Christmas Eve is usually predictable for a small pizza shop in Massachusetts. Orders come in steadily, regulars stop by, and the day ends quietly. This year was different. A short video, filmed almost casually, turned a neighborhood favorite into one of the most talked-about restaurants in the area within days.
The moment centered around Dave Portnoy, whose pizza reviews for Barstool Sports have become a powerful force in the food industry. His visits are brief, his scores debated endlessly, and the results often immediate. When he shows up, businesses rarely stay the same.
That impact reached Needham, Massachusetts, when Portnoy teamed up with Ann Michael Maye, wife of Drake Maye, for a review at Gianni’s Deli and Pizza. What followed was a surge few could have imagined.
“We’re slammed. Two days after he posted the video Thursday night at 7:30 … After that, the phone never ends.
Dave Portnoy’s pizza review: A video that changed the pace overnight
Portnoy scored the pizza a 7.7. Ann Michael Maye went slightly higher with an 8.1. The video, filmed on Christmas Eve, quickly spread online and has now passed 335,000 views. According to CBS Boston, the effect was immediate. Phones rang nonstop. Orders stacked up faster than the ovens could handle.
Owner Aida Agayby admitted she did not recognize Portnoy at first or understand his influence. Within two days of the video posting, the restaurant was overwhelmed. She described the experience simply as “crazy,” explaining that the rush started Thursday night and never slowed down.
The timing mattered. Agayby had recently been forced out of her home due to water damage from a broken pipe, making the sudden boost in business especially meaningful. Similar spikes tied to Portnoy’s reviews reinforce how quickly online exposure can reshape a local business.
Beyond the pizza counter, the story connects back to football. Drake Maye and his wife met at the University of North Carolina, where he starred for the Tar Heels. Ann Michael Maye has shared on Instagram that the couple has been together for nine years.
Now, Maye’s focus is back on the field. He and the New England Patriots are preparing for a Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans after a 16-3 Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers. While his playoff performance was modest, Maye’s sophomore season numbers remain among the league’s best.
For one pizza shop in Needham, though, the season’s biggest win already arrived.
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