Exploring Oxford’s Food Scene with ‘Apizza Guy’
Oxford, Mississippi – In the midst of a pandemic in 2020, Dakota Greer, who prefers to be called “Apizza Guy,” found himself in a new city with a lot of pizza options and time to spare. This former nurse was working on a temporary contract near Boston when the COVID-19 lockdown hit. With most activities halted, he had plenty of time to devote to a new passion: reviewing pizza. Inspired by popular pizza reviewer Dave Portnoy, Dakota began filming and sharing his own pizza reviews on social media.
A Return to Oxford
Upon returning to his home in Mississippi after his stint in Boston, Dakota realized that the local pizza scene was not much like the one he enjoyed up north. This led him on a mission to taste and review every pizza place in Oxford, ranking them on a scale of 1 to 10. As he sampled each slice, he also began to broaden his reviews to cover different food options throughout Oxford and northern Mississippi.
Challenges Along the Way
As Dakota built his online presence, he encountered some unexpected challenges. Not everyone was pleased with his honest reviews. For example, when he rated a pizza place in Bruce a mere 4.1, he received backlash that surprised him. “I had about 1,000 followers on Facebook at the time, and that review ended up getting around 300,000 views,” he recounted. Since then, his follower count has grown to 10,000 on Facebook, but he still gets called out for that review.
Success and Popularity
Today, Dakota shares his review adventures, often accompanied by his 2-year-old son, Draken, who also shares his love for pizza. “Yeah, that’s been a lot of fun,” he said while describing their time together filming reviews. Despite the disagreements, Dakota stands by the importance of honest feedback. “People won’t always agree with me,” he explained. “Everyone has different tastes. But being honest is crucial.”
The Role of Reviews
In Dakota’s eyes, his reviews don’t hold the power to make or break a restaurant, but they do serve a purpose. “If a restaurant is messing up or doing something wrong, and you don’t tell them, they might continue that way and could even go out of business,” he reasoned. His insights aim to help local restaurants improve and thrive.
The Future of ‘Apizza Guy’
As for what lies ahead, Dakota doesn’t have any grand plans; he simply enjoys eating good food and sharing his experiences with others. However, he joked, “If someone wanted to give me a T.V. show, I’d gladly travel around reviewing food.” With his relaxed approach and commitment to his craft, it seems there’s much more in store for the Apizza Guy as he continues to navigate Oxford’s diverse culinary landscape.
A Local Treasure
Through his lively and honest reviews, Dakota Greer has brought a fun dynamic to Oxford’s food scene. Fans of pizza and local cuisine alike can appreciate his contributions, as he uncovers the hidden gems and also points out the pitfalls within the city’s restaurants. With each review, he adds a personal touch, making followers feel connected to the local food experience.
