Rigoletto, a pizza restaurant that thrived for years on Columbus Avenue, but had less success after moving to 72nd street, is closing its doors for good on Sunday.
Rigoletto was a family favorite when it was on Columbus and 69th. But in 2012 the owners moved the restaurant to 72nd street between Columbus and Amsterdam and opened El Mitote in its place on Columbus. Rigoletto’s new location was never quite as packed as it used to be. I can attest, however, that they made a damn good spinach and ricotta pie.
The owners are planning to open a new “organic” restaurant in place of Rigoletto, an employee told us. They will still make pizzas, which will be available for delivery, but won’t be selling pizza by the slice. The rest of the menu, and the name of the new place, isn’t clear.
On Sunday, as the not above shows, Rigoletto will be giving away free food and drinks from 6 to 9 p.m.
Thanks to Lindsay Deak for the photo.
Once Rigoletto moved from Columbus Avenue to 72nd Street, their pizzas were not as good.
Seconded. I used to make trips down from my apartment 25 blocks uptown because they had the best pizza on the west side. I think I’ve been to the new location twice–for whatever reason, the pizza got worse.
Couple that with the always-cranky staff and the stark decor of the new place and there wasn’t much reason to go. Guess we weren’t alone.
That’s a shame… They did so well on Columbus, the place was always packed.
I picked up lunch once a week for 20 years from the convenient Columbus Ave location, and the food was good. But for 20 years I was never once greeted as a loyal regular. They never once recognized me or remembered my order. I was literally a complete stranger every time I went in – their concept of service was that bad. Then on 72nd the pizza went downhill, and the new location was worse. So they had nothing to offer.
Communal is the new “organic” restaurant! namehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=597152953702288&set=a.384246134992972.94362.341052132645706&type=1&theater
Com“organic” restaurant
I know what went wrong. They charged 3.50 for muffins at breakfast. The could have done twice the business if the prices were halved.
They should move back to the original location on Columbus. Rigoletto was a beloved upper west side place. El Mitote can go.
Good pizza on Columbus, but when they moved the pizza was terrible. The service was always terrible. I was in the new location once when a toddler spilled his apple juice and his nanny asked for another (she didn’t have enough cash to pay and they only took cash). The manager literally said “too bad, so sad, you have to pay”. The toddler cried but didn’t get another apple juice. I never went back after this. The place had mean spirit. I think the UWS can do better.
The absolute best eggplant pizza I ever tasted.
The last manager was a complete jackass – unbelievably rude, condescending, and ignorant. Never seen anything like it.