Dining at Carrabba’s Italian Grill at the Atlanta Airport: What to Expect

If you’re flying through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and craving classic Italian-American comfort food, you may be wondering about Carrabba’s Italian Grill at the airport—where it is, what it’s like, and whether it’s worth planning your layover around.

This guide focuses on how Carrabba’s fits into the Atlanta airport dining experience, what travelers typically find there, and how to make the most of your time if you want an Italian meal before or after your flight.

Is There a Carrabba’s Italian Grill at Atlanta’s Airport?

As of the most recent public information, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport does not list a Carrabba’s Italian Grill among its current concessions. Restaurant lineups at major airports can change, but ATL is currently better known for:

• Southern and soul-food spots
• Quick-service chains and coffee bars
• A few full-service sit-down restaurants and bars

If you’ve seen references online to “Carrabba’s Italian Grill – Airport”, they may refer to:

• Carrabba’s locations in other U.S. airports
• Older or outdated directory listings
• Generic search results combining “Carrabba’s” and “Atlanta airport” because many travelers look for that combination

Because airport offerings can evolve, it’s wise to:

• Check the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport concessions directory before you travel
• Verify current restaurant lists by concourse (A, B, C, D, E, F, and T)
• Call the airport’s main information line if you need confirmation

Airport General Information
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Address: 6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
Main info line: (800) 897-1910 (or check the airport’s main operator for updated contact details)

Where to Eat Italian-Style Food at ATL if There’s No Carrabba’s

If you’re specifically hoping for Italian or Italian-style dishes at the airport, you still have options, even without Carrabba’s onsite.

Depending on the current concession lineup, you may find:

• Pizza by the slice – Multiple concourses usually have pizza counters or casual Italian-American spots with:

  • Cheese and pepperoni slices
  • Margherita or veggie pizza
  • Stromboli or calzones (in some locations)

• Pasta-focused counters – Some quick-service stands rotate in dishes like:

  • Spaghetti or penne with red sauce
  • Alfredo-style sauces
  • Lasagna or baked ziti (offerings will vary)

• Wine bars or bistros – A few sit-down spots at ATL might serve:

  • Flatbreads or thin-crust pizzas
  • Caprese-style salads
  • Pasta as a special or seasonal item

Look carefully at Concourse F (International Terminal) and Concourse E, where there’s often a slightly broader mix of cuisines aimed at international travelers.

Quick Tips for Finding Italian Food at ATL

• 🕒 Look at your boarding pass: Note your concourse and see what’s in that concourse first so you don’t risk missing your flight.
• 📱 Use the airport’s directory: Many travelers use the ATL dining guide to filter by cuisine type, including pizza and full-service dining.
• ⏱️ Leave time for service:
  • Quick-service pizza or pasta: usually 10–20 minutes
  • Sit-down restaurants: plan at least 45–60 minutes before boarding

Considering Carrabba’s Near the Airport Instead

If you want the full Carrabba’s Italian Grill experience—with a broader menu of pastas, grilled meats, and appetizers—you’ll likely need to visit a Carrabba’s location in the Atlanta metro area, rather than inside ATL itself.

Carrabba’s typically operates as stand-alone or shopping-center restaurants in suburban and in-town areas, not inside the airport. While exact locations can change over time, you can generally expect to find Carrabba’s in:

• Suburban corridors around metro Atlanta
• Areas with a concentration of chain dining options and shopping

If you’re willing to leave the airport, you have two main scenarios:

1. You’re Arriving in Atlanta and Heading into the City

If you’re landing at ATL and going to stay in Atlanta or nearby suburbs, you can:

• Pick up a rental car at the ATL Rental Car Center (one stop away on the ATL SkyTrain)
• Or use a rideshare, taxi, or MARTA from the domestic terminal
• Then plan a stop at a Carrabba’s location that’s convenient to:
  • Your hotel
  • Your final destination
  • A shopping area you’re already visiting

This is often more relaxed than trying to rush in and out of the airport area just to eat.

2. You Have a Long Layover and Can Leave the Secure Area

If your layover is long enough (typically 4+ hours door-to-door is safest), you could, in theory:

1. Exit security
2. Travel to a nearby area of metro Atlanta where Carrabba’s or another full-service Italian restaurant is located
3. Dine there
4. Return to the airport, clear security again, and get to your gate

This is only practical if:

• Your baggage situation allows (carry-on only is simplest)
• You’re familiar with ATL’s size and security timelines
• You’re on a domestic itinerary or have already cleared U.S. immigration and customs

Most travelers with shorter layovers will find it easier to stick to Italian-style options inside the concourses rather than leaving the airport.

Italian Dining in Atlanta Beyond the Airport

If you’re planning to stay in Atlanta and are just researching now, you might want to know how Carrabba’s compares to other Italian options in the city.

In and around Atlanta, you’ll see:

• National chains (including Carrabba’s)

  • Usually found in:
    • Perimeter Center / Dunwoody area
    • Cobb County / Cumberland / Marietta corridors
    • North Fulton suburbs such as Alpharetta or Roswell
  • Offer familiar menus, predictable pricing, and family-friendly seating

• Local Italian restaurants and trattorias

  • Often concentrated in:
    • Midtown Atlanta
    • Buckhead
    • Virginia-Highland, Inman Park, and other intown neighborhoods
  • Menus may include:
    • House-made pastas
    • Wood-fired pizzas
    • Regionally inspired Italian dishes

Both approaches are widely used by Atlanta residents:

• Some prefer the consistency of chains like Carrabba’s.
• Others seek out neighborhood Italian spots with smaller, rotating menus.

If you’re just landing at ATL and staying in the city, it can help to plan:

• First-night dinner: Choose something not too far from your hotel after a long flight.
• One “Italian night” in your itinerary, whether that’s Carrabba’s or a local favorite.

How to Plan Around ATL’s Layout and Timing

Whether you’re hoping for Italian food or just deciding how much time you have for a meal near the airport, it’s useful to understand how Hartsfield–Jackson is set up.

Basic Airport Layout

ATL is organized by:

• Domestic Terminal North and South
• Concourse T (connected to the domestic terminal)
• Concourses A, B, C, D, and E
• Concourse F and the International Terminal

You move between terminals and concourses using:

• The Plane Train (underground automated train)
• Walkways between most concourses

Time Considerations

When planning a sit-down meal or a trip off-airport:

• For domestic flights, many travelers aim to be:
  • At security: 1.5–2 hours before departure
• For international flights, many aim for:
  • At security: 2–3 hours before departure

A full Italian meal—whether at a restaurant near your hotel or at a Carrabba’s in the suburbs—typically takes 60–90 minutes, plus travel time. Build that into your schedule, especially if you’re heading back to ATL afterward.

Simple Planning Checklist for Italian Food Around ATL

Below is a quick-reference guide to help you decide your best option:

Practical Transportation Notes for Reaching Italian Restaurants from ATL

If you decide to leave ATL for Carrabba’s or any other Italian restaurant in the city:

• Rideshare and taxis

  • Available from the Ground Transportation Center near the domestic terminal
  • Good for direct trips to your restaurant or hotel

• Rental cars

  • The ATL Rental Car Center is connected via the ATL SkyTrain from the domestic terminal
  • Useful if you’re planning multiple errands, hotel stops, or suburban dining

• MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)

  • The Airport Station is directly attached to the domestic terminal
  • You can ride MARTA north into:
    • Downtown (e.g., Peachtree Center)
    • Midtown
    • Buckhead
  • From there, you can walk or take a short rideshare to many local Italian options

MARTA Headquarters (for general rider info)
Address: 2424 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Customer information line: Often listed on MARTA’s official materials for schedules and updates

Key Takeaways for Carrabba’s and Italian Dining at Atlanta Airport

• Carrabba’s Italian Grill is not currently inside ATL, based on the latest public concession listings.
• If you’re in the airport, your Italian-style choices will be:
  • Pizza counters
  • Occasional pasta offerings
  • Some full-service restaurants with Italian-inspired dishes
• For a full Carrabba’s experience, you’ll need to visit a metro Atlanta Carrabba’s location outside the airport.
• With a short layover, stay in your concourse; with more time or an overnight stay, explore Atlanta’s broader Italian dining scene, including both chains and local trattorias.

Planning ahead—both your flight timing and your ground transportation—will make it much easier to enjoy Italian food, whether that’s at a chain like Carrabba’s or one of Atlanta’s many neighborhood restaurants.