The Varsity, Atlanta

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When VT fixes the upload problem, I will add pics.
If you bad moth this place, the locals may not let you come back to town. The place has been a congregation point for locals coming downtown, and visitors going through. Frank Gordy started in 1928 as a drive-in place, in a small building. It now holds 800 inside and parking for 600 cars. You get in line inside and walk you way down the line.

Favorite Dish: Hotdogs with chili is the necessary staple, along with a side of fires-and yea-Cherry Coke. Prices ofr the hotdogs are $1.50-2.25 and hamburgers only $1.50 to $2.60 loaded and double. So the price is right for sure. Quality is -well what do you expect for all the volume they have; it is okay. You need 2-3 dogs or burgers to fill up.
The volume is unbelievable, but they say they can put through 30,000 a day during a Georgia Tech game. A large number of local residents stop by many times when coming to town, and keep bringing new generations.

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Even though you can take-away, or dine in at The Varsity, you definiately should choose the Drive-In solution, as it gives you a true, real American experience in the South, in the middle of Atlanta, GA.
You drive your car in the designated area of the Parking lot, order through your window and get all your food from the guys walking around the cars on a plate, that they will install on your rolled down side window.
You shouldn't drive away, but eat your food there, in your car - this is America...

Favorite Dish: The food is not a long remembered culinary experience, but it's eatable every once in a while if you live close, or once for the rest of the surrounding experience if you're on the road and just drive by.
I had a chili-cheese dog and a chili-cheese burger, with onion rings to go on the side. All servings were not relatively small as you can see on the picture as well. I chose to drink a large Chocolate shake, but of course in the shadow of the very close Coca Cola Company Building you should probably opt for Coke if you want the real American experience, they are partners since 1928 - when The Varsity was opened. Or go for the strange Varsity specialty, the orange drink if you're really brave...

I have lived in Atlanta for fourteen years.

This place serves a lot of junk food and they do it very fast. If you have a teenage digestive system this will not be a problem. Work with me on this and think lots of grease. I do punish myself at times here.

If you want junk food hot dogs you will be fine. If you are of Polish or Slavic descent and are wanting a weiner, expect to be sadly disappointed.

As previous posters mentioned, take a camera and some nice shots of you standing in front of the sign. Then, eat somewhere else.

I read some of the virtual tourist comments about this place and wasn't sure if I would have the chance to stop by for a visit but since my hotel was right across the street, it made for a convenient stop.
I walked into the place (about 1:30 p.m. on a Friday) and the place was packed. There were people everywhere, especially in line to place their orders. It didn't take long and I got my food quickly enough. I proceeded to the back where I found an unoccupied (but dirty) table and sat down to eat.
The burger was small.....not White Castle small....but still smaller than what I was expecting. The french fries were in one big, greasy clump. I had to literally peel the fries off of the clump to eat them. They were greasy and I'm sure there was nothing healthy about this meal but I ate it nonetheless.
Overall.......the experience was great. The food was good. Would I go there again? Absolutely!!!!

The Varsity is an Atlanta favorite. The burgers and hotdogs are wonderfully greasy. Try the Orange drink.

Be ready to order before you reach the counter b/c they will literally yell at you if you make them wait.

Always a busy place right across from Ga. Tech

The Varsity is an Atlanta institution. It was founded in 1928 across the street from Georgia Tech by a Mr. Gordy. Legend says the dean called him into his office to tell him he had flunked out and Gordy told him, "I will become a rich man within sight of your office window." He did in fact leave Tech, although I don't know the circumstances, telling his classmates that he would have $20,000 by the time they graduated. He had $40,000.

There is nothing fancy (or healthy) about the cuisine. Their main claim to fame is hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, onion rings and fried pies. All are delicious.

Favorite Dish: My favorites are the chili burgers and onion rings. As I said they are not healthy but they are all freshly prepared. The fries and onion rings are not frozen, but cut fresh on the premises. The food is no more greasy than any fat food and probably less fat than some of the chain burger places.

The Varsity is an institution which is more of a place to be experienced than one to visit for consumption purposes. The original Varsity opened in the 1930's I believe, and was known for its fast food and fast talking servers, who greeted customers with the now famous phrase, "What'll ya have?" This tradition continues to this day although the operation has expanded.

Much like the movie "The Matrix", no one can be told what The Varsity is. It must be experienced. That's how I started to feel after hearing about it from so many folks in Atlanta. Finally I decided to avail myself of the Varsity experience.

Given The Varsity's popularity and location adjacent to Georgia Tech, its a popular place. Long lines form at the walk up counter as Atlanta's faithful and curious tourists line up for a plate of heavenly grease. The menu consists of the hot dogs and hamburgers which made the place famous, along with french fries and onion rings (all are described by the order takers in Varsity slang, such as "yellow dog" for hot dog with mustard). To appeal to those who'd rather dine at The Flying Biscuit, The Varsity has added salads and chicken sandwiches to its repertoire.

The food here is also pretty cheap, which is probably the reason for many of the repeat customers. And, for those who want the drive in dining experience, you can park at one of the

I was told that the true Varsity experience means a chili cheese hot dog, presumably served with a free pass for a quadruple bypass, which is what I decided to do with the experience of eating a Varsity Dog.

Favorite Dish: I opted for the bacon cheeseburger instead, served with a side of onion rings, feeling that that was a sufficient amount of grease.

The food was great. I'd recommend The Varsity over standard fast food fare, but, all in all, it was still a burger and onion rings and nothing more. I think the experience of this place is a better reason to go. Its part of the true Atlanta experience.

The Downtown Varsity is a mecca for fast food fans. Once the meal is over you can top off the oil in your car with the grease at the bottom of your Onion Ring Bowl.

There are other Varsity restaurants around Georgia but this is the classic. It's always crowded but they move the crowds through quicker than the food will move through you (and that's fast!)

Favorite Dish: Dogs are the favorite. Chili Dogs with a squirt of mustard and a nice bowl of onion rings cannot be beat.

The other classic is the Frosted Orange. Try one and you'll swear it tastes like a baby aspirin smoothy.

The VARSITY ROCKS! But don't tell my cardiologist.