Portnoy Pops Into Needham With Drake Maye’s Wife for a One Bite Surprise
If your feed suddenly showed Dave Portnoy reviewing pizza in Needham with the Patriots quarterback’s wife, no, your algorithm didn’t glitch.
Portnoy brought One Bite to the suburbs this week with a guest Boston instantly recognized. Ann Michael Maye, baker, content creator, and wife of Drake Maye, joined him outside Gianni’s Deli and Pizza to rate a classic cheese slice.
The timing felt intentional. The video dropped right as Patriots playoff energy was building, giving the whole thing a homecoming vibe. Portnoy did his usual setup, reminded everyone of the sacred One Bite rule, then immediately bent it by taking multiple bites anyway.
Ann Michael kept it clean. One bite, quick pause, then a confident score. She landed on an 8.1, which in One Bite terms means you would willingly drive out of your way for it. Portnoy came in slightly lower with a 7.7, praising the flavor while calling out the slice for being a little loose and messy. Strong taste, imperfect structure.
One bite rules, playoff timing, and an 8.1 score
Portnoy explained his thinking the way only he does. An 8-plus is destination pizza. Not perfect, but memorable. The kind of slice you remember the next time someone asks where to eat.
The deli owner who stole the show
The real magic happened inside the shop. The deli owner appeared genuinely unaware that two internet-famous people had just walked in with a camera crew. She asked where the video would be posted, then pulled out her phone and started filming them filming her. Peak Massachusetts.
She offered free sodas, made them a toasted chicken parm, and let that get reviewed too. Verdict: solid, comforting, and exactly what you want from a neighborhood spot. Not the best chicken parm ever, but very good. The kind of place you are glad exists near your house.
As the review wrapped, the owner could still be seen recording from behind the counter, soaking it all in.
The Needham stop was part of a larger Massachusetts run for Portnoy, who has been bouncing around the region lately. In Quincy, he grabbed a slice at Tony’s House of Pizza, scoring it a 6.3. He then walked down the block to Hancock Tavern, a South Shore bar pie spot that earned a 7.5 on the bar pie scale and a quick “Masshole central” label.
Between the scores, the surprise guest, and the unintentionally wholesome deli owner, this One Bite felt less like a stunt and more like a very Massachusetts moment. Pizza, Patriots, camera phones, and everyone just rolling with it.
