The Varsity is a long-running drive-in in Atlanta serving up burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes & other American classics.



"'What’ll ya have… What’ll ya have?' There’s no friendlier greeting than the one you’ll receive when you step up to the counter at The Varsity. And that’s just the beginning of what makes The Varsity so special. There’s not a faster, fresher, or more fun-filled dining experience like it anywhere! Gordy family-owned and operated since 1928, The Varsity is a downtown Atlanta institution, and The World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant," reads the website.



For me, the experience was a bit stressful. Because the location is so large, it was a little bit confusing on where to park vs. where to get carhop service vs. where the drive-through was.



Once I found a parking spot, I walked in and immediately heard the "what'll ya have" phrase ringing out from all corners. I had no idea what I was going to have - because they have their own language. Here's what I ordered:



GLORIFIED BURGER
One beef patty with lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a steamed bun.

FRIED PEACH PIES
A sweet Georgia treat! A crispy fried pie shell filled with delicious peach filling, served warm.

FROZEN VARSITY ORANGE
Signature orange drink with ice cream



That drink is like a frozen creamsicle. my burger may have been more lettuce than beef, but it was fair nonetheless. And, the peach pie remind me of one of those little hostess hand pies.



Overall, I would say the food is fairly average. The experience and historical significance makes this an iconic place to visit.



Grade: B

Paschal's is an iconic Atlanta restaurant known for its fried chicken. The restaurant has an outpost at the Atlanta airport, which has been named one of the best airport dining spots in the country by Food & Wine Magazine.



I opted for a chicken tender meal with sweet potatoes and macaroni & cheese, which were all options on the hot bar. This was a pretty good lunch - especially considering it is airport food. On the whole, the flavor was good, but the texture suffered a bit. The crunchy exterior of the chicken seemed to have been steamed a bit, making it softer. All in all, not bad.



Grade: B

Coca-Cola is fascinating for many reasons: Not only is it a drink, enjoyed around the world, but I nerd out about their marketing.



So, when I took a trip to Atlanta recently, I made sure to stop at the World of Coca-Cola. Amongst many other activities, the space consists of the vault, where the hidden recipe is located, as well as sodas from around the world.



This was really exciting to me, because there were so many different options from so many different corners of the world.



Here is just a sampling:

- What tastes like raspberry cream soda? Sparletta Sparberry! This caffeine-free beverage is available exclusively in several countries across central and southern Africa. Did you know it was first introduced in Africa back in 1955?



- Minute Maid Joy Apple Lychee is a caffeine-free still beverage with ripe apple and lychee notes. Lychee is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to southern China that is now cultivated in many parts of the world. Did you know you can pronounce lychee as “lie-chee” or “lee-chee”?



- With the taste of sweet melon, Fanta Melon Frosty is a refreshing sparkling beverage is beloved in Thailand’s sunny, tropical climate. Did you know that The Coca‑Cola Company's second-largest brand outside the USA, Fanta, is available in many distinct flavors in more than 180 countries?



- Sprite Cucumber is a caffeine-free, sparkling beverage with a crisp cucumber flavor, providing a refreshing twist on this classic lemon-lime beverage. Did you know that Sprite originally launched in 1961 and is now enjoyed in over 190 countries?



Would you try any of those?

Voted as the best donuts in Atlanta, Sublime Doughnuts was at the top of my list to try when I visited the city. They are known for their Atlanta pride in topping a number of lists for best donuts not only in the city, but the country.



I couldn't pass up trying a few out. I started with the chocolate frosted "A" Town cream donut. Plus a s'mores doughnut, of course, Oreo, Red Velvet and more. while the fruit stuffed donuts fit my personal preference more, these donuts were creative and sweet and fun. They do have some adventurous flavors as well, and I would love to try those next time. It's tough to dislike a decent donut; even though they're not my main thing, I won't turn down a sweet treat. And these were as sweet as any, and just as tasty.



Grade: A

Savannah's Candy Kitchen is apparently a ~thing~ in Atlanta, so I stopped by this shop in the airport to check it out.

From a mother’s kitchen in Woodbine, GA to Savannah, GA, candy from the Strickland kitchen is still down home delightful. 

The man behind the famous Savannah, GA Candy is, Stan “The Candy Man” Strickland. The story begins in Woodbine, Georgia where his mother worked in a candy factory known for their Pecan Pralines, Log Rolls, Glazed Pecans, Peanut Brittle and Divinity Candy. At home, would always make candy and pralines, especially during the holidays. She was an old-fashioned baker who measured with the “cup” of her hand and always used the best fresh ingredients. For Stan’s mother, cooking and baking was an art form. Stan baked with his mom in the kitchen learning how to make her spectacular homemade Southern delights. 

Stan decided to share his family’s sweet Southern delights with others at his Savannah, GA candy company. Over thirty years ago, Stan opened Savannah’s Candy Kitchen on historic River Street. Visitors quickly discovered that Stan’s kitchen was the place to experience and taste down home Southern sweetness. In order to keep up with the demand for his candy, Stan had to expand; he made sure to keep his recipes fresh and homemade no matter how big the kitchen grew. Now the original Savannah’s Candy Kitchen store on River Street occupies over 4,200 square feet and every square foot is filled to the brim with the best candies, cakes, and confections in the South. He has also added new stores in Savannah's City Market, the Atlanta Airport, Charleston, Nashville, and National Harbor, Maryland. 

Our Savannah pralines have put us on the map and let us expand our candy selection to include all kind of wonderful Savannah sweets including Savannah cakes, pecan pies, pecan log rolls, glazed pecans, praline layer cakes, and much more. We are the largest candy company in the Southeast and we are proud to share all of our creations. We are so confident in our products that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are unhappy with your item for any reason we will gladly refund your money or ship you a replacement at your request (OUR STORY).

While I had no idea what a gopher was, I did know I needed it in my mouth as soon as I saw it.

Shop our hand made Gopher Turtles and see why they are consistently one of our Best Selling items. These wonderful creations come in Milk Chocolate Gophers, Dark Chocolate Gophers, and White Chocolate Gophers with pecans or peanuts. To create a perfect Gopher Turtle we first make a batch of caramel from scratch, stirred by hand in our authentic copper kettles, then pour this over a bed of the best pecan pieces, and finally finish it off with a rich chocolate topping. These wonderful Southern Sweets are a staple in many of our Gift Baskets Online, because our customers love them!

These things are super good!  I mean, how could it not be? The thing that stuck out to me, though, is the chocolate itself is milky, creamy goodness. And, everything else is just icing on top!

Grade: A