By Thomas Sellers Jr.
here are several ways to celebrate your 23rd birthday.
Even under the umbrella of a global pandemic, a young person might want to head to Tunica for the casinos. A weekend getaway is always a good option or you could just throw a party.
But for 2016 Millington Central High School graduate Robert Allen, he celebrated his 23rd birthday on October 26 by running his new business Fat Daddy’s Wings & Burgers. Opening on Oct. 22 at 8500 Wilkinsville Road Suite 120 in Millington, the latest Flag City restaurant combines the childhood passion of Allen with a family joke.
“Fat Daddy, that’s my nickname with my family,” he said. “The restaurant part, I’ve been cooking for a long time. I’ve just always wanted to do this. The Lord just sent this all my way.”
God sent Allen to this earth three months early. The son of Michelle was born prematurely but still weighted 8 pounds after only six months in the womb.
Always larger for his age, Allen gravitated toward athletics including football. Those connections developed through family, school, sports and church have helped the young entrepreneur have a great first week of business.
“I’m very confident and Millington has shown me to be confident,” he said. “Ever since we opened the doors, we’ve been swamped with business.”
People are flocking into Fat Daddy’s for the variety on the menu. Allen, alongside his brother Louis, have brought some of their favorite recipes to the public.
“We have the best cheeseburgers in town,” Allen declared. “I am confident in that. We have Philly cheese steaks and chicken Phillies. We have desserts like homemade strawberry cake, chocolate cake and peach cobbler. We even have cheesecake.”
Fat Daddy’s features burgers and wings on the marquee. The wings come in boneless and traditional. The 10 different flavors of wings are seasoned, seasoned hot, mild, lemon pepper, ranch, hot, honey gold, garlic Parmesan, Jamaican jerk, suicide, mango habanero and Fat Daddy Sauce.
“We have the best secret house sauce in town,” Allen said. “It’s Fat Daddy’s sauce.”
Other features on the menu are chicken tenders, farm-raised catfish and sides like fries, onion rings, cole slaw and fried okra.
“I’ve been cooking since I was a teenager,” Allen recalled. “My mom worked late nights. She was actually working three jobs when I was younger. So my brothers and me, I’m not going to say we had to fend for ourselves, but mom was out there working to make sure the lights were on. So we had to cook.”
Allen and crew are confident the new restaurant will become a fixture in Millington and expand further. Information about Fat Daddy’s can be found on Facebook or by calling 872-0006. Next up for Fat Daddy’s is expanding to GrubHub.
“I’m going to be honest, I didn’t know I could do it,” Allen acknowledged. “I just prayed about it. It manifested itself and the Lord just told me to do it, ‘I’ve got you.’ He’s been showing he’s got me ever since I opened up the doors.
“We want to make it that everybody across the world knows about Fat Daddy’s Wings,” he concluded. “I’m going to start at home.”
