This New Hampshire Pizzeria Impressed Dave Portnoy Enough To Earn His Best Score In The State That Day

Pizza reviews can be brutal, and few reviewers are as blunt as Dave Portnoy. When he visits a spot and walks away impressed, people pay attention.

This New Hampshire pizzeria earned his best score in the state that day, and the reasons are not hard to understand. The crust has the right amount of chew, the sauce is balanced, and the cheese pulls without turning greasy.

It is the kind of pie that does not rely on gimmicks or overloaded toppings. The shop itself is casual and unpretentious, with a counter, a few seats, and a steady stream of customers picking up orders.

Locals already knew about it long before the review. Now more people do too.

This New Hampshire pizzeria earned its recognition the honest way, one pie at a time. And once you try a slice, you will understand why the score was so high.

The Day a Famous Pizza Critic Rolled Into Derry

Picture a pizza tour across New Hampshire where one stop quietly steals the show. That is the story behind The Ricochet, the Derry pizzeria that earned Dave Portnoy’s top score in the state on the day he visited.

For anyone who has never watched his famous One Bite reviews, here is the deal. He grabs a pie, takes a bite, and hands out a number that can make or break a pizza shop’s week.

Pizza fans across the country hang on every word.

Landing the best score of the day in a whole state is no small trick. Portnoy is known for being picky, blunt, and totally unimpressed by fancy talk.

Crust, sauce, and cheese do all the talking.

So what made this little spot stand out? Thin, crispy pies baked with serious care turned heads, and the buzz has not slowed down since.

Plenty of pizza chasers now plan detours just to see if the hype holds up. Spoiler, the place has a strong local fan base and great ratings to back it up.

Think of it as a pizza pilgrimage with a side of small-town charm. Your stomach will thank you for the road trip.

A Mystery Door Marked With One Letter

Blink and you might drive right past it. Seriously, finding The Ricochet feels a bit like a scavenger hunt.

No giant glowing sign waves you in from the road. Instead, a single bold R hangs over the entrance, and the name sits on the window.

That is it.

Honestly, the low-key look is part of the fun. It feels like being let in on a local secret, the kind of spot you brag about finding before everyone else catches on.

Here is a tip for first timers. Slow down as you pull into the plaza and scan the storefronts carefully.

Keep an eye out for that lone letter, because it is your golden ticket.

Some of the best meals in life come from places that skip the flashy branding. When a restaurant does not need a billboard, it usually means the food speaks loudly enough on its own.

Plenty of famous pizza spots started out just like this, humble and a little hard to spot. Walk through that door and the plain outside gives way to a surprisingly stylish room.

Consider it the ultimate book you should not judge by its cover.

Plants, Couches, and Serious Living Room Energy

Step inside and the mood flips completely. Leafy greenery spills around the room, warm lighting sets a mellow glow, and the whole space feels carefully designed.

Forget the usual pizza parlor with sticky booths and buzzing lights. The Ricochet looks more like a hip friend’s apartment that happens to smell amazing.

A lounge area with a comfy couch invites you to sink in and stay a while. Tables sit close together, which makes the room feel snug and social rather than cramped.

You will also spot a small corner holding a guitar. Nobody has promised a concert, but it adds a playful, artsy touch that fits the laid-back vibe perfectly.

Small details like these show how much thought went into the design. Every plant and lamp seems chosen to make you relax and forget about your to-do list.

Date night? Family dinner?

A catch-up with an old buddy? The setting works for all of them.

Planning tip, the room is on the small side, so dining in during busy times can mean a wait. Showing up a little early is a smart move if you want to snag that couch.

Happy Little Trees on the Big Screen

Sports highlights? Loud cable news?

Not here. Episodes of Bob Ross painting peaceful mountains and fluffy clouds often play on the TV instead.

Yes, really. While you wait for a hot pie, the calmest painter in television history quietly turns a blank canvas into a lake scene.

It is weirdly perfect. His soft voice and cheerful little trees match the cozy, unhurried feel of the room, and suddenly waiting for dinner becomes kind of relaxing.

Kids tend to get hooked fast, too. Watching a whole landscape appear in minutes is a mini art class with a pizza reward at the end.

Quirky touches like this are what make The Ricochet memorable. Plenty of restaurants serve good food, but very few give you happy accidents and a mountain range as dinner entertainment.

A fun challenge for your table, try guessing what the painter will add next before he does it. Winner gets the last slice, loser handles the napkins.

Moments like these turn a regular meal into a story you will tell later. Who knew a dinner outing in New Hampshire could come with a soothing art lesson on the side?

One Oven, One Pizza Maker, Zero Shortcuts

Patience, friend, patience. Every pizza at The Ricochet is stretched by hand by one person and baked in a single oven.

That setup is totally on purpose. The owner has explained that keeping one set of hands on the dough is how the kitchen stays consistent from pie to pie.

Of course, handmade quality has a trade-off. During busy stretches, waits can run long, especially for takeout orders.

So how do you play it smart? Order early, come hungry but not starving, and treat the wait as part of the experience instead of a hassle.

