Greater Than Gatsby: Daisy Buchanan's Pizza Bar

Mason Kim • June 11, 2025

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan represents the American dream; a dream that is always within sight, but ever out of reach. But for those who only dream of Boston-style, pan-dish pizza, one need not look further than the Promenade. Last July, Daisy Buchanan’s Pizza Bar opened for business, offering a simple (yet sufficient) menu of pizza, pastas and salad. Its owner, Jack Baker, (of no relation to Jordan Baker, another character in The Great Gatsby) worked as a bartender at the original Daisy Buchanan’s, a popular dive bar in Boston. According to Baker, while the original Daisy Buchanan’s did not serve any food, it was still frequented by many of the local sports teams like the Red Sox and Celtics, and did not serve any food. 11 years after the original closed in 2014, Baker opened his own restaurant under the Daisy Buchanan’s name, attempting to recreate the nostalgia of the old bar. However, when asked whether any of the restaurant’s decorations originated from the first Daisy Buchanan’s, Baker explained that all the two bars shared was the name.

“I have no connection to that bar other than that I worked there,” Baker said. “This is not Daisy Buchanan’s part two or anything like that. I just want people to feel like I invited them over to my house to hang out, watch some games, play some board games, and have drinks. [Since we have opened], that is already happening. People come in all the time: families, kids, sports teams. They all come in and play Uno or cards.”

But with Mod Pizza and Fat Tomato not only being closer to Peninsula, but offering a wider selection of toppings, why settle for Daisy Buchanan’s? Upon entry, the restaurant appears like the typical sports bar—three flat screen TV’s play two games of hockey and one game of football, and sports memorabilia line the walls. The sports memorabilia comes from Baker’s personal collection, a product of his professional experience in and appreciation for hockey. But Daisy Buchanan’s is not just for avid sports fans, as many families flock to the restaurant for a fun game night. A wide variety of classic board games line a shelf, from Battleship to Jenga. Additionally, the restaurant offers a weekly trivia night for all ages. One could easily imagine Daisy Buchanan’s as an after-school hangout spot for Peninsula students looking to get a quick bite to eat while watching a hockey game or playing cards.

But what makes Daisy Buchanan’s truly special is its signature pizza. As Baker puts it, his restaurant is the only one on the West Coast to offer what is known as bar pizza—a style of pizza originating on the south shore of Boston, most often sold in small diver bars and restaurants. Bar pizza is made in a pan, giving it crisp, charred edges—or as Baker calls it—laced edges. Baker also uses a different blend from normal, mozzarella pizza, giving his cheese a sharp and distinct taste. When asked about the mysterious ingredients, Baker smiled, explaining it was a trade secret.

“If people like pizza, this is a different style,” Baker said. “It is not New York Pizza, it is not Detroit style. It is an old style of pizza that really is not known out here at all.”

As for how to order, the pizzas come on 10” platters, perfect for sharing multiple kinds at once or ordering alongside the pastas and salads. The bar’s vodka rigatoni uses a homemade sauce recipe accompanied by pancetta, giving it a spicy, creamy flavor. As for their “crowd pleaser” bolognese, wide pappardelle noodles complement a ground beef sauce that seems to melt in the mouth. [INTERVIEW ON A DISH]

For dessert, diners can order ice cream, with or without a brownie. Alternatively, their ice cream sandwich comes with two warm, chocolate-chip cookies instead of wafers, all served on an iron skillet. The cookies are crispy, gooey, and like the rest of the food, taste homemade. However, it may be worth ordering another scoop of ice cream on the side, as the cookies are fairly large and overpowers the flavor of the ice cream.

Baker achieved his goal of making the pizza bar feel like a welcoming home to spend time with friends and family. Just 0.4 miles from Peninsula, students can take a 10 minute walk to share an after-school pizza with each other before heading to the library. While the pricing is relatively high—with the pizzas nearing fifteen dollars and the pastas nearing twenty—the ingredients are high-quality, and the dishes are meant to be shared. All around, Daisy Buchanan’s Pizza Bar offers a slice of nostalgia from the East Coast, and a fresh, new addition to the Promenade.