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Rigoletto Pizza
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
208 Columbus Ave(between 69th St & 70th St)
New York, NY 10023
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 721-2929
- Nearest Transit:
-
72 St (A, B, C)
66 St - Lincoln Center (1, 2)
72 St (1, 2, 3)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
122 reviews for Rigoletto Pizza
Review Highlights
"best pizza i've had on the upper west side."
(in 10 reviews)
"It's the best place to get a slice anywhere nearby."
(in 53 reviews)
"Great for dipping the pizza crust."
(in 36 reviews)
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122 reviews in English
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Review from Peter K.
1/30/2012
Could I have stumbled into the best pizza in Manhattan? I think so! The fairly large slices of heaven were incredible. The crust is has to be the most perfect crust I have ever had. Not too thick or too thin. Not burnt and definitely not soggy. Sauce is moderately sweet and tangy. Best of all, there is this grilled taste to the slice.
$3-$3.50 a slice is very steep, but worth it every once in awhile. -
Review from Akiva L.
New York, NY
1/22/2012
The pizza is decent, but they have a B and were quite rude when we tried to order delivery. We called at 10:15 to confirm that they were still delivering and they said that they were. When we called back two minutes later to place the actual order, they did not pick up the phone. Their answering machine clearly stated that the last delivery order must be placed by 10:30. After several attempts, we then just walked over there to pick up slices. When asked why they did not pick up the phone, the girl at the counter said the phone only rang once - which was a blatant lie.
We ended up getting a few slices instead of a whole pie and the pizza was fine, but the whole experience was lame. Go to La Traviata on 68th (btw Columbus and Broadway) instead. -
Review from Steve M.
12/11/2011 1 photo
Easily the best gas oven pie in the Lincoln Center area. I used to go here all the time but I hadn't been in a while so one night a a long while back, I stopped in for a couple of slices. Wow! I forgot how good this place was. Why ever did I neglect it for so long?! The crust is the best part. Very crispy on the bottom, yet chewy at the same time. It actually makes a "crackle" when you bite into it. Like the fried chicken commercials on TV. Wish their outer ring of crust was a little puffier and bubblier though.
The sauce is a bit too sweet for my taste and kind of bland with not a lot of tang to it, but not enough to constitute ruination. Actually, it's pretty good compared to most places.
The cheese is very non-greasy and they put on just enough to compliment, not overwhelm the pie. Beautiful melty, not without a lot of overly stringy consistency too.
I wish they could get together with La Traviata http://www.yelp.com/bi... and put LT's sauce on their pizzas. Then maybe Rigoletto + Traviata would = Aida!
3 bucks is a bit much to ask for a slice and $15 for a large pie and $19 for a Sicilian, even though they're right around the corner from me is too much, though. As good as they are, I can't go here anymore due to their high prices. Hence, the meager two stars.Listed in: Food Around Lincoln Center, Pizza: Avoid the Noid!
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Review from Ryan H.
Dallas, TX
1/22/2012
Pizza was dry and cold. Service was ridiculous. I live right up the street and will never be back. Head to Big Nick's on 71st for a much better option.
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Review from Blake T.
Mesa, AZ
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great cheap pizza on the upper west side.
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Review from Jenna K.
Manhattan, NY
12/30/2011
This pizza is INSANE. Sometimes I wish I still lived on the UWS, because this is the best pizza in the world and I don't have it often enough, anymore. I never really get creative with Rigoletto... I stick with a plain cheese slice. The best part about this pizza, however, is the selection of sauces you can use as toppings. They have this one basil-based sauce that is literally the best thing I've ever eaten. I've heard others refer to it as "crack sauce," actually. Writing this review actually just made me crave pizza so much I just ordered a slice from my new local place... it's no Rigoletto though!
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Review from Yibing Q.
Manhattan, NY
11/21/2011
overrated, really. i wanted to give 3 stars but i decided to give less stars to pump down the overall rating. yelp has to be reliable.
tried the pepperoni pizza and artichoke pizza. pepperoni pizza was below average, artichoke pizza was average. the slices were not hot enough when served. the cheese was not as melty as desired. disappointing. -
Review from Nancy E.
Santa Ana, CA
12/28/2011
Meh. I've had way better.
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Review from NYCAMY A.
Manhattan, NY
1/3/2012
My go too. Lived in the area for forever. Awesome pizza, a little pricey but worth it. They take a while to deliver though hence the 4 stars. Like an hour on Sunday nights, when I generally order.
