It was 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 when Aida Agayby Rasla, owner of Gianni’s Deli and Pizza in Needham Heights, got a call from a regular customer. “Aida,” her customer said, “you were on the news tonight and you hit the lottery. Be careful and be ready.” The phone started ringing with pizza orders and didn’t stop for the next two hours.
What prompted Gianni’s sudden fame was a surprise visit last week from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who did his “One Bite” video taste test of Gianni’s pizza outside the shop. In addition to his books, podcasts, blogs and social media, Portnoy has a cult following for his pizza reviews throughout the world. In a stroke of social media genius, Portnoy brought along TikTok baking sensation Ann Michael Maye, wife of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, to Gianni’s. Both gave the pizza high marks ( 7.7 for Portnoy and 8.1 for Maye) in a cute, funny bit that hit the airwaves Thursday night and has now been seen by millions online and on TV; just the kind of thing to bring instant recognition to a longtime, nondescript sub shop in Needham.
Aida had no idea who Portnoy or Maye were when they showed up. In fact, she saw that there were about 10 people waiting outside for them and told Portnoy he really needed more than one pizza and two plates to feed the rest of the crew. When she figured things out, she embarrassingly brought them back inside for some drinks and her famous chicken parm.
What was just a little schtick by Portnoy prompted a boom for Gianni’s business. Aida said pizza sales on Friday and Saturday tripled. They are usually closed on Sundays but kept the deli open on Patriots game day. “Since the lady (Ann Michael Maye) came and was very nice, I wanted to support her husband,” said Aida proudly. They will stay open for another playoff game this Sunday.
None of this could have come at a better time for Aida and her husband, Amin, who were forced out of their home in Norwood six months ago when some water pipes burst and did major damage, requiring temporary housing. Aida said the repairs cost a lot of money and insurance pays only so much. She’s hoping the sales boom continues but acknowledged she has no idea what will happen.
The Raslas emigrated from Egypt in 1990 and worked in several pizza shops before taking over Gianni’s in Needham. Back in their homeland, Amin had been a mechanical engineer who helped build the power structures in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. They’ve operated Gianni’s for more than 25 years and consider Needham customers their family.
The couple is now looking to hire additional help at the shop. Family members, including her brother and son, Andrew, who is a pharmacist, have stepped in to assist. They all pride themselves on “cooking with heart,” something handed down to them by her father.
Aida attributed her turn of luck to God’s good grace. She’s Orthodox Christian and pointed out that Portnoy’s surprise visit happened on Jan. 6, her religion’s Christmas Eve. “God wanted it … for me to be famous. It may continue. I hope so.”
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