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66th St (1)
72nd St (B, C)
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This is my favorite pizza place not just in the neighborhood but on the whole Upper West Side -- north of 57th street and south of 125th street.
I've visited about a dozen times since the recent renovation, and every single time I walk away completely satisfied. First, it's a nice clean well-lit place, very cozy and comfortable, and the staff are all very nice. Second, their crust is good, their sauce is good, their cheese is good, and all the toppings in all their various creative combinations are excellent.
I've had eggplant, spinach, broccoli, ricotta, sausage, pepperoni, chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, peppers, "white" -- and they're all great, especially with some of the chimichurri they have out on the counter.
Since I was going to be in the area, I checked YELP to see what was good to eat.
Aw yeah! This is pretty good pizza. I actually would give it 3.5 stars as it's not "the best", but given what's in the area, it's 4 stars.
Rigoletto is a cute little place--brightly lit with seating along the windows, long tables for groups and smaller tables for 2.
They have quite a variety of pies to choose from as well as those special sauces you can put on your slices---one was very garlicky with herbs; the other hot. Plenty of beverages to choose from---yay for Coke products!
I did see one or 2 flies. Not handicapped accessible, there's a step up and it's pretty cramped. And well, the restroom is waaay too small for a chair.
If you do use the restroom, know that the toliet's lever should be lifted up to flush.
They just expanded into the space next door making more seating available. They seem to be making the crust crispier (cooking it a bit longer) which is fine by me. Pizza that is crispier doesn't fall apart and sag when you have toppings on it.
I tried their whole wheat crust with spinach and ricotta and it was fantastic. Yes, whole wheat has a different taste but I thought it was great.
If it's available on the counter, try some of the homemade chimichurri sauce. It goes great with the sausage slice if you don't favor the homemade hot sauces.
I upgrade it to 4 stars as this may be the best pizza on the UWS.
Cheers!
N.
A good place to grab a thin crust slice on the UWS. I like their eggplant slice. This place also… Read more »
Very good NY style pizzeria.
This pizza reminded me Joes on Bleecker.
Good crisp light crust.
Excellent execution on amount of sauce and cheese.
I will definitely go back again
It doesn't get much better than this. I especially love the sauces on the side that you can throw on your slice.
Stopped by here this past weekend while visiting the City, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they have expanded. No more jostling for space in line, and I can actually sit!
Excellent pizza - one of the best crusts I've tasted in New York. Super thin, with a great crunch, while still maintaining many toppings. Toppings always taste very fresh, and the slices are fairly large.
Favorite pizza in NYC, all about the sauce you get to put on yourself!!!!
This place has expanded its business. Much more space and much more variety. Some of their combinations are simply marvelous.
MUST TRY for a serious pizza lover.
Good pizza. Good price for UWS (avg. 3.50 a slice).
Good for big groups.
i am so bad at reviewing pizza places because i can't really tell the difference. once the level of deliciousness crosses the threshold, i can't tell any difference. and rigoletto definitely passes the threshold and a little bit beyond that. ( wait... i thought i couldn't tell the difference... oh well)
Wow! They expanded into the place next door (what was there? I forget.), and this restaurant went from extremely cramped to extremely spacious. The former dining area is now a comfortable space to wait for your slice, and the new space serves as the dining room. They've also carved out a little outside dining area. They're going to give Francesco's a run for their money (but they need to start taking credit cards).
I know most people in this neighborhood pick their favorite place, but I rotate among Rigoletto, Francesco's, and La Traviata. They're all a little different, and it just depends on my mood. The hot sauce at Rigoletto is great.
Solid pizza joint. Small, usually crowded, but charming. I always try to eat in because of the various dressings (red pepper, garlic cilantro) on the counter. The crust is on the thin/crisp side, and the toppings generous. I especially like the meatball (huge slices) and eggplant (large breaded chunk) toppings.
Average of 2 reviews.
My friend, Kaitlyn, and I hit Rigoletto for a fast bite last night before a movie. I wanted to give it FOUR STARS but she wanted to give it TWO STARS. Thus, the three star review.
I ordered a slice of white pizza. It was DELICIOUS and HUGE, ready in five short minutes. I also ordered a soda and was set back about $5.35 which was well worth it.
