Tailwinds Bar & Grill: A Culinary Gem at Orillia Rama Regional Airport
04 Feb 2019
Disclosure: Our meal was covered by Ontario’s Lake Country. All opinions are my own.
Tailwinds Bar & Grill
Nestled on the shores Lake St John in Ramara, Tailwinds Bar & Grill is a fun eatery for aviation fanatics and lovers of great food. It is known as one of the top fly and dine destinations in Central Ontario, and the crowning jewel of Orillia Rama Regional Airport. Tailwinds Bar & Grill is only ten minutes away from Casino Rama, and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all-year long.
If you have been to the Orillia Rama Regional Airport before, you would likely be quite familiar with the route getting there. However, if you have not (like us prior to eating at Tailwinds), you may think you are going the wrong way. I am not sure what I was expecting – maybe the bright lights you would normally see at an airport. We were going for dinner, so the roads were dark, with twists and turns. Keep an eye out when you get close to the destination on your GPS, or you will end up in someone’s driveway. Yup… that was us.
Once you get to this unique location, there is plenty of parking. The restaurant is all on one level, making it accessible for those with wheelchairs or walkers.
Inside, there are two airplanes hanging from the roof. It didn’t take me long to recognize who’s planes they were…
The Red Baron’s (AKA Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen) red Fokker Dr.I triplane…
… and Snoopy the World War I Flying Ace’s Sopwith Camel fighter plane.
Very cool piece of nostalgia, that brought back so many memories of my childhood.
For those who don’t know who The Red baron is, here is a taste…
… the song from my childhood, by The Royal Guardsman.
… and the Christmas version.
The restaurant is truly unique, with its cool location, warm atmosphere, and delicious menu. I can only imagine how awesome it would be to have lunch at Tailwinds Bar & Grill in the summer, and watch the aircraft take off and land.
Our Dinner
Although we loved the atmosphere, we couldn’t wait to order some appetizers.
Our waitress suggested the beer battered onion rings with caramelized onion mayo. They were massive! A great shareable starter.
We also got an order of the dusted chicken wings. The wings were amazing!
Now it was time for our main course.
Lauren ordered the Stripling Steak – chargrilled medium rare 8 ounce CAB 45 day aged steak, garlic butter smear, crispy onion straws, served with potato, carrots, and vegetable of the day (carrots, and green beans). It was cooked just the way she likes it. She loved the onion straws and carrots (her fave).
Rachel ordered the Chicken Parmesan – single chicken breast pounded thin, breaded and fried, topped with roasted tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Served with garlic-parsley noodles, and vegetable of the day (carrots, and green beans). Rachel is a very picky eater, and loved the chicken parmesan.
Wendy ordered the Beef Brisket Sandwich – 12 hour slow braised brisket, homemade bbq sauce, melted swiss cheese, and crispy onion straws, on a garlic grilled ciabatta bun. She got a side of sweet potato fries. Wendy is a big fan of brisket, and this one did not disappoint.
And I ordered the Ribeye Steak – boneless 12 ounce CAB rib eye steak chargrilled to a perfect medium rare, garlic butter smear, crispy onion straws, served with potato, and vegetable of the day (carrots, and green beans). This steak was a good size, and full of flavour.
Menu
Carefully curated by Chef Stephen Jackson, the extensive menu at Tailwinds Bar & Grill is sure to have something to please everyone’s palette.
All Day Breakfast Menu
• Tailwinds Breakfast (2 Eggs, choice of ham, bacon, or sausage, 2 slices of toast and potatoes)
• Hangry Breakfast (3 Eggs with ham, bacon and sausage, 3 slices of toast and potatoes)
• Eggs Benedict
• Plain Omelette
• Pancakes (available with side of bacon, ham, or sausage)
• Thick Cut French Toast (2 Pieces of challah bread)
• Pilot’s Thick Cut French Toast (with side of bacon, ham or sausage)
• Toasted Western Sandwich
• Oatmeal
Soups
• Daily Featured Soup (House made with fresh ingredients)
• French Onion Soup
• Beef Mushroom Barley
Salads
• House Greens
• Caesar Salad
• Mediterranean Greek
• Turkey Cobb
Shareables
• Calamari
• House Made Chicken Fingers
• Hand Cut Russet Fries
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Beer Battered Onion Rings
• Pickerel Fingers
• Fresh Guacamole And Salsa
• Nacho Platter
• J2 Squared Classic Poutine
• Chicken Wings
• Duck Wings
• Carn’s Garlic Bacon Cheese Bread
Sandwiches, Wraps & Tacos
• Beef Brisket Sandwich
• Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich
• Grilled Cheese
• Buffalo Chicken Wrap
• Turkey Clubhouse
• Blackend Catfish Tacos
• Vegetarian Wrap
Burgers
• Classic Burger
• Cheeseburger
• Cheese And Bacon Burger
• Bison Burger
• Chicken Burger
• Bunless Vegan Burger
Entrées
• Fish And Chips
• Chicken Parmesan
• Half Roast Chicken
• Liver & Onions
• Rib Eye Steak (Boneless 12 ounce CAB rib eye steak)
• Mac & Cheese
• Cedar Plank Salmon
• Filets Of Pickerel
• Strip Loin Steak (8 ounce CAB 45 day aged steak)
Stone Oven Pizza
• Margherita
• Hawaiian
• Pepperoni
• Mushroom & Goat Cheese
• BBQ Chicken Pizza
Desserts
• Carrot Cake
• Butter Tart
• Triple Chocolate Brownie Sundae
• Warm Apple Crisp
• Fresh Berry Cup In Season
• Gelato Or Ice Cream
Location
3449 Airport Road
Ramara, Ontario L3V 6H6
Phone: 705-325-1020
Hours
Sunday to Thursday 8:00am to 9:00pm
Friday and Saturday 8:00am to 10:00pm
Give Tailwinds Bar & Grill a Try!
Whether you are driving by, flying in, arriving by boat, or just passing through, put Tailwinds Bar & Grill on your itinerary. The food is awesome, there’s lots of parking, the service is wonderful, and the aviation atmosphere is sure to bring back memories from days gone by.
Cheers,
Big Daddy
If you would like me to review your product, service, restaurant, or travel destination, please send me an email at craig@bigdaddykreativ.ca or tweet me at @BigDaddyKreativ
Craig Silva
Craig is a husband, father, team leader, travel and food writer, senior youth group coordinator, designer, brander, community builder, volunteer, and social media strategist. He likes to travel, go camping, go on road trips, watch movies, build stuff, operate the grill, and sing with his band. Craig is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and Travel Media Association of Canada. If you are a PR agency or brand and would like Craig to review a travel destination, vehicle, restaurant, product or service, please send him an email.
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