Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Concourse B
Atlanta, GA 30320

I can get into a bad habit when I find a good restaurant. Especially when I only have an opportunity to eat there every so often. This is how I’ve been treating One Flew South, the awesome sushi restaurant at Atlanta’s Airport (ATL)–I have returned at every opportunity. But, this time, I forced myself to explore the other options and had read some good things about Café Intermezzo in Terminal B.

It’s half book store, half cafe-style restaurant, which results in an always-busy-feeling atmosphere and, in the land of Chilis, TGI Fridays and other typical chains, Café Intermezzo can offer a slight change of pace–and, in my opinion, much better food options.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they have a very solid wine and beer list for an airport and lots of coffee concoctions with espresso from their authentic Italian espresso machine.

Their menu is a mix of traditional cafe fare, then larger entree-sized portions of some Italian classics. So, you’ll find a wide array of sandwiches, paninis, burgers and wraps and a bunch of heavier pasta-type dishes followed by a huge pastry list.

I ordered the [highlight color=”grey/color”]STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE MEDALLIONS ($13)[/highlight] and added salmon: strawberries, mango, red onions and candied walnuts tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette, topped with baked goat cheese medallions. Just about everything about this salad was delicious, the fruit was all fresh and in season. The salmon portion was huge– closer to a dinner entree size and turned out to be a great addition. And, most importantly, the breaded and lightly fried goat cheese was predictably amazing.

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE MEDALLIONS ($13)

Keeping in mind that ATL is the world’s busiest airport and likely means a higher than normal stress environment for servers–the service was fine. But, if ignoring that fact, the server was a bit short, seemed quite rushed and, ironically, was a bit slow. This might not be your best bet if looking for a quick meal, but it is worth it if you’ve got a bit of time to spare.

BOTTOM LINE: Quality Italian cafe fare in a busy, lively atmosphere–while One Flew South (in Terminal E) is still my first choice, I’ll definitely be back to Café Intermezzo.