Dining in is often the better bet for the full effect. Your pie lands at the table fresh from the oven, crispy and hot, with no car ride to soften that crust.

Bonus perk, pizzas ordered for dine-in come in a larger size than takeout. More pizza for staying put sounds like a fantastic deal.

Think of it like a craftsman building furniture by hand instead of a factory pumping out copies. Slow work takes time, and that care shows up in every golden, bubbly bite that comes out of that oven.

Thin, Crispy, and Built to Pass the Fold Test

Crunch matters. Around here, the crust is the star, thin with crisp edges and a slightly chewy center.

This is not the floppy, greasy kind of slice that bends into a sad U shape. It holds its toppings proudly, folds neatly, and still delivers that satisfying cheese pull.

Toppings are generous without drowning the base. You can actually taste the crust, the sauce, and each ingredient working together like a well-rehearsed band.

Want a pro move? Ask about the sauce options when ordering the pepperoni pie.

It can come with a garlic-forward sauce or classic marinara, so pick based on your garlic tolerance and your date plans.

Gluten free crust is on the menu as well. That means friends with dietary needs do not have to sit out the fun while everyone else munches.

Thin crust fans across New Hampshire often debate who does it best, and this spot sits right in the middle of that friendly fight. Taste it yourself and decide.

Just be warned. Once you get hooked on this style, ordinary delivery pizza may never feel quite the same again.

Specialty Pies With Serious Personality

Names like the Figgy P, the Abe, and the Lenny sound more like a band lineup than a pizza menu. That playful spirit runs through the whole specialty list at The Ricochet.

The Figgy P brings a sweet and savory twist with fig, a combo that wins over even stubborn skeptics. Meat lovers can go big with options like the Butcher’s or the Supreme.

Then there is the Lenny, a pepperoni pie that loves a drizzle of hot honey. Sweet heat on crispy pepperoni might sound strange, but one bite usually settles that argument fast.

Here is the best trick of all. You can split a pie in half and choose a different specialty for each side.

Can’t decide between two favorites? Get both on one pizza and call it smart planning.

Groups love this, because nobody has to compromise.

Adding extras like ricotta is on the table, too. Customizing is easy, so feel free to build the pie of your dreams.

Tasting your way through the whole specialty list could become your new hobby. Just pace yourself, because these pies are hard to stop eating once you start.

Chicken Tenders the Size of Small Surfboards

Nobody warns you about the tenders until it is too late. These things are practically chicken cutlets, huge and crunchy, and they have their own loyal fan club.

Pair them with the long lineup of dipping sauces, including a few you probably have never heard of. Trying new ones is half the adventure, so skip your usual pick for once.

Onion rings deserve a loud shout too. Golden, crunchy, and addictive, they are one of the most talked about starters on the menu.

Craving something cheesy? Mozzarella sticks arrive topped with freshly shredded parmesan, and the mozza rollatinis with prosciutto make a fancy little upgrade.

Wings come crispy with many sauce choices as well. Fries have a light batter that gives them extra crunch.

A smart strategy for groups, order a few starters to share before the pizza arrives. It keeps everyone happy during the wait and lets you sample a lot of flavors.

Just remember to save room. Filling up on tenders before the main event is a rookie mistake that plenty of hungry diners make only once.

Beyond the Pie, Fresh Salads and Warm Pita

Surprise twist, the salad here has fans of its own. A house salad with Mediterranean toppings comes with homemade pita bread served warm.

That pita is a big deal. Soft, fresh, and made in house, it turns a simple side into something you might order again and again.

The house dressing earns its spot too. Ingredients taste fresh and portions are generous, so a salad here is not a sad little side.

Sandwich lovers have options as well. A meatball sub, a steak and cheese, and a buffalo chicken wrap round out the menu nicely.

You will even find a double smash burger with American cheese and chopped onions. Calzones and a pulled pork quesadilla add even more variety.

This makes The Ricochet a solid pick for groups with different cravings. Your pizza-obsessed buddy and your salad-loving cousin can both leave smiling.

A balanced plan works beautifully. Share a pie, split a salad, and let that warm pita tie the whole meal together.

Eating well and eating happily can absolutely happen at the same table. Here, that combo feels completely natural.

Finding Your Way to This Derry Favorite

Mark your map for 35 Manchester Rd #10, Derry, NH 03038. That is where The Ricochet serves up its famous thin crust magic.

Derry sits in southern New Hampshire, an easy drive from Manchester and not far from the Massachusetts line. It makes a perfect stop on a weekend road trip through the region.

Fall is an especially fun time to go. Leaves blaze red and orange across the area, and a hot pizza tastes even better after a crisp afternoon of exploring.

Timing tip, the restaurant is closed on Mondays, so plan around that. Arriving before the dinner rush can also help you grab a seat faster.

Bring an appetite and maybe a friend who is up for sharing. Splitting a specialty pie and a pile of tenders is the dream setup.

Remember to watch for that single R above the door. Once you spot it, you have officially arrived.

So go ahead and gas up the car, clear your schedule, and chase down the slice that wowed a famous critic. Your taste buds have been waiting for this road trip, and they are not getting any younger.