West Hartford’s Blue Back Square has always been a place for friends and family to grab a delicious bite to eat. From Cheesecake Factory to Coracora and World of Beer, Blue Back Square almost has it all, and now, it actually does.
Selection of menu items available at Wonder in Blue Back Square. Courtesy of Wonder
By Roz Green
At Wonder, which opened in mid-August at 91 Memorial Road in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, customers can choose from over 40 different menu options, from Mediterranean, to Mexican, to even Asian food. They can also select from a multitude of restaurant concepts in one order, making it a mealtime solution for families, friend groups, and people who can’t agree on what to eat.
Customers also have the option to dine in, pick up, or have food delivered with no delivery free. Just download the free Wonder app, available to download on iOS and Android devices.
Patrick Cartier, Market Operations Director for Wonder’s New England locations, stated that his ultimate goal was to make great food more accessible, and with their talented Wonder team, that doesn’t seem to be a challenge.
A ribbon cutting at Wonder was held on Aug. 12, 2026. Courtesy of West Hartford Chamber of Commerce (we-ha.com file photo)
“What I’m most proud of is just the team that Angela, as well as Moe, have put together for the West Hartford community. You know, we hire over 30 team members to really learn the menu, and we want to give back to the community that way,” Cartier told We-Ha.com, sharing that even though there may have been some challenges for the new locations opening, the West Hartford Wonder team’s dedication to customer satisfaction has been his most rewarding accomplishment while getting the location up and running.
Selection of menu items available at Wonder in Blue Back Square. Courtesy of Wonder
A lot of people may be hesitant to eat at Wonder, as a big misconception is that the food isn’t made in the Wonder restaurant, or that it is a ghost kitchen, which makes them question if they should go or order food from there.
Cartier said it’s not a ghost kitchen just catering to take-out and delivery app business, but rather an “infinite kitchen center” filled with trained cooks that assemble and finish dishes to order.
“They follow specific chef designed recipes and quality standards. So we truly use restaurant equipment, ovens, grills, fryers, pizza ovens, we cook burgers that are ordered, cooked right on our flattop grill,” Cartier said. “It’s definitely something we recently rolled out and we’re extremely excited about that product and the flavors behind it.”
Mediterranean bowl. Wonder is now open at 91 Memorial Road in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Roz Green (we-ha.com file photo)
Cartier also mentioned the timing that is involved when making all these different meals, as well as making sure customers are getting their food in a timely manner, whether they order in the restaurant or from the app. “The pieces that we have in the kitchen really allow us to conduct and time everything perfectly. Nothing is sitting waiting for another dish, another restaurant, so when it arrives, you know, at that pickup window or at your door, it is still a great temperature,” said Cartier. This allows for people to have choice, but it also allows for customers to enjoy a well executed meal that arrives at the temperature intended for said meal.
Wraps in the windows prior to the opening of the Wonder space in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file phoo)
Just a week or so after the opening in West Hartford, Cartier said he is thrilled by the customer turnout, and loves seeing the excitement in customers’ faces when they walk in.
In the long term, Cartier hopes that more Wonder locations are opened not only in Connecticut, but all across New England, with plans in the making for another location in Massachusetts. “I truly believe as we grow across New England, I want more people to experience our food and the choice and convenience without compromise,” said Cartier, excited for the future of Wonder. He also added that, with all these new locations, he wants to give everyone in the New England area a chance to experience Wonder.
“The biggest part is the people. I think that’s something I’ve always been passionate about in this industry is, you know, we’re in the people business and we serve food,” said Cartier, as he emphasized that his main joy in this process is making the customers happy.
Wonder has now indicated a planned opening date of Aug. 6 for location at 91 Memorial Road in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)
His final message for new and hesitant customers is to “try us out,” adding that customers will definitely be excited about the options, the variety, and the welcoming atmosphere the West Hartford team provides.
The Blue Back Square restaurant is Wonder’s 11th location in Connecticut. Wonder is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Details and the link for online ordering can be found on their website.
Wonder is now open at 91 Memorial Road in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Roz Green (we-ha.com file photo)
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Dining and Cooking