David Portnoy Tastes the Slice Everyone’s Talking About in Chatham, NJ

When you hear the name David Portnoy, you probably picture a guy in a baseball cap, a massive soda, and a blunt‑spoken review of a pizza that’s either "fire" or "trash." This week, he rolled into Chatham, New Jersey, armed with his signature pizza‑slice notebook and a curious appetite for the town’s most‑talked‑about pizzeria.

The place sits on a modest strip of Main Street, its red‑brick façade barely noticeable unless you’re already hunting for the line that snakes around the corner. Inside, the vibe is unmistakably local: vinyl booths, a neon menu board, and the faint hum of teenage chatter. Portnoy, who usually cuts straight to the chase, lingered a moment at the counter, taking in the smell of freshly baked dough and tangy tomato sauce.

He ordered the house‑special – a large, hand‑tossed slice loaded with pepperoni, a drizzle of honey‑spiked hot sauce, and a scattering of fresh basil. The first bite was, by his own admission, “a little chaotic” – the crust was crisp on the outside, yet soft enough to fold without cracking. The sauce, he noted, balanced sweetness and acidity in a way that reminded him of his earlier visits to New York’s old‑school pies.

“The cheese stretch is real,” Portnoy laughed, pausing to wipe a stray droplet of sauce from his chin. “I’m not just talking about melt; I’m talking about that gooey, string‑y feel that makes you think you’re eating a good‑old ‘90s pizza.” He went on to mention the pepperoni’s snap, the subtle heat from the honey‑hot sauce, and the unexpected freshness of the basil, which he described as “the surprise guest that makes the whole thing feel less like a fast‑food fix and more like a little love letter to pizza.”

After a few more bites, the Barstool boss gave his final rating – an 8.5 out of 10. He admitted the score could’ve been higher if the service had been a shade quicker, but he also praised the staff for their friendliness and willingness to explain the menu to a newcomer. “It’s not just about the slice,” he said, “it’s about the whole experience – the people, the vibe, the little quirks that make you want to come back.”

Portnoy left the joint with a box of leftover slices, a quick selfie with the owner, and a promise to swing by again when he’s back in the Garden State. For the locals, his endorsement feels like a badge of honor; for pizza lovers across the region, it’s another reason to add Chatham’s hidden gem to the ever‑growing list of must‑visit spots.

So if you find yourself driving down Main Street on a Saturday night, keep an eye out for the line, grab a seat, and maybe order the house‑special. As Portnoy would put it, “You’ll probably end up with a smile, a few crumbs on your shirt, and a story you’ll want to retell at the next dinner party.”