Can you eat 6 pounds of Italian food in 1 hour? Try this St. Louis restaurant challenge
Nestled in St. Louis’ popular Italian neighborhood, Mama’s On The Hill is known for its pasta, pizza and desserts, but the restaurant also offers a menu item you won’t find anywhere else in the region.
Mama’s On The Hill serves a pasta challenge that includes 2 pounds of spaghetti, 1 pound of marinara sauce and a 3-pound meatball made of beef, veal and pork.
The pasta challenge was recently mentioned by review site Yelp in a recent “10 Outrageous Oversized Eats” article.
Mama’s challenge must be completed by one person in one hour, with no sharing allowed. If you successfully complete the challenge, Mama’s will cover the cost of the dish and also award you a pasta challenge shirt.
“Countless” people try the dish on a weekly basis, Mama’s On The Hill owner Andrea Ervin said in a recent email to the BND, but only three have successfully completed it so far this year.
The challenge dish is dine-in only and can be ordered anytime during operating hours Monday through Thursday or before 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The restaurant requires a 24-hour notice for any pasta challenge orders to be eaten after 4 p.m. on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
The 6-pound pasta dish will cost you $45.99 if you cannot complete it alone within an hour.
More on Mama’s menu
If you’re not looking to embark on a massive meatball challenge, you still have plenty of options at Mama’s On The Hill.
Appetizer options include provel cheese sticks, escargot and eggplant melanzane, or you can try the baked meatballs (normal-sized).
The restaurant also serves salads, as well as seasonal homemade soup from October to April.
Pasta dishes on the menu include manicotti, “The Hill” of Spaghetti, tortellini ala Pappa, beef ravioli, penne al vodka and more.
For a chicken-based option, try the pollo artichoke, parmigiana, marsala, caprese or spedini. Seafood dishes, pizza and Italian desserts are available, as well.
More large dishes, food challenges
Yelp’s 10 Outrageous Oversized Eats list includes six food challenges. Here’s the full list.
The Kitchen Sink at San Francisco Creamery Co. in Walnut Creek, Calif.: This ice cream dish has eight large scoops of ice cream and serves six people. If you’re brave enough to go it alone, the challenge is to beat the current record-holder or eat it in less than 30 minutes, whichever time is higher. If you succeed, Yelp reports you will win a free sundae every day for a year.
Texas Sized Donut at Round Rock Donuts in Round Rock, Texas: This doughnut is not a formal challenge, but the treat is more than a foot wide and comes glazed, chocolate-covered or half and half.
The Monster Roll at Deli Sushi & Desserts in San Diego, Calif.: The challenge is to eat a 6-pound sushi roll in 15 minutes or less. Winners’ meals are free and their photos are added to the wall of fame, and those who lose the challenge have their picture added to the wall of shame.
Triple Bypass at Beth’s Cafe in Seattle: You can try this cheesy, meat-filled omelet dish with six eggs or 12.
Black Magic at The Griddle Cafe in Los Angeles: This stack of Oreo pancakes is almost 11 inches across.
The Monster at Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner in New York City: The Monster has piles of pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, turkey and salami on rye bread. Those who complete the dish receive a T-shirt that says “I defeated the Monster.” You can even get the sandwich shipped, disassembled, across the U.S.
28-inch pizza at Benny Pennello’s in Charlotte, N.C.: The challenge is to eat the 28-inch pizza alone in 28 minutes. Winners who are not competitive eaters receive $280, while competitive eaters receive $100. You’ll also win a T-shirt and your picture on the restaurant’s website.
Man v. Food Burger at Big Jud’s in Boise, Idaho: Big Jud’s has two burger challenges. If you can eat the Man v. Food burger, which has two 1-pound patties plus toppings, a large order of fries and a drink in 30 minutes, your meal will be free and you get a T-shirt and a picture on the Wall of Fame. The smaller version involves a 1-pound burger with fries and a drink, and those who complete this within 30 minutes get their photo on the wall.
Burrito at Rincón Taqueria, Norwalk, Conn.: This burrito has no formal challenge but is called football-sized and has your choice of meat or vegan protein.
Mama’s On The Hill
Location: 2132 Edwards St., St. Louis, MO 63110
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
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