Needham Pizza Shop Praised by Dave Portnoy and Ann Michael Maye

When Dave Portnoy shows up at a pizza shop, it’s never just about the pizza.

This week, the Barstool Sports founder stopped by Gianni's Deli and Pizza in Needham, Massachusetts – and he didn’t come alone.

Joining him for the review was Ann Michael Maye, wife of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, making for a rare guest appearance in Portnoy’s famous “One Bite, Everyone Knows the Rules” series. With the Pats heating up heading into the playoffs, the timing couldn’t have been better.

A Classic Mom-and-Pop Spot Gets the Spotlight

Gianni’s owners, who have been running the shop for 25 years, have quietly built a neighborhood following, and Portnoy was clearly impressed by both the pizza and the people behind it.

The pie itself earned strong marks. Maye went first, carefully biting into a piping-hot slice and praising the fluffy crust before landing on a very respectable 8.1 score. It was an impressive debut rating from a first-time pizza reviewer.

Portnoy followed with his own assessment, noting great flavor but a slightly messy slice, ultimately scoring it a 7.7, which is still considered a solid win in Portnoy terms.

Bonus Review: Chicken Parm Joins the Party

As if the pizza review wasn’t enough, the visit turned into a two-for-one when the owner insisted Portnoy try the chicken parm sub, made with house-baked bread and scratch-made chicken.

More Than Just Pizza

“The best part of the whole place is the lady,” Portnoy said, praising the owner’s warmth, story, and pride in her food. From learning recipes passed down through family to building a life and business after emigrating from Egypt, her story struck a chord.

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That’s what these reviews are really about: spotlighting local businesses, the people behind them, and giving a small shop the big stage it rightfully deserves.

At the end of the day, Gianni’s Deli and Pizza walked away with strong scores and a serious boost of buzz, plus a little Patriots playoff energy sprinkled on top.

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Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

The Best of South Shore Bar Pizza

There's pizza, and then there's South Shore Bar Pizza. Birthed in Brockton (and to this writer, perfected in Randolph – Lynwood Café is the true G.O.A.T.), it must meet certain qualifications to be considered "SSBP," which include: it's a 10-inch pie; it has a thin, cracker-like crust with minimal "flop;" the cheese is a blend that features more cheddar than mozzarella; and bonus points if you take it home between two carboard-type plates wrapped in flat brown paper bag. They also usually come with "laced" or "burnt" edges (terminology depends on where you are ordering), which is when the sauce and cheese are extended all the way to the edge of the pan, creating a crispy, flavorful coating to the crust. We reached out to the hugely popular South Shore Bar Pizza Social Club Facebook group to ask the experts to share the best of the best (in no particular order).

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

All Aboard the South Shore Bar Pizza Train

One of the benefits of the new South Coast Rail commuter train connection New Bedford to Boston is that there are 11 good South Shore Bar Pizza stops en route.

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg