There’s this saying… “Sex is like cold pizza, even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.” What kind of self-loving forever-alone son of a bitch came up with this garbage? I’m not going to compare cold pizza to getting laid, why? If you’re satisfied lying down next to something cold, ridged, crusty and that was man-handled and felt up by some hairy dude with sauce on his shirt the night before… then you really need to get off the computer and meet new people.
From 99-cent spots on popular intersections to more traditional Italian joints, our city so has many great options and here are my top five picks to cop your favourite slice or pie.
Amelios sur Bernard
One of my favourite spots is Amelios on Bernard. Derivative of the original in the McGill ghetto, this spot is a real slice when you’re looking for awesome pizza. He crust is something to be experienced; light and chewy, you can “knock” on the crust as you would on a freshly baked baguette, that eats like cake. An inherent sweetness to the bread is an ideal vessel to carry cheese and toppings into your face. The “Florentine” – spinach and cheese pizza with a signature artichoke sauce – cheese, creamy and delicious.
Amelios sur Bernard – (Original review)
1205 Bernard ave. W
BEVO Bar+Pizzeria
BEVO in the old port popped into the pizza scene last summer to the delight of neighbours and local food critics. Don’t be fooled by the location; legit pizza exists next to souvenir tshirts and pewter statues of maple leaves and canned maple syrup. Their wood-burning oven at over 700 degrees churns out pizzas in 90 seconds flat; which yields soft and pillow crust with singed bubbly bits that adds character. The traditional margherita is a great way to go, don’t forget to save room for their dessert nutella pizza!
BEVO Bar + Pizzeria (Original review)
410 Rue Saint Vincent
Pizzeria Napoletana
Featured on travel shows and the like, this famous player in the Montreal pizza game has been serving up pies and pouring wine for almost 60 years. Pizzeria Napoletana in Little Italy and has been pumping out 41 different kinds of pizza. A popular place to bring your own wine, get here hungry… but not on an empty stomach; with a no reservation policy, be prepared to wait; especially on a nice night when their tables line the sidewalk. Try the “Primavera”, mushrooms, mozzarella, anchovies, olives, calms and artichokes.
Pizzeria Napoletana (Original review)
189 Rue Dante
(514) 276-8226
Cash only! – ATM available.
Bring your own wine
Pizzeria Magpie
Down the street in the Mile-end is Magpie, right off St. Laurent; a modest size pizza spot serving microbrews, oysters, and food-fired pizza. With all the classic characteristics of pizza kissed by fire, charred bits and a dusty smokey crust, their menu is concise with great weekly specials. Remember to ask for the chili oil! “Proscuitto”; fluffy dusty crust, topped with cherry tomatoes, bocconcini cheese, arugula and prosciutto. Classic combination, this pizza is a perfect mix of salty ham, creamy cheese and sweet sauce.
Pizzeria Magpie (Original review)
16 Rue Maguire
(514) 507-2900
Pendelis Pizza
One of the most oldestschool-oldschool places in the city – Pendelli’s Pizza. With various locations, this would be the only “chain” pizza joint I would dare order from. Keep your chicken wings and fries and two for one specials, Pendelli’s makes pizza, and that’s the only thing you should order; and when you do, order the Pendelli’s special. Known for their weirdo pepperoni sliced lengthwise, the special is an all dressed pizza with the addition of olives, onions, bacon and anchovies. Extra points for rocking the pizza dough ball on a take out pizza.
Pendelis Pizza
1541 Avenue Van Horne
(514) 271-5406
Honourable Mentions:
– Pizza Villa – 6672 Ave Papineau
– Il Piato Pieno – 177, St-Zotique E.
– Vinizza – 150 Jean Talon St E.
– Manzo – 1033 90e Av Lasalle
Where are your go to pizza places?
27 comments
La Bottega for sure! Also an honourable nod to Arlequino and Geppeto, and my new delivery discovery : F+F Pizza.
The only thing I don’t like about F+F is that there’s only 1 size…!
F+F Pizza was such a disappointment due to a really bad service. As for the food, nothing out of this World, but acceptable. Won’t go back though.
Okay you had me right up to Pendellis which has to be the greasiest pizza I have ever had to turn down. The rest, fatab, this is just oil and more oil.
