SALT LAKE CITY — Barstool Sports founder and Fox Sports personality Dave Portnoy — known for his unfiltered humor and wildly popular “One Bite Pizza Reviews” — finally made his way to Utah this fall, taking on local pizza spots from Salt Lake City to Provo and Park City while filming new reviews.
Portnoy, who boasts nearly 1.5 million YouTube subscribers and millions more across social media, is famous for his quick-hit pizza critiques: one bite (or more), one score out of 10. Until recently, Utah had never been featured — but Portnoy’s visits for Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” college football show changed that.
The show’s September broadcast at the University of Utah and its later stop at BYU gave Portnoy time to explore the Beehive State’s food scene — including its growing pizza culture.
Below is a detailed breakdown of every Utah pizza place he reviewed and how they stacked up.
Baby’s Bagels — 204 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City
Known mostly for its breakfast offerings, Baby’s Bagels also serves pizza a few evenings a week. Portnoy said the slice “proves you’re always going to find really good pizza in any city.”
Score: 7.9/10
Maxwell’s — 1456 Newpark Blvd., Park City
With multiple Utah locations, Maxwell’s offered a thicker, doughier crust than Portnoy usually prefers. Still, he called it “pretty good” for fans of that style.
Score: 7.1/10
Nico’s Pizza — 255 W. Cougar Blvd., Provo
Portnoy described Nico’s as “good average pizza” that’s thin, crispy, and consistently enjoyable. His review sparked such a rush of customers that the shop ran out of dough and had to close early the next day.
Score: 7.4/10
Pie Hole — 344 S. State St., Salt Lake City
This late-night favorite didn’t win him over. Calling it a “drunk pizza spot,” Portnoy admitted to having low expectations due to its 3 a.m. closing time — and rated it accordingly.
Score: 3.8/10
Secret Pizza Club — 1000 S. Main, Salt Lake City
Operating part-time out of Leavity Bread & Coffee, this exclusive pop-up earned Portnoy’s highest marks in Utah. He called it “superior” to anything else he’d tried in the state. Advance orders are required, with pizzas available only on Sundays and Tuesdays.
Score: 8.2/10
Slackwater Pizzeria — 684 S. 500 West, Salt Lake City
Portnoy praised Slackwater’s light and crispy crust but said the unique cheese flavor left him “conflicted.” The chain has additional locations in Herriman, Ogden, Provo, and Sandy.
Score: 7.3/10
Slice House — 1332 S. Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City
A New York-style chain from pizza legend Tony Gemignani, Slice House delivered what Portnoy called “the most boring New York-style slice you can ever eat — but great, fast, easy pizza.”
Score: 7.4/10
The Pie Pizzeria — 273 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City
As his first Utah review, this one stirred some online debate. Portnoy found the pizza “pretty good for campus pizza,” though fans argued the slice he got wasn’t their usual pie. The Pie later clarified online that the version he reviewed is a permanent menu option.
Score: 6.9/10
Villaggio — 3144 S. State St., South Salt Lake
Owned by retired New Yorker Ricci Rondinelli, Villaggio impressed Portnoy with both its authenticity and its crisp texture. He even admitted to scoring it “with love” after meeting the owner.
Score: 7.8/10
Beyond Pizza: Utah Food & Culture Highlights
Portnoy’s Utah adventures didn’t stop at pizza. He also introduced a new “bookstore review” segment during his travels:
- Utah Utes Bookstore: 9.2/10
- BYU Bookstore: 9.6/10
In Provo, he swapped beer for dessert, declaring BYU Creamery on Ninth ice cream an impressive 9.4/10 — saying, “I don’t need to drink, I’ll eat.”
He also sampled Utah’s famous “dirty soda” scene but admitted confusion over the concept, giving Swig a low 1.8/10 after likely ordering a regular soda by mistake.
What’s Next for Portnoy in Utah?
Portnoy hinted he may return to Utah for another college football broadcast — potentially at Utah State University in Logan, joking that the BYU vs. Utah State ice cream rivalry might be “more bitter than their football one.”
If that happens, expect more “One Bite” reviews — and perhaps a few second chances for local spots that didn’t fare so well the first time.
