Balboa in Old Montreal offers Italian fare anchored by wood-fired pizzas with a standout organic sourdough crust, complemented by pasta, antipasti, and desserts that many reviews call delicious. The ambiance is repeatedly described as beautiful and inviting, providing a lively yet intimate backdrop for casual nights out or dates. Service is praised for being attentive and friendly, and the cocktails and wine list receive positive mentions, though several visits note slow or inconsistent service and long waits for drinks or dishes at busy times. The pizza is often the star, with reviewers praising the crust and toppings as among the best in town, while a few say the price is high for the value and some pizzas do not rise above the ordinary. Dishes such as fungi pasta and arancini are highlighted as excellent, whereas some patrons found the bolognese or certain plates underwhelming. Overall the place is seen as a stylish and reliable destination in the area that delivers strong pizza and atmosphere, with many diners planning to return to try more of the menu.
We stopped here for a late dinner. It was a really nice pizzeria with a casual yet artsy feeling vibe. The staff were so friendly & fun. The drinks were great. The pizzas were AMAZING! Thin crust fresh & flavourful ingredients. We had two pasta dishes & they were okay but they paled in comparison to the pizzas. We ordered the Margherita, the pizza Bianca with the fennel sausage & the 4-cheese pizza. We'll have to make this a destination for our next visit to old Montreal.
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.
Yummy 😋 Had a date here with my boyfriend & the food was delicious! We both had pizzas that were so good & left us satisfied & stuffed! The tiramisu was also amazing!
Jan 19, 2026
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Nice place & the staff is super nice & friendly.
Had dinner here for new years even & everything went smoothly.
I've had pizza at many places in the city & this is definitely not my favourite. The pizza is good, but the dough doesn't stand out as well as the toppings.
We had the pepperoni & fungi pizzas. The pepperoni amount is generous & the fungi is not bad. However, the dough isn't up to par & the pizza doesn't stand out in any way. Just for the price & I was expecting more, compared to some other places I've tried in the city.
The bolognese pasta was very underwhelming. The tomato sauce was basic, not a lot of meat. I wouldn't recommend.
If I'm in the area & I crave a quick pizza, I might grab one, other than that, I wouldn't come back here.
The pizza & pasta are pretty mid. However very cute space & good service!
Fun date night at Balboa Pizzeria in Montreal with a great atmosphere & really good food. We shared the mushroom pasta & the margarita pizza & both were delicious. Would definitely come back 🍕✨
The service was mediocre. The appetizer & pasta were just okay but the pizza was terrible! They are cheap on there toppings so all your are eating is ordinary dough. Skip this place, you're not missing much!
Jan 4, 2026
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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!
Family of four, with an 11 year & 3 year old. We came when they opened, 5pm. One of the best meals we have had in years.
Zucchini appetizer was out of this world amazing.
Everyone's pizza was some of the best you can have. My wife who doesn't like pizza proclaimed to our amazing server'this is the best pizza she had ever had!'
I had the pepperoni, my wife had the vegetarian & our kids split the four cheese. Amazing location, phenomenal food & great staff!
New restaurant in early 2025 so they havent stacked the reviews yet but Balboa is onto something & they will be well known very soon!
Nov 23, 2025
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We dined here twice (so far...) on our first trip to Montreal. The pizza is delightful, especially the organic sourdough crust! It has just the right amount of chew. Save room for the tiramusu - you won't regret it!
Walked in off the street not expecting much but the fungi pizza & carpaccio were amazing! The staff were very professional but casual at the same time, made for a very pleasant evening.
Loved our experience at Balboa Montréal! The vegetarian pizza was absolutely delicious & paired perfectly with a glass of wine. Great vibes, friendly service.
