The latter is one of many custom orders possible here, similar to In-n-Out's off-the-menu specialties, but the difference is that for first-timers the Varity has a helpful sign in the entrance titled "Learn the Lingo" that explains how to order with slang. I surveyed several Atlanta friends before visiting, and was told in no uncertain terms what I must order, including a chili cheese dog, a "frozen orange," fried pie, and a burger with pimento rather than standard American cheese. But it is key to order the right thing - you can eat well here, but not everything stands out.
#Car hop plus#
Merging southern hospitality with brusque efficiency, it has a unique charm, plus extremely reasonable prices. It's not just a restaurant, but rather one of those places that has been so popular for so long that it has become a true icon of American road-trip food, simply a must-stop for anyone driving through Atlanta. The food: It is hard not to like the Varsity. Reason to visit: Burger with pimento cheese, onion rings, fries, fried pie The interior has a chrome-plated diner feel, and in the entryway glass cases display the history of the Varsity, along with its amazing statistics – 2 miles of hot dogs, 300 gallons of chili and literally a ton of onions consumed daily. The restaurant is located smack in the heart of downtown Atlanta, just off the busy highways bisecting the city, and if you are going through Atlanta, then you are going past the Varsity. Every patron is still greeted with the Varsity's signature welcome, "What'll ya have?" The menu board is now digital and updated, but the service is the same friendly, if a bit abrupt, smooth operation it has been since I first visited 20 years ago. Each station is manned by a savvy vet, backed up by helpers, and unlike most fast-food restaurants where they punch in your order and move on, your contact at the Varsity fills your order completely before ending the interaction, barking commands to the kitchen and assistants. What sets the Varsity apart is the massive array of counters where everyone orders, gets their food and leaves in search of seating.
The Varsity can accommodate 600 cars and 800 diners inside, all at simple Formica tables and booths, and while a bit homier than a McDonalds, it definitely has a fast-food feel. Sort of Atlanta's answer to New York's Nathan's in Coney Island, the flagship Varsity (there are now six other Atlanta-area locations plus two outposts in the airport) is simply enormous, with a multi-level parking garage, plus a normal lot, and a couple of large dining rooms on different levels. But the vast majority of visitors park and eat inside, or take it to go. The scene: In 1928, a car hop with burgers and dogs served direct to the driver's window opened in downtown Atlanta, catering to students of nearby Georgia Tech, which explains both the name and the ubiquitous college football theme in the décor.Įighty-six years later, the original Varsity claims to be the world's largest car hop, and you can still order from your car and have the food brought to you by uniformed staffers. View Gallery: The Varsity, Atlanta’s historic car hop restaurant
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