Dave Portnoy’s final pizza review of the year came with more than his usual score as he gifted a small Baltimore pizzeria an incredible Christmas gift that will help the business stay open into 2025.
Portnoy visited TinyBrickOven in Maryland on December 13, while on his way out of the state. After trying the pizza, he promised to give the restaurant $60,000 to stay open for around another year.
The review was uploaded to Portnoy’s social media on Monday night, with him scoring the pizza a 7.9 out of 10, with him considering everything an 8 or higher to be unquestionably great pizza.
The Barstool CEO was won over by ‘the most upbeat pizzeria owner’, Will, who did not expect Portnoy’s arrival and quickly makes him a cheese pizza.
Will informs Portnoy that due to local politicians not providing the restaurant with a liquor license, it would be forced to close for good on Christmas Day.
The first sign of the restaurant planning to close on social media was on November 27, when they declared its last round of pizza making classes.
Portnoy gifted a Baltimore pizzeria a Christmas gift that will help the business stay open
Portnoy’s pizza reviews are well known to increase business for the places he loves and hates
‘There’s no way this place should be going out of business, none,’ Portnoy said.
After taking a moment outside the restaurant after giving his score, Portnoy stands in the doorway and asks Will how much money he would need to stay open for another year.
At first, Will does not answer, saying he ‘wasn’t sure’, with his bewilderment of the celebrity entering his place of business still present.
‘Well, if there was somebody super rich right in front of your face who is in the pizza business and by serendipity he’s like, ‘What do you need to stay open for a year?’ You gotta give him some figure because then he’s going to walk away,’ Portnoy continued.
As soon as the number ‘60,000’ came out of Will’s mouth, Portnoy replied ‘done’.
Alongside the monetary gift, Portnoy’s presence is likely to increase business for TinyBrickOven.
After four hours live on his YouTube channel, the review had nearly 100,000 hits and his channel has more than 1.3million subscribers.
