Imagine a place where you can get whatever you want in a sub sandwich. Sounds like a dream, right?

But this place isn’t found in a dream, a fairy tale or some mystical land. No, it can actually be found right here in Austin. This little-known restaurant is located near the University of Texas campus.

For the most part, when St. Edward’s University students are asked what Big Bite is, they respond with quizzical looks and tones.

“Big Bite? What is that? Never heard of it before,” said sophomore Alex McCormack.

Big Bite can be said to be a staple in UT students’ weekend diet. To those in the know, it’s no secret that the restaurant’s peak hours are Saturdays and Sundays from about 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

And with the items listed on the menu, it’s definitely no secret as to why students start staggering into Big Bite at these times.

In fact, when asked if students knew about Big Bite on the UT campus, the answers were completely different.

” I just had a Phat Diaz the other day. [It] could be my favorite – I would kind of like to try all of them, to be honest,” UT senior Tyler Hemann said.

With items ranging from paninis to pizzas, burgers to calzones and wraps to salads, there is no food culture that Big Bite doesn’t cover. Then there’s the famous lineup of “phat sandwiches,” which Maxim magazine voted America’s best sandwiches.

With names like “Phat Buffalo,” “Phat Mojo” and “Phat Drunk,” one may have their doubts about eating at such a restaurant. However, the names merely serve as entertainment factors, as Big Bite is a family friendly establishment.

Phat sandwiches are the food of choice for students on the weekends, and they are the real moneymakers for Big Bite. These sandwiches allow you to have anything you could ever imagine or want on a sandwich.

For instance, the “Phat Gigalo” contains cheesesteak, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, french fries and barbecue sauce. Another sandwich, named the “Phat Goomba,” contains chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, french fries and marinara sauce. There are 38 phat sandwiches in all, and although some share ingredients, no two are exactly alike.

The restaurant is fairly new to the UT campus. Big Bite was born on the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick, N.J. Big Bite goes by the name “R U Hungry?” in New Jersey, but it still serves the famous phat sandwiches served at the Austin location.

The origin of the phat sandwich is highly debated, as no one really knows for sure who created the first.

Many claim the first phat sandwich is what is known as the “Phat Cat,” one of the least elaborate concoctions, comprised of two hamburger patties, french fries, ketchup and mayonnaise. According to the Big Bite Web site, 1979 marked the creation of the “Phat Cat” and, subsequently, the other phat sandwiches. The “Phat Cat” has remained the number one sandwich at the Rutgers restaurant.

After experiencing the success of the Rutgers restaurant, Joseph Elghoul, the proprietor of the Austin restaurant, decided to add another location.

“We just thought we should expand. After all, with all the media attention the Rutgers restaurant was getting, why wouldn’t we expand?” Elghoul said.

But why Austin? What made Elghoul think, “this is the place to bring my sandwiches”?

“We wanted to bring [Big Bite] to a famous college town, one where we knew we’d get a lot of business. So we decided on the University of Texas here in Austin,” Elghoul said.

Plans are in the works to expand even further, but no definitive actions have been taken as of yet. So, anytime you’re feeling like eating a “Phat Cat” and want to experience the restaurant firsthand, head on down to Big Bite, on the corner of 24th Street and Guadalupe, any day of the week from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m.