Osteria Rigoletto
420 Pontius Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109
Osteria Rigoletto Menu
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Address :
420 Pontius Ave N
Seattle, WA, 98109 - Phone (206) 494-9225
- Website https://www.osteriarigoletto.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy, Intimate, Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Yen D.
I came here with a group of friends for a Valentine's Day dinner. they gave each of us a rose. This place is tucked in between two buildings and in the back . Be on the lookout for a huge sign that isn't lit up. I asked what pasta is made in house and they told me the ravioli was. Had to order the Dungeness crab ravioli for $32. I only got 5 pieces of ravioli covered in a yummy garlic creamy sauce. Two others in my group ordered the spicy linguini with seafood. They were not fond of the fact the shells were still left on the shrimp. But it must have kept the shrimp moist so we thought. One person did order the squid ink risotto which was quite creamy and had pieces of squid. Her one complaint the hell was that everything was so black she could not tell what anything was. It was the most filling dish of them all so she was the only one who got to take home leftovers. She only paid $28 for the dish. For dessert we got the assortment platter to share amongst a group of 7 people. It was so small I think it would have said just one person just fine. It came with one creampuff, small slice of their flourless chocolate cake, and puff pastry with Apple. None of the desserts were outstanding, but the flourless chocolate cake was so sweet and I'm glad we only got a sliver of it. I don't have much of a sweet tooth. This place is one of the few if the only one and South Lake Union area that does pasta. If they offered more fresh pasta I would have been a huge fan, but I really did like the ambience which was warm dark wood colors and dim lighting.
(4)Julia D.
To put this in context I did go on New Years Eve. The restaurant over booked itself. We were crammed into a small table, which I'm pretty confident is usually an isle on any other business day. The building is beautiful but VERY loud. There is no bar area, coat check, waiting area and it is very drafty. While waiting we had to stand between the bathrooms and the path for the waiters to get to the kitchen. An hour after our reservation we final got drinks. Then a half hour after that we put our dinner orders in. Dinner was subpar and over priced. When we made our reservations they made us put a credit card down and told us they would charge $25 a person if we didn't cancel within x days. Pretty tacky considering they over booked themselves and couldn't serve a quality meal or experience. We had: Canelonni - which was chewy and seemed like it had sat Veal - look like slop and was not good Lobster Risotto - pretty sure that was a prawn and it was more like stir fried rice than risotto Lamb Cop- fatty and was sent back Butternut squash ravioli- was good Rib eye- was over cooked had a lot of glaze but was good Dinner salads were not good Anti Pasta Platter- was a lot of food but only came with a few slices or bread. We asked for more and they came 30 minutes later and you have to pay for them! Tip: Acknowledge that you've screwed up. Don't over book yourself. You could have made that money by serving an acceptable level of clientele with attentive service. Get a coat check, waiting area and proper bar.
(1)Elise P.
Went here for dinner tonight and had a wonderful time! The decor is beautiful, the food is delicious and the management was very attentive. We have been looking for a good Italian restaurant near our apartment and have found it! We had the linguine and lamb-both divine! We will be back very soon!
(5)Jennifer W.
This restaurant is a "hidden gem" in Seattle. I say that because it is almost literally hidden behind a couple buildings in a courtyard in South Lake Union, which I hope in writing reviews for it, will help the publicity of this fantastic culinary experience. The service is far above par, as is the atmosphere; the owner spared no expense in revamping the historic Seattle building; gorgeous. In traditional hospitable Italian style, they will make you any dish you like with their given ingredients if something on the menu doesn't suit your fancy that evening (there's something for everyone on the menu, however). The food is simply fantastic and everything tastes fresh. Be sure to stop by for a decadent or savory Sunday brunch, as well!
(4)Paul S.
Came here with some friends for a holiday get together and was embarrassed that the experience was so bad. The location is funky and cool and the brick decor is great, but that's about all that impressed me. We had a wobbly table. I asked to see the chef because I had met him at a tasting event and the waitress forgot to bring him by. I orderered a gin martini and they brought it with no olive. Isn't that like Bartending 101? They had no pork on the menu. They didn't have the white wine we wanted. They didn't have the coffee we wanted. They didn't have the dessert we wanted. My linguine was decent but the shrimp was chewy and the mussels almost smelled and tasted like they were going bad. We brought a bottle of wine to share. I was told on the phone that the corkage fee was $25. In person, the amount was $30. I made no complaint at this or any of the other annoyances but simply voiced by displeasure by not leaving a tip. Imagine my surprise days later to see that the waitress had added $10 for herself. Fail, fail, fail.
(1)D L.
Regardless of the reviews written by friends or naive people the food is still meh but the biggest problem like many pointed out is the attitude of the chef/owner. Went back (for the last time) and the way he treats the staff is embarrassing and terrifying at the same time. The guy probably watched one too many episodes of Hell's kitchen. Too bad he doesn't have Gordon Ramsey's talent to pull it off.
(1)Jeannette D.
Everything we tried was amazing. Trusted Justin, the manager, to suggest choices and every one was better than the last. Try the cannelloni- the best I've had. And the $5 Prosecco was a bonus!
(5)Alison D.
I love this restaurant! I'm Italian and from Brooklyn so moving to Seattle, while the food here is great, it's been a challenge to find real-deal Italian fare. Rigoletto hits it on the mark every time. I've had the pleasure of dining here several times since it's opened and every time my experience has been first rate- from the service, to the food, to the cocktails. The lasagna and ravioli with butternut squash are two of my favorites. My husband really enjoyed the lamb. Just when you think it can't get better, you have desert. The owner's confections never disappoint. Rigoletto remains one of my favorite restaurant in town-- and a go to for my husband and me when we want an evening out. BTW: the Sunday brunch is phenomenal too! Blueberry sausage and eggs benedict are what I usually order.
(5)Bea G.
We went here for brunch and overall we will definitely be back. Food: We got the cinnamon french toast and 2 eggs/sausage/bruchetta. The cinnamon french toast was so tasty, with marscapone and fruit on the side. The 2 eggs were delicious with green onions, and blueberry maple sausage on the side. There was also this fresh bread with brushetta type toping. Very delicious. Each were ~$10-13 per dish. Drinks: Fresh squeezed OJ and many types of coffees. They also have a few cocktails if that's your thing. ~$3-4 per drink. Decor: Located in the old Laundry Supply Building, so brick walls and exposed finishes. Mix of industrial and upscale finishes. Plus mini pumpkins for fall. Service: Very attentive and got seating right away. Overall: This place is close to us, so we'll definitely be back for many weekend brunches.
(5)Joseph H.
