Four hours in Atlanta Airport....where can I go to get some real Southern fare?
 

I have a four to five hour layover in the Atlanta international airport . I did a search of the vendors in the airport and didn't see anything that caught my eye. Is it possible for me to run outside to get some good Southern food, especially soul food? I'd really like to get something to tide me over, especially since I don't plan to eat on the plane.

You could try PittyPats Porch which is right downtown and about a 20 minute ride on the Metro.

If you are pressed for time and cannot leave the airport, try Pashal's restaurants there. The original had terrific soul food, though I cannot honestly vouch for the airport iteration. It's related to the famous Motor Hotel restaurant of the same name, that was a very important meeting and gathering place during the salad days of the civil rights movement in the South. Also, Harold's Barbecue on McDonough has outstanding pork barbecue and is an easy cab ride.
Aloha. On your way to Paris?

Melissa, aside from Pashal's, there are a couple of fried chicken places that are definitely southern fare: Chick-Fil-A in consourse A, Popeyes Concourse C, and Mo'Better Chicken in councourses B&E.

MelissaHi, about the closest you will get to soul food in the airport is Paschal's which is in the atrium. To take a look at their menu go to pachalsrestaurant.net

Go ahead try some fried catfish fingers, fried chicken, country style steak or pork chops along with some..Don't forget your fried green tomatoes, collard greens and cornbread dressing...Sounds pretty good to me!

Also, it's not soul food, but good food also in the atrium is Houlihan's..I guess it's still there.

Wow, we should preview before we post..along with some??????

Also, Houlihan's has pot roast if that floats your boat.

Be glad you are not in Atlanta today..ice ice ice...major road closures.

Melissa,

I agree that Paschals is a good choice. You actually do not have to go to the main atrium to enjoy it unless you just want to kill time. Keep in mind that you will have to come back through security.

There are two additional Paschals in the middle of two concourses. Just can't remember which ones. If noone here can tell you, an airport employee will defintely know.

Paschals would be my first choice for southern food at the airport. It is still very good.

mmm, thanks everyone! This will actually be next week (Feb 2) and coming back (Feb 11), both long layovers. I'm glad I have some options for both times! Hope the weather clears up in Atlanta.....today in Honolulu it's very rainy, but it's still paradise.

Mahalo Lex1! Actually, this time I'm on my way to Rio de Janeiro. (Yes, it was a surprise to me, too!)

Do I need reservations for Harold's Barbecue or can I just show up?

You may just show up. It's rather informal-it looks like a diner with a back room- but, a whole lot of movers and shakers dine there at lunch (we call the mid-day meal "dinner"). The sliced pork is the specialite de la Maison. Bon appetit.

Melissa: More info. Harold's Barbecue, 171 McDonough Blvd., SE, Atlanta, 30315; 404.627.9268. Open 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. No credit cards. Reviewed at :ajc.com->accessatlanta

When at Harold's, be sure to ask for your pulled pork "inside out" -- that means you get some of the crunchy end piece, too. And I also love the cracklin' cornbread - it has cracklins cooked right in.

I would personally be concerned about leaving the Atlanta airport during a 4-5 hour layover only because the security lines there can be veeeery long. But, if you're experienced with that airport, you already knew that!

I had same concerns about time needed to get through security, though Monday mornings out are the worst (typically an hour or so is my observation) and fridays could be busy. Wednesday Feb. 2nd should not be a problem, though you don't say when you'll be dining. Harold's could be done in fine style-travel and eating- in 2-2 1/2 hours round trip. It's between the airport and downtown fairly near the interstate.

Actually, I arrive in Atlanta at 4 p.m. and leave at 8 p.m. I figure an early meal would enable me to eat fairly quickly so I can return to the airport easily?

You know, Atlanta was the first place I traveled to after 9/11, the following year. I had heard about the security lines but whizzed through quickly, despite having more than my share of carryon luggage which included 4 bottles of wine. I'm sure that was a fluke, though.

I just flew through ATL last week and it appears they have crammed even more checkpoints into the security area. What looked like an ominous line ended up only taking 10 minutes to get through. If you land on-time, I say go for it. Otherwise Pashal's isn't a bad option.

Pascal's is great. There's one in the atrium (outside security) and one at the middle of Concourse A.

I am currently stuck in Brazil, but I just wanted to let you know that I did hop a cab to Howard's BBQ near the federal prison. I wish I knew that the Brunswick Stew was the star of the show before I ordered, since I only got it as a side (mm mm good). I did, however, get a pork rib sandwich to go for the plane, and that was wonderful to eat as everyone else was eating their processed plane food.

On a Wednesday evening, the Atlanta airport seemed pretty empty....when I came back from Howard's, I made it from the curb to my gate in about 10 15 minutes.

Glad you enjoyed Harold's. Sorry you're stuck in Brazil. Mardi Gras?

FINALLY HOME. yes, Carnaval and Mardi Gras!