Since 1984 clients have been coming to Il Focolaio to get that authentic Italian taste that is reminiscent of their grandmother’s cooking. Il Focolaio, in fact means fireplace in Italian. The name depicts the maple wood burning oven where each and every one of our pizzas and roasted ingredients are cooked. Our fireplace, as in the old country, not only brings forth the food but also becomes the gathering place for our clients who always feel welcomed and right at home. Our recipe for success is simple, serving up pizza using ingredients that only a true pizzaiolo would use, such as extra virgin olive oil, top quality tomatoes and only the freshest ingredients, all prepared with passion and a love for cooking to bring you the end result that you will never forget. We invite you to come and enjoy the taste of Italy with a nice glass of wine from our wine list. Enjoy it all on our terrace in the middle of downtown during the summer months.
Il Focolaio offers wood fired, thin crust pizzas with a vast range of toppings and a menu that balances classic Italian staples with inventive options, all baked to perfection in a real Italian oven. The crust is consistently crisp and flavorful, the ingredients are fresh, and gluten free crust and lactose free cheese options are appreciated by many diners. The service is repeatedly described as fast, friendly and attentive, with staff making guests feel welcome and cared for even during busy periods. The atmosphere is lively yet cozy, making it a great spot for casual dinners, family nights or a quick bite after visiting nearby sights, and the location downtown Montreal adds to its appeal. Desserts like tiramisu and cannoli are frequently praised, and the wine and beer selection complements the meals well. Overall, this spot is widely regarded as one of the best pizza places in town, a must visit for pizza lovers, with many guests planning to return.
Probably one of the best pizzeria in Montreal. They offer a wide variety of pizzas, all cooked in a wood-fired oven. The four-cheese pizza with blue cheese is especially outstanding. The place itself doesn't look like much - it's small, not particularly attractive, & there isn't much space - but the pizza more than makes up for it.
My favourite pizza in Montreal. Thank you so much for having lactose free cheese! It makes the world of a difference for our family. The margherita is also consistently one of the tastiest pizzas I've ever had!
Nov 14, 2025
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Their pizza menu is wildly extensive. They have this note on their menu saying they make their own tomato sauce, cheese & pizza dough , which sounds fantastic. Really tasty pizza to be honest.
Amazing pizza every time! Consistent, always fresh, & not shy with toppings. Plus they have delicious gluten free crust available & lactose free cheese for people with dietary restrictions! The servers are also very knowledgeable & friendly. Highly recommend!
Maybe I came at an'off moment', maybe it's just a matter of taste, but this pizza was so lackluster for the price & I left confused by the overwhelming amount of positive reviews this place has.
I'm surprised not a single reviewer has mentioned the tomato sauce here, either as a positive or a negative. Because that was my biggest issue. The crust was amazing. Classic thin crust Italian baked in a super hot oven. Exactly what I want. But the sauce was like battery acid. Just pure acid & salt & zero sweetness, no fresh tomato taste. Tasted like it was poured out of a store brand jar. The cheese was also cooked pretty dark & pulled off in large chunks which was disappointing.
Great service. Nice views of the square. But overall I wouldn't subject myself to a pizza this pricey & this mediocre again.
I would expect this quality if I was ordering late n
Absolutely loved this pizza shop! The pizza was genuinely tasty - fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked crust, & just the right amount of cheese & toppings. The price was very fair for the quality & portion size, which is always a plus. What really stood out, though, was the staff - they were incredibly nice, welcoming, & made the whole experience even better. You can tell they care about their customers & take pride in their service. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or dining in, this place is worth a visit. I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend it!
May 19, 2025
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This spot seriously delivered some of the best thin-crust pizza I've ever had! The crust was perfectly crisp with just the right amount of char, & the toppings were fresh & flavorful. We tried a variety-one with pineapple & blue cheese that was unexpectedly amazing, & another loaded with sausage, pepperoni, & green peppers that was packed with flavor. The Caesar salads were also generous & creamy-definitely a solid starter.
Service was excellent-super friendly & attentive. The only downside? It was surprisingly crowded for a Tuesday lunch. That said, it's clearly popular for a reason. Would absolutely come back!
Delicious oven-baked pizzas with plenty of options, including a great selection of vegetarian & vegan choices, thanks to tasty vegan cheese & dough alternatives.
We shared a half-&-half pizza with a salad & really enjoyed the combination. Overall, highly recommended!
I don't know, this place is changed. They used to be one of the best Italian pizzerias in town. I used to go often in 2018-2021, used to have amazing pizza. We went yesterday their menu was changed. Tomatoes on the pizza were tasteless orange grocery store tomatoes, mediocre cheese, the dough looked fine. It wasn't the same authentic Italian pizzeria anymore. New management maybe? They had also removed their delicious sub sandwiches from the menu. Super disappointed ( also no Italian pizzeria has pineapple pizza on the menu!)
Nov 15, 2024
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While the pizza tasted fine, it seemed more like a regular cheese pizza. Nothing about it said it was the MARGHERITA pizza. No fresh basil, seems like they baked it with the basil leaves on it, no mozzetta, the way it should look like.
My partner & I ordered the Calzoni Volcano (No. 44) & the Pizza Carré Phillips (No. 27), & we both thoroughly enjoyed the Volcano Calzoni. It was incredibly flavorful, with a filling that had a gentle, spicy kick that blended perfectly with the cheese & mushrooms. The Pizza Carré Phillips was more of a classic all-dressed pizza on a thin crust-not bad, but I found myself wishing I'd tried something different, as I can get an all-dressed pizza anywhere. The Cannolis are so delicious too! The waiter was exceptionally friendly & made us feel very welcome. I would definitely come back!
This place has over 73 different types of pizza, & you can have it with vegan cheese & a vegan crust ! They have tofu & vegan pepperoni as well. This fungi pizza had pleurotte mushrooms & spicy peppers, it was excellent
The place was busy but the service was fast, get there early if you don't want to wait! The salad was huge but perfect to share, & the pizza was great. Crust was nice & lots of cheese!
Jul 17, 2024
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Based on all the positive comments I'd like to think that my experience here was just an anomaly. The pizza was bland. The sauce was pretty much non existent & everything just tasted like bread & cheese. The toppings were decent but the dough overpowered every other flavour. One of the pizzas we ordered was undercooked & doughy. I'll be giving it another try to see if the hype is warranted, otherwise I much rather order some dominos.
I had a waiter that deliberately delayed my service, from getting my food to getting my bill. I stormed out of there in anger & didn't get his name. Everything else was perfect from the other staff & waiters smiling & greeting you to the food, I had number 77 & it was perfect & also I had a cheese cake, paid around 40$
Delivery | First order was a bit late but absolutely perfect (ask for a #75 if you like meatballs on your pizza). Ordering online is easy & there are so many custom options; including lactose-free cheese! Staff called to let me know the order would be a few minutes late.
My mom said this was the best pizza she’s had in Canada! & that’s coming from an Italian⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐?
I found the pizza cheesy, flavourful, spicy in the right ways & delicious!!! I cannot wait to come back & I highly highly recommended checking this spot out for your next pizza craving. The cheese pulls are amazing & the olive oil & Chili flakes add an excellent touch😍