Went here for the first time as it is close to work. The feel is comfortable. The music is nice dinner music not club music like some places have. No TV! Great! Service was attentive. Getting drinks was slow. I suspect the barkeep as our Server was very good. I had the Black Manhattan and it was delicious. We ordered an Antipasti appetizer that was $13 and was to serve two people. The four of us had plenty! I cannot imagine two people eating that and an Entree! It was also delicious. I was surprised no bread for table though? I ordered crab stuffed Ravioli and my Wife ordered the Squid In Risotto. Her dish had lots of Risotto but not much else. One Prawn, one Scallop and some Squid and Octopus pieces. It was tasty though. My Ravioli was good size and stuffed ok but only five pieces on the plate and only three Mussels on top. For 32? Also, the online menu had drinks at around $8 but because it was the Valentines menu, drinks were $11. The booth we were in had one of the two lights out so it was kind of dark. The glass between the booths was dirty as were the windows to the outside. The fabric seat backs had what appeared to be construction dust on the top of the backs. The Men's room smelled strongly and there was still construction dust on the walls. All in all it was Ok at best but definitely over priced. Two stars for the restaurant but added a star for the service. I would come here again but most likely sit in the bar for Happy Hour.
(3)Megan P.
Lounge Menu: 3pm - Close Daily! What an amazing experience! Had a work function here, made a reso for 10 people, it turned into 20+, the cooks, bartender & servers were AMAZINGLY accommodating, prompt, and on their game 110%. I feel bad we ended up crowding their lounge area, but all of our guests had an amazing time, LOVED the food & drinks, and had nothing but great things to say about the service. 5 stars isn't enough, you have to try it yourself!
(5)J J.
MANAGEMENT ISSUE - TERRIBLE SERVICE - TERRIBLE TIMING - BURNED FOOD Yes, it was Valentine's Day!!! My husband and I was ready to enjoy not only the Valentine's momentum but also our regular going out on Saturday night and exploring the good Seattle's restaurants . Due to the fact that we have not been so long to the Italian restaurant we decided to eat our dinner at Osteria Rigoletto. We knew it will be busy, but we never expected that we will be treated that poorly at the $$$ price restaurant. "GREAT" WAY FOR INTRODUCTION We had dinner reservation for 9:00 pm, and we showed up little bit earlier. After not being acknowledged for several minutes, once when the hostess arrived , she apologize that she has to inform us that almost everyone was late for the previous reservations, and that we have a choice to wait for 1 hour until they get available table for us or we can go somewhere else... "lovely" introduction. POOR MANAGEMENT My husband and I were not in a rush and we decided to give them a chance - thinking it will be possibly worth waiting. They walk us the lounge and bar room where they actually did not even had a free seats for us for the first 10 min. We took our drinks, and after one couple left we finally sit down. It was clear POOR MANAGEMENT - they were in a trouble - we ware in a trouble - but around 9:30 it was too late to go anywhere else. We waited in total around 30 min to be seated. Then we waited another 30 min to get attention of only one friendly face of our hostess to ask her to send the waiter that we can at least order the drinks. Once when the waiter finally arrived, he was very polite and friendly, but by looking around us it was so hard to find the smiley faces of both restaurant personnel and their customers. The hostess served us complimentary glasses of wine exactly at the moment when we were finally ordering a bottle of wine. That was so nice to see that someone cares. The hostess and our friendly waiter made our experience little bit better. RESERVATION at 9:00 PM - Dinner SERVED at 10:45PM However, we have RECEIVED our DINNER at 10:45, and guess what - only the zucchini looked representative from the dish that I ordered SALMONE DI MARE. The salmon was overcooked, potatoes were burned. The good thing was that my husband's choice was OSSOBUCO ALLA MILANESE and he was happy with that dish. NEVER AGAIN The sad fact is that the famous Northern Italian Cuisine chef managed to prepare the worst SALMONE DI MARE that I have ever tasted. In Seattle you can get good Salmon dish in every restaurant, and I believed I will be saved with that choice on a busy night. In this North West city populated by food culture of wonderful restaurants the OSTERIA RIGOLETTO landed on the bottom of our list.
(1)Karthik M.
Superb dining experience . Loved the place ( historic location) and great food. The service was excellent. Enrico ensured that our dietary needs were met. Wines were decent and desserts were awesome. Great experience for the whole family
(5)Olivia F.
My friend and I were here for happy hour the other evening. The drinks were tasty, the food was delicious with great happy hour portions, the ambience was soothing, and the staff was beyond friendly. The owner, Enrico, made sure we were well taken care of throughout our entire meal. I'd go back just because of the service was so great, but the food is excellent.
(5)Jack B.
Food was good, as was the aesthetic of the restaurant. Our server was nice, but it was clear that the place was way understaffed for lunch. Took far too long to get our lunch. All said and done, the meal took about an hour and a half... I'd be happy to come back, but only if I could be in and out in 45 minutes.
(3)Rachel B.
I went with friends to Osteria Rigoletto, and had the lasagna. It was very well spiced northern Italian food, good portion size, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We got very personal service. I would definitely go again.
(4)Candace G.
Last night of our Christmas week with out-of-town family was spent exchanging bites from everyone's tasty dishes. Perfect al dente spaghetti con scampi (be prepared to stare down the two huge shrimp's eyes still in its shell), bruschetta, lasagna, and squid ink risotto. Great decor but get rid of that floor area rug at the top of the dining room steps. Why is it there in the first place; so people can trip, even your servers? Host and server were mediocre.
(4)Tom W.
A really interesting space, but we were seated at a narrow table upstairs that had backless bar stools, which is not the most comfortable setting for a 2-hour meal. Also, they had a "New Year's Eve" menu that was really just the same menu but more expensive (like an unadvertised $20 cover charge). Everything we had (octopus, salad, lobster risotto, squid ink risotto) was good, but nothing was great. Many better Italian options (the new Vespolina is a good example) in Seattle at this price point or cheaper.
(3)John R.
In a city with an abundance of fairly good Italian restaurants, this is another addition to the list of fairly good dining venues. The other reviews concerning the small signage, interesting location and history, interior design and attentive service are accurate, so read them. There are two large dining rooms, each with a totally different ambiance. The room with the kitchen is livelier and more social. The large open dining room is quieter and the booths provide a wonderful intimacy. Across from the booths is a long row of tables for two, and that looked a bit crowded and exposed for my tastes. So if you want romantic, you might specify a booth in the large room - for a fun large group, sitting near the kitchen could be the best place. It's probably worth a drop in to check it out in advance to get just the right spot for the two of you or your group. I would not leave it to chance if the first mission is important to you. The food was done well - my dining partner had the daily special rib-eye and I had the veal scaloppine. Both were cooked properly and arrived hot. The sides were ordinary at best - very plain, straightforward and something to occupy your mouth between bites of protein. Neither of us had a pasta so that remains to be seen. This is not a five star restaurant. There was nothing that amazed me. If I pay this much for Italian fare I expect it to be properly prepared, with great service and arrive promptly. Doing your job well gets you 4 stars. We are not wine drinkers or dessert eaters, so I cannot comment on those features of the restaurant. In short, you will get what you see on the menu, it will arrive as expected and it will taste fine. You can pace your meal quickly or slowly and you can customize your experience with the distinctly varied seating choices. You will pay a bit more, but remember that you are in the heart of the Amazon and everything in their jungle is priced to suit their pay grades. Oh, the sliding industrial doors in the courtyard that mark the entrance are really clunky and gimmicky. That is a total do-over. They break the flow of walking towards the restaurant and navigating the many varied levels of stairs to reach the main entrance.
