Dave Portnoy pizza review forces struggling restaurant owner to double staff due to demand

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A single review from Dave Portnoy dramatically changed things for a small restaurant in Massachusetts. After his visit, they became so popular that the owner had to quickly hire twice as many employees to keep up with the sudden rush of customers.

I was so excited to see Dave Portnoy hit up Gianni’s Deli and Pizza on January 8th! He was doing one of his famous One Bite pizza reviews, and this time he had a really cool guest with him – Ann Michael Maye, who’s married to the Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye. It was awesome!

Dave Portnoy rated Gianni’s pizza a 7.7, which is a high score for him. Ann Michael Maye gave it an even better 8.1. The review gained a lot of attention online, but it began simply. Aida Agayby, the owner, didn’t recognize Portnoy when he and a group came in and ordered just one cheese pizza and two plates.

Dave Portnoy pizza review causes immediate impact

Almost immediately after the video was posted, Gianni’s received a huge surge of orders. The owner’s niece explained on social media that the shop was usually run by a small family team, but they were suddenly struggling to keep up with the unexpected demand.

Agayby explained that family members quickly stepped in to help save the business, including her son, who is a full-time employee at Boston Children’s Hospital. The business, normally run by three people, was suddenly needing help from as many as eight at a time.

“It’s been absolutely wild,” Agayby explained. “Ever since he posted the video Thursday night around 7:30, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing.”

This increase in need happened at the worst possible moment for Agayby. She recently had to leave her home because of significant water damage from a broken pipe, and is now dealing with insurance issues while temporarily living in a hotel.

In an interview with CBS Boston, she explained that a customer review really changed things for her. She admitted feeling a little down after reading it, and even prayed for help. Then, on Christmas Eve, someone unexpectedly reached out, and she felt like it was a direct answer to her prayers.

Dave Portnoy’s pizza reviews are famous for instantly boosting the popularity of small pizzerias. He keeps track of every rating on his One Bite app, which is also where fans can find his most critical reviews – he’s even given a few pizzas a score of zero.

For Gianni’s, though, the verdict was clear. One bite really did change everything.

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2026-01-16 21:48