{"id":5715,"date":"2016-12-16T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2016-12-16T20:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=5715"},"modified":"2017-01-03T09:17:08","modified_gmt":"2017-01-03T14:17:08","slug":"ludacris-opens-first-airport-restaurant-chicken-beer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/ludacris-opens-first-airport-restaurant-chicken-beer\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Ludacris\u2019 opens first Airport restaurant Chicken + Beer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clockwise from top: The official ribbon-cutting ceremony for new restaurant Chicken + Beer on Concourse D, a partnership between entertainer \u2018Ludacris\u2019 Bridges and Jackmont Hospitality. From left to right: Valerie Jackson of Jackmont Hospitality, Interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr., Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Chris \u2018Ludacris\u2019 Bridges and Brooke Jackson Edmond of Jackmont Hospitality. Chicken + Beer entrance sign, located near Gate D5. The event attracted many passengers and fans, and Bridges took time to pose with them. An array of menu items were sampled during the event, including Battered Catfish with Corn Edamame Succotash. Bridges also posed with his likeness, a life-size cutout that features the iFly ATL mobile\u00a0app.\u00a0 Photos by Chucky Kahng<\/p><\/div>\n

By\u00a0Anika Robertson<\/strong>
\nSenior Editor \/ Assistant\u00a0Public Relations Manager<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) leaders joined Chris \u201cLudacris\u201d Bridges and executives from Jackmont Hospitality Inc. to celebrate the opening of Chicken + Beer on Dec. 12 at ATL.<\/p>\n

The restaurant, named for Ludacris\u2019 third studio album, is Jackmont Hospitality\u2019s second independently developed concept at the Airport following One Flew South, which opened nearly a decade ago.<\/p>\n

Located near gate D5, the 90-seat restaurant serves Southern-style comfort food and locally sourced craft beers in an upbeat, modern atmosphere complemented by bold artwork, a marble bar and comfortable seating. It offers unique takes on Southern classics such as shrimp and grits and battered catfish as well as beers from established and up-and-coming breweries.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs of today, Chicken and Beer isn\u2019t just a three-time platinum album; it\u2019s also a brand for food,\u201d Mayor Kasim Reed told onlookers before the ribbon-cutting. \u201cThings just get better and better and better, and Chicken and Beer is the next phase of excellence for Hartsfield-Jackson.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interim Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. also expressed appreciation for the new eatery, which aligns with the Airport\u2019s priorities for award-winning concessions and guest relations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled this partnership has found a home at the world\u2019s busiest and most efficient airport,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of the Airport\u2019s strategic priorities focuses on enhancing the guest experience. We accomplish this by delivering outstanding food and beverage options. Another strategic priority is marketing our region as an exciting tourist destination by providing our connecting guests \u2013 those travelers just passing through ATL \u2013 with the sights, sounds and, in the case of Chicken and Beer, Southern-style comfort food and a cold brew all reminiscent of our region.\u201d<\/p>\n

The concept has been nearly six years in the making with Bridges\u2019s team and Jackmont Hospitality, which owns and operates restaurants on behalf of Atlanta Restaurant Partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing we wanted to do was \u2026 to continue what we were able to accomplish [at One Flew South],\u201d said Jackmont CEO and co-founder Daniel Halpern, referring to the desire to drive a premium guest experience. \u201cWe wanted to continue that chef-driven mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bridges shared his \u201cproud moment\u201d with his fans on Twitter and Instagram with the #chickenandbeer hashtag.<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate all the fans so much for supporting me in every endeavor and everything that I do because I\u2019ve been diversifying businesses for a long time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was because of you that this started as an album, a triple-platinum album, and now has become a restaurant inside the busiest Airport in the world. So follow your dreams, continue to do what\u2019s in your heart and work hard at it, and I guarantee you can accomplish anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bridges has tested everything on the menu but predicted that his namesake entr\u00e9e, Luda\u2019s Chicken & Pecan Waffles with whiskey maple, may become the most popular item. Chicken + Beer opened to the public Nov. 17 and operates daily from 6:30\u00a0a.m. to 10:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

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