(4)Michaila M.
Delicious and affordable brunch. Lovely decor. Best breakfast potatoes. Can't wait to try their dinner.
(4)Cindy M.
A few weeks ago several of my friends got together for a leisurely dinner at the new Italian Restaurant Osteria Rigoletto on Pontis Ave N. Architecturally this is a great place to dine and have delicious meal. It is tucked away between two streets,just east of Westlake . The restaurant was converted from the Old Supply Laundry Building. The historic elements have been left in place . This makes it interesting to dine in. We all ordered an array of appetizer and main courses. I had the calamari to start, the sauce was delicious,but better than that was the large scampi with pasta . The simplest of tomato sauce complemented the dish So many times I have had this dish and a chef can overrun it with complex sauces which overshadow the scampi.. This was a beautiful balance. Bravo My friends had everything from osso buco to chicken. Desert ...was the chocolate cake with raspberry sauce yum. Everyone enjoyed their meal and will be back to try everything else on the menu.
(5)B W.
The food was authentic Northern Italian and top notch. And the space--wow. Just amazing what they've done with the beautiful old building--exposed brick walls and high ceilings combined with Italian style, down to the opera box style booths. We live downtown and it was a pleasant walk through that part of SLU to get there. Our favorites were the mixed anti-pasti which had a great selection and the fresh ravioli. There are also two chocolate things on the dessert menu, so I was sold on that!
(5)Ron P.
Very kind, gracious owner. Great food, fresh ingredients and comfy rustic ambience. Had gnochi in meat sauce and mozzarella salad. Awesome all around!
(5)Courtney R.
Terrible experience. Went there for dinner on a Saturday night, and it was a ghost town. We had a reservation, and when we walked in and someone finally came to assist us at the host stand, they indicated that we were the only 8pm reservation. They sent us to the bar, which was also completely empty, to wait while our table was being set since we were a few minutes early. We tried to order a drink while waiting, but not only did they not give us drink menus, there was also no bartender! After 15 minutes of ZERO service, I walked to the kitchen and asked a cook if we could possibly order a drink from someone. After another 15 we finally got our drinks, and at that time I very politely asked to speak with a manager. They said that there was no manager on duty and no asst mngr either. When we were finally seated, they did not have side plates for apps at the table, or wine glasses, or silverware. Just water cups. We asked for bread (which unknowingly came with a charge!!!) and ordered some apps. When they came, we had to ask for plates and silverware, but that took 10 minutes. We also had a bottle of special wine as we were celebrating a birthday and we asked them to open for us knowing that there was a corkage fee. The waiter opened the wine, set it down, and left. We did not have wine glasses still, nor did he offer to pour it. The meal itself was average. They rushed us out after we paid so that someone could leave they said. It was the most bazaar, unprofessional and unwelcoming experience ever. On a positive note, the decor is adorable! So much potential as far as ambiance goes.
(1)Roger P.
My wife had spaghetti. It was tastless, absolutely no seasoning. I had Lasoagna that was ok. The meal did not include Bread or Salid. I have had much better food and paid much less prices. The best Italian food I have had is LOUEGIES on 14th street in Washington DC. That includes Italy!
(1)Caitlin R.
I came here for brunch with a large Meetup group today. I had checked out the online menu and thought that the items sounded unique and the prices were fair. However, once we got to the restaurant, we had a very limited menu for our group (which they did not inform us would be the case) AND the prices were higher than the prices listed on their website. You'd think that they would be happy to have a large group.. however, we just felt like they were taking advantage of us. For example, they told us that any coffee would be $4, however, according to their website, you can get an Americano for $2.75. All of the entrees were marked up $4. When you factor in 20 people, that's an $80+ profit.. for making the same breakfast items. We've gone to other restaurants as a large group and have never experienced this. When we brought this to their attention, they said that they are closed for brunch July - September, so they only opened today to accommodate our group. However, their website says 'Brunch Sundays from 11am - 3pm'. Nowhere on the site does it say anything about a 3 month closure. We were not made aware of this before the fact.. so it all seemed shady. We asked if the increased prices included gratuity and it did not. So then they said that if we were not happy with the increased prices, we didn't have to tip our server. WHAT?! How is that fair to our server?! IF he had done an outstanding job, he deserves a tip and should not be shorted because the restaurant is looking for an added profit. That told me that they do not have their employees or customers best interest at heart.. only their own. So, since they were open just for us, apparently there was only one chef and one server. The food was mediocre.. some of the ladies looked like they hadn't even touched their meal when we left. We had to ask the server for things several times, he wasn't friendly and seemed overwhelmed. One of my friends was the last to get her breakfast long after everyone else. It's a really classy place and I'd love to check it out for dinner sometime.. but part of me doesn't want to go back considering they up charged us on everything. That doesn't say good business in my opinion.
(1)Laura T.
We were 6, no reservation and place was pretty full, Yet they seat us within 10 minutes. Service was professional and the waiter was attentive and fast. The food was really good and original, the portions much bigger than the portions one would have in a similar restaurant in Italy and the ambience was lovely.
(5)Ashley S.
My husband and I dine out often so we were excited when Osteria Rigoletto joined the neighborhood. This is my #1 choice for date night or if I'm meeting friends for dinner. I was just there on Friday night and once again, I had a fantastic meal accompanied with delicious, Italian wine. I'm a sucker for an authentic "Caesar" salad and their Insalata Rigoletto salad is something I always start with. (I love anchovies!) After dinner, we had a night-cap in the lounge area. This restaurant is gorgeous! Everyone always freaks out about the setting and decor when I bring them here for the first time.
(5)L S.
I went to this place for the first time the other night for a friend's birthday dinner. Everything was fantastic! The food, drinks and atmosphere were all great. The service was on point, the owner even brought my friend a complimentary dessert for her birthday. So Sweet! This is hidden gem in South Lake Union. They have a great happy hour and I recommend the squash ravioli... Loved it!
(5)Cassie D.
