Tony Medeiros is a Montreal-based blogger with over 20 years of experience covering pop culture and the culinary scene. Known for his engaging reviews and unique insights, he has built a trusted voice for readers seeking informed and entertaining perspectives on food and entertainment. @sandboxworld @tonymedeiros @goodinothers
There’s something about pizza that makes a list like this harder than it sounds. Everyone has a favourite, and in the West Island, there are plenty of places that have been making pizza for years. Some are the kind of neighbourhood spots people grew up with, while others are doing something a little different.
The other thing about West Island pizza is that there really isn’t just one style. You can go for the thick, cheesy Montreal-style pizza that comes loaded with toppings, or something thinner and more Italian-inspired. There are also newer places where pizza is part of a bigger night out.
So rather than trying to decide which restaurant is number one, we narrowed it down to five places that caught our attention for very different reasons. These aren’t ranked, and they aren’t all trying to make the same kind of pizza.
If you’re in the West Island and looking for a pizza night, these are five places worth putting on the list.
Cugini’s Pizza
4563 boulevard Saint-Charles, Pierrefonds
Cugini’s is probably one of the first places that comes to mind when you start talking seriously about pizza in the West Island. Chef Germano Mustone came to the business with experience making pizza in New York, and the idea behind Cugini’s has always been to bring a taste of Italy together with a little bit of New York. The restaurant has since developed its own identity, with everything from Margherita and Napolitano pizzas to more unusual combinations like Rapini, Portofino and Toscana.
What makes Cugini’s interesting is that it doesn’t seem too concerned with fitting neatly into one pizza category. The menu includes regular round pizzas as well as square Grandma-style pies, and the ingredients lean more toward the kind of combinations you’d expect from a restaurant that wants you to pay attention to what’s on the pizza. It’s a little different from the classic neighbourhood pizzeria, and that’s probably part of the reason it has developed such a following.
WHAT DINERS ARE SAYING
The early response is very strong, with diners regularly talking about the crust, sauce, fresh ingredients and the care that goes into the pizzas. Recent feedback also praises the friendly staff and the overall experience, although some customers feel the prices are higher than what they would normally expect to pay for pizza. There are also a few recent complaints about wait times and value, so it’s not completely unanimous. Overall, though, Cugini’s has built a pretty serious reputation among West Islanders looking for something beyond the usual pizza.
Find Cugini’s Pizza on the map
Restaurant Calzone
3717 Boulevard Saint-Charles, Kirkland
Restaurant Calzone has been part of the West Island pizza scene since 1998, and there’s something very familiar about the place. It’s a family-owned pizzeria in Kirkland where the focus is still on pizza, calzones, submarines and other Italian-Canadian comfort food. The restaurant says its dough, sauces, meatballs and pasta are made in-house, and its recipes go back even further to the family’s earlier pizzeria in Montreal West and NDG.
This is the kind of place that makes sense if what you really want is a classic pizza night. The pizzas are hearty, the menu is straightforward and the whole operation feels more like a neighbourhood pizzeria than a restaurant trying to reinvent pizza. Calzone has also been recognized repeatedly as a West Island pizza favourite, which tells you that this isn’t some newcomer trying to make a name for itself. It’s been part of the local pizza conversation for a long time.
WHAT DINERS ARE SAYING
The feedback around Calzone tends to focus on the same things you’d expect from an established family pizzeria: generous pizzas, a classic style and friendly service. Customers also regularly mention the calzones and submarines, which are a big part of the restaurant’s identity. There is a reason this place keeps coming up whenever people start arguing about the best pizza in the West Island, and even Time Out has included it among Montreal’s notable pizza spots.
Find Restaurant Calzone on the map
Gigi Pizzeria
302 Chemin du Bord-du-Lac-Lakeshore, Pointe-Claire
Gigi is one of those West Island restaurants that feels like it has always been there. The Pointe-Claire pizzeria dates back to 1970, and its style has remained firmly rooted in the old-school Montreal pizza tradition. This isn’t about a minimalist pie with three carefully selected ingredients. Gigi is known for substantial pizzas with plenty of toppings, along with the submarines and other comfort food that have made it a longtime local favourite.
