06/18/2026
EVHS loves to share stories of local history. Enjoy the Facebook post.
It doesn’t get any more old-school in Cartersville, Georgia than a visit to 4 Way Lunch! This tiny downtown lunch counter has been feeding locals and travelers since 1931, when Fred Garrison and his son Ernest opened it inside an old saloon at the corner of Main and Gilmer Streets.
Nearly a century later, it still feels like the kind of place where nothing needs to be fancy to be good. Orders are cooked fast, served hot, and kept simple, with the chili burger “all the way” still being the classic choice, stacked with chili, mustard, and onions the way regulars have loved it for generations. The hot dogs, steak sandwiches, chili, and gravy-covered favorites are just as much a part of the experience.
There isn’t a huge menu to sort through, and that’s part of the charm—you sit down, order something filling, and get exactly what this place has always done best. 4 Way Lunch even survived a major fire in the 1990s and came back, which says a lot about how much Cartersville values it. With its small counter, worn-in feel, friendly prices, and staff that make new visitors feel like regulars, this is one of those rare Georgia diners that still feels truly untouched by time.
