TV Restaurants

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

Food Paradise, Season 1 Atlanta, Georgia

Current status

Open

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

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. How we decide a status →

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.

The episode Food Paradise, Season 1

Episode 3
Air date not confirmed
Title: Hot Dog Paradise · What was featured: Chili dogs and onion rings at the world's largest drive-in restaurant
How Food Paradise restaurants have fared: 27% closed →

Also in Season 1 Food Paradise

Season 1: 85 of 114 still open · 3 renamed, moved or under new owners

All 15 Season 1 episodes →

Nearest restaurants By distance from 61 North Ave NW

All 146 TV restaurants in Georgia →

Before you go: 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 we checked 2 references

  1. thevarsity.com https://thevarsity.com/
  2. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Varsity_(restaurant)
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Record fp-0023 · checked by Cal Marchetti.