Dave Portnoy's Barstool Pizza Reviews Leo's, An 83-Year-Old Landmark Restaurant In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Dave Portnoy, whose "Barstool Pizza" reviews have drawn millions of followers on social media, tried something different last week by visiting a classic Italian restaurant that opened in Hoboken in 1939.

Portnoy says in his YouTube video that he didn't intend to review the pizza at Leo's Grandevous at first. In fact, he walked there from Jersey City to eat a chicken parm sandwich before watching the Steelers game.

"I love old-school Italian places, by the way," he says in the video.

Leo's is a family-owned restaurant known for, among other things, its jukebox that plays only Frank Sinatra tunes.

But according to Portnoy, while there, the owners encouraged him to try the bar pie.

"The daughter was very specific," he said. "She said, 'If you don't like it, don't post it.' "

Portnoy said he normally enjoys the chicken parm, mussels, and meatballs, but would give the mini-pizza a try.

His verdict?

"This? Is like an appetizer," he said, "like a 7.2 [out of 10]. I'd get everything else. I'd leave the pizza."

He added, "No jokin,' I'd rather go to an Italian place like this, get a little ambiance ... than five-star Italian. They are, by far, family run, old school, South Italian homestyle meals, awesome. I don't go for the pizza. I go for everything else, the chicken parm, garlic bread, mussels fra diavolo."

Leo's is located at 200 Grand St., at the corner of Grand and Second streets, a walk of about 10 blocks from the Hoboken train station (or from the Newport section of Jersey City nearby).

See a Hoboken Patch story about new restaurants and businesses in town here.

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