Like most other quick-serve cuisine options, the pizza culture in France is severely lacking…read more Forget about finding good quality quick and cheap pies. Forget about "by the slice." Forget about convenience or variation. Your only option to enjoy good pizza is to go artisan/authentic, in which case you have two options that I know of in Lille. La Botega and Al Fornello. Both offer pies served up in the true Italian tradition; the former location being the better choice for a restaurant experience, and the latter for take away.
Al Fornello is the baby of chef Ciro Panella, a recognized artisan with quite a few handsome trophies adorning his little shop in La Madeleine on the outskirts of Lille. Crowds are customary any day of the week, so your best bet is to phone your order in about an hour before you plan on eating. Prices are correct for the size and quality of the pie. The product is very satisfying with enough variation in the menu to keep it interesting week to week.
Not that it's a top priority for me, but the service is also top notch. You can watch Panella make the pies right in front of you and he always makes an effort to smile or greet customers despite the fact that I have never seen him not overwhelmed with orders. He also works alongside two nice assistants who work quickly and amicably.
I don't have any criticisms to offer, except for maybe a warning. The pizzas are not large, but as I said the price is correct. Just don't make the mistake of under-ordering. As a normal-sized adult male, I can easily eat two full pies without breaking a sweat.