I know… Ain’t it great? The BEST!:D
Howdy!
Next time you’re down in Verdun you should try Pizza Mory’s, 4702 Verdun (514) 767–2000. Specifically the Mory’s Vegetarian with a Sesame Seed Crust.
I understand why you would like Pendelis if you only order and don’t actually go there and see how the food is made lol… I really don’t think it’s a chain, I’ve known the place since forever, and Pendelis is a pretty generic name for pizzerias 😛 Try Van Horne pizzeria next time, sooooo much better!
I normally find your suggestions really good (sai gwan was my favourite) but with pizza you enter very sensitive territory.
Amelios and Pindellis are good if you like Montreal Greek-style pizza but for real Italian pizza the only place in Montreal that comes close to meeting my standards is Bottega on St Zoutique. As for Napolitana, all I can say is really???!!!
Bottega… Really???
I love Amelio’s, by far my favorite. I hit up a good spot St Viateur pizza – although I went recently and didn’t think it was as good as before.
Never heard of Pendelis Pizza before – can’t wait to try our their “weirdo pepperoni”
And I absolutely absolutely agree with the comment from “Pizza Snob”. Napoletan?, come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went to Bottega and i actually hated it.
I found that they have the looks down. But when it came to the actual pizza and food, it wasn’t worth the price.
My crust was fluffy and chewy and nice, but everything else was soggy, floppy and flaccid.
Van Horne Pizza on Van Horne in Outremont turns out a great pizza even if its not from an oven
You’re the second person to say that on this post, I’ll look into it!
I mean from a wood oven….it is from an oven DUH!!
It always amazes me how there are so many differing opinions when it comes to Pizza.
My faves for best greasy type Greek diner pizza are the following;
McBay in DDO, Miss Jean Talon, Manzo, Daytona (St Eustache) and Delphi (Mirabel), B&M NDG (although I haven’t been in a few years and they started getting inconsistent so don’t know if things have changed)
“Refined” Pizza;
Magpie and Bottega. Honorable mention, Vinizza.
Most overated pizzas (IMO);
Amelios (Bernard) way too bready of a dough and sauce way too sweet.
Napoletana, dough is like pita, I just don’t get the hype.
Geppetos, just nothing special for the price.
It’s funny you should mention that, that’s exactly why I love Amelios, the bread is thick and chewy – it’s almost like cake and buttery.
Yup, like someone else mentioned, pizza is a sensitive topic. There is of course no right answer, tastes are all personal we all gotta respect that. Keep up the good work on the blog.
You are right though Bottega does get soggy.
Try Coronet pizza on Poirier in ville st. Laurent , its been there for 50 years plus and still makes pizza like his late dad ,,OLD STYLE,, it won the \\gazette award for best pizza , and I have gone there 40 plus years ago and still go when I get a chance to go to the area..
Meh, I tried Coronet a few years ago and as much as I love sloppy Greek diner pizza this one didn’t do it for me, far from. Sauce was too sweet, pepperoni IIRC were the big slices and dough was too dense.
Let’s just say that ever since I’ve started making my own pizza at home, I just can’t go back to any kind of pizza unless they can prove they do theirs in a proper hot oven (wood burning) so that they can create that nice proper crust. 🙂
The best!! Acropolis Pizzeria in Anjou! Always consistent!! Greek type, excellent sauce and cheese, veggies and excellent pepperoni!
Napoletana has got to be the most disappointing place I have ever gone for pizza, anywhere! I don’t know what has garnered it such renown, but the reputation it has is exactly inverse to the quality of its pizza. Overpriced, undercooked, thrown in front of you like the afterthought that customer service is in that place. What a sham! Close them down!
What a great list. I’ve tried saint-viateur pizza and loved the freshness in addition to the few vegetarian choices they have. Satisfied customer here!
i buy slices at pendeli s once in a while.. it s very dirty…the owner no longer cares about his food..he s let himself ans his restaurant go…but it s still better than 95% but of the places in town..but diiiirty…go check it out you will see..
Fco-di-Fiumicino Google it
Il Focolaio on Phillips Square should be high on the list… best pizza I’ve ever had anywhere. If you’re in Ville St. Laurent, it’s Coronet hands down.