Kaitlyn ordered the spinach and cheese slice, but found it less than delicious. She didn't like the crust and found the spinach and cheese separate instead of properly combined for a combined flavor.
As for ambiance, this place is SMALL and CROWDED. We shared a table with another customer, and were next to a family with children.
When I return, I'll probably take my pizza TO GO instead of sitting in a small place. All in all, a speedy, inexpensive and convenient stop for a delicious slice of pizza.
Rigoletto has excellent pizza, nice and crispy and not too cheesy. The pesto sauce on the counter transforms a pretty good slice into heaven. Yeah, it's oily but you will not believe how much better it makes the pizza taste.
The expansion makes it actually a physically comfortable place. For a long time, that was not the case! Even the bathroom is clean, spacious.
I would say that Rigoletto is the best west side pizza south of 96th street.
Thank you fellow yelpers ! I ordered the cheese pizza and a garcia pie for delivery for the first time. The cheese pizza had the best sauce I have tasted in NY and will order it again. The garcia pizza although good would be better when the tomatoes are in season and a little more garlic. Order the cheese pizza and you will be satisified !
Great place for a quick slice. However, its not likely that you will get seating at lunchtime..
Just remember to bring cash!!
I had a slice of spinach and ricotta which was not only enormous but delicious. I liked that it had a good amount of cheese but wasn't too greasy. The crust was just thin and crispy enough. I feel like had I eaten this right out of the oven when everything would have just melted in my mouth, it would have been 5 stars. I would definitely recommend Rigoletto if you're needing pizza on the UWS.
Tried this place for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. Pizza was good, atmosphere was clean and bright and the price was right. I will definitely go back! One of the better pizza places in the neighborhood!
The best slice in the restaurant black-hole known as the Lincoln Center area. A god-send if you work in the are like me, and also on the cheaper end of the pizza places in the area.
It also looks better than your average pizza joint, but somehow they managed to use the space inside as poorly as possible, so at busy times it can resemble the "Lord of the Flies" if you are aiming to get a table.
***
UPDATE: They raised their prices. They had this sign out saying it was for the first time in 10 years; 2 Plain slices and a coke just went from $5.08 to $7.08. Pizza's still good; up to you to decide whether its worth it when you could get a real sandwich and a coke for that price.
Rigoletto's is a welcome respite from typical north-manhattan pizza which is usually pretty average: doughy crust, zip-less sauce, sprinkled with standard mozzarella.
Rigoletto's crust is well-balanced between a crispy finish and soft inside; the sauce has a nice tang without being over powering, and the cheese, well, sorry that's pretty standard, unless you get fresh mozzarella.
They occasionally have an amazing whole-wheat spinach and mushroom pie available for slices, but usually, if you want whole-wheat, you need to custom order.
The service is good, the place clean and uniquely appointed for a hole-in- the-wall pizza place, and though there are only 7 tables, somehow, there is always space if you want to sit down, though it is not the place you really feel like lingering.
If this place wasn't cash only, it would have a better shot at getting 5 stars. Slightly overpriced. 16 bucks for a small pie? I know it's "gourmet" or whatever - but that seems a bit much to me. Maybe it's because I don't eat much pizza and don't know the real deal with pizza prices. Whatevs.
Delightful selection of gourmet pies. A small pie easily serves two. I enjoyed the Maestro - a white pie with goat cheese and portobello mushrooms. It was a tough choice to make with all the fine pickins. Perfect for when you aren't in the mood for Patsy's super crispy thin crust but want a step above greasy NY pizza. This place satisfies and delivers quickly.
This is my favorite place to pick up a slice on the UWS!
so I work as in intern at the lincoln center and I get an hour for lunch. that hour is very important to me--I get to walk around, check out central park, read a book, et cetera. I happened to go to rigoletto today because it was nearby, and it was the first place that said "pizza." I was definitely surprised at the quality of the pizza.
I got the "anaconda," green peppers, onions, and mushrooms. this slice was effin' huge. one slice and a diet coke was definitely enough food, and at under $6 it was so affordable. not to mention delicious! they've got three different hot sauces you can try, or you can just enjoy the pizza on its own. brilliant.
another thing that has detractors on yelp is that the inside of the restaurant is preposterously small, but I think that's a quaint sort of thing. like, "this was never supposed to be a restaurant, why are you eating in here anyway." it was definitely a squeeze, but it added to the restaurant's style. definitely check it out if you're looking for a cheap, quick meal on the UWS.