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Review from Cecilia Z.
New York, NY
4/28/2011
Thumbs up for the whole wheat veggie slice. Spinach and ricotta pizza is good as well. It's nice that they actually have some tables inside as well as outside on a warm summer day, especially for the moms and their children I've often spotted here.
Definitely one of the better cheap eats options in this neighborhood, but not as good as other joints downtown. -
Review from D H.
Manhattan, NY
7/8/2011
Best pizza on the UWS. The cheese slice is the standard by which all pizza joints should be judged by and this is where Rigoletto excels. If you order a slice here, try to order one that is reheated instead of fresh out of the oven--it's actually better this way.
I've tried their other slices and the toppings are pretty fresh, but nothing to write home about. Stick with the plain slice--that's where it's at -
Review from Don B.
Manhattan, NY
10/22/2011
Best Pizza in New York!
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Review from Scott B.
Manhattan, NY
8/21/2011
This is a super convinent walk up pizza place. It's good for kids and mine call it their favorite pizza place and they are pizza snobs. It serves whole wheat crusts which is a plus for us... I particularly like the tomatillo salsa they have as well.. I smother my pizza with it... The only complaint is that they do not allow strollers inside... This is a place we frequent for a quick slice...
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Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
3/17/2011
It's not amazing pizza, but it's solidly good.
Lots of strollers outside for some reason- must be a popular spot for young moms! Look out for stroller wheels- OUCH- they can hurt if they run over your toes! -
Review from Jeff S.
11/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Based on the generally great reviews, I was expecting to find a pizza mecca here on the Upper West Side. But in the end I just got a very sub-par slice.
The crust was very soft it has no rigidity at all. In fact the entire slice was chewy and devoid of crispiness, a trait I usually don't want in pizza crust. The cheese was fine, but the sauce was overly sweet for my taste.
Yelp has not led me astray all that many times. I guess that's what makes this so disappointing. I'll probably give it another go to make sure it wasn't a one time deal, but I can't expect the pizza to be vastly different or better than in the middle of the lunch rush. -
Review from Chloé R.
New York, NY
4/7/2011
I was hungry while near this place, so I consulted yelp, saw four stars and dove in. I am glad I did!
The slice was thin and not excessively greasy. I love thin crust pizza. I ordered a plain cheese slice. Idk what more to say except that I highly enjoyed it! It wasn't salty at all; the sauce was in good proportion; the cheese was good.
Though the slice is big, since it is thin I would've liked another to fill me up more. That's just me, though.
like everyone says, it is "solidly good, but not amazing." exactly. no complaints from me! if you are hungry and in the area, you will be happy. -
Review from Marco S.
12/6/2010
This pizza is superb! Granted, I went here completely famished after an inadvertent 16 hour bender quaffed up on vodka sodas and buttery nipple shots, but even if I were of more sound mind and body I am sure I would have loved it just as well. It was really busy with area folks running errands, so it has that much coveted street cred as well.
I like my pizzas with lots of unique fresh vegetably toppings and this place delivered big time. Dough was crispy, thin and perfectly done. Portions were generous, though I needed 2 to quell the belly beast. Definitely a great spot and definitely going back. -
Review from Sanhita C.
New York, NY
7/8/2011
My boyfriend loves to eat at Rigoletto, so I was really excited to get my first pizza delivery in the UWS from them. Wait was a reasonable 45 mins. And the pie was reasonably okay. Nothing to get too excited about, I guess.
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Review from Julie T.
New York, NY
7/24/2011
Rigoletto is close to my work and easy to grab a quick slice during my break. I find myself coming here every now and then. The pizza is just average, and I have found so many better quality $1 places around the city. However, the staff is friendly and efficient, and service is pretty fast considering the crowds during the dinner rush. I am satisfied with the joint. I also love the monkey used for the logo. He's really cute.
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Review from Matt O.
Washington, DC
2/14/2011
Can't speak to the whole pies, but my plain slice was excellent. Terrific texture on the crust, not overdone at all, but a good crisp to it.
Decent spice in the sauce, and the cheese was of good quality. Absolutely 90th-percentile pizza, not the best I've had, but better than most. -
Review from Seisei T.
New York, NY
8/16/2011
Cheese pizza was good, artichoke was ok, mushroom was overrated. It's thin crust, which was a nice change, but we'll be trying other places to find the perfect slice for us.
