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 is widely celebrated for its extensive menu of authentic, wood-fired pizzas featuring a perfectly thin and crispy crust. Guests consistently praise the fresh, generous toppings and the variety of choices, which include options for vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions. The atmosphere is described as lively, energetic, and welcoming, making it a popular destination for both locals and visitors. While the restaurant can become quite busy and occasionally loud, the service is generally highlighted as efficient, friendly, and professional, often leaving a lasting positive impression on those who dine there.
It's no surprise this place has earned more than 6,000 reviews.
Their menu features over 60 different pizzas, & thanks to our server's recommendation, we went with Pizza #39-a choice I'm genuinely happy we made. It was loaded with fresh vegetables, & the spicy kick took the whole experience to another level.
The restaurant itself has a warm, comfortable atmosphere, & the staff were incredibly patient, friendly, & happy to explain the menu & answer all our questions.
The Caesar salad (we ordered half) was a smart choice to balance out the spiciness of the pizza. Even the little details didn't go unnoticed-the soft drink was served over ice with a slice of lemon, which made it even more refreshing & enjoyable.
Overall, we had a fantastic dining experience. On top of everything else, the prices were very reasonable, making this place an easy recommendation. We'll definitely be back!
The pizza was delicious & perfectly cooked. The menu offers a huge variety of pizzas, & also has salads, & calzones. Pizzas are big enough to share with another with salad.
We had a great meal here, the pizza was excellent, we went with the four cheese & the Pizza Pazza. The giardino salad was amazing, & as someone with Mediterranean roots, it was so nice to have well-grilled veggies done right.
The real highlight, though, was our server, Joey. When we arrived there was no table available outside, & she immediately brought us water & menus & made sure we were taken care of from start to finish. That kind of attentive, genuine service is hard to find in Montreal these days , it had been a long time since I'd experienced hospitality at this level.
Highly recommend, & ask for Joey if you can!
Jul 20, 2026
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Love the outdoor deck right by our hotel. I had the Campagnola, bf had the Said. Both were excellent. I judge my pizza on the crust, at this crust was delicious, crispy, & wonderful! Am definitely getting the Ceasar salad next time after reading the reviews!
Our group had nice dinner here, pizzas & large salads. The pizza menu is impressive, huge number of choices, everyone found something they liked to choose. The pizzas themselves were good, as were the salads.
Service was mixed. The place was crowded, they said they would have a table in 5 minutes, was almost 30. Table service was fine though. I'd definitely go back to try some of their other pizzas.
This review is long overdue. Having read lots of positive reviews ourselves & feeling like a really good wood fired thin crust pizza, we stopped in for a very late'long' lunch on our last day in Montreal. The outside is really quite unassuming - easy to miss - but it is the food that is worth going in for. Trade was quietening down (had clearly been very busy). The choice of pizzas was immense (never seen so much choice). We were assisted by a great guy (who's name I have sadly forgotten - should have done this review sooner - sorry). He asked what we liked, gave recommendations, followed by time to ponder. He also highlighted that some of the Calzones could be done as a'regular pizzas'. Decision made- two pizzas, salad to share & a bottle of red wine - absolutely delicious! Seemed almost rude not to consider a dessert. More recommendations - cheesecake, cannoli & limoncello. - Done! Wow fantastic! Completely exceeded expectation, which was already high. & amazing value. I cannot recommend highly enough! (Shame they can't deliver to the UK.)
Go early bcs there's is a line (for a good reason) this restaurant feels like being back to Italy. They have multiple pizzas/calzones/ salads dont worry it comes with good pizza bread !
Food: amazing 100/10 light, authentic,generous
Prices: 15-30$
Drinks:10-15$ Aperols on point they dont play!
Atmosphere: 10/10 make ur reservation be on time
A must try! Love it!
Great to go for a date or with family!
