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 a lively wood-fired Italian pizza experience with a broad menu of toppings and creative combos, a crisp flavorful crust, and fresh ingredients that make many pies stand out in Montreal's pizza scene. The dining room feels welcoming and bustling, and the service is consistently friendly and efficient even when crowded, with easy options for takeout or patio seating. The menu includes vegetarian, gluten free and lactose free choices, and cannolis and tiramisu pair nicely with the pizzas. While lines and close tables are common during peak hours, guests repeatedly praise generous portions, fair prices and the overall authentic, satisfying taste that keeps them coming back.
Absolutely amazing! The food was incredible - hands down the best pizza I've ever had. The staff were so friendly, warm, & genuinely compassionate. The atmosphere was lovely, & everything about the experience was just perfect. Can't wait to come back. Highly recommended
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
Saw the reviews & wanted to try. Lived up to the hype. Great pizza. Crispy crust. Good quality toppings. Decent prices depending on what you order. Like the larger style cuts for slices. Free WiFi. Great comfortable atmosphere. Clean facility. Clean washroom. Friendly staff who can speak English well.
Jun 25, 2025
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tout simplement le meilleur rapport qualité / prix pour une pizza à Montréal . un choix immense, un service souriant & aimable & TRÈS efficace. attention c'est une ambiance'cantine' pas trop adapté pour une date, mais ils maintiennent un contact quand meme sympathique je sais pas comment ils font . Mais les pizza sont exceptionnelles, on propose du vin pas cher correct, & des salades géantes, j'adore ! attention il peut y avoir pas mal d'attente à certaines heures.
Jun 20, 2025
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Everything about our evening there was perfect. The service was impeccable & the food delicious, wow! I definitely recommend going there. They have a whole variety of pizzas that it was a struggle to choose one because everything looked delicious
There are a lot of options here for pizza lovers! The best ones are marked by *. For the first time I'd recommend to go with the * ones. You'll be given French menus but if you ask, they'll provide English Menus.
I didn't like the vegetable based pizza we got the second time we went there.
Jun 11, 2025
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Easily the best pizza i had in Montreal, the atmosphere was amazing & the service by Rasheed was simply exquisite! Super friendly, welcoming & accommodating
