Recently, Dave Portnoy gave a high praise to a new pizza place in Little Italy, causing quite a stir—lines of eager customers and sold-out pizzas are the result.
The Barstool Sports founder, known for his often viral, sometimes controversial One Bite pizza reviews, recently rated Ceres, located at 164 Mott St. and opened just three months ago by former Eleven Madison Park chefs Jake Cerebnick and Julian Geldmacher, with a score of 9.2 out of 10.
He described the pizza as “magnificent” and called it “Manhattan pizza on the must-list… as good as it gets.”
Could this become his new favorite slice in NYC? Last fall, he revealed a liking for Bao Xiang, which had also captured top-tier status in his rankings.
Within days of Portnoy’s review, lines began forming outside Ceres, leading to $6 slices selling out and entire $40 pizzas becoming available only at designated time slots.
As food columnist Steve Cuozzo noted, the chefs’ meticulous preparation techniques reflect their kitchen expertise, demonstrating incredible attention to detail.
To manage the surge in demand, the owners introduced a system for customers to line up at noon, allowing them to reserve their pizza for later pickup.
As people flocked to the shop, some longtime fans felt a bit overwhelmed by the influx. One user voiced frustration on social media, lamenting the long lines that followed Portnoy’s endorsement.
Pizza Pandemonium
On Thursday, locals, eager for a taste of what’s becoming a pizza sensation, waited in long lines.
One customer mentioned, “I saw Dave’s video and thought, ‘Wow, I need to come here.'” Another shared it took them two days to finally get a slice after initially being sold out.
Those who managed to snag a spot celebrated their pizza success, while others left disappointed when the “sold out” sign went up.
According to Ceres’ Instagram, the pizzeria can only bake six pies at once, totaling about 140 pizzas daily. They emphasize the importance of arriving early if you want to avoid disappointment.
Is a $40 pizza worth it?
The question on everyone’s mind: is this pricey pie worth the wait? Some locals are skeptical, considering NYC’s competitive pizza landscape.
Despite facing challenges during their lease negotiations and initial investment struggles, the owners are now experiencing a successful turnaround.
While some customers found the pizza “too dry,” many echoed Portnoy’s rave reviews. One customer shared, “It lived up to the hype. The sauce and cheese were fantastic.”
Ceres’ pizza not only impressed taste buds but also fostered a sense of community, with customers sharing slices with each other outside the pizzeria.
“I wasn’t going to waste a $40 pie,” one generous customer remarked while handing out slices, highlighting the spirit of sharing in New York.
For those wanting to try Ceres, they will be closed from May 16th to May 20th, reopening on May 21st.
