TV Restaurants

Is The Varsity Still Open? Food Paradise Update (Atlanta, GA)

Open verified

As of September 2026, The Varsity is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

Primary source
thevarsity.com ·
Secondary source
Wikipedia ·

Last verified

What the source shows: The restaurant's website, checked 2026-09-08, carried 2026-dated content, a Google Places listing checked the same day recorded the North Avenue address as operational, and Wikipedia (revised 2026-09-07) reported the flagship ended car-side service in 2020.

Interactive map — loads when you ask for it.

Everything on this map is also in the list below.

© OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO

What happened after Food Paradise?

The episode featured The Varsity's chili dogs, onion rings, and other drive-in fare served at its flagship North Avenue location, once described as the largest drive-in restaurant in the world, seating up to 800 diners across two city blocks, according to Wikipedia (revised 2026-09-07). Wikipedia reported that the main location ended car-side service in 2020, though the restaurant continued operating with counter and dine-in service. The Varsity's website, checked on 2026-09-08, carried 2026-dated content covering its menu, catering, and merchandise offerings. A Google Places listing checked the same day recorded the North Avenue address as operational. Wikipedia's entry also noted seven other Varsity branches now operate across metropolitan Atlanta.

Featured on Food Paradise

Season / episode
Season 1, Episode 3
Original air date
Not confirmed
Episode title
Hot Dog Paradise
What was featured
Chili dogs and onion rings at the world's largest drive-in restaurant
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
The Varsity

Frequently asked questions

Is The Varsity still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, The Varsity is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

What happened to The Varsity after Food Paradise?

The episode featured The Varsity's chili dogs, onion rings, and other drive-in fare served at its flagship North Avenue location, once described as the largest drive-in restaurant in the world, seating up to 800 diners across two city blocks, according to Wikipedia (revised 2026-09-07). As of September 2026, The Varsity is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

Where is The Varsity located?

61 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30308. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Food Paradise featured The Varsity?

Season 1, Episode 3 of Food Paradise. The episode is titled “Hot Dog Paradise”.

Is The Varsity still using the Food Paradise menu or branding?

The Varsity's website, checked on 2026-09-08, carried 2026-dated content covering its menu, catering, and merchandise offerings. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.

Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.

More from Food Paradise

Every Food Paradise restaurant we track

Other TV restaurants in Georgia

  • Antico Napoletana Pizza

    Atlanta, GA

    Food Paradise

    Open verified Checked

  • Atlanta Breakfast Club

    Atlanta, GA

    Food Paradise

    Open reported Checked

  • BeetleCat

    Atlanta, GA

    Man v. Food

    Open reported Checked

  • Blue Ridge Grill

    Atlanta, GA

    Best Thing I Ever Ate

    Open reported Checked

  • Bone Garden Cantina

    Atlanta, GA

    Food Paradise

    Open reported Checked

  • Bone Lick BBQ

    Atlanta, GA

    Food Paradise

    Open reported Checked

All Georgia locations

Nearest tracked restaurants

Visit info

Address
61 North Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30308
Venue type
diner
Official website
thevarsity.com

Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources

See something wrong?

We work hard to keep every status accurate and dated, but restaurants change fast and our sources aren't perfect. If something here is wrong — a status, a name, an address, anything — tell us what you're seeing and where you saw it, and we'll check it.

See something wrong? Tell us →

Share this page

Record fp-0023 · last verified .