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.
We ordered the Emilio & the Capriciossa. The Emilio was one of the most disappointing pizzas we've had. There were 4 sad pieces of meat, unnoticeable amount of cream, & filled with mushrooms. I might as well have sautéed some mushrooms myself, added it on some bread, added some ham & got it to taste no worse than what we were given. The capriciossa was better, but it'd be an achievement if they made something worse.
Dec 29, 2023
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Très bonne adresse ! Les pizzas sont copieuses, authentiques, avec des ingrédients de qualités. Nous avons commandé des pizzas assez simples mais quel délice ! L'endroit est très cozy, également chaleureux grâce au personnel. On y retournera !
Deuxième fois à ce restaurant, après une première expérience réussie sur en terrasse. Cette fois-ci nous avons mangé à l'intérieur, où l'ambiance est bien sur le plan de l'éclairage (clin d'oeil aux dames qui ont eu besoin leur flash light pour parvenir à lire le menu) & de la musique. Par contre, les tables sont beaucoup trop entassées & la salle devient extrêmement bruyante : on a du mal à parler, le serveur peine à nous entendre. C'est rare que je suis inconfortable dans un restaurant, mais je l'étais. Les entrées étaient trop chères & plutôt décevantes, & la pizza sauce tomate qu'on nous a servie était complètement détrempée. Au prix des items sur le menu, malgré que j'avais apprécié ma première visite, je ne pense pas y retourner.
It is one of the best pizza restaurants in Montreal, if not THE best. Bottega Pizzaria is really good, too. Two of my favs. Not the average pizza here, it's how pizza should be. The service is amazing. I gave the atmosphere a 3 because I felt cramped & the music is loud, but after a few drinks, it's fine. It's still worth sitting on uncomfortable chairs & getting stoned from the loud music for the quality of the pizza you are getting. The appetizers are really good but a little stingy on the calamari portion 😄.
Quality pizza. Very quality. Absolutely the best crust. We had arancini to start, then him & I shared a pizza & a salad. The salad was very fresh & pizza was perfectly cooked. We asked for a pizza cooked more on the crispy side of things. It was delicious. Most of all, the service was above & beyond what we usually get in restaurants these days. It was a very professional lady brunette that served us Tuesday night. Many thanks.
Absolutely a place to go to! Wonderful food & ambiance that reminds me of my own Italian family. As well as truly stunning dishes that leave you wanting more!
