La Pizza Week in Canada came and went last month. At MtlRestoRap.com, my partner Tony Medeiros and I always make an effort to try out some of the participants here in Montreal.

This year I sampled Lo Dico Pizzeria (www.lodico.ca) in St. Laurent while Tony went to Pizza Spano (www.pizzaspano.ca) in Dollard des Ormeaux.

I was delighted to discover Lo Dico, owned by the husband and wife team of  Kailash and Anita Patel. They presented me with the Bacon Blaze Pepperoni, made with their in-house Lo Dico dough, a house secret tomato sauce and topped with Milano pepperoni, crunchy bacon and fresh roasted red peppers under a rain of mozzarella Saputo cheese. Kailash added a cherry coke, some chicken wings and fries to my selection. That was a nice treat. I brought half of the pizza back home and thanks to my trusty air fryer the crispy crunch was maintained. While a tempting array of pizzas in four sizes remain their specialty, Kailash and Anita have so much else to choose from: salads, wings and nuggets, fried and roasted  chicken,  club sandwiches, souvlaki (with great pita I am told), fish and chips, pastas, burgers, poutines and desserts. I was too full from my sampling to try any of them, but I hope to grab a bite at their terrasse during the summer.

Meanwhile, Tony reports on Pizza Spano’s “Deluxe” pizza, a signature masterpiece that has captivated taste buds far and wide. This delectable pizza is adorned with a sumptuous array of toppings, including savory pepperoni, earthy mushrooms, crisp green peppers, zesty onions, savory bacon, and flavorful Italian sausage. Pizza Spano, helmed by the dynamic duo of Christos Dessilas and his son Kevin, exudes a palpable aura of dedication from the moment you step through its doors. Tony also mentioned the pizzaghetti, combining the flavors of pizza and spaghetti into a singular dish and the pizza-Caesar, which substitutes spaghetti with Caesar salad. They also offer sandwiches, chicken dishes, pasta and Greek specialties.

Lo Dico is located at 719 Boul. Decarie near De L’Église. You can find Pizza Spano a 1360 Sunnybrooke Boulevard.

PETROS LITTLE ITALY:  Ted Dranias has opened five successful Petros Taverna locations in Montreal: Westmount, Laurier, Lachine, Griffintown and Little Italy. Most recently I  dropped with a friend for lunch in Little Italy (6896 Rue Saint-Dominique), where Chefs Jahad and Enam are at the helm. The place was humming. I enjoyed some taramousalata and pita, crispy fried zucchini, a steak and fries and glass of prosecco. Hats off to servers Audrey and Kamal. The picturesque patio, where I dined, is completely covered in a garden-like atmosphere. It is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and dinner those evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday. Go to www.restaurantpetros.ca