Why does NY pizza ALWAYS taste better?! It's greasy and tangy and really always tastes amazing. Nice selection of bottled/canned beverages. Small place, service decent, prices reasonable.
I thought Rigoletto's was pretty good. I stumbled in there when I was just trying to burn some time waiting for my friend Rose A. to come home and ended up having a couple pretty good slices of pizza (a spinach and mushroom slice and a cheese slice).
They had plenty of toppings and this is a really little gripe, but I wish they had kept it in the oven a little longer. My slices weren't quite hot by the time I got them, but I should have just asked them to pop it in for a little more time. In general though, these are some quality slices of pizza at a reasonable price.
However, the space is tight inside. But however again, they have Squirt soda! (my favorite!) It's a 3.5. Great neighborhood pizza spot that would be a welcome addition to my neighborhood in LA, but in NYC, the competition is tough.
Very good Lincoln Center area by-the-slice pizzeria in a spare Meditteranean-accented space.
Rigoletto's standard slice ($3) has a thin crispy crust. Cheese and sauce are well-balanced and have some spice to it.
I've also tried their white pizza ($3) on a lark (it's not my thing) - almost on par with the standard slice.
The coup de gras, as others have mentioned, are their trio of complementary hot sauces that borrow from the cuisines of their Latin/Mexican sister restaurants Cafe Ronda and Cafe Frida. My favorite one is a chimichurri-like sauce - olive oil, parsley, garlic, etc. - which goes surprisingly well with pizza. The red pepper based one isn't remarkably different than sprinkling red pepper on the slice. The salsa verde is the most out there - I liked the flavor of the sauce but not particularly with the pizza.
I agree with Steve M on this one - I think this is the best Lincoln Center slice and probably the best UWS standard slice (north of 96th st.). I say standard slice b/c it falls just short of the tomato & garlic grandma slice at New Pizza Town on 77th and Broadway - http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
For more on my New York Pizza Tour click here:
http://nycfoodguy.com/...
Or Check out http://NYCFoodGuy.com for mouth-watering pics and reviews
I've been meaning to stop in at Rigoletto Pizza for a few months, hoping to grab a slice while walking to work. Unfortunately, I'm always running late and it wasn't until a frigid Monday night that I grabbed a slice. Better late than never, Rigoletto's plain slice passed the test. The search for the best slice on the UWS continues, but I'll be eating at Rigoletto again before then.
NYC Food Guy's three requirements for a good slice of pizza...
1) Light, airy crust strong enough to support the weight of a slice, chewy enough to be eaten alone
2) Tasty sauce which isn't too sweet, salty, or thin and doesn't pool when you fold a slice
3) Good Cheese to Sauce Ratio. I like a balanced slice. If I didn't I'd eat a white slice or a marinara.
How Rigoletto fared...
1) The crust was light, airy, sturdy, and slightly chewy. The flavor is nothing special, it reminded me of an ordinary Italian bread. Grade: B+
2) The sauce was a little sweeter than I like but it had some substance and it held the cheese to the slice without squirting off the edges. Grade: C
3) The sauce to cheese ratio was pretty much perfect. The slice folded well and I wasn't squeezing out extra sauce when I got past the slice's halfway point. Grade: A
So there you have it, the crust and the sauce to cheese ratio carry Rigoletto's plain slice. As I stated earlier, it's by no means the best slice on the UWS but definitely a worthy option compared to places like T&R, City Pie, and Freddie and Peppers (all reviewed here).
One other interesting option at Rigoletto is something I had only enjoyed at Traviata pizza (reviewed here), garlic and pepper-based sauces to put on the pizza. Mild, Medium, and Hot.
My only excuse for not trying all of these enticing sauces is that it was semi-late and I didn't want to be tasting them for the rest of the night. Regardless, the delicious garlic sauce at Traviata Pizza most closely resembled the mild sauce at Rigoletto, so there's a good starting point.
Continue the rest of my New York Pizza Tour at http://nycfoodguy.com/...
The pizza here is pretty much standard. However, I come back here for the condiments. It's absolutely delicious. I ate lunch here three times this week since it's a few blocks from where I live.
