A New Deli at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport

Airport travel during the holidays can be hectic on a normal day, but even moreso during the holiday season. Celebrity pastry chef, Food Network personality, and best-selling cookbook author Duff Goldman, in partnership with Areas USA, is opening his first restaurant in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  Duff’s Deli + Market is a fast-casual, Jewish-deli-style restaurant with a gourmet market serving a savory menu with sweet treats. Goldman spoke with Beyondish about his emotions leading up to his first restaurant opening, why food and travel are synonymous, and what we can expect to find as we rush through the airport.

Congratulations! How are you feeling as you head into your first restaurant launch?

I’m super stoked! In my career, I’ve worked in restaurants, but never thought I’d be opening one.

How did you land on this fast-casual, Jewish-deli-style restaurant with a gourmet market concept?

I had SO many ideas, but I kept coming back to a deli concept. It just felt right. You don’t see good delis around that much anymore. Growing up, I would always go to the deli after Sunday school, so it’s what I have come to look at as my comfort food.

How did you land on launching at the Atlanta airport?

I travel a lot for work, especially through the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and I always want comfort food when I travel. To me there really isn’t anything more comforting than a pastrami sandwich and a bowl of matzo ball soup.

Can you tell our readers some of your standout items on the menu? 

Oh wow! We will have so much to choose from, including hot and cold sandwiches like brisket, turkey, pastrami and of course PB ‘n J for the kids, salads, and soup.

You’re also offering dessert-style cocktails and cakes?

You’ll have to save room for cake in a jar and black-and-white cookies for dessert.  Our bar is set to open this January, and we’re already planning a few fun surprises leading into Valentine’s Day. I’m not able to share details just yet, but stay tuned – and if you’re traveling through ATL this Valentine’s Day, be sure to stop by.

I’m from Long Island, so I grew up grabbing food from Jewish deli-style restaurants. I always experienced a deep sense of community in those spaces.

Long Island is the Mecca of Jewish deli-style food. For me, those spots were never just restaurants; they were little hubs of community. You’d go in for a sandwich, but you’d leave feeling like you were part of something.

You’re launching in one of the busiest airports in the world during one of the most stressful travel times of the year. What were you thinking?

Opening in one of the busiest airports in the world, especially during peak holiday travel, actually feels pretty perfect. Airports can chaotic, but they’re also these incredible crossroads where everyone’s headed somewhere important. There’s something meaningful about giving people a place to slow down for a second, grab something comforting and familiar, and maybe feel a little grounded before they get back on the move.

Food and travel do go hand in hand.

Food and travel have this shared magic – they both bring people together. When you travel, you get to taste the world, discover new flavors, and connect with cultures that are different from your own. So to offer travelers a menu full of nostalgic, deli-style comfort feels like a way of saying, “Hey, you’re not alone in this crazy airport. Sit, breathe, have something delicious.” That’s the good stuff.

What do you hope customers take away from your first restaurant launch?

I show love through hospitality and creating food for others to enjoy. I hope customers feel the love and hospitality. I’m pretty lucky; I’ve built a career on doing things that are unexpected, and as the “cake guy,” I think people don’t expect a full savory restaurant from me. So I also hope customers are surprised by how delicious my food is.

You come from a long line of artists and grew up comfortable in the kitchen. As you embark on this new journey, how does your family and background continue to influence you?

My Jewish background plays a big part, not only in this restaurant but also in my shows and cookbooks, as I’m always sharing family recipes and baking techniques my grandmother taught me.

Your resume is stacked. Renowned celebrity pastry chef. Television personality. Best-selling cookbook author. Now a restaurant owner. The restaurant launches on your birthday, and you’re welcoming a new addition to your family (Congratulations on baby number 2!). When someone hears the name Duff Goldman, what do you want your legacy to be?

That is such a hard question, and one you don’t often think about while working on each project. At the very least, I would like to be remembered as someone who spread joy to others through baking and through my food.