An Atlanta-invented soft drink poured over vanilla ice cream. The Varsity downtown serves Frosted Orange floats since 1928; the Coca-Cola museum the canonical version.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta by pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886 and bought by Asa Candler in 1888. The company headquarters has anchored the city since. The Coca-Cola float, sometimes called a Black Cow, became a soda-fountain staple from the 1920s. The Varsity, founded 1928 at North Avenue downtown, runs Frosted Orange and Coca-Cola floats from a counter that has fed Atlanta for nearly a century. The Coca-Cola museum at Centennial Olympic Park completes the tour.
Common allergens: Dairy
Tip from the editors. Glass-bottle Coke from Mexico, made with cane sugar, gives a sharper soda. The float is the point; do not stir before tasting.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
The Varsity at North Avenue in downtown Atlanta since 1928 runs chili dogs, onion rings and Frosted Orange at a drive-in counter format. The original location runs the longest hours.
Try: Chili dog with onion rings
Tip: Order in Varsity slang: 'two dogs walking' = two hot dogs to go. The onion rings and Frosted Orange are the standard upsell.
Paschal's in Atlanta has served soul food since 1947, when brothers Robert and James Paschal opened on Hunter Street. The civil rights movement met here; SCLC was anchored at the bar.
Signature: Fried chicken, Collard greens, Peach cobbler
Order: Fried chicken plate with collard greens, mac and cheese, candied yams.
Tip: The current Castleberry Hill location since 2002 expanded with a banquet space; the original Hunter Street site is preserved at Clark Atlanta.
Mary Mac's Tea Room in Atlanta opened 1945 and runs Southern Sunday dinner classics in a four-dining-room compound on Ponce de Leon, with the same recipes through three ownership changes.
Signature: Fried chicken, Pot likker and cornbread, Peach cobbler
Order: Pot likker with a side of cornbread, then fried chicken with three sides.
Tip: Order the pot likker as a starter; it comes free with cornbread. No reservations Monday through Thursday lunch; OpenTable for dinner and weekends.
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