An estimated 10,000 people converged on Randall’s Island on Saturday for the third annual One Bite Pizza Festival, a large-scale tasting event curated by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
Organizers billed the gathering as "the world's greatest gathering of pizzerias," and more than 40 of Portnoy’s highest-rated restaurants served smaller, sample-size slices so attendees could try multiple pies. The event offered an all-you-can-eat format through the afternoon and drew long lines for some of the most storied New York houses.
Dave Portnoy, who built a national profile and following with his "One Bite" pizza ratings, circulated through the festival greeting vendors and posing for photos with fans. Participating pizzerias included Brooklyn’s Di Fara — which Portnoy has rated as high as 9.4 — Manhattan’s Prince Street Pizza and John’s of Bleecker Street, as well as longtime regional names such as Frank Pepe of New Haven and Lucali.
Attendees described traveling long distances for the event. Jeremy Gibbs, 38, said he drove from Albany to be among the first in line; Amy and Paul Skaggs came from Indianapolis; other visitors wore pizza-themed costumes and accessories. "It’s the only opportunity to eat and meet the best pizzerias and pizzaiolos in the country," New York City food influencer Danny Mondello said.
Di Fara, a Brooklyn institution, anticipated serving 10,000 slices during the festival and is preparing to mark its 60th anniversary later this month. Owner Margaret DeMarco, 82, said her late husband Domenico, who built the shop’s reputation, would have approved of the attention to quality. "Everything had to be perfect. He loved his job. He was about pleasing his customers," she said.
Vendors served smaller slices consistent with Portnoy’s "one bite" theme so attendees could sample many varieties. Fans charted routes through the festival, prioritizing particular stands. Wally Santos, 65, from the Bronx, said he mapped out eight pizzerias to visit, listing John’s of Bleecker and Frank Pepe among his must-tries.
Organizers said the event was an opportunity for smaller shops to reach a wider audience. Attendees expressed enthusiasm for the chance to compare styles from New York, Connecticut and beyond, and many described returning year after year. Several vendors reported brisk sales and sustained lines throughout the afternoon.
The One Bite Pizza Festival has been held annually in recent years and has grown in size and profile alongside Portnoy’s national media presence. The event drew supporters of the host and food fans who cited the chance to sample dozens of slices as the main attraction. No immediate crowd or safety issues were reported during the festival.
Portnoy’s public profile and his single-bite scoring system have become a notable presence in U.S. food culture, prompting longstanding pizzerias and upstart shops alike to participate in high-profile events. For many attendees at Randall’s Island, the festival offered both a social occasion and an intensive tasting session that showcased regional approaches to a single, ubiquitous food.