Impasto's owners, Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione are bringing their culinary skills to their new pizzeria called GEMA (an acronym for their children's names). The establishment serves fresh pizzas and decadent desserts.
Overall, reviews describe Gema Pizzeria as a warm neighborhood spot with a welcoming vibe, solid wine selection, and very good pizza, though experiences vary. The crust is frequently praised as delicious and blistered, while a few visits note undercooked centers or pizzas that feel oily and where the toppings don’t always come together. Pizzas such as Apennine, Ruliano, Capricciosa and Vetri get strong praise for the crust and balance, though some diners find certain toppings or additions like balsamic on fior di latte to be overpowering. The Jean Talon market salad is consistently highlighted for freshness and brightness, with several calls to its standout vinaigrette. Calamari and some antipasti can disappoint when not crispy or sufficiently flavorful, and tiramisu often lacks intensity. The atmosphere is described as casual and convivial, with some reviews noting it can be noisy and the space crowded; service ranges from outstanding to slow or inattentive, and a few readers question tipping defaults on the machine. Still, the consensus leans toward returning for the quality and charm.
My partner & I visited on a Saturday evening & ordered the Jean Talon salad, fried calamari, Capricciosa, & Diavola pizzas. Located in the heart of Little Italy, the restaurant sits among numerous excellent dining options in the area.
The service was outstanding-attentive, professional, & accommodating. The interior is nicely decorated, though we were seated beneath a large light fixture in the center of the room where the lights continuously flickered in intensity, which became somewhat distracting.
The Jean Talon salad was excellent-fresh greens with a standout vinaigrette. Unfortunately, the fried calamari fell short of expectations. They lacked the crispiness I was hoping for, arriving pale & soft. The seasoning was too mild for my taste, & the accompanying tomato dip was one-dimensional, lacking any depth beyond basic tomato flavor.
The pizzas, however, were excellent. Both were generously sized with well-balanced toppings & a lovely crust.
We'll definitely return, though we'll skip the calamari next time-& hopefully the lighting issue will be resolved.
Very disappointed...I am Italian & the only'authenticiy' (tourists are desperate to find) is the location in little Italy...
The pizza is ridiculously small & outrageously expensive, even for Montreal standards...
Staff is nice though, & location is great.
Oh, Gema Pizzeria, where do I even begin? It's truly a culinary marvel, especially if your frame of reference for'best pizza' is, shall we say, flexible. They claim to bring a slice of Napoli to Montreal, & by golly, they deliver... something.
The pizza, oh, the pizza! It's easily one of the pizzas I've had that was not in Napoli, Italy. A bold statement, I know, but one I stand by. You can absolutely tell the sauce is homemade - it has that unmistakable'someone made this at home' quality. It's truly a testament to the human spirit of trying.
& the meatballs! Ah, the homemade meatballs. They were so generously endowed with Parmesan cheese, it was almost as if they were trying to achieve a new state of matter: cheeseball.'Cheesy meatballs' is an understatement; they were practically a dairy product with a hint of meat. Just amazing. Truly. If you're looking for an experience that will make you question everything you thought you knew about Italian cuisine, Gema Pizzeria is your destination. Five stars for effort, I suppose.
Right in the hearth of little Italy, one of my favorite pizza I had in Montreal. Fair price for the quality offered, service was great & quick. Restaurant is on the smaller side so there might be to wait during peek hours but definitely worth it.
I visited this restaurant with friends during a hot summer day, & we ordered two pizzas to share. While I've never been to Italy, I've heard from others that this place offers the same quality & taste as authentic Italian pizzas. Even the older couple at the next table mentioned how it tasted just like what you'd get in Italy. I loved it! The portions were good, & the service was fast & friendly. I'll definitely return to try more from the menu next time.
Sep 6, 2024
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
At a quaint neighborhood in Little Italy, it's a great place for some gourmet Pizza or other delicacies. The homemade meatballs were very tender & delicious. Best to call for reservation because it's popular at certain times.
Gema was recommended to me as the best pizza in little Italy, it didn't disappoint... The pizza was delicious & the ingredients were high quality. Recommended for an authentic napolitain pizza
What an amazing evening we had at the new Pizzeria Gema in Little Italy, I had the margherita pizza, delicious, fresh tomato sauce, cheese & basil, the dough was divine, one of the best pizzas I've had in a long time (Bottega's pizza is really good too). The service was just as top notch, nothing more to say. I will surely be back many many more times. Little Italy is starting to be worth visiting again.
