Montreal Pizza Restaurants

Bottega Pizzeria rates five out of five stars on the Our Faves fan restaurant reviews website. There is a good reason for that. To seek the whole pizza truth, in 2003, Bottega's owner, Fabrizio Covone, took a trip to the birthplace of pizza, Naples. As those authentic recipes are dearly coveted by Italian restaurateurs famous for it, Covone worked for two years in Napolese kitchens to learn to duplicate true Neapolitan pizza in the city of his ancestors, Montreal.

If pizza is not all you come to Bottega for, there is a tapa-style entrée menu called Sfizi. Try the pizza bun stuffed with prosciutto cotto, mushrooms, mozzarella and ricotta, the grilled baby lamb chop, or the amazing mozzarella in Carrozza, a Napolitan croque monsieur stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella and prosciutto cotto. Other menu appetizers are grilled pepperoni with capers and extra virgin olive oil, grilled giant shrimp or homemade sausage and rapini sautéed in garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

The piece de resistance, Bottega's finest, "audacious" Neapolitan pizza, the house specialty, awaits. La Marinara is a simple San Marzano tomato, oregano, basil and garlic masterpiece. La Tartufo Nero, or the black truffle, fresh Fior di Latte mozzarella, basil and Grana Padano, is another favorite. Those, and the 12 other delicious choices, complemented with what has been called an "architecturally perfect" crust, and made with ingredients special enough to earn the seal of authenticity of the Verace Pizza Napolentana Artigianale (VPBA) protocol.

Desserts include traditional Italian cannoli, tiramisu and biscotti and seasonally feature Pastiera di Grano, and Zeppole s.Giuseppe. There is a wide variety of gelato based on seasonal availability of the featured fruit. The restaurant is located in Montreal's Little Italy. Reservations are highly recommended. Parking is free behind the restaurant. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to midnight, and closed on Monday.

Bottega Pizzeria
85 rue St-Zotique E
Montreal, QC H2S 1K7
(514) 277 8104

Al-Taib started out life, in 1995, as a small boulangerie (bakery in French) featuring mostly Middle Eastern specialties. What put Al-Taib on the Montreal pizza map, though, is its pizza by the slice. Close to the Guy/Concordia metro and de Maisonneuve, near Concordia University, the establishment is frequented by students. In 2005, the "Montreal Mirror" made Al-Taib number one on its "fast and cheap" food list, two for late night eateries, and three for best pizza in the City.

While Al-Taib is still one of the best Lebanese bakeries in town and is known for its Arabic fast food too, pizza is offered eight ways. At those prices, you could try one of each. This restaurant is open 24 hours.

Al-Taib
2125 rue Guy
Montréal, QC H3H 2L9
(514) 931-1999

The atmosphere at this trendy hot spot is contemporary and the pizza is European-style--thin and very light with dough made on-site. Arlequino is known for its fresh local ingredients and the extensive international wine list. Arlequino is considered reasonably priced and prides itself on its service and its eco-mindedness. Arlequino not only recycles its glass, plastic, paper and aluminum but a portion of delivery sales goes to the Breakfast Club in Quebec, a non-profit service nutritious hot breakfasts to 244 primary schools across the province. As for the food, the pizza offerings are diverse from the Napoli of tomato sauce and cheese to the San Bennedetto of lobster meat and rose cognac sauce.

Arlequino is open Monday through Wednesday, Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Arlequino
1218, rue Drummond
Montreal, QC H3G 1V7
(514) 868-1666

Here, the pizza comes hot and freshly made from a wood burning oven. Within walking distance of the Mount Royal Station or Station Mont-Royal, on Rue St-Denis, this authentic pizzeria is in the heart of town. There is an extensive wine list and room for groups on the terrace in warm weather.

There are 14 kinds of pizza on the menu and guests can personalize theirs with mixed vegetables, mozzarella, buffalo, chevre, parmesan or fontina cheese, meats, and even smoked salmon. Pizzas range from a simple tomato mozzarella and basil to the Pizza Artigiani, which is a luscious combination of tomato sauce, capicolla, pepperoni, Italian sausage and mozzarella. Artigiani also offers antipasti, such as arborio rice croquettes lightly sautéed on a tomato coulis or antipasto misto.

Artigiani Pizzeria
4657 rue St-Denis
Montreal QC H2J 2L5
(514) 564-5842