Barstool Sports Founder Rates Local Pizza King During Final Four Visit

Dave Portnoy, known for his 'One Bite' pizza reviews, stopped by an Indianapolis favorite during the NCAA tournament.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:50pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of golden-brown, glistening pizza crust with a light dusting of flour, shot in dramatic high-contrast studio lighting to create a glamorous, high-fashion aesthetic.Portnoy's review of a local Indianapolis pizza spot highlights the influence of social media personalities on the dining industry.Indianapolis Today

David Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and a popular social media personality known for his 'One Bite' pizza reviews, visited Indianapolis during the NCAA Men's Final Four and stopped by the local Pizza King Station on the city's south side. Portnoy reviewed the Chicago-style, tavern-style pizza, giving it a score of 7.3 out of 10.

Why it matters

Portnoy's pizza reviews on Barstool Sports have become a cultural phenomenon, with his ratings and critiques receiving thousands of views and comments. His visit to a local Indianapolis pizza spot during a major sporting event highlights the influence of social media personalities and their ability to drive interest and business to restaurants.

The details

In his review, Portnoy noted that the perimeter slices of the Pizza King pizza were the 'gold' and the 'pick slice', while the middle of the pie was a bit 'soupy'. He described the pizza as a 'very traditional' Chicago-style tavern pizza, and said it just needed a bit more cooking time in the middle to be perfect.

  • Portnoy visited Indianapolis and the Pizza King Station on Bluff Road during the NCAA Men's Final Four in April 2026.

The players

David Portnoy

The founder of Barstool Sports, a popular sports and pop culture blog, who is known for his 'One Bite' pizza review videos that receive thousands of views.

Pizza King Station

A local pizza restaurant in Indianapolis, known for its Chicago-style, tavern-style pizza, that Portnoy visited and reviewed during his time in the city for the NCAA Men's Final Four.

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What they’re saying

“Chicago style, that's tavern style. Although it has little, almost looks like something's been dotted on it. I'm going to tell you this, right now the outside, perimeter slices? Those are the gold, those are the pick slice. The middle get a little soupy.”

— David Portnoy, Founder, Barstool Sports

“This is just very decent Chicago-style pizza, tavern pizza. I'm gonna go 7 (point) 3. It's just a very traditional ... need to cook it more in the middle ... other than that, good Chicago-style in Indiana.”

— David Portnoy, Founder, Barstool Sports

The takeaway

Portnoy's review of the Pizza King Station highlights the power of social media influencers and their ability to drive attention and business to local restaurants, even in a city hosting a major sporting event like the NCAA Final Four. His critique of the Chicago-style pizza provides valuable feedback for the restaurant to potentially improve their product.