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.
J'y vais toujours quand je suis dans l'coin. Superbes pizza au four à bois avec un grand choix. Le service est rapide & compétent. Par contre, l'ambiance (tables serrées) & le stationnement sont à chier !
I had heard that this place serves the best pizza in town, so my expectations were high. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed-it was just an average pizza, nothing extraordinary. That said, it was still delicious, but I believe there are likely better pizzerias in town.
Jan 6, 2025
on Google
🍽️
Know where to eat in Montreal before everyone else.
Get the first look at the hottest openings, secret menus, and RestoMontreal.ca's weekly top picks. Join 50,000+ foodies.
In town with my kid for their 25th birthday & tried the pizza here after seeing good reviews. The pizza was EVEN BETTER than any previous review made it out to be. Any time I'm back in Montreal, I'll go out of my way to eat here again.
Ma première fois aujourd'hui dans ce restaurant & je me jure d'y retourner. J'ai commandé la pizza SAID (#62 sur le menu) & je me suis franchement régalé. J'ai terminé mon repas avec une délicieuse glace tartufo à la pistache ainsi qu'un très bon cappuccino. J'ai déjà hâte de goûter à une autre de leurs très nombreuses pizzas lors de ma prochaine visite! Merci à l'équipe du Il Focolaio!
We go there a lot. I've tried a few dishes, but my favorite is the number 16, which is a shrimp pizza. It's light, tasty, & they are generous with the amount of shrimp (unlike other places where shrimp pizzas often have just a few pieces). You should definitely try the house wine-it's really good. As for dessert, I wouldn't recommend the tiramisu, even though it's my absolute favorite. It doesn't seem to be made in-house, kind of like the ones you buy from groceries.
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
