GEMA RESTAURANT - MONTREAL

Apr 2

Oh the pizza! Italy has brought many gifts to the culinary world, but pizza is undeniably king. Who could resist the call of this delicious concoction? For young and old, it is often the dish that best bears the label of “comfort food”. Surprising that it's me who is writing this first draft about Pizzeria Gema, because Chantal is actually much more of a pizza lover than me.

Truth be told, I wasn't a huge fan of pizza when I was younger, especially the thick, rather greasy varieties you could find on every street corner. And that hasn't changed much today. The introduction of pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven has reconciled me somewhat with this dish, but the offer is so vast that the quality is often disappointing. It was during a stay in Rome that I discovered "al taglio" pizza, which quickly became my favorite (a nod to the San Gennaro café and the Segretta pizzeria!).

At Pizzeria Gema, you will find a Neapolitan-style pizza, made mainly with local ingredients from Quebec. Although there is no margherita or very traditional pizza on the menu, some choices remain classic while others will surprise you with their refined originality.

That evening we shared the Apennine, a delicious combination of pancetta, cream, pistachio pesto and arugula. During our last visit, we tried the Emilia, with its mushrooms, bacon and cream infused with onion and thyme. Both refined and comforting. One day I'll end up trying the Hawaiian, an homage to traditional pizzerias, topped with house-smoked maple ham and oven-roasted pineapple. In total there are 14 pizzas to choose from, but I warn you, the choice will not be easy.

As a starter, the menu offers seven varied options, ranging from octopus salad to meatballs in tomato sauce. Everything is delicious. The choice of cocktails is interesting and the wine list is well thought out. The selection of wines by the glass and the knowledgeable advice of the staff seduced us on each visit.

For dessert, the restaurant offers, among other things, soft serve ice cream which can also be purchased to take away from a window. We'll have to go back to try it because on our last visit there was cheesecake on the menu, and I can't resist a good cheesecake. It was exquisite.

The restaurant is owned by Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione who also own the Impasto restaurant across the street and bring us Stefano products that have been found everywhere on grocery shelves for several years.

For me, Pizzeria Gemma is more than a favorite. It has become a must-see in Little Italy.