The Four Winds has what I call classic burgers. Â And they have been makin em that way for going on 30 years that I have been a customer here. 30 years ! Â
Many times it was during Army schools (yes I had my first Ranger Burger during my Basic & AIT (OSUT) for 11B, ANCO, OCS, Â IOBC, IMPOC, ITOWV Commanders, IOAC.) and now as a civilian for the past 25 years. Â
I don't get there as regularly as I'd like, but I do like it every time I get there.
And every time it's the same thing a ranger burger, fries, and an un sweet tea. Ad even 30 years ago before it was quaint, they served their tea in mason jars... It's a southern thing. Ad I like it. It fits here.
No their fries are not home made. But they are always hot and crispy. But their a side not the main event. Sure you can get the onion rings - and they are ok but again they are not home made. Again they are a side, not the main event. And they have other things on the menu too(and I've never tried them)- the sign out front says "Home of the Ranger Burger" . Â So why would you go there and order anything other then a burger??
The reason for the four stars, is the service. It can vary wildly. From great to glacially slow. It is burgers and fries but a little consistency would be appreciated.
But I've known Ms Susan (the owner) for all of those 30 year ~ and there is always. friendly "Hey- haven't seen  you in a while. How ya been doing."
And I will always have a Ranger Burger. After all it's been 30 years of great burgers. Why change now?
I was stationed at Fort Benning ten years ago, but I got the pleasure of returning for school. Â As I drove the nearly 1000 miles all I could think of was Ranger Burger. Â It did not disappoint. Â The customer service is outstanding, the atmosphere is southern, the sweet tea is perfect, and you can't buy a better burger anywhere near here!
Review Source:My fried chicken sandwich and crinkle cut fries were pretty good- but maybe it's just that I was starving? My husband got released for lunch at 11:20 and had to be back at 1300. We got to Four Winds about 11:40. Placed our orders (by the way, if you order a coke, it's in a bottle. Better bet if you're thirsty is to stick with the sweet tea which they will refill over and over again). We didn't get our food until 12:35. Had to ask for to-go boxes because there was absolutely no time to eat. Almost an hour to make a fried chicken sandwich (chicken fingers on a bun) and a burger. Not what we were expecting. For a place that serves so many soldiers, you'd think they'd have an extra cook or something on during the busy soldier "lunch rush" Nope.
We may try it again someday when we have NOTHING else to do all day- lots of time to drive all the way out there, and lots of time to wait on food... the prices were good. Services was friendly enough, but if you're in a rush, forget it.
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. Â
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. Â The patties are homemade and taste fresh, but don't appear to be seasoned at all. Â The burgers come in two sizes, with the larger totaling a full pound for its two patties. Â The buns are store bought, nothing special. Â 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. Â Apparently my expectations for everything were too high; damn city-folk. Â Though my Ranger friend's fried cheese sticks were good, they were clearly not homemade. Â And the fries...crinkle cut like the ones you'd make in the oven at home from your local Piggly Wiggly's frozen section. Â
Besides the so-so burger, the service and quaintness of this local institution is what saved it for an "ok" rating. Â 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. Â Regardless, if you have a grill in your backyard, it's not worth driving out to the sticks for a Ranger Burger. Â I swear I heard banjo music start playing as soon as I turned on Highway 26...
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?
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.
'Ranger Burger' as most refer to it as is a great place for burgers. Â Not just any burgers, but large, flavorful, loaded, home style burgers that leave you with a gut-busting feeling for the rest of the day. Â The environment is like a cafeteria/VFW hall but they do serve beer. Â
In addition to good burgers they had a good catfish sandwich and deep fried pickles. Â I had a turkey sandwich and it was cheap turkey and bad bread (stick to burgers). Â Service is slightly below average. Â I have not had anything else. Â Worth the drive if you are looking for the ultimate burger and you won't settle for anything else.
We gave up calling this place by its given name, and refer to it instead as "Ranger Burger," due to its signature (and totally amazing signature burger).
We're planning a quick trip down to C-town next weekend, and believe you me, we'll be taking a pit-stop at Ranger Burger.
Much like Miss Ann's or The Vortex, it doesn't have to be good at anything else. The point is, they make a damn-fine burger, you get sweet iced tea in a mason jar, and if you must be adventurous, you only have to go so far as a fried pickle appetizer.
I won't say that it is worth the drive on its own, but if you find yourself in the Columbus/Ft. Benning/Auburn/Albany area, settle into your red-check table clothed table, take some deep breaths, and bite into one of the best (and biggest) burgers you'll ever eat.
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". Â Unfortunately, it really doesn't live up to the hype. Â However, it has an advantage in that it's one of only four or five genuine restaurants in Cusseta. Â I don't think it would survive somewhere where there is real competition.
I stick to the Ranger burger, and it's pretty good. Â 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. Â The staff is sparse and undertrained, to say the least. Â If you aren't dying for a big burger, you're better off driving into (or staying in) Columbus, just down the road.
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