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Review from Mags P.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2011
My boyfriend and I looooove their pizza. So delicious. Crust is thin but not too thin. They will cook it perfectly extra crispy if asked. Our favorite is the sausage pizza with pepperoni. Though everything there looks delicious. I love the condiments they provide such as:
A green (I think cilantro and parley) garlicky chimichurri like sauce. A hot pepper flakes one and a blended green (I assume is jalapeno) sauce.
The space is super clean and bright with a few counter sitting as well as a communal table and a few scattered 2 - 4 people tables. The whole front wall is glass. The bathrooms are clean. All the people that work there are nice and prepare pizzas exactly as asked.
I just wished they would open a few of these places in the San Francisco Bay area! -
Review from Ian R.
11/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'd say this is the quintessential top-quality NY slice.
Very thin crust; not bready, slightly crispy but pliable when folded.
Thin sauce, light tomato flavor, smooth.
Flavorful cheese, not greasy.
Toppings tasty, although slightly sparse. Nicely seasoned pepperoni and sausage.
Reasonable prices; $2.50 to $3.00 for the average slice.
A nice variety of slices waiting to be heated and devoured.
Cash only. -
Review from Rachel S.
Louisville, KY
3/27/2011
I found this place on yelp--I was looking for an inexpensive joint to meet a friend for dinner, around 72nd/Columbus. It did not disappoint. Though I hail from Chicago where the pizza is thick and meaty, to me the slices here had everything I desire in a good NY piece: super thin crust-whole wheat even!-, pleasant sauce, lots of good veggies and the right amount of cheese. Extra bonus was the condiment table to the right of the counter that featured fresh tomatillo sauce (more Mexican than Italian, but all yummy), a spicy oily garlicky fresh herb sauce, and a crushed red pepper in oil sauce. These made the slices extra special.
Also nice is that the place has ambience so you don't feel like you're squatting in a Greyhound terminal as you might at some other pizza joints in town. Highly recommend! Hope you don't mind kids, though, 'cuz there are many around. -
Review from jen f.
Washington, DC
6/19/2010
my new 'destination' restaurant.
GOD THIS PIZZA IS GOOD. not for the strictest pizza-john-smith-puritans amongst us, but perfect for people who like delicious things.
i don't know how but the fresh tomatillo salsa GOES PERFECTLY on every type of slice you get. the 'grandma slice' is delicious and anything with fried eggplant on it is nearly too much for me to handle.
also this place reminds me of vermont. what more could i ask for.
i would like to be here all the time, eating.
i like to get a plain slice and have them cover it in portabella mushrooms.
it's such heaven-for-$3.75 that i worry that the real heaven will be an expensive disappointment. -
Review from Nicole L.
New York, NY
11/17/2010
Rigoletto Pizza is awesome! Their pizza selection is huge, and the slices are exactly as perfect as you'd expect New York pizza to be. The crust is chewy and crispy (and could use a bit more salt, if you ask me), and has a great crunch with every bite. The white slice is cheesy and perfectly gooey, and the vegetable slice is topped with a very generous portion of tender, well seasoned vegetables.
Best of all, there are three great sauces available with which to top your pizza. There's a basil aioli, a hot red pepper sauce, and a green pepper sauce. Each is colorful, flavorful and, although the sauces are a bit oily, they complement the pizza very well and are able to enhance the flavors of each slice.
The pizza at Rigoletto is exactly what New York pizza should be, and the entire package of crust, sauce, cheese and toppings make a great slice of pizza. -
Review from Jordan S.
Manhattan, NY
7/27/2011
I must say that this place is overrated on Yelp. I had the chicken/broccoli and the pepperoni/mushroom. The p/m was pretty good but nothing I'd rush back for. The c/b was horribly soggy, the broccoli was way overcooked.
2 stars might be a little harsh, but I'm rounding down from 2.5 based on it being overrated. -
Review from Suzana U.
New York, NY
Walking by and found this really nice place to grab an inexpensive pizza.
We got 2 pizzas and one soda for $7 and it was delicious!
The place is cute too .. in the summer you can seat outside or inside, really good specially for the price. We are fan of pizza 33 but this place is much nicer and better seats. I would not go out of my way to come and eat here but if you are in the area and on a budget this is a really good choice for a slice ny style pizza.
ps: CASH ONLY -
Review from Stacy T.
