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.
I love the service I get each visit. They are the best. The pizza is great & you share half pizza & salad.
Yes it's small place & sometimes crowded. Lunch time get around 11h30 or after 12h30 otherwise you won't find a spot.
Quand le serveur a pris notre commande, il nous a « remercié « avec sincérité! 🏆La pizza était excellente & le service rapide,très courtois. Je n'ai pas goûté aux salades mais elles semblaient délicieuses. L'espace entre les tables est restreint mais l'ambiance est chaleureuse. Je recommande vivement! Si vous arrivez plus tard que 17:30, faut peut-être mieux réserver.
Mar 4, 2026
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We stopped here for our last night in Montreal for dinner. The staff were quick, attentive & very polite. The food was outstanding. We split a Cesar salad for starter & no word of a lie, it was just lettuce, croutons & dressing but one of the best Cesar salads I've ever had. The extensive pizza menu features tons of beautiful, freshly made items all prepared in a wood fired oven. I had the salamino (#54) & hubby had the arugula(#71). Both were fantastic. We took an order of cannolis to go, & they were out of this world. The cream was thick & delicious with just a hint of lemon. The restaurant was packed with a lively, friendly vibe. Plus it was super close to our hotel so it was a great choice. I would recommend it to anyone. Total for dinner plus hubby's two beers & tip was $122.23
Picturesque terrace (patio) across from a square. If you're wasp adverse, sit inside. Pizza was great, Caesar salad good, & service was decent. It'd be much nicer if they'd use glassware for water rather little plastic cups…minor point!
6/5 stars! Best service I have ever had at any restaurant ever. The staff were all so friendly & attentive. The food was also amazing! Great pizza & tons of options. Huge portions for the salads too.
We visited Montreal for a week in early November & discovered Pizza Il Focolaio by doing a quick search online. We walked from our hotel on a rainy Monday evening & were surprised to find the restaurant full! We soon discovered why - this small, cozy, local neighbourhood restaurant has a real family feel about it & the wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas were authentic & delicious. We also shared a fresh Italian salad to start & cappuccinnos at the end. Great service, fantastic food & reasonable prices. 5+ stars! Merci beaucoup!
Nov 17, 2025
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We had wonderful service by Rachid during our dinner, he was attentive especially as we had our young son with us. Provided some colouring paper for him & also gifted him a toy car when we left!
The food was wonderful as well, excellent portions. He also volunteered to replace some slightly burnt toast that went with our salad, with no prompting. Excellent service & would visit again!
A 5 star experience. Had a great supper there with the family, & the service was impeccable, with very minimal wait time considering how busy the restaurant was.
The pizzas, salad, & desserts were absolutely fantastic. I'd come back to Montreal just for a meal at this restaurant again.
This is one of my favourite pizza places in Montreal! There are so many varieties that you can have, & I haven't even tried the calzonis or the salads. Last time I went, we were able to get a reservation for 11am & were immediately seated when we got in. This time, I got a Campagnola, without olives, & it was absolutely delicious. I devoured the whole pizza. I noticed it was slightly smaller than it was when I visited in past years, but it was no less delicious! I highly recommend this place for lunch or dinne
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.
We looked for a pizza place on our last night in Montreal this trip & this one had amazing reviews & didn't disappoint. We ate outside & even though rain was imminent had a great time. Delicious salad & really good pizzas. Best we had in Montreal.
Great food, reasonable portion with friendly staff. The only disappointment is the tiny little table space . You definitely have no place to put two pizza & a salad on a table for two & I don't even mention the drinks.
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!
Awesome experience, my wife & I brought our two little kids to enjoy some pizza & it did not disappoint. The kids split a pizza & we split another with a caesar salad & they brought everything out with individual plates & ready to go as if they knew exactly what we were hoping for. We will be back for sure as the pizza was delicious! Excellent job by all!
Ended up at this place because of my friend's recommendation. She's been to this pizzeria before & thought their pizza is amazing so she took me here during our Montréal trip. The place was busy when we went for a visit during peak lunch hour rush on a Thursday. There was even quite a long line forming outside the restaurant of people waiting for a table. We ended up waiting for about 15 minutes or so before getting a table. The waiting time wasn't too bad to be honest. & if you don't want to wait, you can always order to go & eat it at the park across the street. What we ordered: Caesar Salad 8.5/10 The salad was fresh & nicely seasoned. Not too salty or peppery or cheesy. Very balanced. The portion was quite generous too. No.23 Campagnola 9.5/10 Sauce, mushrooms, onions, spicy pancetta (Italian bacon), mozzarella, black olives. I have to say this was probably one of the best pizza I've ever had in recent times. The pizza was cooked really well with that wood burning aroma whiffing off of the crust that's slightly charred on different spots. The texture was nice, chewy & there's a slight bounce to the bite. All the toppings were also evenly cooked & sitting nicely on top of the gooey mozzarella & the portion is quite big & generous. No.68 A La Griglia 9/10 Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, grilled vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, onions, artichokes, mushrooms, green & red peppers), fresh garlic, Italian herbs, olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano. My friend actually ordered this one & I have the same comment about the overall pizza like the Campagnola. I think their pizza is really solid & you can just order whichever pizza that have the toppings that you like & I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it. Definitely will go back again the next time I'm in Montréal