We came here with an Amazon Local deal for a 4 course meal for 2 (with two other friends who also had the voucher). The restaurant was a little hard to find - but when we did we were impressed with the decor and style! When we walked in we saw a sign that said proceed to lounge, so we did... walking through one waiter chastising another one... and then were told to go back up front to the sign telling us to go to the lounge where the waiter was a little chippy getting us seated. He also told us that he was going to cancel our OpenTable reservation because it cost the restaurant money or something? Our service from then forward was great, until the very end when no one showed up after taking our last dish - we waited 20 minutes and no one came with the check or bill, so we left our tip and saw ourselves out! Food: started with the antipasto plate which was actually the best dish of the night. Second was either the mista salad (mixed greens with berries), or ceasar. Ceasar was not good, neither of us finished our small plates. Mista was your average mixed green salad with ONE blueberry on it. Pasta course: we were told that one of the pasta dishes with seafood was sold out, so two ordered the Cannelloni al Rigoletto (it was okay), I ordered the butternut squash ravioli (pasta was good, filling could use a bit more flavor but I did like the sauce), and the fourth ordered the meat ravioli (which was good!). Dessert we were told we had our choice, then we were told after we ordered that we could only get the cannoli which was inedible. The only good part of the pastry was the outer crunchy part, the cream inside had a gritty, gross consistency. Then, like I mentioned, no one came 20 mins after they cleared our plates so we just left some tip on the table (which we figured a %age from our voucher) and left. I might return for a glass of wine and the antipasto plate but won't be doing so in a hurry!
(3)Elizabeth L.
Stunning venue - vaulted ceilings, gorgeous wooden balconies and chandeliers, natural lighting with dramatic shadows. Large event space(s) available, spacious front patio with ample seating, espresso/wine bar in back, along with lounge area. Other than the actual space, cuisine is fairly mediocre and overpriced, esp. given Italian options in Seattle (Tavolata, Spinasse, Il Bistro, Altura). - Spaghetti with prawns - the prawns were gorgeous and beautifully grilled, spaghetti fairly nondescript - Butternut ravioli - tasty, but served a bit lukewarm - Calamari - simmered, would prefer a non-soupy version While drink list is promising, execution left much to be desired - negroni was barely drinkable, so ordered an aperol spritz on a subsequent visit to keep things manageable. Recommend for apps on the patio and checking out the event space.
(3)Opal D.
Their menu was not very large, but had a good selection. We had the appetiser sampler ($13 per person; my favourite of the items we ordered), the seafood linguine (pasta over cooked [past al dente]), and the squid ink risotto (dry). Larger than normal-Seattle proportions (in a positive way), and as described above, good (but not great) food. Their dessert selection was abysmal: bread pudding or flourless chocolate cake... not even a la mode! The food and service being average, the fourth star is given because I absolutely adore the space and ambiance. It is very rare to see a restaurant done with this much personality in Seattle, both inside and out! The dim lights and Italian music make for a very warm setting and is perfect for a date or hiding away with a few good friends. I would absolutely come back again, although I am hoping they improve their dessert selection.
(4)James K.
I was going to leave a two star review but "I've had better" doesn't describe the feeling I had walking out of Rigoletto. While the atmosphere and location for me are spot on, there were some items that made sure I will not be returning. My experience here started with me encountering a completely empty dining room with a sign that stated "proceed to the lounge." After finding my way, I was brought to a "lounge" that was 95% empty. The host/waiter (at a $$$ restaurant, I expected a greeter or separate host) asked if I had a reservation. I did, but there were plenty of open tables regardless. After a short stint away from us, he returned and seated us next to the only other table in the restaurant with people seated. While I have no problem being seated next to another group, I did think it was odd in a completely empty restaurant to not ask for preference on seating. The guests next to us were discussing their journey to a festival where they began talking about porta-potties and lack of showering - NOT what should be discussed with guests around. At our table, there was a lack of a cocktail menu, which came 10 minutes later when the waiter asked us if we wanted anything to drink. Online had stated a happy hour menu, which was not actually available in the restaurant (perhaps it is not available on Mondays where the restaurant has vacancies exceeding 85%). As a couple, we ordered the house appetizer platter ($12 per person) which I would give a big no-no. I assume the plate was pre-made earlier that day because it came to us in about 2 minutes. I have worked in food and prep before and know that a restaurant of this caliber should be making food to order - this is not Applebee's folks... When our entrees arrived, the squid and shrimp seemed tough and tasted overcooked to me, but when I asked about the flavor the server assured me it was to their standards and nothing needed to be changed. While he may know his food, he was not the one eating it - that was me. Overall we spent $100 for a two person meal (no dessert and one drink a piece) and I feel I could have achieved a similar quality meal for about $60 at Cheesecake Factory and received better service. Note - I went through the process of resetting my password to let others know how much I was displeased.
(1)Nina H.
I love the interior of this restaurant! It's huge and a bit hard to find at first, but once you get in, you are in for a lovely meal. Service was excellent even though it was Restaurant Week. I opted out of the RW menu and ordered the mozzarella and squid ink risotto instead. Both were DIVINE! I would order them again and again. The portions are huge for a decent price! I took some of the risotto to-go and it was still tasty after heating it up in the microwave. My least favorite part of the meal was probably the dessert that my partner ordered as part of the RW menu. It was the creme brulee/flan dessert that wasn't that great, and it was cold. Not sure if that's normal, but I'm not a dessert fan anyway so it didn't matter much.
(5)Laurie C.
The food, atmosphere & ambience is a complete HIT! Some of the best authentic Italian dishes AND desserts I've had in years! You have to try this place!
(5)Derek H.
I was just here for Valentine's Day 2015 and had a terrible dinner experience. We were there for almost 2 hours and never got our entrees! This was not a case of everyone receiving slow service - it's Valentine's Day and I would completely understand if that was the case! Rather, I saw four couples seated after us in our same sitting area get their meals before us, including the couple right beside us who showed up an hour after us! I saw that some of the previous reviews mentioned service issues and it seemed that previous problems were with big groups - but it seems that their serving problems even extend to groups of two. My wife and I made reservations and came for dinner on Valentine's Day at 6pm. We were seated immediately and ordered shortly after. We ordered the insalata rigoletto to share and we each ordered entrees. The salad came out in a reasonable time and was good. And then we started to wait... We tried being understanding but when it got to 7pm and when two or three tables who were seated after us got food, we asked our server. He went and checked and said that our order got mixed up but should now be coming out shortly. I figured that our food order would be jumped to the front of the kitchen line and should come out soon. Another 15 minutes went by and still no food, so I asked our server again. He was annoyed by my repeated request and was completely unapologetic about the wait. He promised that the food would be out in less than 4 minutes. We kept waiting and by 7:30pm, it looked like our entrees had finally come! The server brought them out to us...and it was not what we ordered. It turned out the entrees were for the table next to us - that table was seated at 7pm! That was the final straw. I went to check with the server again and he went to talk with the kitchen. My wife and I decided that the wait was not worth it and we should just cut our losses and try getting dinner elsewhere. When I went to tell the server that we decided to leave, he was still talking with the owner/chef. It looked like they were still trying to figure out where our meal order went. It did not look like our food was coming anytime soon. I don't know what happened with our food order but the entire experience left a foul taste in our mouth.
(1)Daniel B.
