'What'll Ya Have': Iconic GA Eatery Named Among Most Fascinating In U.S.

ATLANTA, GA — Diners who want both good food and a restaurant that tells a story should head to The Varsity in Atlanta, according to a food site’s inventory of “The Most Fascinating Restaurant In Every State.”

Food Love, whose content includes recipes, food news, and opinion pieces, ranked the selections. Some states had more than one restaurant in the ranking. Illinois had three, and Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine and New York each had two on the list.

The Varsity ranked 46th among the 58 restaurants on the list. Editors said:

“The world's largest drive-in restaurant has seen car hops asking customers, ‘What'll ya have,' since 1928. Even today, The Varsity's impressive Atlanta location – which can fit an astounding 600 cars – remains one of the country's most iconic examples of mid-20th century Americana. The menu is as classic as the building itself, featuring the usual diner delights of burgers, fries and shakes, plus The Varsity's famous fried apple pies,” writer Dominique Ayling said.

The selections were based on user reviews, awards and accolades and first-hand experience by members of the Food Love team.

While one Google reviewer noted The Varsity’s vintage interior and affordable prices, others commented on the Atlanta staple’s affordability and complemented its onion rings.

“There are countless restaurants in America that tell a story – whether it's because they were beloved by presidents or film stars, because they reflect the state’s own fascinating history, or because they were the birthplace of a dish that went on to become iconic,” Food Love wrote.

Tennessee’s Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville topped the ranking. As the story goes, its spicy fried chicken “was invented after Thornton Prince’s scorned lover tried to take revenge on him by adding a significant amount of chili and spice to his favorite fried chicken,” the site said. “Far from hating it, he loved it – and he spent his time perfecting the recipe before opening his own restaurant.”

Rounding out the top five were:

No. 2 Gianni’s at the Villa, in Miami, Florida, housed in the mansion where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived – and died;

No. 3 Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City, founded in 1888 and featured in films and television shows, including the famous Meg Ryan scene in “When Harry Met Sally”;

No. 4 Golden Steer Steakhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada, whose famous diners have included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Joe DiMaggio and Natalie Wood; and

No. 5 The Griswold Inn In Essex, Connecticut, built in 1776 to house shipyard workers who worked on the first warship for the American Revolution and steeped in local and national history since.

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