Felice Anno Nuovo!

The Pitch

For my first review of 2018, I found myself at Old Montreal's BEVO following a viewing of Moment Factory's AURA show at the Notre-Dame Basilica nearby.  What better option in the area when accompanied by children while trying to avoid an all-too-common tourist trap?

And although I have already reviewed this Neapolitan pizzeria in its first year of operation both on its own and as part of a multi-stop pizza crawl – not to mention a handful of other visits since – I do feel an update is warranted as a lot can happen in five years.

The Mood

The restaurant's ground floor was busy on this Tuesday night which marked a (slight) respite from the cold spell we have faced over recent weeks.  While the iconoclastic interior juxtaposing old against new may have lost its novelty, tables kept turning over as 90s alternative rock tracks quietly played in the background.

The Food

Although BEVO's menu features a fine selection of cocktails, antipasti, pastas and meats, the draw has always been the authentic, Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizza.

While the starters I sampled tonight were unexpectedly underwhelming – overly-crispy calamari and a tasteless green salad – the pizza shined and made up for those.  A sauce-less caprese pie delighted with fresh cheese and delicately-spongy crust, but the margherita stole the show with that vibrant tomato sauce.

Antipasti

Antipasti

$14

$14

Calamari Fritti

"fried calamaris, spicy roasted tomato sauce"

Antipasti

Antipasti

$8

$8

Insalata Verde

"little gem lettuce, tomato, red wine dressing"

Main

Main

$15

$15

Margherita Pizza

"mozzarella fior di latte, basil, tomato sauce"

Main

Main

$18

$18

Caprese Pizza

"mozzarella fior di latte, tomatoes, black olives, basil"

The Verdict

Open seven nights a week, BEVO is a surefire option preceding or following any outing around the Old Port.  That tasty, dependable pizza marked a good start to a new year of reviews.  And with Happening Gourmand's eleventh edition right around the corner, you will get a chance to sample it at a reduced fare if you haven't already done so.

tagged:  SOLID

Price per person:  $27.50