Located inside Rafter’s Beer Pub sits an unassuming sandwich shop serving up some of the best subs in Columbus, and you need to know about it.

Fat Arnie’s Sandwich Shop is maybe the best-kept secret in Columbus right now, serving up sandwiches and empanadas with flavors you can’t find anywhere else.

We spoke to Chris Beardman, owner of Fat Arnie’s, along with his brother and father, about how this all came to be, who “Arnie” is, and what some of the best eats are.

Chris Beardman moved back to the United States nearly two years ago after living in Ecuador for six. There, he and his wife opened two restaurants. Now, he brings his restaurant experience to Columbus.

Fat Arnie’s Sandwich Shop is a family-run passion project that opened in October 2025, being what the Beardman bros would call a “humble sandwich shop.”

“[Arnie] is actually my brother’s cat,” Beardman laughs. “He ran away one time, and he came back a couple of weeks later… huge. No one knows how or why, and that just became his nickname: Fat Arnie.”

Being situated out of a service window in Rafter’s gives the joint a casual, low-key vibe, with a menu that’ll have you wishing you could try everything.

“The menu changes a lot,” says Beardman. “I had previously worked at a place in German Village, and the menu changed a lot there. I really liked that idea: the menu being a reflection of all of us.”

The thrill of Fat Arnie’s is that you truly never know what to expect, as the menu can change at the drop of a hat. Beardman jokes that the menu changes so often that an hour could pass and the offerings would be entirely different.

“We do have two staples: a burger and an Apollonia,” says Beardman. “We have empanadas every day.”

The Apollonia has become a Columbus classic, with countless forum and social posts noting it as one of the best sandwiches in the city. This spicy Sicilian sub is “built to hit hard and disappear fast,” serving up three meats, provolone, crunchy veg, red wine vinegar, mayo, and spicy giardiniera on a toasted French loaf.

And don’t sleep on The Arnie Burger, double patties with provolone, American cheese, pickle, onion, and Arnie sauce on a brioche bun. The Arnie sauce sets this burger apart, offering a creamy tang to offset the richness of the cheese and beef.

“I really like making the empanadas. I’m getting really good at the little intricate designs. As you’re doing them, you can kind of mentally clock out and focus on the food.”

With “Sandwich Shop” in the namesake, it’s a given that the subs are going to be delicious. We dream of the Apollonia, but we’d be fools to ignore the underdogs of the show: the empanadas.

They have mastered the art of a good empanada, with a delicious, doughy exterior filled with the recipe of the day. With the ever-changing menu, you never know what you may walk into, but there are a few usuals we can’t help but come back for.

One iteration of the empanadas is filled with mojo pork, pickled jalapeños, and chihuahua cheese. This combination is juicy, rich, and just a little bit spicy, but highly addictive. Luckily, these empanadas are anything but small.

“We like the idea that our food is a reflection of all of us and not just my idea,” says Beardman. “As a cook, you don’t really get a lot of say in a lot of kitchens; you just kinda do the job. So here we work a bit differently.”

What makes Fat Arnie’s kitchen so special is that every chef has a say in the menu. If an inventive, curious idea comes up, the kitchen will do what it can to make it happen.

“Even just as a humble sandwich shop, we try to elevate things. It’s a very collaborative effort.”

And this is just the beginning for Fat Arnie’s. Another addition to the brand, Fat Arnie’s Provecho, opens October 1st, serving all-new sandwich and empanada concepts. Follow @fatarnies_provecho on Instagram for the most recent updates as they open, add hours, and expand their menu.

Also, Fat Arnie’s Provecho will have an accompanying bar called The Blind Pour, another family-owned and operated concept that will invite patrons to order from Provecho while they sip on their drinks.

All in all, the Fat Arnie’s dynasty is beginning, and you won’t want to be left behind. Stop by Fat Arnie’s Sandwich Shop on 4404 Indianola Ave for a taste of the original joint before heading over to 20 S State St in Westerville to experience Provecho.

Visit Fat Arnie’s Sandwich Shop!

[Located inside Rafter's Beer Pub]

4404 Indianola Ave, Columbus

https://www.fatarnies.com/