Hilligan's Sports Bar — Review by Randy Santel
Bowling Green, United States — American Sports Bar Pizza
Randy Santel completed the 30-inch, 12-pound pizza challenge at Hilligan's Sports Bar with his teammate Eli Lessig in just 19 minutes and 38 seconds, setting a new record. They chose the Hilly Cheesesteak and Chicken Bacon Ranch pizzas, both of which they found delicious and satisfying, despite the challenge's short 30-minute time limit.
What was great: The pizza was delicious with great quality ingredients including flavorful marinara base, generous amounts of mozzarella cheese, fresh vegetables like peppers and mushrooms, and well-prepared meats. The restaurant is well-known for their pizza and chicken wings with homemade wing sauce.
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
The star of this challenge was Hilligan's massive 30-inch pizza featuring approximately 5 pounds of dough and 4 pounds of mozzarella cheese. Randy selected the Hilly Cheesesteak pizza, named after Western Kentucky University's Hilltoppers mascot, which came loaded with sirloin meat and healthy vegetables including mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and red peppers. The marinara base provided a traditional foundation for this hearty creation. His teammate Eli went with the Chicken Bacon Ranch, the restaurant's most popular pizza, featuring a ranch-based sauce that made the pizza particularly moist. Both pizzas demonstrated the quality ingredients and preparation that Hilligan's is known for throughout the community.
The Experience
The challenge took place in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters who provided constant encouragement and applause throughout the entire event. The atmosphere was lively and festive, with the restaurant staff and owner Brian creating an energetic environment. The team had a strict 30-minute time limit to complete the challenge, and only one team had previously succeeded in doing so by finishing in about 25 minutes. The camaraderie between Randy and Eli, who had previously completed a challenge together in Jasper, Indiana, made the event enjoyable despite the intense pressure of the competition.
Value and Pricing
The challenge cost $50 if the team failed to finish within the time limit. However, by winning, the team earned their entire pizza meal for free, each received a $50 gift card to return to Hilligan's later, and they earned sweet commemorative t-shirts plus placement on the Wall of Fame with a group photo. This represented excellent value considering the substantial amount of pizza involved and the additional rewards for success.
Notable Moments
We finished in the new record 19 minutes and 38 seconds.
It says a lot for this pizza that I'm going to finish it all with just water. No diet soda or anything like that.
The team's strategy involved Randy eating through the middle while Eli focused on consuming the crust first. Randy noted that Eli's pizza had a much higher moisture content due to the ranch base, while his own pizza with the marinara and vegetables was slightly drier. Despite the intensity of the challenge, both competitors clearly enjoyed the quality of the food, with Eli even commenting that he slightly preferred Randy's cheesesteak pizza for its flavorful peppers and fresher components.
The Verdict
Hilligan's Sports Bar impressed both competitors with their quality pizza, homemade wing sauce, and overall food quality. Even beyond the challenge, Randy highly recommends visiting when in the Bowling Green area, noting that the restaurant is well-known for their pizza and chicken wings. This victory marked Randy's 1377th overall food challenge win, completed in record-breaking time. Whether you're a challenge enthusiast looking to attempt the famous 30-inch pizza or simply want to enjoy some excellent sports bar fare, Hilligan's delivers delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere.