Atlanta Twitter Debates the Merits of Waffle House, Chick-fil-A, and the Varsity

A single tweet early Monday morning from WSB and Channel 2 traffic reporter Mark Arum sparked an online debate in Atlanta that raged (and trended) on Twitter for hours.

The Twitter dust-up began around 6 a.m. when Arum tweeted, “One has to go, Atlanta edition. Which one are you dropping,” followed by the logos of Chick-fil-A, Waffle House, American Deli, and the Varsity. All four are iconic Atlanta restaurant brands with fanatical followings.

Arum’s tweet, which alone has been liked over 2,000 times and received over 400 retweets, immediately kicked up a hornet’s nest of replies. And yes, the Chick-fil-A logo is misspelled.

Replies to the tweet range from cynical hot takes, like asking if people other than tourists or “senior citizens” eat at the Varsity, to those who instantly dropped Chick-fil-A over its ties to and funding of anti-LGBTQ groups and causes.

However, the Varsity seems to be the most contentious contender of the four, with some arguing it should stay put simply because it’s a 92-year-old institution in Atlanta. Others feel the iconic restaurant on North Avenue, known for its gut-bombing chili dogs, frosted orange shakes, and the catchphrase “What’ll ya have,” has overstayed its welcome.

A definitive line was drawn between OTP (outside the Perimeter) and ITP (inside the Perimeter) residents when it came down to the actual existence of Atlanta-based wing chain American Deli. The chain’s first restaurant opened at South Dekalb Mall in 1989, has dozens of locations throughout Atlanta, and (given the replies) seems to only be known to those who live ITP. Some believe that another local wing chain, J.R. Crickets, should replace American Deli in Arum’s final four line-up.

What never seemed in doubt? Dropping beloved 65-year-old Atlanta breakfast chain Waffle House and its hash browns from the list.

Want to weigh in on this very Atlanta Twitter debate? Vote for the restaurant you feel should (hypothetically) get the boot.

• These 21 Atlanta Bars and Restaurants Serve First-Rate Wings [EATL]
• The Varsity dining coverage [EATL]
• Chick-fil-A dining coverage [E/EATL]
• Waffle House dining coverage [EATL]