Four Winds Restaurant

So, having a half day is more of a big deal now than when I was a kid for sure. I was excited at the possibilities so when I suggested to my friend we should grab lunch but I presented no options he asked 'Ranger burger?'

We had heard of this place about a month ago and have been meaning to go to it sometime and with us being released at 1, well why not? It's a bit of a trek especially since it's along a state route that is undergoing some construction as well as Georgia's naturally crappy drivers and THEN going another 10 miles or so along an even more desolate stretch of highway.

Is it worth it? YES! We all got the Ranger burger which is a double bacon cheese burger with extra bacon. It's basically like taking the best part of a bacon cheeseburger and then doubling it and putting it in with some crisp veggies and a plate for fries and a large glass of whatever soft drink you'd like with free refills. Did I mention that it comes out to about $10 and that's including a pretty generous tip.

The burger itself was really good, you could tell the patties were made/formed in house and wasn't a frozen beef patty they just stock up on. The bacon too was cooked just right where it wasn't too greasy and not so crispy that it just cracked once it made contact with my teeth. The only complaint I have with it is the lack of cheese options. White or yellow and that's it. Fortunately, the rest of it was good enough that I didn't really care.

The service here was fine, they're definitely not super snooty but they checked up on us frequently and made sure we were well filled on our drinks. I really want to go back and try the other burgers soon, as in today...all at once. Is that bad?

It was quite the drive to get to the restaurant. We placed our orders for burgers with everything possible on it. We ordered sweet tea and you know it's good when it's sweet enough to give you a toothache on its own. The fried pickles were to die for and the burgers were everything we could have imagined. The service was just a tad slow but that seemed like because there was a very limited staff, so it's understandable. If I ever come back to the area, I would go back.

While I admire "Ranger Burger" aka Four Winds for sticking to the theme and having the entire place decorated in Ranger memorabilia, the burgers definitely fell short of my expectations.

The burger itself (I had a junior Drill Sergeant...two small patties totaling half a pound of beef, two slices of yellow cheese, bacon, a fried egg and the usual veggies) was just alright. The patties are homemade and taste fresh, but don't appear to be seasoned at all. The burgers come in two sizes, with the larger totaling a full pound for its two patties. The buns are store bought, nothing special. Overall, it was something anyone could make on a grill in their backyard.

I tried the fried pickles which seem to be jarred pickles that have been breaded and fried, nothing fresh or local. Apparently my expectations for everything were too high; damn city-folk. Though my Ranger friend's fried cheese sticks were good, they were clearly not homemade. And the fries...crinkle cut like the ones you'd make in the oven at home from your local Piggly Wiggly's frozen section.

Besides the so-so burger, the service and quaintness of this local institution is what saved it for an "ok" rating. Mrs Cox, the creator of the Ranger Burger, is just lovely and told us how she created it in March 1985, and the waitress that served us did a good job. Regardless, if you have a grill in your backyard, it's not worth driving out to the sticks for a Ranger Burger. I swear I heard banjo music start playing as soon as I turned on Highway 26...

Fun divey type place for an out of towner. Do try their burger!! Get the small one it's still two hand packed parties which come with cheese crispy real bacon bites onion,
Lettuce and tomato. Fries were good. Iced
Tea comes in large mason jars and
Service
Was friendly. There's a contest
For one who can eat
Something like 7 lbs of beef with sides within. 45
Minutes. The staff said no one has done
It yet.

Amazing burgers and fries. Not for the faint of heart. The Ranger size burger is a full pound at a half pound price. I ordered the Master Gunner burger Ranger size which comes with ham, bacon, American cheese, horseradish, grilled mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo on top of the burger. I had to eat it in quarters like an open face sandwich because it was so thick. It was juicy and delicious and went amazing with our side order of garlic Parmesan fries. Last time I was here, I was a young stud just out of Ranger school feeding my craving for food. This time I came back for the taste.

Gotta go for the Ranger Burger, and eat it before the rest of your table finishes theirs! Or at least try.

My Army family was in LaGrange for a few days, so we made the drive down to Columbus/Ft. Benning, and wanted to see who could still polish off a Ranger Burger.

Four Winds looks like it's had some renovations, a big change from what used to look like an old wooden bunker with green walls, and the dark interior we remember. It's almost like a regular restaurant now, bright, and not cramped, but the burgers are still great. The meat has never seemed like it's seasoned with anything exotic, it's just that the burgers are hand formed, huge, and tasty! Think personal pan, or small pizza size, with bacon, lettuce, and fixings of your choice. The different additions to your burgers make it a different kind of special op burger. Service has always been very casual, and friendly, not stuffy.

I did finish my Ranger burger before the rest of my table, not bad for a female 'leg'. And no trip back to GA is complete without sweet tea, a Ranger Burger, and friends surrounded by kudzu.

If you were dissatisfied with Four Winds aka "Ranger Burger" before their relaunch like I was, you need to go back and give them another shot.

First thing you do before you leave the house go to their website and order everything you want and what time you want it. We did that this evening with a pick up time of 18:15. As soon as we showed up we were greeted by very friendly staff and our order was hot, ready and waiting for pick up at 18:08.

It's a 15 mile drive to get out there from Fort Benning, but what isn't. So I suppose if you want to do a dinner and a movie you're out of luck. If you're just looking for a great American meal without taking out a loan, this is the place for you.

We ate the Ranger Burgers. A pound of juicy awesomeness you'll need 3 napkins to clean up with. Comes loaded with lettuce, tomato, pickle and white onion. The best seasoned curly fries I've had in a long time.

I've read about long lunch wait times. I suggest you go on their website at 10:00 and order up everything for pick up at 11:15. If you order directly from the website, all proceeds go to the restaurant.

I lived in Cusseta for 16 years and went to Four Winds for Ranger Burgers until I could not stomach it any more - when the health dept shut them down to clean the deplorable kitchen.

The owners, Don and Susan Cox, got too old to run the place and it was totally downhill after that.

Reopened and closed several times, because the Army troops started abandoning the place - it used to be packed with soldiers at lunch time. Fort Benning training area is right across the road. Don't bother - the place is a has-been.

The absolute best burger I've had in GA! The service was great and the wait time wasn't long. I can't wait to go back!

Great big, tasty burgers...and not much else.

There is kind of a cult following around this place, perhaps partially due to it's Ft. Benning-appealing naming conventions (Ranger burger, Special Forces burger, Pathfinder burger), or maybe because Mel Gibson and the movie crew ate at the place while fiming "We Were Soldiers". Unfortunately, it really doesn't live up to the hype. However, it has an advantage in that it's one of only four or five genuine restaurants in Cusseta. I don't think it would survive somewhere where there is real competition.

I stick to the Ranger burger, and it's pretty good. I've taken friends and family once or twice, and the rest of the menu is not too appealing - dried out porkchops, greasy fried chicken, tasteless steaks. The staff is sparse and undertrained, to say the least. If you aren't dying for a big burger, you're better off driving into (or staying in) Columbus, just down the road.