You've probably seen Dave Portnoy's pizza reviews - the ones where he cuts a slice, folds it, takes a bite, and gives some random spot an 8.1 that sends their Instagram notifications into overdrive. What you haven't seen is the full scorecard for every place he's rated in Boca and Delray. Until now. We pulled all his reviews, ranked them, and the results are wild. One spot got an 8.4 and immediately had lines around the building. Another got a 6.7 and basically disappeared from the conversation. This is your definitive local pizza scorecard - the one you save, the one you text friends, the one that actually matters.
The Gold Standard - Your Top 3
Ah-Beetz, Delray Beach: 8.4 (THE HIGHEST)
New Haven style. Coal-fired. Located at 15220 S Jog Rd, this is the spot that made Portnoy say, "I wanted it to be great, and it is great. It does New Haven justice." That's not casual praise - that's a direct hit. The crust has that perfect char and structural integrity New Haven demands. If you're hunting the best pizza in the 561 corridor right now, you already know this is where you're going first. Everything else is chasing Ah-Beetz's number.
Tucci's Fire N' Coal, Boca: 8.1
Located at 341 E Yamato Rd, this place has become "Mr. 8.1" in local shorthand. The Portnoy bump was immediate and visible - lines out the door became the new normal. People were literally driving across town after his review dropped. Tucci's earned it. The fire and coal method hits different, and the consistency is there every time you walk in. This is the spot that changed the Boca pizza conversation.
Sicilian Oven, Boca: 7.9
Sicilian style is its own thing - thicker, structured differently, different sauce profile. Portnoy's 7.9 put this on the map for people who want to explore beyond the New Haven standard. It's the exploration pick in your pizza rotation.
The Middle Ground - Solid Bets
Nick's New Haven, Boca: 7.7 (NOW CLOSED)
Here's the thing about this score - it was legit. Located at 2240 NW 19th St, Nick's was the same family operation as Ah-Beetz and had earned its rating. But timing is everything, and they're no longer serving slices. If you catch anyone bragging about hitting Nick's, they're living in 2024.
Delray Pizza, Delray: 7.7
Most recent review. Atlantic Ave location. 7.7 puts them in the "absolutely worth trying" category without the hype premium of the 8+ tier. You can actually get in, which matters when you're hungry now versus planning a trip two weeks out.
Bella Amici, Boca: 7.6
Reviewed March 19, 2026. Fresh rating, solid standing. This is the "you won't be disappointed" pick that doesn't carry the same buzz as Tucci's but delivers actual quality.
Pizza District, Boca: 7.6
Tied with Bella Amici. Another solid player in the local rotation. Pizza District isn't breaking news, but it's breaking bread worth eating.
Cannoli Kitchen, Boca: 7.6
At 6063 SW 18th St, this is the spot where you go for more than just pizza. The cannoli game is strong, and the pizza backs it up. Context matters - this is an Italian bakery doing pizza on the side, not a pizzeria that dabbles in pastry.
The Honorable Mentions
Renzo's Cafe, Boca: Score Unknown
At 6900 N Federal Hwy, Renzo's hasn't landed an official Portnoy review, but locals keep saying the same thing: "as close to NY-style as you can get in Florida." Sometimes the people who've actually lived in New York matter more than the spreadsheet. Worth investigating on your own scorecard.
Joseph's Classic Market, Boca: 6.7 (THE LOWEST)
At 6000 Glades Rd, this scored the lowest among Portnoy's Boca and Delray reviews. That doesn't mean bad pizza - 6.7 in Portnoy's system is "okay, solid, not the move." If you're in the area and hungry, you could do worse. But you could also do significantly better with one of the eight spots above it.
The Insider Move
Start at the top. Get a slice at Ah-Beetz first - establish the baseline at 8.4. Then work through the 7.9 to 8.1 tier in whatever geographic order makes sense for your week. By the time you've hit three spots, you'll have a personal ranking that matters more than any scorecard, because you'll understand what these scores actually taste like. Some people chase high numbers. Smarter people understand what they're chasing.
What People Are Actually Saying
The Portnoy effect is real and measurable. Within 48 hours of his Tucci's review, their Instagram picked up 2,000+ followers and parking became genuinely competitive. Ah-Beetz had already built a reputation before Portnoy showed up - his review just confirmed what the New Haven pizza heads already knew. The 7.6 tier spots don't see the same surge, but they're not complaining. A Portnoy review is a Portnoy review. Even at 7.6, you're in the conversation now.
Quick Context
Portnoy has reviewed pizza in South Florida for over a decade. These scores represent a mix of reviews from 2022 to present, all from Boca and Delray locations specifically. He scores on crust, flop, and taste on a 0-10 scale. The numbers matter, but the consistency matters more.
The Full Scorecard
| Spot | Score | Location |
| Ah-Beetz | 8.4 | 15220 S Jog Rd, Delray |
| Tucci's Fire N' Coal | 8.1 | 341 E Yamato Rd, Boca |
| Sicilian Oven | 7.9 | Boca |
| Nick's New Haven | 7.7 | 2240 NW 19th St, Boca (CLOSED) |
| Delray Pizza | 7.7 | Atlantic Ave, Delray |
| Bella Amici | 7.6 | Boca |
| Pizza District | 7.6 | Boca |
| Cannoli Kitchen | 7.6 | 6063 SW 18th St, Boca |
| Joseph's Classic Market | 6.7 | 6000 Glades Rd, Boca |
Get More of This
This is exactly the kind of data you should be getting straight to your inbox - the scores that matter, the spots worth visiting, the local intel nobody else is compiling. Subscribe to 561 Scoop and never miss the next ranking, review, or restaurant story that changes where you're eating this week.