesesteak and it was delicious. The bun was soft and inside the filling was amazing. Add the perfect view from the patio overlooking the airport and it's the perfect spot. Stop by and enjoy the food, drinks and view!

I've been here a few more times since my last review, and I'm going to give it a few more stars, and here's why: I've found sitting on this patio after the sun goes down to be a delightful treat even if you're just going for drinks. The grilled chicken sandwich and potato salad are very good, overall the menu is average. The staff is very friendly but at times the service can be poor. If you go here I reccommend waiting on a patio table. Things to know: Friday night is date night (13 and up) with live music which caters to a mostly older crowd. They are closed on Sundays. The bar does not have a blender.

We've been coming here for several years with our kiddos - it's our regular Friday night spot! Food is excellent and service is even better! Such a great spot for watching planes and enjoying a delicious meal. Highly recommend for a great experience!

I started coming to this place when I was a kid. My brother and I thought it was so awesome to sit and watch the planes while eating our chicken fingers. I've moved onto burgers, but it's still pretty awesome. I love coming here right before sunset. My family brought my fiance here for his first time recently. I hadnt been back in forever. It hadnt changed and I loved it.

What is there not to like. Great Food and Drinks and Airplanes.. lots of Airplanes. It does get crowded on Saturday afternoon ... Always ask about their specials. The Chief always has some tasty off the menu selections.

Had the All Natural burger with Swiss which was excellent. Wifey had the fish and chips and they were very good too. Generous portions. Fun watching the planes take off too.

Always have great specials and drinks. The more I come the more I like. Very hospitable staff and bar tenders.

Just waited 15 minutes with menus in hand - watched four tables get seated and waited on the deck next to us after we sat done - and not even a hello ! Great view but a flat zero for customer service. Left without even a can we help you !

OMG! I just fell in love! I choose the restaurant based on the proximity to my job and ordered the Sea Bass (Grilled) with a Greek Salad to-go. Unfortunately I was delayed getting there so the fish wasn't hot but it did not matter! IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOD! I literally just finished the Sea Bass and it was so moist and perfectly cooked. Not over done at all! The salad is so good, with their homemade Greek Dressing. I cant wait to go back tomorrow for Good Friday!