A Visit to the Largest Drive-in in the World: The Varsity Downtown

When you step inside, you can easily see why the Varsity is able to serve so many people so quickly. The serving counter is 50 feet long and there are 25 cashiers yelling out "what’ll ya have?"

When asked that famous question, you'd better know what you want to order and respond quickly. If you have trouble making quick decisions, you might want to consider a different restaurant. 

Yes, I know fast food isn't healthy, but it tastes so good!

Plan on blowing your diet for your visit to the Varsity. You can do extra sit ups to make up for it later. Trust me, it's worth it.

I ordered two chili slaw dogs, a regular order of fries, and a Varsity Orange. 

I had heard through rumors that the Varsity's serving portions were huge, but I wasn’t expecting what I saw when they handed me my tray.

As you can see, my hot dogs are barely visible. You will definitely get your money’s worth at the Varsity.

One of the things the Varsity is famous for is their signature orange soda drink called a Varsity Orange. I was kind of hesitant to try it because I don't really care for orange soda.

I knew this might be the only time I'd be able to visit, and I wanted the full Varsity experience. Throwing caution and calories to the wind, I ordered it anyway.

I was surprised at how much I liked it. Even if you’re not an orange soda fan, it’s worth a try. It’s not overly sweet or orange flavored and complements the hot dogs nicely.

The hot dogs were heavenly. The coleslaw has just the right seasoning, not too sweet and not too tangy. The Varsity's chili is thick and meaty and not overly spicy.

I hope I'm able to eat there again soon. It's definitely worth planning a trip to Atlanta just to eat at the Varsity.

Visiting the Varsity just isn’t about the food, it’s a complete experience.

During my visit, I noticed there were families, school kids, college kids, and couples from many different backgrounds. Nearly all of them were wearing the Varsity's famous paper hat. Be sure to grab yours at one of the condiment stations and wear it proudly. 

Don't come to the Varsity expecting to have a quiet meal. The Varsity can seat about 800 people. It’s loud, but it's fun.

Not up to sharing your meal with 800 other people? Try the drive-in side of the restaurant. The drive-in can accommodate 600 cars. Some of the carhops have been known to actually sing the menu to you. 

Most of the Varsity employees have been there for years. Some started working there when they were 15 and are still going strong well past retirement age.

The employees are very friendly and don't mind sitting down and telling you stories about their years at the Varsity. This is where the Varsity comes alive, through the stories of those who've worked there since before many of us were born.

The original Varsity is located in at 61 North Avenue in downtown Atlanta. It can be very congested between 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., so plan your trip accordingly to avoid traffic jams.

If you're unable to make it downtown, the Varsity has six other locations in nearby suburban cities.