Fat Boys Pizza — Review by Randy Santel
Florence, United States — Pizza
Randy Santel and his fiance Kina attempted Fat Boys Pizza's undefeated 28-inch Gutbuster pizza challenge in Florence, Alabama, successfully completing it in 31 minutes and 3 seconds. The challenge featured a thick-crust pizza with generous toppings including ham and pineapple on one half and grilled chicken, banana peppers, and lamb on the other. Winners received free pizza for a year and their names on the wall of fame.
What was great: Great pizza quality with delicious toppings, homemade marinara sauce, Hawaiian pizza was delicious, grilled chicken and banana peppers were well-prepared, friendly staff and owners
What could improve: Pizza was very thick with 7 lbs of dough making it challenging to finish, crust became tiresome to eat, pizza cooled down during the challenge
The Dishes
The main event was Fat Boys Pizza's 28-inch Gutbuster pizza challenge, which weighed approximately 11-12 pounds and contained 7 pounds of dough. The pizza came in two halves with different topping combinations. Kina's half featured Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham, which she found delicious. Randy's half included grilled chicken, banana peppers, euro lamb meat, and fresh mozzarella cheese with their homemade marinara sauce. Both were impressed with the quality of ingredients and the restaurant's other menu options, which include chicken wings, calzones, and additional topping varieties like buffalo chicken pizza and cheesesteaks.
The Experience
The restaurant was packed with enthusiastic locals and supporters coming out for Kina's first food challenge attempt in Alabama. The owners, Quinn and his family, were welcoming and provided detailed information about the challenge rules and preparation. The atmosphere was celebratory and encouraging throughout the eating experience. The pizza was served hot on a metal pan, though it cooled somewhat during the 31-minute eating window.
Value & Pricing
The challenge entry fee was $50 as a team, with prizes including free pizza for a year (one free pizza per month), custom t-shirts, and placement on the restaurant's wall of fame with a team photo. Since this was a team challenge event rather than a standard menu review, standard pricing was not discussed.
Notable Moments
We just hit 10 minutes and 15 seconds in. 10:15 is important to note because that's what Magic Mitch and I finished the one in Lton, Oklahoma in.
The pizza's thicker than I'm going to be next week.
She's making me feel inadequate.
We finished at the same time. She usually finishes first.
The Verdict
Fat Boys Pizza's Gutbuster challenge lives up to its reputation as a formidable test, with the thick crust and substantial dough making it a legitimate eating challenge despite being defeatable within the one-hour time limit. The pizza quality itself was excellent, with fresh ingredients and homemade sauces that both competitors enjoyed. This challenge is best suited for experienced competitive eaters working as a team, though casual diners would likely appreciate Fat Boys' regular menu offerings. The restaurant's friendly ownership and enthusiastic community support made the experience memorable beyond just the food itself.