Some institutions need to fall. The Roman Empire. The Blackberry. Blockbuster video. They all ran their course. Just because they were nostalgic and were once great and useful, they all wore out their welcome. They didn't progress. The ignored the changing world and their value ceased. The Varsity is an institution. It is time it to go away. I am not from Atlanta but for most of my 41 years I have spend a good amount of time in the area. I've visited the main Varsity 8-10 times and grew up hearing all about it. It is on all of the travel guides and travel TV shows. It is an Atlanta landmark. Unfortunately, General Sherman isn't around to burn it to the ground. (for any waif reading this, I am making a joke. I don't want any harm or destruction to the innocent bystanders around the building!) We idealize history and like thinking about a "better time and place." I love old diners. I love restaurants with culture. I love the entire food service and hospitality business. A gas station hot dog can be just as awesome for what it is and what it is supposed to be as a Wagyu steak. I am no food snob. My main judgment on food is: is it good? is the price worth it? was the overall experience including service valuable? The answer to all of those questions in regards to The Varsity is: NO EFFING WAY. Lets start with the food itself. The aforementioned gas station hot dog that has been cooking in its' own juices for 36 hours on a bun that has been in the heat drawer is far superior to whatever The Varsity is serving. I think the tube of processed meat I ate was 2oz at best. I did not have the burger but someone I was with did and a Wendy's kids meal hamburger looked giant compared to what he was served. The Varsity burger also looked like it was a freeze dried patty that came from something a vulture would turn down. On my hot dog I had chili and cheese. I'm not the biggest fan of hotdog chili but I eat it occasionally because my fiancee likes it and we get the frozen tubs from the grocery store. I can say that I believe that The Varsity does not buy frozen pre-made chili and they make their own, because I would have loved to have something that tastes like grocery store chili. It would have been a vast improvement. Most cheese on hot dogs is melted or an American queso type of cheese. Not at the varsity. Nope, we got a quarter of a slice of unmelted cheddar cheese on top of the bun. The fries and onion rings were fine. Nothing memorable but nothing terrible. I do not understand their serving system which is fine. They have their way of doing things and I am only there once every few years. But if you do things that are not easy to follow, respect the customer enough to tell them what is going on. Basically, it was a bunch of trays and you have no idea which one is yours and which one isn't. 3 customers were served before us, which I understand because we had a group of 8. I get it. But there was no communication and no way for us to know what was going on. Lets get to the menu and ordering. There is a big board that shows all of the items and the value meals. That should be easy enough. But with no description on the pictures, the yellow sliver on the hotdog looks like it is melted cheese. In reality it is mustard. Further, everything is served with mustard and ketchup which is no clear to anybody from looking at the menu. Only 3 people with us got what they wanted. The rest of us did not because it was not made clear what we were ordering. I'll reiterate, I am no food snob. A street taco and a fast food burger make me as happy as escargot or rare truffles. I'm as comfortable in my swim trunks at a beach snack shop as I am in a coat and tie in a steak house. I WANT places like The Varsity to be around forever.....LIKE The Varsity. Not what The Varsity has become.