Sizzling Sound Shore Standouts: 6 Dave Portnoy-Approved Pizzas That Nail the One-Bite Test

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (October 21, 2025) — The “One Bite” rule stands as the iconic catchphrase and guiding principle of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy’s pizza review series, One Bite. It boils down to the idea that a single bite of pizza suffices to judge its overall quality—no more, no less—because “everybody knows the rules.”

Portnoy launched the series in 2015 as a personal challenge to eat pizza daily for a month. He later expanded it into thousands of reviews, scoring slices on a 0-10 decimal scale determined almost entirely by that first bite. Evaluations hinge on factors like crust, sauce, cheese balance and overall vibe, though the process remains famously subjective and influenced by his bias toward New York-style thin-crust pies.

A score of 0 signals a complete disaster, such as cardboard-like texture or off-putting flavors. Portnoy has awarded a 10 just once early in the series, to a childhood favorite he later dismissed as inflated. Scores stay relative: Most pizzas land between 5 and 8, with anything above 7 deemed respectable. The scale prioritizes consistency over flashiness.

Community analyses of Portnoy’s thousands of reviews have distilled commonly referenced score ranges. At the top, 9.6 to 10 represents the holy grail—Mecca-level pizza that’s transcendent and worth any travel. Scores from 9.0 to 9.5 mark absolutely outstanding pies among the absolute best in the world, rare and road-trip-worthy.

From 8.5 to 8.9 falls exceptional territory, a “monster score” that demands a dedicated visit. The 8.0 to 8.4 range signals great pizza, high-end and worth seeking out if it’s not too far. Very good to excellent scores of 7.5 to 7.9 highlight solid performers that shine in their area but aren’t revolutionary; they’re worth a stop if nearby, say 20 minutes out.

Mediocre but passable ratings of 7.0 to 7.4 suit a quick bite without much fanfare. Decent scores from 6.5 to 6.9 describe functional pizza without major flaws. The 6.0 to 6.4 band covers okay options in a pinch—edible when choices are slim.

Anything 5.9 and below qualifies as straight garbage to avoid at all costs, often due to soggy crust, poor seasoning or just bad execution.

The rule has evolved into a cultural meme, with Portnoy emphasizing it in every video to keep reviews quick and authentic.

All the reviews are here: https://onebite.app

All the reviews from the Sound Shore area are here:

Pelham, NY

• Pelham Pizza: Reviewed by Dave Portnoy on December 7, 2021. Score: 7.8 Watch the review
• Pizza Fenice: Reviewed by Dave Portnoy on October 23, 2023. Score: 7.8 Watch the review
  

New Rochelle, NY

• Pizzeria La Rosa: Reviewed by Dave Portnoy on May 9, 2019. Score: 7.9 Watch the review
  

Mamaroneck, NY

• Sal’s Pizzeria (with bonus gelato review): Reviewed by Dave Portnoy on May 10, 2019. Score: 7.7 Watch the review
  

Rye, NY

• Sunrise Pizzeria: Reviewed by Dave Portnoy on October 13, 2023. Score: 7.6 Watch the review
  

Port Chester, NY

• Michael’s Pizza: Reviewed by Dave Portnoy on July 30, 2019. Score: 7.7 Watch the review
  

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.