Seemingly Satisfied Customers Flock to Dragon Pizza a Day After Altercation with Barstool Sports CEO
By Jared Schwartz | September 1, 2023 | 10:14pm
It seems like Dragon Pizza in Somerville, Massachusetts, is attracting even more customers after an altercation between the pizzeria’s owner and Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy. Despite Portnoy’s negative review, customers have shown their support for the pizza shop.
One customer, in particular, went against Portnoy’s review and gave the maple bacon slice a much higher rating. “I’d give this one probably around a 9 out of 10… But it is a little floppy, I do have to agree there,” the customer expressed while enjoying his slice. “Yeah, I saw the altercation. I thought it was better than he rated it, but that’s just my taste. The owner seemed a little bit out of control, maybe he was having a bad day. It got caught on camera, I think that’s what it was.”
Portnoy, 46, who recently reacquired Barstool Sports, visited Dragon Pizza for one of his trademark pizza reviews. In his series titled “One Bite,” Portnoy takes a single bite of pizza and records a review right outside the restaurant. Typically, he rates the pizza on a scale of 1 to 10.
However, Portnoy did not enjoy his slice from Dragon Pizza and criticized it as “trash” and a “floppy mess,” giving it a rating of 6.4. This led to a confrontation with Dragon Pizza’s owner, Charlie Redd.
Redd approached Portnoy and expressed his disapproval, stating, “Enjoy your pizza as any customer, but I don’t appreciate what you do, coming in and judging a business in one bite.” Portnoy argued that he helps small businesses, but Redd disagreed, leading to a heated exchange of words between the two.
Redd eventually asked Portnoy to stop standing in front of his business. Portnoy responded with offensive remarks, repeatedly calling Redd a “motherf–ker” and an “a–hole.” The situation escalated when Redd threatened to call the police, to which Portnoy replied, “for being a f–king bitch.”
Despite the altercation, Dragon Pizza seems to be unaffected and drawing in customers. Redd, however, doesn’t want to capitalize on the attention. A paper plate with the words “we are not talking about it” is taped to the window, indicating his unwillingness to discuss the incident.
Interestingly, one customer stated that Portnoy’s review influenced his decision to visit Dragon Pizza. “It made me think about getting a slice of pizza,” he said. It appears that Portnoy’s negative review has inadvertently brought more attention to the pizzeria.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Dragon Pizza remains open and serving satisfied customers who appreciate their unique flavors.