The Varsity Jr

You either like the Varsity or you don’t there’s really no in-​between. If you are craving a «naked dog walking» or whatever your taste of the Varsity is, at least this keeps you from going to Atlanta, which may be an icon but is sort of a nasty version of this very clean place.

The Varsity food you expect, without the madhouse of the downtown ATL location. I went for lunch on a Friday and found clean tables, swift smiling service, and extra chopped onions in a paper twist for my chili slaw dogs. As always, I had a side of onion rings. It’s still a bit loud as any popular fast food place will be, but since I was alone that wasn’t a problem. We aren’t talking fancy food, we aren’t talking about ambiance — just an old-​school fast food joint that is imbedded into the hearts of north Georgians, for good reason.

One star for the indoor playground because that was the only enjoyable part of our visit. The food was actually inedible. My cheeseburger was on a stale bun, felt very tough as I bit into it, and then had a very strange aftertaste. The onion rings were chewy and mildly warm. I stopped eating after a couple of bites and noticed everyone else at my table was also disgusted with their food. This was a major disappointment and I would recommend others stay away.

I’ve often visited the Varsity in Athens, with its endless hustle and bustle.
The Varsity Jr. is a welcome change of pace. Sized closer to a normal fast food restaurant than its full-​sized brethren, the Varsity Jr. offers exactly what people love: the same Varsity food, only at a more convenient location. The hot dogs are the same, the pies are still heavenly, and the frosted orange is still a mandatory end to your meal.

Stopped by here on the way home from the moonshine festival. Was not impressed with the service. It was nothing like the other Varsity’s. The food was good the service was horrible. I had to repeat my order about 4 times. This was my one and only time eating at this location. I will stick to the one in Atlanta.

Always what you expect. My standard order is: chili dog, grilled pimento cheese sandwich, and onion rings. Yum!

My bud dragged me to the outlet stores for some crazy thing he wanted and when we passed the varsity its like something got hold of him and he couldn’t stop thinking about it, and the whole trip all he kept saying was «don’t forget… we gotta stop at the varsity for a chili dog on the way back» and there was no way I could talk him outta it. So thats what we did.
HA! Boy was he disappointed. The littlest driest weinies in a soggy steamed bun with the grossest greasiest chili you ever puked up. I felt bad for him. He was disappointed. It’s like someone peed on his childhood. It’s like his whole Varsity fantasy was stripped away. It was hilarious. I felt really bad for him. HA!
As for me, my taste buds aren’t Varsity trained. My immune system can’t handle the chili. I’m not from these here parts. But the coke was good. And the disappointment on my buddy’s face… PRICELESS!

Eating here at The Varsity Jr. in Dawsonville was actually my introduction to the famous local Atlanta institution that so many rant and rave about. It’s about what one might expect — The Varsity has been around for a very long time. They aren’t about flash and fancy ingredients. They are an old school, sloppy, fast food eatery — cheap comfort food.
Don’t trust Google maps in getting here, it’ll lead you astray (by about three or four miles). They are off of 400 just south of the Outlets.
We had a couple of chili cheese dogs with chili cheese fries and a Varsity Orange. The chili cheese dogs were smooshed, but tasty nevertheless. It reminded me of eating at a Coney Island in Detroit. The chili cheese fries were also sloppy at tasty. The Varsity Orange reminded me of Tang.
I would gladly wolf down another smooshed chili cheese dog here. I know it’s not healthy. I know it’s not high quality. I know that it’s messy. Nevertheless, it satisfies a craving for old school comfort food that few other places can. THAT is The Varsity’s niche — if you don’t yearn for that sort of thing from time to time, let’s be honest — you probably won’t like it here.

Amazing food! It’s fast food but its not your typical fast food restaurant. The onion rings are AMAZING! Hot dogs, hamburgers and even the grilled chicken sandwiches are great! Love this place! This location is nice because you don’t have the insanely large crowds like you do at the original downtown ATL location.

Had the chili dog, chili cheese burger with fries. One of the staff members called my daughter stupid because she slipped on the wet floor and spilled her drink, not to mention the food gave me the squirts for the remainder of the day.
rude staff, sub-​quality food, expensive for the quality.

The Varsity is an ATL staple. Every visit, my kids looked forward to a visit to the V, and this was no different. Only problem was that my son was going off to Boy Scout camp in Blairsville, so we weren’t stopping in Atlanta. Low and behold, we’re hungry and driving and we spot a Varsity! Stop the car, we’re eating here!
Offering your standard Varsity experience of small and smooshed burgers and dogs, deliciously greasy onion rings and fries, and the classic PC, we weren’t disappointed. The Varsity is an institution in itself. It’s probably not the best food you’ll ever eat (and most definitely not the healthiest), but it’s a classic. If you want fancy and upscale, go elsewhere, but if you come here just go with the flow and enjoy the grease. :D
This location was clean, the employees were friendly (but I didn’t hear any «What’ll ya have?») and prompt. They had a small indoor playground, but we didn’t have time for that as we had to continue our road trip. Thanks for answering the prayers of an 11 year-​old, Varsity!

