Pizza Balagan delivers a focused menu centered on robust American-style pizzas characterized by generous toppings and a reliable, crispy crust. The preparation process prioritizes consistent flavor profiles through the use of high-quality ingredients and precise thermal control in specialized ovens. Patrons experience a straightforward environment designed for efficiency and ease, emphasizing the quality of the cooked dough and seasoned sauces. Each pie showcases balanced proportions of melted cheese and savory additions that define standard American culinary traditions. The kitchen maintains high operational standards to ensure every order meets specific texture requirements. This establishment functions as a primary destination for individuals seeking dependable, hearty portions of baked items prepared in a functional and no-nonsense culinary setting. The focus remains strictly on providing substantial, well-crafted food that aligns with classic regional expectations.
Pizza Balagan is widely celebrated as a premier destination for New York style pizza in Montreal, frequently described by visitors as a hidden gem that delivers exceptional quality. Many reviews emphasize the craftsmanship behind the thin, perfectly crispy crust and the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients that create a well balanced and delicious flavor profile. The owner is consistently praised for being warm, passionate, and dedicated to the art of pizza making, creating a welcoming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While primarily a take out spot with limited outdoor seating, the generous portions and high standard of the pies make it a neighborhood favorite that many consider the best in the city.
It's a very cute place, they have a mini seating outside (4 seats) & the pizza was good, thin crust, good crisp, only critique was that is was quite oily but thats most likely from the cheese. The people working were very nice, asked us & made sure everything was good of we needed anything. A bit pricey but surpringly filling
What a find!! Excellent pizza, excellent service. I'd give it a 11/10. Probably the best in the city - cooked to perfection, the cheese is delicious, sauce is just right.
May 23, 2026
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.
I am so disappointed of my experience here... I had great expectations from all the hype, press & reviews this place was getting, so I placed an order for their OG margarita & Capricieuse...
The dough. He allegedly spent 7 years perfecting this as per his interview. The slice did stay straight nicely when holding, the tickness & size of the pizza & crust is overall great. But that's all visual aspect, the moment you bite into it, you get dense bite resistant chew (not the good kind of chewy you'd expect from a pizza), it was gummy. The crust was even worst, it felt like I was eating cardboard. I had a slice at room temp & one re-heated at 425, both gave the same mouth feel. Almost on part with the mouth feel of Dominos...
Sauce. You dont taste it at all, & the cheese is most likely the culprit.
The cheese. The owner is French, & the selection of cheeses he decided on his pizza is clearly influenced by his background. That part is not innately a bad thing, if done right, & I feel like he missed the mark big time on this one. He add a 2 years old Gouda Cheese which add a nutty, funky, salty flavour to the pizza, on the OG Magarita, its not bad, I do see his vision, it adds some depth, but combined with a weak sauce that barely comes forward & a dough that is heavy & dense just does not harmonize.
The Capricieuse was the worst pizza I ever had in my life. On their advertised pictures, it disaplayed a crumbled style goat cheese, what I received seems to be Oka cheese?? See my picture as reference. Nothing like their picture & it was so pungent & funky, it was revolting. You taste NOTHING but that cheese, its too much, as I am writing this, I am starting to think that they did a mistake or might have substituted their goat cheese with whatever this was... I had 2 slices & each bite was just pungent, oily cheese with gummy dough. I had 1 slice & a half & I threw the rest of the pizza in the garbage. I ate at more than 30+ pizza places in Montreal & I never threw an entire pie à la poubelle. The cheese just overwhelmed everything... & I felt scammed to see a pizza with what seems to be the wrong cheese that clearly ruined the pizza.
The French twist to their pizza is just not it. It was heavy & nauseous. It looked like pizza but it was by far from a pizza.
Owner, I need an answer/explanation on my Capricieuse.
Alex is the dough whisperer we needed in the city. Had the cheese & truffle. Fire. That crust was insane. That flavor was very nostalgic for me & brought me straight back to my childhood in my homeland. Thank you
The dough is so good! It's soft & crunchy, a masterpiece.
Have nothing bad to say about the pizza, tomato sauce right on point, delicious cheese. Extra points for using local products. Looking forward for the next pizza there
Got the margherita, super good, very fairly priced. Pick-up only. Crust is thin & crispy, cheese was deeply salty, basil is chopped instead of a few leaves just thrown on the pizza. Consider me impressed!
