Dave Portnoy Reviews a New England Classic and Falls in Love All Over Again

For many people throughout New England, there are stories and fond memories wrapped around one regionally-based pizza chain, Papa Gino's. Papa Gino's has dubbed itself "New England's favorite neighborhood pizza", and had more than 150 regional locations at the height of its success.

But a 2018 bankruptcy filing caused Papa Gino's to downsize. That included closing their only remaining location in Maine, which was inside the Auburn Mall. Today, there are still nearly 80 Papa Gino's locations still operating across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

The location in Londonderry, New Hampshire, received a surprise visit earlier this week by a celebrity. That would be Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who received a request to review Papa Gino's as part of his "One Bite" series of pizza reviews.

Like the good New England kid he is, Portnoy set up his pizza review with a story about growing up in New England, ordering Papa Gino's on the weekend, and thinking it was the greatest weekend of his life every time.

Portnoy admitted that he hadn't had a slice of Papa Gino's in what felt like forever. He also mentioned (somewhat jokingly) that perhaps he should attempt to buy the entire chain of restaurants. Might want to put that tidbit of information in your back pocket for now.

Portnoy's one bite review came back with a good score of 7.5. He mentioned that it tasted just like he remembered as a kid, and proclaimed that despite it being a chain pie, the pure taste and texture was as good or better as many mom and pop shops.

Portnoy has been spending a lot of time reviewing pizza places throughout New England, and plans to feature several of them during his One Bite Pizza Festival on Saturday, September 14.