I have eaten at the original Varsity downtown for most of my life, it’s one of my favorite fast food joints. Lots of atmosphere, good service and good food. Never had a complaint.
The Varsity Jr. in Dawsonville, totally bad experience the last two times I have eaten there. The last time, and the last ever, was tonight. Chilli cheese dogs looked like paninis. Flattened to a pulp, that was bad enough, but the box contained no onions. This has happened twice in a row. I called the last time and expressed my displeasure, politely. Tonight when I called and talked to a gentleman with a bit of a language problem I was not so polite.
Here comes my rant, so tune me out now if you wish. I don’t know about you, but when I go to any establishment and spend money I expect someone to say ‘Thank You’ for the money that is coming from me and going to them. Didn’t happen tonight, some young redneck girl with serious attitude problems never said the words.
I doubt seriously my never eating at the Varsity Jr. again will in anyway affect their business, but I hope some of you who read this feel like me and refuse to patronize any establish that acts as if you are doing them a favor to pay $ 9.88 for three chilli cheese dogs, flattened to a pulp, a large ice tea. There have got to be young people out there raised by loving parents who taught them to say «please» and «thank you» at the right time. To the very inadequate ‘manager’ I spoke with this evening, just what do you think your job is? If you are a supervisor, just what the heck are you supervising? If you are supervising and the results are this bad, maybe you are in the wrong avocation; you think?
I really hope that whoever has a vested interest in this business reads this. I own two corporations and we have standards of conduct when dealing with the public. Where are yours? Ok, I am done, literally, I will never eat at this substandard fast food joint again, and for those reading this, if I have discouraged you, trust me, I just did you a favor.
I gave them 1 Star because the food was hot.

What is there NOT to love about The Varsity??? HUH??? Oh yeah all that darn grease! Well it’s been my experience that the Jr. Varsity locations have half the grease as The Varsity in downtown Atlanata.
Everything is the same. I like the way this spot looks. Not as greasy but just as good as the one in downtown Atlanta.
I’m always going to be a fan of The Varsity. My parents took us here at least once a week. My dad went several times per week. :) Since I grew up on this stuff so I don’t need to take anything to coat/​prepare my stomach for the grease. But if you are not a long term connoisseur of french fry and hamburger grease then I would suggest you take a Pepcid prior to heading over to the downtown Atlanta location. And please do not order that Orange frosty thing on your first trip. See how your stomach handles the food first then add on extras later. LOL!!! I’m trying to keep you from becoming an upset stomach victim okay! :)

Disappointing to say the least. Fries were hard and tasted like they had been cooked in grease that had something burned in it. Expensive for what you get. I will stick to the original Varsity downtown.

What’ll ya have?
If your response to this ubiquitous question from the burger and dog pushers at The Varsity is, «I’d like a smashed chili dog and an overpriced wee burger combo please,» then they’ve got you covered, my friends!
We live about five minutes south of the new Varsity Jr. on 400, so we’re fortunate not to have had the Google Maps trouble experienced by many of the folks who aren’t from the area. Or are we???
I ordered the chili cheese dog and fries; Husband Man ordered a #3 combo (Glorified Bacon Cheeseburger with fries and a regular drink).
Both of our meals were shoved into the same box and the dog suffered for it. It was smashed almost beyond recognition. The little wax paper packet of chopped onions was a nice touch though. However, the burger was TINY. As in McDonald’s regular cheeseburger-​size tiny.
To add insult to injury, the tiny burger combo cost $ 6.14. If you price out the items individually, it’s $ 5.75. Um… huh? I thought the combo price was supposed to be a few cents less, not the other way around.
Everything tasted fine, but for a better, BIGGER burger just up the road a piece, my money’s on Five Guys. Sorry, Varsity, you just didn’t cut the mustard.

After a crazy Google Maps wild goose chase, we eventually found this place — not because anyone would answer the phone mind you. My wife and co-​pilot called TWICE and got an automated answering machine — at a fast food restaurant no less. Food was decidedly average and the place could have just as easily been any other fast food joint. It certainly lacks the charm and character of the original. If you are passing by, will do in a pinch, but if you were looking for that true Atlanta Varsity experience, save yourself the disappointment.

I was excited to hear the Varsity was opening in Dawsonville, but disappointed in so many ways.
Spur of the moment trip to the outlet mall had us in the area, so I unfortunately let Google Maps route us there from my iPhone. Well, it took us north on 400 and out 136 about 5 miles into the town of Dawsonville. No Varsity in sight. Lost cell service for awhile, and when we got back closer to 400, had service again and tried to call them. Twice. Both times, got voice mail saying they were busy and to leave a message for the manager on duty to call back! Gee, that was SO helpful.
At this point, we were back on 400 and I found out from their website where they were located (Right off 400 by Applebee’s and Advance Auto Parts)
Made our way into the restaurant, fast service but overpriced fast food. Its been probably 20 years since I was at the Varsity, but the chocolate shake now tastes exactly like a Frosty. Not that its bad, its just not the same unique product that they used to have.
Onion rings were tasty and well seasoned, but could have been hotter. No complaints about the chili dog, just wished I would have asked for chopped onions, saw another customer dishing them out of a boat on our way out and was like yeah, they could have used some onions.
If you want the real Varsity experience, go downtown. The Dawsonville location just looks like a Krystal inside.

The brand new Varsity Jr. opened on May 9, 2011 and we ate there on the 11^th. Got some yummy chili dogs, onion rings, fries, cheeseburger, and an F.O. Classic grease-​fest. Fantastic.