#THAT: Fat Wedge U brings the heat to Hamden

New sandwich shop on Whitney Avenue offers quirky menu

Mat Fortin, Associate Producer, #THAT

Gus Eliopoulos and Mario Nicolaides didn’t stop moving once during our Saturday afternoon visit to their new sandwich shop, Fat Wedge U.

The two restaurateurs were busy filling hundred dollar orders for dozens of sandwiches.

“We’re getting busier and busier everyday,” Nicolaides said. “We’re on the verge of running out of bread.”

The pair opened Fat Wedge U on Whitney Avenue in Hamden in November, and have been serving up some serious sandwiches ever since.

“It’s very much a bunch of different flavors combined and they come together very nicely,” Nicolaides said. “It’s good stuff.”

That may be putting it mildly. Their sandwiches– or wedges­– are no joke. They come in just about every variety, some featuring mozzarella sticks, onion rings or French fries.

Just don’t be surprised if you see some colorful names on the menu.

“People love it,” Nicolaides said. “It’s 2019 and we want to have a little fun with it.”

And they certainly are fun– the Fat Smoking Blunt, Fat Beta-Theta and Fat Drunk Greek are all options on the menu.

“The college kids enjoy it,” Nicolaides said. “Believe it or not, even some of the older people who you would think would have an issue, they get a kick out of it.”

But the sandwiches aren’t the only thing you’ll get a kick out of over at Fat Wedge; their desserts are just as indulgent.

We tried the Fat Smore during our visit– toasted marshmallows, chocolate sauce and graham crackers between two Belgian waffles– and it did not disappoint.

Perhaps the best way to describe it would be in Eliopoulos’ words, who says it’s “better than an orgasm.”

We didn’t disagree.

It’s pretty hard not to smile when you’re eating something so amazing, and seeing his customers’ reactions is Nicolaides’ favorite part of the job.

“It’s satisfying,” he said. “There’s nothing better. You take pride into putting out a very good product and seeing the end result and seeing how pleased people are with it- it’s a good feeling.”

Fat Wedge U isn’t a new concept. Eliopoulos opened his first Fat Wedge in New Haven back in 2012, before moving to Danbury to appeal to the Western Connecticut State College crowd. He sold the his old stores a couple years back, making Hamden the only place you can get a Fat Wedge.

Eliopoulos said that he sold an average of 800 sandwiches a day at his Danbury location– which is his goal for his Hamden restarurant.

Fat Wedge offers take-out and delivery, but the owners urge customers to dine in and enjoy their sandwich as intended.

“We love when they eat the sandwich here,” Nicolaides said. “When we wrap it up- it’s a big sandwich, it’s not as appealing when you take it home wrapped up. Everybody leaves here very happy.”