A Surprise Visit: Portnoy Slips Through the Cracks
Brian Hernandez: Joey, first off, hazzah! Congrats on Dave Portnoy’s One Bite Review visit to Karvelas Pizza Co. That’s a huge deal! Let’s start with how this all came about. How does one get Dave to come visit? Is it a petition to Barstool Sports, or does word of mouth play a bigger role?
Joey Karvelas: Thanks, Brian! Honestly, a lot of our customers reached out to Dave on social media over the years, tagging him in posts about our pizza. My brothers even reached out to him, but, ultimately, I think it comes down to the people. He listens to his followers, and the word-of-mouth from the customers played a huge role. I guess he saw how passionate folks were about us.
BH: Did he mention how he heard about Karvelas Pizza?
JK: Funny story—when Dave was at our West Point location, he mentioned that he came into Auburn asking around on social media about the best pizza in the area. A ton of people kept saying Karvelas was the only place to go. I guess our reputation in the local community sealed the deal!
(See Dave’s Full visit and review here!)
BH: Bangarang, brother. Were you given any heads-up that he’d be coming by? Even a general time frame?
JK: We had a slight heads-up from following his social media. We knew he was in Auburn, but we never expected him to come eat at our spot. Boy, were we wrong!
BH: So where were you when he actually showed up?
JK: Believe it or not, I was at home having dinner with my family! My brother called me and said, “Holy s***, Dave Portnoy’s at the restaurant!” At first, I said, “Boy, quit playin’,” but, sure enough, it was real.
BH: That must have been wild! What did Dave end up ordering?
JK: He kept it classic—just a cheese pizza. The funny part is, when he called to place the order, he gave his real name. The person who answered had no idea it was him. Our staff is mostly high school girls working the front, and I don’t think many of them knew who he was.
(RECIPE: The Southern Swag Pizza from Karvelas Pizza Co.)
BH: How did you rate on his scale?
JK: He gave us a 7.3. He said it was an “easy” 7.3, which makes me think he might’ve gone higher if I had been there to chat with him. But I’m happy with it, given that I wasn’t even around.
BH: So, did any of your staff recognize him at all while he was there?
JK: Most of our kitchen guys know who Dave is and would have recognized him, but that night, he just flew under the radar. Nobody noticed until our manager, Connor, saw him outside with a camera. By then, it was too late for a proper “Dave Portnoy welcome,” but it made the moment even more unique.
BH: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? And why do you think you could’ve gotten a higher score if you were there?
JK: Yeah, if I could’ve been there, I would’ve loved to talk to him about our history, how we started, and how we run the place as a family business. This all started in an 800-square-foot building, and I think those personal stories resonate with him. Explaining our process, how we use authentic ingredients, and showing him how everything is made—I think that makes a difference. It’s like when you know how something is prepared, it just tastes better. I think the score might have been a bit higher if I’d been there to walk him through it.
BH: Definitely. It seems like Dave really appreciates the backstory and the heart behind a place. How has his visit impacted your team and the business overall?
JK: Honestly, it’s been a huge uplift for the team. I mean, having someone like Dave come through and give us a solid review—it’s a big deal. Even though not everyone recognized him at first, when they realized who he was and the impact of the One Bite Review, they were blown away. It was like, “Oh, wow, this really happened.” The attention has been great for business, too. People travel just to say they’ve been to the same place Dave reviewed.
BH: That’s awesome. What do you think this kind of exposure does for the U.S. Pizza Team as a whole?
JK: It’s a big win for the whole team, no doubt. Dave’s got such a massive following, and when he reviews a place, it’s not just about that one pizzeria—it shines a light on the broader pizza community. It helps elevate everyone involved, especially those of us in the U.S. Pizza Team. It’s validation that we’re doing something right, and it pushes all of us to keep upping our game. When one of us gets that kind of spotlight, it reflects on the whole team.
BH: You hit the nail on the head there. It’s about lifting everyone up. So, what’s next for Karvelas Pizza after the Dave Portnoy bump?
JK: We’re going to keep doing what we do best—making great pizza and staying true to our roots. The review gave us a push, but we’re still the same family-run business, and that’s what we want people to feel when they come in. We’ve had a lot more customers, but we’re still focused on keeping the quality high and giving everyone that authentic Karvelas experience.
BH: Joey, thanks for sharing the inside scoop. It’s been awesome to hear about your experience and how Dave’s visit has impacted Karvelas and the U.S. Pizza Team.
JK: Anytime, Brian. Thanks for having me!
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For more on Joey Karvelas and the US Pizza Team, check out this article on USPizzaTeam.com or visit Karvelas Pizza Co.