The ambiance and building are super cool! The menu is pretty interesting and it all stops there. I went for a friend's party and from the start it took forever to get our drinks. We had one waitress for our group and clearly it was too much for her. Anyway, so we order appetizers and we keep getting pushed to order entrees. Finally we do so and it took almost a half an hour for most of us to see our food. I ordered a cannelloni and when I got it the chicken in the middle was frozen cold. Actually ice cold, I don't understand how the chicken could have become like this! So I had to send it back and I could not find our waitress so I asked another to send it back. When I see my waitress her initial reaction was that our group was too many people, and we were all standing around. That was her excuse! She actually tried to blame ice cold food on our party! When I got my dish back, 20min later after my girlfriend had finished eating, it was the same one I sent back and the whole plate was burning hot. It's unheard of for a restaurant of that price and supposed quality would not make a new order. It was also dried out from being in the oven that long. On top of this the woman sitting next to me in our group ordered risotto and they served it to her almost raw! When she told the waitress she instantly said well it's al dente. The rice was ROCK HARD. The waitress kept spewing excuses. Most of all this was the 2nd time this woman got a dish, the first one was the wrong order and the waitress tried to convince her to take it. Unbelievable. At the end of the night I was forced to tip since it was a group and they never comped a single thing for anyone. I will never come back here and I urge you all to not as well. This place has potential but the owner needs to train his/her staff better since customer service here is deplorable. 2 stars because in the end the food was not bad but that is all.
(2)Amanda N.
Very hard to find this place. It's located inside a multi- apartment complex. Street parking only. Good happy menu that starts at 3, ends at closing. Not very busy for a week night. The calamari was good, wished for more bread to soak up the broth in though. Cocktails were delicious. As for the entree I had the rack of lamb. The lamb tasted very gamy and didn't come off the bone as easily, slightly over cooked. Didn't feel it was worth the cost. Most entrees were a bit pricey. Pics on instagram @amanda.n_
(3)Katie T.
What a hidden gem! Delicious food, absolutely beautiful facility. Great for lunch, dinner or happy hour. It is one of the best new additions to South Lake Union.
(5)Vasily V.
Hands down it's the best food in SLU. We moved here from Denver and were quite disappointed with the food scene in South Lake Union until we tried this place. It feels authentic and the food is great. The service is a little slow sometimes but always very pleasant and polite. We come here at least once a month now.
(5)Emily P.
This is our absolute favorite place for dinner in Seattle. The food is amazing and so flavorful. The service is friendly and efficient; sometimes you just need to wait for your food to cook because it's all fresh. The atmosphere is also nice and a good spot for a romantic evening. Order the mezzo pollo!
(5)Sergio C.
Overpriced and mediocre food. Staff was pretty polite although when I arrived there was no one to direct me to a table. I ordered some octopus with polenta and my wife a bruschetta. Her bruschetta was good, but my octopus came swimming in a dark sauce and a creamy polenta that tasted more like pure cornstarch. The sauce tasted like it was made couple of days ago. For entrees, my wife ordered a beef ravioli with pomodoro sauce which tasted ok, the sauce it kinda similar to what I make at home in 25min so nothing fancy to justify the $30 price. I ordered the ossobuco since they were out of fish (ah they didn't have the wine we wanted too). Guess what. The ossobuco came swimming in the same sauce and polenta as my appetizer. Not just that, it came cold in the middle. I returned and asked them to warm up. Sad for this since there are not many nice italian restautants in Seattle. This is definitively not one of them. Cooking at home would have been 1/3 of the price and would have tasted better.
(1)Jenny R.
Beautiful & simply delicious. Will definitely be back! We got the brushetta, calamari & carbonara- well done;)
(5)Mark F.
Restaurants are a tough way to make a living. Sort of like those old acts you would see on Ed Sullivan show (I am dating myself) in which the guy has a dozen plates spinning on poles; as soon as you spin one up, another demands your attention. Similar, to win in this game, you need to a master of all things - you need to be an architect when you build out your space; a designer when you pick the tables and chairs and decor; an HR guru in hiring the staff; a marketing wiz at promotion, and finally you need to understand not only good cooking but food costs. It is no surprise that so many restaurant fail - if you drop the ball on any one of these, you are done. Kaput. Busted. That leads me to Rigoletto, a new Northern Italian Restaurant in South Lake Union. Let me say up front that I really, really want this place to succeed. We need more diversity in Italian food, and SLU needs places owned by local folk. I think, though, that this place will have a tough go unless they make some changes. The food, by the way, isn't the problem. Chef Enrico Ambrosetti knows his way around the kitchen, that's for sure. But that is the only high point. If I were Enrico, here are the things I would do RIGHT NOW. 1. Redefine the space: The place is HUGE but there is no focal point. The space rambles around. I would spend some time in the main, lower room and make that 'the spot.' Your open kitchen SCREAMS for a food bar (think Crow) which would bring vitality to the area 2. Build a bar: Similar, build a real bar for that room. The cheesy home-boy bar that you have is not inviting nor comfortable. You need a real bar in there TODAY. And serving a couple of cocktails at the bar bring you as much profit as a plate of pasta. 3. Tables: The tables you have are great for a café but not for a restaurant. Upgrade and upsize them. All the hard surfaces also make the rooms very loud. 4. Service: You cannot be the guy running table and overseeing service. You need to hire a front-of-the-house pro who can organize things. Service was haphazard, slow when it needed to be fast, and fast when is should have been slow. It was really quite disorganized. I hope you guys can pull it off.
(3)Norelle D.
I should start this review with a disclaimer, that my husband and I were determined not to make a big deal out of Valentine's Day this year and just enjoy an evening together. I think my experience at Osteria Rigoletto would have been quite different if we had put a lot of pressure on the evening. We had Valentine's Day dinner reservations for 8:30pm, but when we showed up at 8:20 pm, the hostess (Helena) told us that unfortunately there was a big delay, and although we had reservations for 8:30, they would likely not be able to seat us for another hour. My husband and I didn't want to sweat it, so we followed Helena to the lounge/bar area, and we headed over to order drinks. Sadly for my man, they were out of all scotch - it was late on Valentine's Day, their 1st Valentine's Day - I think they opened in Oct. 2014, so it wasn't too surprising, just a little disorganized. To compensate, the very kind bartender (I think her name was Linda?) poured my husband a double of bourbon and told him the extra shot was on her. We took a seat to wait for a table to open up, and as we sipped our drinks we noticed another hostess running around. She was keeping everybody in order and doing her best to professionally manage the upset guests who were waiting a long time for their tables. We called her over and got her name - Maria - and complimented her efforts. She mentioned that it was just her first night (!) and the owner/chef was a friend who'd asked her to pitch in! That made her so much more awesome. I think the fact that we were nice to her helped a little, because we were seated only about 20 minutes later. Maria put us next to a very nice couple, and introduced us to our waitress, Nisa, who was also super professional. Nisa took our order once we finally decided, and although they were out of the dish my husband wanted, the food was fantastic. I had some veal dish with a parmesan risotto, which was incredible. I think my only negative feedback was how HUGE the servings were! My husband only finished about 1/3 of his shellfish pasta dish, and I ate about 1/4 of mine. We couldn't take our leftovers because we had an event to get to afterward, so it went to waste. I would totally go back, but get something to share, unless they reduce their portion sizes. Thank you Maria, Helena, and Nisa - you guys are awesome!
