Il Brigante — Restaurant in Paris

Overhyped, not that great. Fresh ingredients but definitely not an exceptional pizza, just a rather good one which is the least one can expect given their prices (I already had as good pizzas if not better). Personally I really wasn’t impressed by the thin dry crust which gets cold pretty fast.

The main cons of our experience for us was the "restaurant" itself : way too tiny, I mean tiny like you have to contortion yourself to get in and out of your table and of the restaurant itself. Ended up 2m behind the pizaiolo, badly sitted shoulder to shoulder on a narrow wooden bench that was a killer for my back. Pizzas are served uncut and the knives you’re given are just basic knives not properly sharpened which doesn’t help to cut the dry thin crust when sitted at a table without any room for your arms to move. As there isn’t any proper ventilation after a short time the room (the kitchen in fact) gets filled up with smoke, you can see it as it gets foggy and you can also feel it as it stings your eyes (not to mention of course the smell that won’t leave you any soon). Some will call that part of the “authentic” experience but I don’t buy it, the fact to be small doesn't excuse everything especially given the high prices of the place. There’s a difference between rustic and impractical / inconfortable for the customers.

Down the line it was a disappointment both for the place and the pizzas which nobody of our group found as amazing as advertised by some reviews. Maybe it's a better experience in take-away only (I doubt it) but anyway in my opinion completely overhyped place and...

Il Brigante is a noisy Italian pizzeria bursting with people, pizza and prosecco, on the less touristy side of Montmartre. It’s definitely not a place for a quiet romantic date, but if you’re looking for excellent pizza and a very warm welcome, this is the spot for you. The restaurant is tiny; narrow tables and benches fill up all available floor space that isn’t already taken up by the giant wood-burning oven. There’s only room for around 20 people, with most of the seating taken up by two long tables where you will, literally, be elbow-to-elbow with your neighbors. Being such a popular neighborhood establishment (they also do takeaways) means there can often be a bit of a wait for your order, which most people use as an excuse to have a chat over a glass of prosecco with their neighboring diners. The pizzas are cooked in true Italian style right in front of you by the Italian chef. The blend of fine Italian ingredients and craftsmanship makes for delectable and original pizzas, the likes of which are hard to find elsewhere in Paris. Try the San Nicola, topped with mozzarella, bresaola, parmesan, ricotta and rocket, or the popular Ronzatti topped with Neapolitan sausage, smoked scamorza (a type of cheese) and broccoli. Each pizza is cooked to perfection on a thin,...

Tiny, authentic, out-of-the-way pizzeria located behind the Scare Coeur in Paris's 18th district. While they may have other items on the menu, going here to order anything other than pizza is like going to the doctor's for the magazines.

Il Brigante does one thing and they do it extremely well, as the pizza is arguably the best in Paris (and I don't say that lightly). It's traditional, Italian pizza (with the paper thin crust, be aware) prepared by traditional Italians but the real secret is the traditional Italian ingredients. I had the Il Brigante special with ground, spicy Italian salami ('nduja), fior di latte cheese, spiced Italian ham, fresh peppers... and, as a pizza lover, I can tell you it was a near religious experience.

If you decide to go, go early because there is extremely limited space and parties of two may find themselves at a table in a corridor. That's of little importance, however, because after one bite you'll be...