My Plead for Portnoy to Peng's Pizza

A little secret you need to know about Maine other than it being known as Vacationland... it has some sneaky pizza! Yes, I won't fight you or anyone else that you come for the lobster rolls, but you just may stay another day for the pizza. While Dave Portnoy hit Portland, ME a few years ago finding the gem that is Monte's, I'm here to say he needs to make a return trip ASAP, this time to Biddeford, a town just southwest of Portland, for a little place known as Peng's Pizza.

After a random TikTok highlighted multiple pizza places in Biddeford, even going as far as to call it the pizza capital of Maine, I heard about this lil place called Peng's. So of course I took the wifey antiquing & then we hit the pizza place. Right away, there was two HUGE signs we were in store for something special... 1. Only open 5 days a week, 4pm-8pm each day. Come on now! CLEAR CUT sign this place has something special. 2. We got there at 3:50 & before it even hit 3:55, there was already about 8-10 of us in line. Right away my expectations were flying outta control.

Now to the pizza: I know Mr. Portnoy is a cheese-only guy, but we are pepperoni fans. We went with full pepp & half sausage to mix it up. While ordering, I was talking to the guy up front, owner Chris Daniels, asking about their style of pizza & I was hit with the 3rd & final sign; the trifecta was complete... "we would say our style of pie is closest to... New Haven." Folks, we have hit the jackpot!

Even after all the signs & expectations through the roof, before taking that "one bite," once we did, it still exceeded it all! They weren't lying...it is classic New Haven style & it is done right. No cheese soup, no flop, perfectly charred crust & a sauce that tangs just enough. This was a pizza that in a blink you find yourself 4 pieces down. We had truly discovered a small town gem!

With my wife being a travel nurse, I have been lucky enough to have pizza all over the country from San Diego to Miami, Seattle to Phoenix, Chicago to Boston, but Peng's, no lie, just put itself in the top 3 ever. My official score... 8.8. I remember Dave saying something like anything over 8 means you would drive 45 minutes or so for... This CLEARS... Trust me.

Oh btw here's my top 3...

1. Regina's - Boston (9.1)

2. Robert's Pizza - Chicago (8.9)

3. Peng's Pizza - Biddeford, ME (8.8)

Now Dave, I know you are a busy man & easily get hundreds if not thousands of requests daily, but I'm telling you, this is a place you gotta find a way to hit. The business was made in honor of his late dad; it is the pizza place that makes you feel the small-town New England summer vibes more than a Noah Kahan tune & a taste that will keep you hooked. If you find a way to day trip to Maine this summer, Dave, make sure Peng's is number one on the list. That is my plea to you.