Having dedicated Monday morning to instructing University of Georgia students about the importance of leadership and public service, Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., did the next best thing anyone can do while visiting Athens: grab lunch at The Varsity. The chainlet of historic drive-ins has fed visitors a steady diet of marvelously sloppy chili dogs, custom burgers, sugary beverages (sweet tea, frothy shakes and Coca-Cola products, natch) and mouthwatering desserts for eight decades (and counting). Though planted in Chambliss’ political backyard, congressional aides said Warner, who lived in Atlanta — home of The Varsity’s largest location — before his life in public office, suggested the fast-food pit stop. “My boss says he ordered two chili dogs, onion rings, fried peach pie and a Varsity orange. He didn’t say whether or not it was served with a defibrillator,” a Warner aide quipped. A Chambliss aide said the Georgia senator opted for a slaw dog, a chili dog, onion rings and chocolate milk this time around but typically favors a “through the garden” burger (meat with lettuce, tomato and mayo).
