Hungry for a Challenge? Food Challenges Worth Trying Around New England
New England is known for lobster rolls, clam chowder, maple syrup, and plenty of classic comfort food. But for those with an especially ambitious appetite, there’s another side of the region worth exploring: food challenges.
From towering burgers and mountains of barbecue to enormous pizzas and ice cream sundaes, restaurants throughout New England have created larger-than-life dishes that dare diners to finish every last bite. Some are designed for one hungry challenger, while others are best tackled as a team.
Whether you’re a competitive eater or simply looking for a memorable stop on your next New England road trip, here are a few food challenges worth putting on your list.
The Norm Burger | Cheers, Boston
No Boston food challenge list would be complete without the Norm Burger at Cheers.
Named after the beloved Cheers character Norm Peterson, this Boston classic is appropriately over-the-top. The challenge features a double-decker burger with two beef patties, cheese, onion rings, lettuce, and other toppings, served alongside fries. The burger weighs in at roughly two pounds, making it much more than your average pub burger.
But the appeal isn't just the size of the meal. You're attempting the challenge inside the iconic Boston pub that became synonymous with one of television's most famous bars.
Finish the burger and you can earn a spot in the Norm Burger Hall of Fame, making this as much a Boston bucket-list experience as it is a test of appetite.
Challenge level: 🍔🍔🍔
Best for: Cheers fans, Boston visitors, burger lovers, and anyone looking for a memorable Boston food experience
The Vermonster | Ben & Jerry's, Vermont
From Boston, head north to Vermont for a challenge of an entirely different kind.
The Vermonster at Ben & Jerry's is an enormous ice cream sundae that takes dessert to another level. Rather than a traditional timed eating challenge, it's a massive creation that's perfect for sharing with a group.
Think plenty of ice cream topped with brownies, cookies, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, and other sweet additions. It's the kind of dessert that looks impressive before you even pick up a spoon.
And while you can certainly attempt it on your own, the Vermonster is made for a group experience. Grab a few friends, choose your favorite flavors, and see how far you can get before the ice cream starts melting into one very large, very sweet puddle.
Challenge level: 🍦🍦🍦🍦
Best for: Groups, ice cream lovers, and anyone with an especially serious sweet tooth
The 22-Inch Stuffed Pizza Challenge | Randy's Wooster Street Pizza, Connecticut
If burgers and ice cream aren't your thing, head to Connecticut for a challenge built for pizza lovers.
At Randy's Wooster Street Pizza in Manchester, two people have one hour to finish a 22-inch stuffed pizza loaded with toppings. The enormous pie weighs roughly 10 to 11 pounds and includes meats, cheese, and vegetables packed inside.
The challenge is designed for two people, which makes it a little more approachable than some of the solo food challenges on this list. That doesn't necessarily make it easy, though. The restaurant's challenge has earned a reputation for being particularly difficult to complete.
Successfully finish the pizza and you can earn rewards including a free meal and other prizes.
Challenge level: 🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
Best for: Pizza lovers, competitive friends, couples, and anyone who thinks one pizza is never enough
The Feedbag Shovel | New Hampshire
New Hampshire brings barbecue into the food-challenge game with the Feedbag Shovel Challenge at KC's Rib Shack in Manchester.
As the name suggests, this isn't your average barbecue platter. The massive meal is served on a shovel and includes an assortment of barbecue favorites, including ribs, pulled pork, brisket, sausage, pulled chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. The challenge has historically been designed for groups to tackle together.
It's essentially a backyard barbecue scaled up to an entirely different level.
If you're traveling with friends, this could be the perfect excuse to turn lunch into a team sport.
Challenge level: 🍖🍖🍖🍖
Best for: Groups, barbecue fans, and anyone willing to share the responsibility
The Grand Poutine Challenge | New Hampshire
Also in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Grand Poutine Challenge takes one of the ultimate comfort foods and makes it considerably more intimidating.
Poutine already combines three beloved ingredients: fries, gravy, and cheese curds. The challenge takes that combination and turns it into a massive serving designed to test even the biggest appetites.
Because apparently regular poutine wasn't indulgent enough.
Challenge level: 🍟🍟🍟🍟
Best for: Poutine enthusiasts, comfort-food fans, and anyone who considers fries a food group
Make Your Own New England Food Challenge Road Trip
One of the best things about these challenges is that they give you an entirely different way to explore New England.
You could start in Boston with the Norm Burger at Cheers, head north through New Hampshire for barbecue or poutine, continue into Vermont for the Vermonster, and then make your way south to Connecticut for an enormous stuffed pizza.
Along the way, you'll experience some of the region's classic foods, quirky restaurants, and unmistakable local personality.
And you don't necessarily have to finish every challenge.
Sometimes the fun is simply ordering something ridiculously oversized, taking the obligatory photo, and seeing how much of it your table can actually eat.
So whether you're a competitive eater, a food-loving traveler, or just looking for an excuse to make your next New England road trip a little more interesting, these challenges are worth adding to the list.
Just remember: come hungry