One Bite Pizza's Dave Portnoy visits Shore restaurants in Oceanport, Sea Bright
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Jason Enger previously worked at Luigi's Famous Pizza in the Lincroft section of Middletown.
One Bite Pizza Guy Dave Portnoy has returned to the Shore.
On July 28, the man known for reviewing pizza on a scale of 1 to 10 on YouTube visited Gigi's New York Style Pizza in Sea Bright, and The Sauce Pizzeria in Oceanport.
While we don't know the ratings yet, the visits should post in about a week, according to Jason Enger, CEO/owner of The Sauce.
Gigi's co-owner Kenny Gambella missed Portnoy during the visit, he said. Kenny's wife, Kelly Gambella, posted a thank you to Portnoy July 29 on her Facebook page. (Gigi's also has locations in Long Branch and Oceanport.)
The "Sauce Boss," as Enger is affectionately known, almost missed him, too. He was out at the time, but his staff called him and he rushed to the restaurant.
"It's about time you're here," Enger said he told him. "We've been waiting forever on you."
The founder and owner of Barstool Sports (he's @stoolpresidente on social media) playfully pointed out that the restaurant has only been open seven months, Enger said with a laugh. The Sauce Pizzeria opened in October 2023.
Enger met Portnoy before while working at Luigi's Famous Pizza in the Lincroft section of Middletown. (Portnoy gave Luigi's an 8.1 rating.)
Portnoy's process is simple: He orders a whole pie, then eats one bite and delivers a rating. He has reviewed 1,000 pizzerias nationwide, and has visited many Jersey Shore favorites in the past.
The One Bite Pizza Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 14, at Randall's Island Park in New York City. Eight New Jersey pizzerias will take on others from New York and Connecticut. Here are the Garden State spots chosen to participate:
Angeloni’s Restaurant & Pizzeria in Caldwell
Brooklyn Square Pizza in Jackson, Toms River and Manalapan
Bunny's Sports Bar in South Orange
Calabria Pizzeria & Restaurant in Livingston
De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies in Robbinsville Township
Federici's Family Restaurant in Freehold Borough
Lillo's Tomato Pies in Hainesport
Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza in Elizabeth.
Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.
Bill Canacci can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: One Bite Pizza: Dave Portnoy reviews Shore restaurants