(4)Kristina A.
Firstly, I wish I could give this place ZERO stars. This place was absolutely AWFUL. My boyfriend and I had a 9pm reservation yesterday on Valentine's Day. When we arrived, it took about 15 minutes for someone to even acknowledge us. When the hectic hostess finally spoke with us, she said that "due to traffic or an accident or something" (direct quote) that all reservations were pushed back an hour and she said we were welcomed to sit and wait in the lounge. When she took us to the lounge she saw an open table and just sat us but didn't tell us if we could eat in that area or what the heck was going on. We then sat at this small table for 15 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. When the waiter came, he asked us if we wanted menus (duh). Right off the bat, the waiter was EXTREMELY overwhelmed and almost annoyed. Soon after giving us the menu, he wanted to take our order--- no time look it over or anything. When we asked for more time, he just walked away annoyed. After we finally ordered our food---our waiter disappeared. Not to be seen more than 3 more times the entire time we were there. Although he was very kind and attentive to multiple other tables we were pretty much disregarded. A couple next to us were also complaining about the same thing. Also, when taking our order, the waiter said they were out of several items on the very short menu. I even heard him come back tell a gentleman sitting next to me (who ordered 30 minutes prior) that they ran out of what he ordered. As an appetizer, my boyfriend ordered a salad. It took so long to even get to it and when it came it was the wrong salad. Then multiple waiters came up trying to offer is salads. We were slightly confused until we ask "did you bring the wrong salad?" His response was like "Oh...What did you order? Oh yeah, sorry about that." Then he came back with the correct salad (the third time someone tried to pawn the right salad on us) When our food finally came, my ravioli was mediocre and under cooked. My boyfriends seafood pasta typical linguini with with watered down marinara and VERY few pieces of seafood. I'm an Italian through and through so it's safe to say I'm good judge of Italian food! In all, bad food, bad services, terrible professionalism and I can't believe we paid for that meal.
(1)Hannah W.
I celebrated my birthday at Rigoletto with friends and family over the weekend and was very impressed. From the food, to the service, to the restaurant design and decor everything was wonderful. The restaurant itself is extremely beautiful. High ceilings, exposed brick walls and gorgeous chandeliers provide a delightful dining ambiance. Our server was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu. Last but not least, the good was simply delicious. I absolutely LOVE Italian food and Rigoletto did not disappoint. I will definitely be going back soon!!!
(5)Maria G.
A hidden gem in South Lake Union and the best Italian food i have had in Seattle. Great ambiance, amazing food and a great patio for hot summer days. I have told all my friends and coworkers about this restaurant....it's an absolute must go!
(5)Zaps B.
I love this place! Affordable drinks, great food, awesome staff, and not difficult to get a table during lunch or HH like other spots in SLU.
(5)Jonathan M.
I've been here twice and both of my experiences were very consistent! The ambience is amazing. The food is pretty good. The experience, however, is so bad it's laughable. Our first visit saw us at a table in the corner with no light. Since it was a new place we figured they were still working out the kinks, so we made do with our cell phone lights to read the menu. The food was good enough to warrant a 2nd visit, especially considering we live next door and had been anxiously awaiting their opening. Our second visit started with a 45 minute wait before anyone even took our drink order!!! And truthfully, that might be conservative. I started my timer after we noticed it had been a while, so it was likely a much longer wait. They saw us, knew we had been waiting a while, but tried their best to ignore us. From there, we were treated like an inconvenience... The service here is terrible. This place is kinda a shame. The building is beautiful and the food is great. But there is no excuse for the experience they provide. We really do want to love this place, and will likely try again eventually. And if our experience is better, I will certainly update my review.
(2)Ted S.
My wife and I eat out quite a bit - we are doing our part to keep the restaurant industry solvent. Rigoletto is amazing. Beautiful inside and the food is exceptional. It is a newer restaurant so they are 'still finding their groove' but overall it will definitely be on our list of 'favorites'. The one downside is there isn't a true 'bar top' and a lot of time I like to grab food by myself sometimes and I like that at a real bar seat instead of sitting at a table by myself. Not a problem when I'm eating with friends or with my wife. The best seats in the house are in the bottom where it feels like you actually sitting 'in the kitchen'. Because it is an older building with lots of brick and wood the cell reception is pretty weak down there but that can be a good thing for people who need to shut their electronics down for an hour.
(5)Kat L.
Came here for a holiday group dinner. They got huge bonus points for the name Rigoletto. We found out that the owner is a huge opera fan! I loved the super modern decor and music related wall hangings. I got the bruschetta, spaghetti, and espresso chocolate mousse. The bruschetta was too much on the sweet side for my taste, but still quite tasty. The spaghetti was simple no fuse and amazingly delicious! I am not a big chocolate fan (it was a the only dessert choice on our groups set menu) so it wasn't too my liking, but the lady finger on top was absolutely perfect! All in all, great menu, great food, great service. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Adam P.
Nevermind everything I previously wrote. This place is awful. The food has taken a complete 180° turn for the worst. The servers do what they can but evidently the chef/owner is a beast and unfortunately it shows on his employees faces. We waited and waited and waited for our meal and finally, after 90 minutes we got up and left. Also, we could see directly into the kitchen and could hear how the chef treats his staff. Absolutely appalling. This place isn't long for the Seattle food scene, I'm afraid. What a shame, it started with such potential.
(1)Rosalind V.
I had the pleasure of celebrating my brothers retirement from Boeing and this restaurant. Great atmosphere with cosy booth tables and open seating. It felt like they were a little under staffed as our gathering grew to 30+ people. When the food did come out, it was well served. Lori did her best to keep up. Would be nice to know as food is being served that bread is available for an additional charge instead of wondering why the server forgot the bread. I did have very personable service from the bar tender Neil, although after he had me sample my wine selection he didn't fill my glass. I did coordinate a limoncello toast, which Lori and Neil pulled off for the 24 people who where still there. I was surprised that they were out of Frangelico, which I like to have with my espresso, but Neil offered up some Amarula which was surprisingly good. Overall good experience but the prices reflect a restaurant that already has all the kinks worked out. I would go again to see how the service would be if I was just with my husband. I did appreciate their authenticity for northern Italian food.
(4)Leann W.
Absolutely love the space! The feel and the design is great. It is charming and urban at the same time. I would love to have a large group of people here, it just feels like a fun place to be. I went to dinner with two people and we had a pretty good night. I got the linguine with seafood cooked in white wine with tomatoes. The noodles were al dente - I would prefer them cooked a little longer but that's my preference, they were meant to be al dente. The sauce and the seafood were excellent and the portions were large. The shrimp were shelled with tails still on and I don't know how else to remove them without using my bare hands - so that was messy but the shrimp tasted fresh and were my favorite component of the dish. The service was interesting but I think they are still figuring things out. It was fine, just a little awkward at times. I would like to try them again before making a judgment on the service. I enjoyed my evening there and would definitely check them out again.