That history is a big part of why Gigi belongs on this list. Pizza has changed quite a bit over the years, but there is still something satisfying about a place that sticks with the style people remember. Eater has called Gigi a half-century-old Pointe-Claire stalwart and specifically points to its heavily loaded Montreal-style pizzas. If you’re looking for the kind of pizza that feels connected to the West Island itself, this is one of the obvious stops.
WHAT DINERS ARE SAYING
The current feedback is largely positive, especially when it comes to the traditional pizza, generous portions and nostalgic atmosphere. Diners also talk about the friendly service and the fact that the restaurant still delivers the kind of old-school experience people are looking for. There are some complaints about pricing and occasional service issues, but the overall sentiment remains strong, with recent customers continuing to describe Gigi as one of the West Island’s go-to pizza places.
Pizza Spano
1360 Sunnybrooke Boulevard, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Pizza Spano is another one of those family-run West Island pizzerias where the word “classic” really does fit. The DDO restaurant has been around since 1986, and its menu goes well beyond pizza, with submarines, Greek specialties and other familiar comfort food. But pizza is still a big part of what keeps people coming back, particularly if you like the thicker, more substantial Montreal-style approach.
What makes Spano worth including is that it represents the traditional side of West Island pizza. There are plenty of newer places now trying to make pizza more modern or more Italian, but there is still a place for a pizza that comes out hot, loaded with toppings and built for sharing. Spano has been doing that for decades, and that kind of staying power tells you something about its place in the neighbourhood.
WHAT DINERS ARE SAYING
The feedback tends to centre on the pizza’s thicker crust, generous toppings and familiar flavour. Customers also mention the submarines and the broader menu, which makes Spano useful when not everyone at the table wants the same thing. It’s not trying to be a trendy pizza destination, and that’s really the point. For people who want that classic West Island pizzeria experience, Spano continues to have a loyal audience.
Bernie’s Pizza Martini Bar
3627 boulevard des Sources, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Bernie’s is where this list takes a turn. Instead of being another traditional family pizzeria, Bernie’s has built its identity around tavern-style pizza, martinis and a more lively night-out atmosphere. The restaurant describes itself as a West Island neighbourhood spot, and the menu backs that up with square-cut tavern pizzas ranging from classics like cheese and pepperoni to combinations involving mushrooms, truffle, hot honey, sausage and other toppings.
That’s what makes Bernie’s interesting. You aren’t really going there just because you need to pick up a pizza for the family. The idea is more about sitting down, having a drink, sharing a pizza and making a night of it. The West Island has plenty of traditional pizzerias, so having a place that approaches pizza from more of a bar-and-social angle gives the local scene something different.
WHAT DINERS ARE SAYING
The early response has been very positive, particularly around the atmosphere, service, cocktails and the pizza itself. Recent reviews describe Bernie’s as lively and welcoming, with the tavern-style pizza getting attention for its crisp crust and shareable format. There are a few comments about the room being busy or noisy, but that seems to come with the territory here. Bernie’s is clearly aiming for a different kind of pizza night, and so far, people seem to be enjoying it.
Visit Bernie’s Pizza Martini Bar
Find Bernie’s Pizza Martini Bar on the map
Five very different pizza nights
The interesting thing about looking at pizza across the West Island is that there really isn’t one answer. Cugini’s is doing something more Italian and New York-inspired. Calzone and Pizza Spano represent the old-school family pizzeria tradition, while Gigi brings decades of Pointe-Claire history to the table. Then there’s Bernie’s, which takes pizza in a completely different direction with tavern-style pies and martinis.
That’s what makes a pizza guide like this worth doing. You might be in the mood for the kind of pizza you remember growing up with, or maybe you want something a little different this time.
Either way, the West Island has plenty to choose from.
Now all that’s left is to decide where you’re going first.
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