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Il Focolaio Pizza Resto
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
1223 Du Square-Phillips RueMontreal, QC H3B 3E9
(514) 879-1045
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
10 reviews for Il Focolaio Pizza Resto
10 reviews in English
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Review from Wes N.
1/13/2012
what you need to know about the atmosphere, service, and food :O)
Atmosphere: Go, with God's Speed, and even with you eyes closed - this place is an institution! Il Focolaio is always lively, always bustling, and a place were you look around and see people enjoying being there. This isn't your run-of-the-mill pizzeria ~ this is a place we're you'll feel (even for a little while) that you're somewhere other than where you've come from. Il Focolaio is usually very very busy at lunch time (it is near the heart of Montreal's business district), as such seating is hard to come by. Unfortunately, the place (understandably) does not take reservations. If this is your first time going, make sure to pass by at dinner time or a little later - say 6:30-9:00.
Service: The service at Il Focalaio is always (always) courteous, and quick - but equally down to a point. SInce the place isn't very big (relatively), and its often at or near capacity, the waiters (mostly young), must do their jobs quickly and efficiently. They're great at what they do.
Food: Go! You will walk out giddy and satiated ... not unlike a successful first date! Be prepared to sit down at Focolaio and spend time agonizing over which of the 75 different kinds of pizza pies you would like (even those who've become regulars - still ponder the choices!). Cooked on a stone hearth with fresh ingredients that are as diverse are they are plenty, pizzas come to your table pipping hot on a thin crust. Beer is on tap, and wines are also available. The menu does contain some other no-pizza choices like salads, pastas, and lasagna - but let's not kid ourselves - the pizza is why you want to be there!
Not a place to grab a slice and go - you'll want the whole pie! -
Review from Gregory S.
Montréal, QC
1/25/2012
Coming here for lunch during the week (especially a Friday) is not a good idea because it gets super packed. When you do get a seat it also feels like you are crammed like sardines.
However, the pizza is decent but a bit overpriced for what you get at 14 dollars on average. It is very oily so if you are a bit of a health freak then i would recommend you dab your pizza with your napkin first before eating it. -
Review from Risa D.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nice crust. Not too thin, not heavy. A paper placemat menu with 70 pizza options (somehow this already makes me love you). All the ones I've tried are fresh and the combinations tasty. Sort of an old Italian Quebecois family diner vibe with big pitchers, dignified but not fancy. They'll treat you right and fill you up and possibly pass on some life advice with the take-out menu. Come as you are.
If the weather is fair and you sit in the patio you'll have one of the homiest views of downtown Montreal, looking out on Phillips Square, just off the press of St Catherine's. A lovely mellow old school place for pizza pie. -
Review from Nicolas M.
Montréal, QC
5/16/2012
I've eaten here twice so far in my time in Montreal. It's definitely a friends and family pizza place where you can order just about any variety or kind of pizza. It's usually quite crowded so that means it must be good. My folks and I usually wind up having long discussions over what toppings to get! It's a nice place for family and the pizza goes down well with a bottle of wine :) The crust is thin, the cheese isn't plastic and it has an authentic flair to it.
-
Review from Charles S.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC
1/4/2012
Really good Pizza place in Montreal. Pizza price around 14$ which is enough to fill someone.
Highly recommended to take clients to lunch there. -
Review from DAVE I.
Montréal, QC
4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went in there because of the excellent review status from Yelp. However its very basic pizza quality despite the 75 different pizza options. The middle of the pie was rather mushy. The place has a great ambiance and very family oriented despite being smack dab in the middle of Downtown Montreal. The service is good, the food good and the restaurant is nice and clean. Just not a mind-blowing pizza experience found at Santa Lucia or Pizza Napolitan. But suitable for a lunch break from work. I just wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.
-
Review from John B.
12/29/2011
3.5
Straddling the line between good old pizza and gourmet. If they're trying for the latter, they'll need a few refinements. The crust is superb. Good use of the wood-fired oven. The next step would be a drier pizza (less oil). And I somehow expected a better cheese. People will pay for fresh whole-milk mozzarella.
At the price, we'll need a higher quality salad, too. In the matter of salad, quality is more important than quantity.
Still, I'd pretty happily go back. -
Review from C M.
Montréal, QC
11/24/2011
I absolutely adore this place, it's my go-to take-out/delivery/dine-in pizza joint.
As previously mentioned, there are over 70 different items to try, and I'm on a mission to try them all! The ingredients are always really fresh and the crust is thin and wood-oven baked to perfection. So far, the stand-out pizza I've had is the smoked salmon pizza: sauce, capers, red onions, mozzarella, and fresh smoked salmon. I've only tried one of their calzones (the broccoli and blue cheese one), which was good, but not amazing- stick to the pizzas.
Prices are reasonable and with such a diverse menu, you'll definitely want to keep going for more! -
Review from Mathieu B.
Roxboro, QC
11/18/2011
Francais après
This is my favorite pizza in Montreal. This place is great for a lot of reason:
1) There's ridiculous amount of different topping, like Rick V says in previous review: like 70 pizza.
2) You can get out of there, tip included for 20$
3) The place is always packed and the service is still fast. on lunch hour if you actually have 45-60 minutes lunch and work within 5 minutes walk, you'll make it!
4) Wooden-burning oven.
First time I went there was with a group of collegue of 15-20 persons and within 75 minutes, we were all done! Pizza is the most delicious fast food on Planet Earth, I could die eating pizza 2-3 times a day for the rest of my live. Topping definition is infinite and therefore, we can make everything in a pizza and this place is a commitment to prove it!
The Calzonne are super great too
C'est ma pizza favorite à Montréal. Cet endroit est superbe pour plusieurs raisons
1) C'est qu'ils ont un nombre ridicule de garniture. Comme le review précédent le mentionne, plus de 70!
2) Tu peux quitter le resto le ventre plein pour 20$ après tip.
3) Ce resto est toujours remplis et malgré tout, le service est rapide. Durant l'heure du lunch, si vous avez 45-60 minutes et que vous êtes à 5 minutes du resto a pied, vous pouvez diner là sans revenir en retard au boulot.
4) 3 mots: Four à bois.
La première fois que je suis allé là, nous étions un groupe de 15-20 collègues et en moins de 75 minutes, tout le monde était servis, avait mangé et payé. La rapidité et la qualité vont de paire pour moi. Ils ont définitivement une recette gagnante. La pizza c'est, à mon avis, le meilleur fast food au monde. Je pourrais en manger 2-3 fois par jour jusqu'à la fin de mes jours juste à cause de l'infinis possibilité de garniture. Sans compté que ça peut contenir tous les groupes alimentaires en une bouchée!
Ah et ils ont des Calzone ridiculement bons! -
Review from Mr T.
8/30/2011
Very large selection of Pizza's. The prices are very reasonable...and most of all the food taste good.