(4)Erika W.
So far, so good! It's only the second official day open, but service is ON POINT. Super impressed with our server's knowledge of the wine list, menu, even the plates (hand painted)! The pico maccario wine is similar to a pinot noir, and reasonably priced at $8 a glass. Also enjoyed the quattro cocktail. The mozzarella app was tasty, but I would have appreciated a few more pieces of crostini. The cannelloni was solid, not amazing, but definitely a good portion for the price. Suggestion to management.... dim the lights!
(3)Rebecca C.
Loved this new restaurant! The space is so trendy, as well. I would definitely recommend going to the lounge and ordering off the happy hour menu. The regular menu is a little over priced, unfortunately. Also, this place a little difficult to find, it's hidden! Luckily they have some signs on main streets pointing to where you should go. I would definitely recommend this place! And try the chocolate mousse for dessert!
(4)Sumi A.
We were happy to find that a restaurant was opening next door to our apartment, and even more excited that the restaurant was Italian (we adore good Italian food). I purposely waited until we had 3-4 visits under our belts to write my review, because I wanted some consistency to resort back to if need be. Thus far I've had the spaghetti con scampi, lasagna, butternut squash ravioli with sage, seafood linguine, spaghetti ragu, insalata rigoletto, Caesar salad, antipasti platter, 2 bottles of high quality Italian wine, many glasses of happy hour red, and bellinis. the good: - I can start by saying the staff has always been friendly and courteous. some nights are busier than others, but we've never been ignored or put in a waiting line to be seated. - The happy hour prices are pretty decent with respect to how much food you're getting. the portions are generous, and you're able to try a variety of things this way (without overspending). - Décor is great... really cozy spot for HH drinks or meeting with friends after work. warm environment, comfortable surroundings, and again, friendly staff. - the food has been consistently "good." nothing spectacular, but nothing horrible either. It's right there with most of the other average Italian spots in seattle, but slightly more expensive. the sauce for the spaghetti con scampi seems to be the sauce they use for a lot of their other dishes too. i was hoping there would be more variation in bites I took from friends' plates during dinner, but each plate tasted exactly the same. - excellent bellinis - extensive wine list with great Italian imports to choose from (though pricey). the not-so-good - the initial drink order takes forever. typically initial drink orders should be taken and given quickly to set the tone for the evening. 5-10 minutes is average on a busy night, but we've waited in excess of 15-20 minutes for water and drinks. ridiculous. we all know how restaurants mark up their alcohol, so you'd think they'd be going out of their way to start serving, right? yeah, no. - inconsistent HH wine. I think the wait staff should explain when you're getting a different wine than the prior visit. the first 3 times I had a really lovely house red (balmy, fragrant, spicy). the last time the wine was awful (puckery, dry, vinegary). Perhaps it sat out too long? - since our water and beverages were taking so long, we asked for bread and olive oil/vinegar for the table. they charged us. this is something that should be thought about carefully, especially if people are waiting in excess of 10-15 minutes for service, as acknowledgement eases frustration faster than anything else. - inconsistent pasta. sometimes al dente, sometimes just plain hard/chewy. I use Scarpetta and cascina spinasse as my benchmarks because the cost of the spaghetti con scampi was $26, and for that price tag I expect "elite class" pasta. All in all, we enjoy the proximity (although I can see how this place is hard to find for folks driving out of their way to dine here, as the entrance is in the Stackhouse alley), and we will probably return for many happy hours in the future thanks to the convenient location.
(3)Richard M.
We eat out several times a week and I come from a family of restaurant owners and was a server for 15 years in high end dinner houses so I'm a little bit of a snob. This place is fantastic and that's not a light hearted rating. We went every week until we'd tried everything on the menu; my favorite hmmm everything!!! I can't say which dish is best, we liked everything we've tried. The owner and chef always stops by to say hi and sometimes brings by something to taste off menu. I recommend this place and continue to visit every week or two
(5)BM J.
Mixed experience. We went on a Thursday during restaurant week within the first month of opening. TLDR: Upscale food with a good vibe, but they're still working out the kinks -- putting it on the repeat list to try again in a few months. First, the good... the place is very well decorated with great atmosphere; the owners clearly invested a ton to make nice of an underground space. The food was tasty and the portion sizes were ample. The mediocre... the prices are a little higher than I expected, but not unreasonable considering the quality of the food and the location. However, the plating needed a little work (not terrible, but not artistic either). The bad... from the beginning, the service was pretty terrible. We got seated in the far corner (quiet part) of the restaurant (which is fine, preferred even), however the hostess took us to the table by walking us through the very crowded front dining room (which is clearly not designed with aisles -- we continually bumped into guests eating at their tables). At the end of the meal we discovered the restaurant wraps around, and the hostess could have taken us through the uncrowded part. I wasn't feeling like wine that night (plebeian, I know), and I was pretty disappointed to find out the only beer in house was Corona(!!!) and Widmier Hefeweizen. Not served in a chilled glass or anything. To be fair, the wine list did look pretty decent (hundreds of bottles, though many were not in stock yet). The entire meal took almost two hours (literally; we timed it). First course took a _very_ long time, and when served my quiche was almost completely cold (not like, sat out and got cold... like, wasn't even completely warm). I didn't bother to send it back (wasn't going to delay the group meal on account of that, especially given the slow service). The main course took almost an hour; our waitress informed us it was "because the health inspector popped in." I got the veal, and the main course itself was pretty much awesome; I ate the entire plate (oink). During the entire main course, our dirty appetizer dishes sat on the table (along with the menus from when we ordered). The desserts were probably the most disappointing part of the evening... I felt like the ones we had were pre-made/frozen. Our waitress was super sweet, but was obviously inexperienced. She did the best she could, and I don't at all fault her for our poor experience (she was learning and trying really hard). This was just a new restaurant working out the kinks. The real pisser was that we didn't at all notice any management presence during our entire 2 hour (8-10pm) experience. We had no intention of complaining (see above), but I would expect the manager(s) of a new restaurant would be more engaged in running the floor and soliciting feedback (I'd want to know if my quiches go out cold, and the onus shouldn't be on customers to have to complain). We would have gladly shared our feedback directly if given the opportunity (only because we want to see this restaurant succeed). I am confident we'll try this place again in a few months. I would give 3.5 stars if that was an option.
(3)Marie B.
