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 had Pollo Nostro pizza which is like chicken pesto but it has hot peppers. It tasted awesome. There was a reason that people waite in line to eat there. The staff were so friendly . Had a great experience.
Pizza buona con ingredienti di qualità, poteva esser lievitata meglio però. Da rivedere un po' il servizio non posso ordinare due volte da bere e non ricevere niente per tutta la cena.
The pizza is excellent & service was good thebother times I have gone there . But I was dessapointed today; I ordered a pizza to go, there was no one waiting in line & I sat at table . Then people arrived. & I don't know if it was coordinator but he said I should stand up out of the table, & then told the girls in the cash regist register people that take it to go should wait outside. I think as client (I was not ubereats or something like that) I also deserved to have a place because I paid for my pizza & even gave tip when I bought it, the only thing is that I didn't want to eat at the place just take home. I give this as advice but I felt bad As a client I feel I also deserved my place, I had to stay out stand up for ten minutes. Thanks
Si je pouvais donner 6 étoiles, je l'aurai absolument fait ! Rien à dire à part que c'est l'un des meilleurs endroits pour manger une vraie pizza italienne. On a eu un excellent service, la variété était au rendez-vous & surtout la qualité ! Je ne peux que féliciter toute l'équipe de la Pizzeria
Bel accueil, serveuse très gentille, service rapide même pour un midi en semaine (beaucoup de personnels de bureau) & la pizza sans gluten était un vrai délice 😋
Really kind people & the food was good. Its a bit tight of place but really good choice of pizza. Must go again there for another kind. Second time I went & it was good & not much people at 17h
Very good pizza. I had the one with snails on it. It was sensational. The tables are a bit close together & there is a bit of a labyrinth to get down to the bathroom. & once there, the door opens perilously close to the urinal. Other than those little nitpicks, great experience.
The restaurant was very busy which is always a good sign. The pizza was delicious, I would just get it well done next time because I love a good crispy crust.
Incredibly authentic selection of personal pizzas (77 options to be exact) with fantastic service & phenomenal white sangria served in pitchers. Loved it!
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.
Though relatively unassuming from the outside, Pizza Il Focolaio was a great lunch spot for our family (kids ages 7, 9, 16, 17). There was plenty of space inside. (Outside seating is also available.) The staff was kind, welcoming & accommodating. The menu is available in English, which was very helpful. The pizzas were delicious & came out quickly. The Caesar salad was large enough to be shared by 4 of us. We ordered 3 pizzas for a total of 6 people. Paired with the salad, that was a perfect portion.
