Barstool's Dave Portnoy Reviews Malden Pizza Spot

The One Bite review did not come without some controversy, as the media empire's founder was recovering from dental work.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Sep 8, 2026 1:28 PM EDT

The Swampscott native is known for his pizza reviews, among many other things. (Scott Roth/Invision/AP)

MALDEN, MA — A local eatery recently received a visit from one of the country's most well-known pizza reviewers.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy stopped by Pisa Pizza on 133 Pearl St. as part of his popular "One Bite" pizza review series, giving the longtime local restaurant a 7.3 out of 10. Portnoy said a number of people had recommended the restaurant and called the pie a "good piece" of "football pizza" during the review.

The visit came while Portnoy was dealing with the aftermath of dental procedures on both sides of his mouth, including work to receive multiple crowns, which he said had left portions of his face and tongue numb.

"First time today I can feel my face a little bit," Portnoy said. "I had a lot more pizza I wanted to do on this trip, but can't do it."

"I feel gross, I feel sick, I feel frozen, unfrozen," Portnoy added.

Pisa Pizza later responded to the review, saying customers had reached out asking about Portnoy's visit and that some were upset he conducted the review while dealing with the effects of the dental work. The restaurant said Portnoy was "definitely not himself" during the visit, but emphasized its respect for the Barstool founder and acknowledged that he still gave the pizza a good score.

"So in all fairness we give Dave's lifetime work a 9.8 and his decision to do a review in his condition a 2.3," Pisa Pizza said. The restaurant added that its crew is "extremely proud" to have served Malden for the past 34 years and joked that Portnoy should begin reviewing local dentists.

Portnoy founded Barstool Sports in the Boston area in 2003 and has since become well known for his "One Bite" pizza review series. The reviews date back to 2013 and feature Portnoy visiting pizzerias and scoring their pies on a 10-point scale.