by Cyrus Kolo on My main problem with Strip, and I'll say this right off the bat, was the treatment I received from the first person I saw when I walked in the door. Ten of us were supposed to be meeting at another restaurant at Atlantic Station, but due to a massive brain fart none of us had made reservations and they were booked due to Cirque. It's a small monthly meeting/get together and so since I arrived super early I went on the hunt for a new meeting place. Everyone else was full, but Strip looked a) quieter and b) big enough to hold us. I walked in and asked if they would be able to accommodate 8 people at 7p (two called in sick within the half hour I was wandering) and the skinny girl in the white coat opened her mouth and spit out rude. It wasn't so much what she said, that was basic restaurant policy (2/3 of our party had to be there to seat), but how she said it. It left me wanting to slap her and seemed to make the young man standing at the host station with her very uncomfortable. Waiting at the bar, I had the tiniest cocktail $8 could buy, and the bar staff was wholly inattentive. I realize that it's the bar, I'm not sitting there for personalized service, but you could at least ACT like you give a crap! Finally, we had enough people to be seated so I let the young man at the host station know-- thankfully the snotty girl wasn't there. He was VERY polite and had our table ready by the time we'd settled at the bar and led us back to be seated. The replacement hostess brought back our last party member and (she's an acquaintance of ours through an organization) informed us that they were undergoing some staff changes and we should speak to the manager. (I never got a chance to) Thankfully, that's when things started going really well-- the waiter (Greg? Craig? Why can't I remember his name?!) was REALLY nice and very helpful, very amusing as well. I ordered the wakame salad and miso soup and it came right out and was delish. I then ordered the sushi/sashimi for one and he got my tekka roll done up spicy for me. Once we got past the initial rudeness, we had a great time-- with the exception of the bar and original hostess the staff was friendly, and the food was great AND worth the money I spent! I can't wait to take my husband back for the sushi (really high quality) and see if we can't have a better front of house experience that will up my rating.
by Teddy Freed on Do you want to eat soggy hot dogs that taste decent but look terrible? Do you want to be able to turn your Frosted Orange completely upside-down without anything falling out of the cup? Are you looking regret your latest dining decision about 8 hours from now? Then The Varsity may be the place for you! This place is an Atlanta institution, you've got to come here just to say you did. Just like Gino's East in Chicago and Ben's Chili Bowl in D.C., this place's reputation is legendary. The food is not great. In fact, it may not even be good. Most of the people I was with thought it was gross, actually. I thought it was ok, for a fast food joint. It's safe to say that this place would be entirely not worth it if you do not care at all about history and "character." I will say it's the first time I've ever eaten at a fast food place and had a waitress clear my table for me. She even instructed me to "drop it like it's hot." I'm not sure what I was supposed to drop. Certainly nothing I was holding was hot. Was she worried I would burn myself? Coupled with her semi-toothless smile, this really capped off the experience.
by joanne d. on Cool place. Been here before for a couple of hip hop parties. I recently went there for Catchafire concert. They were awesome and the crowd was pretty chill, well what do you expect. I always have a good time here, ooOh but becareful what you ask the bartender, "Give me anything!" ahhah! My dumb ass got a horrible, wack, fruity cough syrup drink. YACK!! I could still taste it till now. ahahha!! Note to self* I'll stick with my Adios.