It's hard to get a table though, and I like to eat inside.
Above average pizza in an area of town that its hard to find anything reasonable to eat. Reasonable as in I don't own a condo. That kind of person, you know, commoners.
Regular slices are good and they have a variety of sauces to put on top of them, a weird custom, I've never seen it before. It was really good. Check out their spicy one.
Lousy, Lousy Lousy! Stay away! We paid $5 extra for delivery of their pizza based on the rave reviews and their menu (listed here and menupages). They sent us something completely different, and completely crap. When we opened up the order, it wasn't a Garden Pizza (which the menu says includes spinach and mushrooms; or even a Napoletana (which the lady tried to claim is what we ordered) and it wasn't a Mesclun salad (or even a "House" salad--ditto).
When we called, the woman who answered just insulted our intelligence and was incredibly rude. I know good pizza, and what we got (cheese with slices of beefsteak tomato some of which were ends) was barely mediocre.
We could have gotten a better pizza at our local hole-in-the-wall pizza joint. Dont waste your money.
One of the better pizza places on the Upper West Side. Tiny space, get it delivered.
San Franciscans don't have the luxury of really good pizza, so most New York pizza if much better in my never humble opinion, but the last two years I've visited NYC and stayed on the Upper West Side, this place has earned my affection and many return visits. The crust is crackling and crisp, just the perfect thin/thickness, the sauce is a great balanced home made and judiciously applied sensory pleasure, great cheese and a large selection of top notch fresh ingredients. A tiny place at West 70th and Columbus that also offers pasta, and they have bowls of three other latin flavored sauces regulars swear by. Great pizza in a wonderful neighborhood.
I adore this place, for reals. Precisely for three reasons:
1. It is conveniently located next to Magnolia's. This makes it a good pre or post spot to satisfy your savory buds. (Life's short, get dessert first. . . or however the old adage goes.)
2. They have these sauces that you can spread on your pizza. There are three of them: a hot, spicy, red pepper sauce, a medium, green spread and a mild green salsa.
3. Thin, crunchy, relatively cheap pizza, ($2 plain, ~$3 topping), a variety you can pick from.
and plus, this is a great place for people watching!
A step above the average neighborhood pizza place. I order in and delivery is prompt. Reasonable sizes and prices. The ingredients are fresh and tasty and it is not overwhelmed and made gloppy with too much sauce and mozzarella. Crust is not the thinnest and most charred in the world, but it would not travel well if it was. It is certainly thinner and less doughy than the standard order-in pizza. I definitely recommend you give it a try.
Yummy and close to good cupcakes and cookies. What more could you want from a pizza place?
Best NY-style slice in the neighborhood. Great crust, great consistency. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
I am a pizza snob. Actually, I used to think that I didn't like Pizza at all until I found this gem. Super-thin crust, strong chunky tomato sauce, (more tomato than sauce) and the freshest herbs and ingredients. Good fresh mozarella, (not the string crap that most joints serve). A trio of infused olive oils to further embellish your slice. The best place to grab an inexpensive quick bite (in an otherwise pricey 'hood') before the movies or Lincoln Center event.
This place makes a great slice. I strongly recommend the mushroom and goat cheese pizza. You also have to try the "sauces." The hotsauce is the best. It's really hot with a hint of sweetness. The price is right and the service is fast.
This has been my neighborhood go-to pizza place for 10 + years (after the demise of Vinnie's on Amsterdam, the pizza here is better than the other nearby pizza joints).
The pies have always been on the thin and crispy side, which I prefer.
Besides the standard cheese slice, they have great fresh veggie and meat toppings. My new favorite is the veggie slice on whole wheat pizza dough. Very satisfying and healthy, too.
Wish there was more seating, since it becomes very cramped to squeeze into the tables inside, but there's also a bench outside for al fresco pizza dining.
Damn good pizza. Not your average new york slice. Your choice of free sauce topping can transform an already good $2 cheese slice into bliss!
You'll want seconds.
Best pizza on the UWS. Always packed but it's worth the wait or packed tables. Very cheap and good pizza.
Large Chees Pie $10.00 plus…
Edgewater, NJ
The $$ FIVE $$ Pastabilities
Neighborhood: Midtown East
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Category: Pizza
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