PEN ARGYL — Never mind that it’s in the “middle of nowhere.”
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, a blog website and digital media company headquartered in New York City, made a stop at Moonlight Pizza and left a rave review on his “One Bite” viral series.
Portnoy — known for his blunt remarks and over-top-critiques of sports, pop culture and pizza — gave the four-year-old restaurant an 8.3 on a scale from zero to 10 in a video posted Nov. 22.
“Spectacular, it’s very good,” Portnoy said in between bites as a trio of teens appeared on camera to greet him.
A woman who was driving by also yelled out to the Barstool CEO, exclaiming that the eatery on 301 S. Robinson Ave., serves “literally the best pizza in the world.”
“Cool place, good music, it didn’t feel like you were in Pen Argyl. It felt like you were in Italy. It just had good, wholesome vibes.”
Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports
Although the media mogul pronounced “Argyl” as if it was an argyle sock, he continued to talk up the ambience inside the four-year-old pizzeria.
“Cool place, good music, it didn’t feel like you were in Pen Argyl. It felt like you were in Italy. It just had good, wholesome vibes,” Portnoy said.
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Moonlight Pizza
In the video, which contains multiple expletives, Portnoy explained he was in Philadelphia and was flying out of Lehigh Valley International Airport to attend a football game at Texas Christian University on Nov. 24.
Before departing though, he asked his “One Bite” series sidekick Austin Jenkins to find a pizza joint en route.
Seemingly tripped up by the word “Lehigh,” Portnoy compared the airport to the Bethlehem-based university.
“We’re flying out of Lehigh, the school with the hill,” Portnoy said. “I looked to go there, but I said you’ve got to be f—ing kidding me. I’m not going to walk up this hill every day.”
‘Worth the drive’
Portnoy started his “One Bite” series in 2017. It currently has 1.13 million subscribers on YouTube.
After assigning a score to each pie (part of the rules is that he is only allowed to have a few bites), he offers his thoughts on the crust, sauce and other toppings.
The popular series has also featured celebrity cameos with Jon Hamm, Jon Bon Jovi, Guy Fieri, Rob Gronkowski and Dr. Phil.
As far as Moonlight’s pie, Portnoy seemed captivated by the fresh basil on top.
“I never eat the basil, you notice, I ate it that time,” he quipped as the some melting mozzarella cheese fell onto the pizza box.
Before heading out, Portnoy greeted the owners, Anthony Ulecka and Nicole Adams.
“This was very good. Well done. It was worth the drive, tremendous,” he said.
The duo thanked Portnoy, whose controversial remarks have been the subject of multiple allegations of misogyny, racism and sexual harassment, on Moonlight’s Instagram.
“Despite what some may say, you’re a gift to the industry and certainly a Godsend to Moonlight,” they wrote with the post of Portnoy’s NSFW review.
“It goes without saying that ALL of our LOYAL people earn every bit of credit, without YOU, Moonlight is gone.”
The intimate spot, that is BYOB and seats 12, does all its orders by phone starting at 2 p.m. until they run out of dough.
Customers can take out their food or dine at the restaurant 2-8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
The pizzeria serves 12 different types of pies with unbleached and unbromated flour made using room temperature fermentation.
Also on the menu are salads, sandwiches and desserts (cannoli and tiramisu).
To order from Moonlight Pizza, click here.