Elmhurst, NY
3/28/2010
I came here with a mission - When my tummy is on the growl, you are sure to find me on the prowl.
I ordered 2 pies/16 slices in a jiffy for our group of 12. The sausage and pepperoni pie was pretty oily, but that is to be expected. The meat was definitely fresh, not too much cheese, and it had a hearty serving of tomato sauce. The slice was on the thinner side, but I got pretty full off of one (not normal for me, I usually eat two). It was freshly made and immediately served, so the yummy factor is at its maximum potential.
The garden pie (with extra sauce and on wheat bread) was amazing. I personally don't even enjoy veggie pies, but this was flavorful and hearty. The spinach was stacked up and the tomato chunks were plenty. A fork and knife are recommended even though, I know, they are sort of sacrilegious. Anyways - it was delicious!
The restaurant also has special "sauces" that you can put onto (or saturate) your slices in addition to the regular shakers (garlic, Parmesan, pepper flakes). One bowl has pepper flakes immersed in oil. This combination was definitely a lot spicier than those spices that come in the shakers - try this if you are a spice monster.
Overall a chill place, which will run you $2.50 - $4.00/slice. The wood decor is very organic looking and calming. There is one long table, seats 12-14 and a bunch of smaller tables surrounding the large one. There are also some bar-type seats that are perfect for people watching. Give it a try if you are in the neighborhood!Listed in: pizza by the triangle and by…
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Review from Darren J.
NY
3/26/2011
$24 for a two-topping pie, but the only pizza place delivering to the Lincoln Center area I could find. The mushrooms were canned; I expected a bit more for 24 bucks.
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Review from Jenn C.
Brooklyn, NY
8/25/2010
Delish! Stumbled upon this place after spending the day at the Reebok Sports Club which is 2 blocks down.
Felt a bit guilty eating here at first but it was well worth it!
My friend and I shared the tomato, basil, and goat cheese slice and the eggplant calzone.
Both were absolutely yum. It might also be because they just freshly made it. The crust was crispy and the oozing cheese made it even better.
Also they have 3 different types of dressing/sauces....don't know what to really call them but one is a bunch of minced herbs infused in olive oil which had so much flavor. I couldn't resist putting it all over my food.
The other 2 are made out of peppers. One is a green sauce and the other is made from red pepper flakes.
There are so many pizza joints in NYC but I have to say this one definitely stands out and the prices are reasonable.
I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Scott R.
1/10/2008
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...)Listed in: Scott R's NY Pizza by the…
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Review from Elizabeth L.
New York, NY
6/14/2010 2 Check-ins Here
The best Sicillian slice I've found on Manhattan so far. I should qualify that by saying I compare all my square slices to Pinocchio's in Cambridge, MA.
So anyway, amazing dough, flavorful sauce, and not too much cheese is how I like my pizza, and that's how Rigoletto does it.
Also the most spacious pizzeria I've been to in NYC. Lots of chairs by the window, and it's in a beautiful neighborhood (no, I'm not biased ahem)
Plus, I just like the name Rigoletto Pizza. Rigoletto's such a fun, happy opera...RP would get the extra star if they play opera the next time I visit. -
Review from Kyle L.
New York, NY
6/2/2011
Not bad but sometimes looks like it's been sitting there for awhile.
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Review from Marlo G.
11/8/2009
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. -
Review from David L.
12/8/2009
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.Listed in: My Upper West
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Review from Sandee L.
4/1/2011
Good place to grab a slice of pizza if you are in the neighborhood. Lots to choose options to choose from. Love the extra condiments table on the side! Great for dipping the pizza crust. I wouldn't go out of my way to try this place though. I've definitely had better.
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Review from Nelson X.
New York, NY
Updated - 9/14/2009
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.Listed in: F* the Pizza Elite, My Personal UWS Visits so far…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2009
A good place to grab a thin crust slice on the UWS. I like their eggplant slice. This place also… Read more »
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Review from Scott L.
5/19/2010
Best pizza on the Upper West Side!
You gotta try the Pesto Sauce that you can put on at your liberty. I went back twice to put more on my pizza.
I had the white pizza and sausage pizza - both excellent with quality ingredients.
Price is right too! Paid 8.50 for two slices and a soda. Yeeees I know that's pricey for pizza, but it's Lincoln Center and it's really good!! -
Review from Casey P.
Grafton, MA
9/8/2009
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.
