New Bedford Restaurant Unleashes Wild Four-Stage Food Challenge

I'm getting full just looking at all this food.

Food challenges have become the trend lately here on the SouthCoast, and Play Arcade on Union Street in New Bedford just leveled up its menu with an all-out eating challenge that's as fun as it is fierce.

The “Play With Your Food Challenge” is a four-stage gut-buster that puts even the most skilled eaters to the test, and two brave employees, Nick and Dante, were the first to try and conquer it on Thursday, April 17.

READ MORE: Tiverton Restaurant Drops a Massive Skillet Cookie Challenge

Owner Adam Katz explained that the idea has been simmering behind the scenes for over six months, inspired by his chef’s love of classic food competitions like Man v. Food.

“We missed the initial food challenge boom, but we still wanted to bring something unique to New Bedford,” Katz said. “It’s designed like a four-stage video game: think Mario Kart, but with food.”

🎮 The Challenge:

Complete all four stages in one hour with no leaving the table and no puking allowed.

Here’s what you’re up against:

• Stage 1: Beef Slider Beach
  Six Juicy Lucy sliders — each with a 3oz patty, stuffed with 1oz of cheese and topped with garlic onion jam, all on a toasted brioche bun.
• Stage 2: Puzzle Pass
  A heaping platter of Loaded Tetris Tots—1 pound of crispy tots, ¼ pound of bacon bits, ⅓ pound of cheese, and scallions.
• Stage 3: Choose Your Destroyer
  A full specialty pizza with two toppings of your choice.
• Stage 4: Mount Dessert
  A warm cookie skillet loaded with crumbled Oreos, chocolate chips, ice cream, whipped cream, caramel, chocolate drizzle, and a cherry on top.

🏆 Win Glory or Face the Wall of Shame

If you complete the entire challenge, you’ll earn:

• A $60 Play gift card (aka: your meal is free)
• Custom “food challenge” swag
• A Polaroid on the Wall of Fame

If you tap out? You pay for what you ate, take home $5 in tokens, and your Polaroid goes on the Wall of Shame.

While still in the trial phase, Katz noted the pricing will be flexible depending on how many stages a challenger completes.

“If you only make it through the sliders and pizza, you’re just paying for those,” he clarified.

🍕 The First Test

Nick and Dante were the first to tackle the challenge, serving as Play’s official guinea pigs to help iron out any issues before the public takes it on.

The arcade is encouraging anyone who thinks they’ve got the stomach to survive to call ahead or email to schedule their attempt.

Think you’ve got what it takes to play with your food?