Editor’s Update | November 2, 2026
This article was originally published years ago following a WSB-TV investigation involving a customer’s complaint about contaminated food at Café Intermezzo inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It has been shortened and revised for clarity while preserving my firsthand account. The experiences described reflect my employment at the establishment and should not be interpreted as a statement about its current operations or health inspection status.
I remember the morning a former coworker informed me that Café Intermezzo, located in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, had finally made Channel 2 News for something other than its beautiful atmosphere and expensive menu. The sun pierced through the clouds, and the angels began to sing. Finally, people were getting a glimpse of what I had experienced behind those kitchen doors.
Café Intermezzo at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was designed to give travelers a touch of European elegance. With crystal chandeliers, designer cakes, and an impressive menu, the restaurant certainly looked the part. We served everyone from ordinary travelers to celebrities like André 3000, Terrell Owens, and Kevin Hart. One thing that I learned on the job: appearances can be deceiving.
The WSB-TV report featured a customer who discovered what appeared to be maggots on a sandwich he purchased before boarding a flight. Initially, he thought the moving particles were Parmesan cheese. Unfortunately, they were something far more disturbing.
I immediately recognized the sandwich. It appeared to be the turkey and Swiss on tomato focaccia bread, an item typically prepared in advance and displayed in the deli case. Restocking that case had once been part of my responsibilities.
According to the report, restaurant management pointed toward its bread supplier as the possible source of contamination. That explanation raised questions for me. During my nearly three years working there, I couldn’t recall receiving a shipment of bread that appeared questionable. What I could remember, however, was a persistent problem with small flies throughout the establishment.
The infestation became so frustrating that employees regularly checked their belongings before leaving. I remember dealing with itching and irritation while working, sometimes leaving the restaurant feeling absolutely disgusting.
What made the situation particularly frustrating was the company’s management structure.
Although Café Intermezzo is an established Atlanta restaurant brand, the airport location was operated by Airport Retail Management, a concessions company commonly referred to as ARM. In my experience, the problem wasn’t necessarily the kitchen staff. It was the lack of urgency and accountability from the people overseeing operations.
Employee turnover was high, maintenance concerns took too long to address, and getting anything resolved often required going through several layers of management.
I remember the kitchen air conditioning breaking during the warmer months. Employees endured uncomfortable working conditions for an extended period before the issue was finally addressed. It was one of several experiences that left me questioning the company’s priorities.
What disturbed me most about the news report was learning that the Clayton County Board of Health reportedly found no citable violations during an inspection following the customer’s complaint.
That finding did not erase what I personally experienced while employed there. It also raised questions for me about how effectively routine inspections captured the conditions employees dealt with between visits.
And that brings me to my point.: a beautiful restaurant is not necessarily a clean restaurant. An expensive menu does not guarantee proper food handling, and a favorable inspection score should never replace your own judgment.
Pay attention to your surroundings. Notice visible pests, questionable sanitation practices, and conditions that suggest employees are struggling to maintain a safe working environment.
I cannot speak to how the Café Intermezzo locations operate today. I can only speak about what I witnessed during my employment and why that customer’s experience brought back so many unpleasant memories.
Sometimes the prettiest chandelier in the building is hanging over a whole lot of mess.