Balboa delivers wood fired sourdough pizzas with fresh toppings and a flavorful crust, and the crowd consistently notes a warm, welcoming atmosphere in Old Montreal along with attentive service; the space is praised for a casual yet artsy vibe, stylish interiors, and a lively yet intimate setting that makes it a solid spot for pizza and pasta, drinks, and dessert with standout mentions of items like fried olives and tiramisu. While many visits highlight excellent value for quality, some comments point to high prices for the tourist location and occasional slow or uneven service; pizzas are repeatedly described as delicious with a balanced crust and toppings, pasta can be hit or miss, and a few dishes do not exceed expectations, leading to mixed feelings about overall value. Despite these differences, Balboa is frequently recommended for a date night or group outing, with many guests planning a return and praising the staff's friendliness and the overall experience.
We're pretty picky with our pizza but this was DELICIOUS!! Nick & the staff were very attentive even though the place was packed when we arrived. I highly recommend!
We got two pizzas & a Caesar salad. The crust was fantastic! Sauce great, quality of the ingredients was top notch. One of the best pizzas we've had outside of Napoli.
In addition, the servers were kind & attentive.
We recommend!
Apr 9, 2026
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Delicious food the service was great our waiter was attentive & very friendly answering all our questions the restaurant itself was so fun with great decorations & atmosphere & the pizza was some of the best I've had with a homemade sourdough crust & tasty toppings & the rest of my party said the pasta & drinks were also very good quality.
Balboa Montreal Review: Great Vibes, Amazing Service...but is the pizza worth the Old Montreal price tag?
Old Montreal is buzzing, & Balboa is the hot new spot everyone's talking about! As a self-proclaimed foodie, I had to check out this June 2025 opening, especially after hearing whispers it has the'best pizza in town.'
The short version? It's gorgeous, the service is flawless, but my wallet is still crying. Here's the breakdown.
The Vibe & Service: 10/10
From the moment you walk in, the place is a stunner. Located right in the heart of tourist-central Old Montreal, Balboa delivers on ambiance. The decor is absolutely beautiful so think exposed brick, warm wood beams, & chic, twinkling lights. It felt festive & intimate, perfect for a Saturday night dinner with friends.
The service was truly the standout of the evening. Our server was amazing, attentive, & incredibly friendly. They made the entire experience feel special, & I genuinely cannot fault the staff at all.
The Food & Value:
We booked a table for four people & started with the pepperoni pizza & a fresh caprese salad (which was delicious, as you can see!).
The wood-fired pizza itself (the one I was told was the best in town) was good. It had a great crust with those nice, charred bubbles & quality toppings. However, was it'the best pizza in town'? Honestly, no. It was solid, but didn't blow me away.
& here's where my'underwhelmed' feeling comes in: the price. Being charged $25 for a pepperoni pizza & $20 for an average cocktail (hello, Espresso Martini!) feels excessive, even for a prime tourist location. The prices definitely reflect the location & the stunning fit-out more than the culinary execution.
Bottom Line: You're paying a premium for the stunning atmosphere, the phenomenal service, & the Old Montreal postcode. If you're looking for mind-blowing pizza value, you might want to look elsewhere. If you're looking for a guaranteed beautiful night out with perfect service, this is it!
I picked our dinner spot for the location. The service was amazing! The food was exceptional! Nick our server was very attentive & the most friendly soul I have met in Montreal. I will definitely be back to this restaurant! This was by far the best dinner we had while in Montreal. Mind you we visited several Steak Houses & I would pick Balboa over all others!
Recently opened in mid May & needed work at that time, but may have sorted things out. Professionally decorated but somehow cold & confused decor. Wait staff attentive to the point of brisk, though there were few customers to serve at the time. Very short menu of standard, uninteresting'Italian' dishes. Stingy wine servings. Prices somewhat high for food this ordinary, which is not surprising in a high tourist area. Gnocchi was cool, stodgy & bland. Pizza was good.
