Miami pizzeria got a great review from Dave Portnoy - then things took a very dark turn

A Miami pizzeria got the Dave Portnoy stamp of approval before it started getting flooded with bad reviews after an impersonator delivered disgusting pies. 

Roman's Pizzeria was rated a 7.4 by the Barstool Sports founder in April 2022 - a feat that should have brought owner, Jesus Roman, heaps of positive reviews and new customers. 

Instead, it only brought an impersonator who handed out flyers to Miami Springs hotels, leading tourists to order from what they believed to be a famous pie shop, only to be disappointed when undercooked pizzas showed up. 

After years of mischief, Roman finally went to the police and Jose Marti-Alvarez, 55, of Miami Gardens, was arrested on an aggravated battery charge after he fled from 'hotel staff in his vehicle and hit a staff member' and for organized scheme to defraud, police said. 

Roman's Pizzeria was rated a 7.4 by the Barstool Sports founder in April 2022 - a feat that should have brought owner, Jesus Roman, (pictured) heaps of positive reviews and new customers

Jose Marti-Alvarez, 55, of Miami Gardens, was arrested for impersonating the famous pizza shop

'The food he delivered was often undercooked, incorrect, or fraudulently priced, damaging the reputation of the real Roman’s Pizzeria,' Miami Springs Police Department said. 

'This fraud has been ongoing for several years, causing significant hardships for the actual Roman’s Pizzeria, including complaints to the Better Business Bureau, negative reviews, and upset customers.' 

Roman, who has been in business for four decades, told Local 10 that sometimes angry customers would 'show up upset' and ask where their food was. 

'We have to explain to them that it's not us,' he told the outlet. 'At least if you’re going to do something, do it right,' he said of Marti-Alvarez. 

Marti-Alvarez handed out flyers (pictured) to Miami Springs hotels, leading tourists to order from what they believed to be a famous pie shop, only to be disappointed when undercooked pies showed up

Marti-Alvarez 'distributed fake pizza flyers to hotel rooms' on Northwest 36th Street near the Miami International Airport and oftentimes delivered 'bad' and 'uncooked' pizza, police and Roman said. 

'Sometimes they [were sent] in a box with a piece of raw dough,' Roman said of Marti-Alvarez's pies. 'They just give it to them and by [the] time they realize it they’re gone anyway.' 

On Monday, Marti-Alvarez faced Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer, who ordered him to stay away from the Days Inn on 36th Street.

The 55-year-old's lawyer is trying to dismiss the battery charge as his client claims he 'left the area fast and didn't think he had hit her with the car because he understood he wasn’t supposed to be passing out the pizza flyers at the hotel.' 

However, she kept the charge and gave him a $5,000 bond. His bond for his other charge has yet to be set. 

He is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. 

In April 2022, Portnoy reviewed Roman's Pizzeria, giving it a high score of 7.4 and said the crust alone was a 7.8. 

'I actually think this looks pretty good,' Portnoy said before taking his first bite. 

Portnoy said the crust was the 'showstopper' and liked that the pizza was 'super fresh' and 'super light' 

'I could see how this is New York pizza,' he said after his bite. Roman, originally of Cuba, lived in Queens, New York, before moving to Miami Springs. 

The controversial One Bite host said the crust was the 'showstopper' and liked that the pizza was 'super fresh' and 'super light.'