Montreal's new Italian sandwich hotspot serves a pizza that's 6 feet long

Montreal's Italian sandwich scene has exploded in recent years with the likes of BOSSA, Clarke, and La Panzeria developing cult-like followings.

Now, a new contender has joined the lineup — and it's putting a Sicilian twist on things.

La Scacciata, tucked into a small space near Atwater Market, opened quietly in January but has quickly been making waves across the local food scene. In case the name didn't give it away, the focus at this family-run joint is on scacciata, a Sicilian-style focaccia that's perfect for building thick, satisfying sandwiches and pizza by the square.

While many of the core ingredients — like cured meats, cheeses, and olive oil — are imported directly from Italy, La Scacciata balances that old-world soul with fresh, seasonal produce sourced from local organic farms and greenhouses.

The team's philosophy is simple: keep it high quality and let the ingredients speak for themselves.

General manager and co-owner Jonathan Sarkis spent the last few months perfecting his bread recipe so it was "just right."

"Basically, I don't think there's any place that could even come close to our sandwiches right now," he said in an interview with MTL Blog.

But Sarkis isn't afraid of going big either. Literally.

Earlier this spring, the team debuted their first-ever six-foot pizza — made with dough fermented over two days and cooked using a custom-built pizza peel. While he was a little nervous about executing the massive rectangular pie (and keeping it in one piece), he couldn't be more pleased with the result.

"It was like it was meant to be," Sarkis said. "It slid right onto the conveyor and came out perfectly."

La Scacciata's first six-foot pizza was a successJonathan Sarkis

The giant pizza, which feeds up to 20 people, costs $180 and needs to be ordered at least two days in advance.

If you're not feeding a small army, their large scacciata squares — equivalent to two slices — go for $9 each, and sandwiches range from $14 to $17. The menu currently features six staple sandwiches, with more on the way.

Fan favourites include the Parma (prosciutto and fig), Bologna (mortadella with pistachio cream and crumble), and Romana (grilled veggies with rosemary porchetta and balsamic reduction). With dessert and coffee also on the menu, La Scacciata recently introduced housemade pasta and plans to extend its hours this summer with a new terrasse.

One thing Sarkis says customers can always expect is the personal touch. "You'll walk in on a weekend and be greeted by my uncle," he said. "It's not corporate. It's family."