The UW-Berkeley was an away game, so figured the I-5 South traffic will be fairly straightforward for a family dinner at Osteria Rigoletto down at Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood (aka Amazonia) From the north end, I-5 South and take the Roanoke exit, head west and to pick up Eastlake and follow that southbound past the biotech-FHCRC hub. Take a right on Republican and there should be ample parking around Republican and Yale. The meters run until 6pm which is great. Osteria Rigoletto is located in the Stackhouse Apartments courtyard directly across from Feirabend and Caffe Torino on Yale. Look for the large brick smoke stack as your landmark. Signage is limited because of the Supply Laundry Building (ca. 1906) is a designated Seattle landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The restaurant has tiny signage to keep you going in the correct direction though. Here's more about its architectural background as an example of sustainable restoration, if interested: historicseattle.org/advo… *PLEASE NOTE* Correct address (from my dinner receipt) is 451 Yale Avenue N, Seattle WA 98109 Correct restaurant phone number (also from receipt) is 206-641-7671 We showed up right before 5pm - no reservations and in casual attire. I'm sure reservations will be imperative though in the future as they become more established. Descending downward to the reception area, you will be absolutely dazzled by the interior design. A lovely mix of the original brick industrial feel with heavy wood beams juxtaposed with black metal railings and staircase. The light fixtures from the sparkly chandeliers, modern sconces, and booth lighting were perfect. The seating with orange covered booths and banquettes and hand stitched leather detailing added warmth. The wood flooring and the amazing Italian tile work were also duly noted. Our hostess from the reception area told us that all the detailing was fully realized by the chef and owner. Exceptional, but no surprise since it is from the folks behind La Toscanella on Westlake. There is a lower cocktail bar area (with HH!) and an overhead balcony area with additional seating reminiscent of other Belltown establishments (Tavolata, former original Flying Fish) with more sturdy wood tables with metal typesetting industrial-like chairs. Our wait person, Jordan, was very gracious and answered our various questions about menu items, wine recommendations, restaurant background information, and the service was well-paced with water refills and checking on us throughout our two hour dinner. Note that the menu offerings will change to reflect the chef's ongoing culinary strengths and seasonality. So what I am noting is for our visit on their tenth day of business. BTW - beautiful wine and dining menu layout. So aside from happy hour, dinner, they will also start brunch next week. Bonus for SLU and Eastlake residents! The husband ended up with a glass of Tenuta Il Palagio 'Message in a Bottle' ($12). As an aside, this is from Sting and his wife, Trudi Styler's winery. Full bodied and complex nuances...yes, I snagged a sip. Even kiddo had a micro sip and found it agreeable. Antipasto had six selections. We shared the Piatto di Salumi ($11) which had ample prosciutto, coppa, and salami, plus olives, shaved parmesan, and grilled house made bread. They are so new that their Portuguese plates still had the World Market price stickers which we all peeled off. LOL Pasta e Risotti had eight selections ranging from $16 - $24 The guys selected the Linguine Allo Scoglio ($24 each) which was served in an impressive white tureen bowl. Perfectly cooked linguine with generous amounts of clams, mussels, scallops, prawns, and tomato filets in a white wine reduction. I used to work at well established seafood restaurant, and I can vouch the shellfish and seafood were cooked to perfection. Carne e Pesce had six selections ranging from $22 - $32 I selected the Ossobuco Alla Milanese ($32) served piping hot in an oval cast iron dish with incredibly tender veal ossobuco topped with gremolata and cooked in a rich vegetable, herb and red wine reduction atop luscious polenta. The entrees are hearty and can easily be shared. We all ate about half and packaged up the rest to take home. Because of course, we have to have dessert! Don't look for the usual cannoli, tiramisu, gelato, and panna cotta though. The cheesecake meister had the seasonal Pumpkin Cheesecake adorned with whipped cream and fresh raspberries ($8) and a Café Vita Doppio Espresso ($2.75) The kiddo had the Tart with the Trio of Profiteroles with generous chocolate and raspberries ($8) and hot black tea ($3). I had the Ricotta Tart ($8) which was topped with pine nuts and candied fruit enrobed in the ricotta. I greatly appreciated that this was not over the top sweet. This paired well with the strong doppio espresso. An outstanding, top notch dinner without pretension. Highly recommended!
(5)danielle k.
Went there tonight with 4 girlfriends, the food was so good they disappeared into thin air even before i had camera ready. Mushroom risotto was the best in Seattle. Black ink pasta-sadly a rare item in NW -was really good, seasonal pumpkin cheesecake was sumptuous!! Behind the main dining area was a cozy open kitchen/bar area where friendly crew served us coffee and cocktails. Lovely experience in charming venue!
(5)Sahra L.
I don't write many reviews but this place... the worst experience we've EVER had in a restaurant. We had reservation for Valentines dinner, they called and requested a credit card to hold the reservation to ensure table. (makes sense on such a busy night). We arrive on time and the hostess informs us that that it'll be an hour wait time, "everyone was late for their reservation tonight" she says. I'm sorry, isn't that why you held reservations with cards? Why would you bump the people who were on time? She then proceeded to say we can wait in the lounge area and directed us to a small lounge area. Small area with no spot to sit and the bar area had no spot for us to stand. We were irritated at this point and asked to speak to a manager, "manager is very busy, I'll let them know and to come speak to you when they can" Um.. ok. We stood in the walkway with servers zipping by us for a few short minutes and a couple got up to be seated and we had a spot. We ordered a couple of drinks from the bar and watched as one hostess escorted more couples to this tight area with no seats and another would come up and say "next couple please"... after the third time we asked "how do you know who's the next couple?" her reply "there's three of us, I don't." wow! Luckily, we were seated after 25 min. Our table was really close to the kitchen, was a bummer as we noticed nicer tables with roses in other areas of restaurant. We were just glad to be seated and wanted to enjoy the rest of our night. We were seated for about 10 min before our servers shows up to greet us. Menu was small, made it easy to order right away. At this point we feel a little better, food ordered, drink in hand and we're just going to enjoy what's left of the night. 45 min goes by, our drinks have been sitting empty and we watch our server touch every table around us multiple times. I tried to get his attention a couple of times when he was chatting to the table right next to us but nope, I see the hostess so I try to waive at her but she also just zips right by! My BF walks up to the bar to ask for a manager, I think they said they'll direct him to our table. Another 10 min goes by and no server, no manager. I tell my BF let's just leave and as we were going to get up our food arrive (still not our server). He ordered the steak and I the rack of lamb. I take a couple of bites and that was it, I put my fork down. Lamb was dry and vegetables had no flavor but the steak was delicious. Our server finally shows up and asked how was the food. I was SO upset at this point I just said I need to speak to your manager right now. The chef shows up to our table, he was being very nice and sincere and started apologizing about everything offered to refill our drinks ( yep, our glasses were still empty) and make me a new dish. I chose risotto (because I wanted it fast so I can get the hell out of here!) Seriously, on one of the busiest night you have no floor manager?! Within a few short min our drinks arrive, I say "thank you" and the bartender gives me an irritated smile. Ohkaaay.. My BF was almost finished with his dinner then he notices chef with my risotto pointing for someone to bring it over. So starving, excited my food is coming.....and bam! Server set it on table next to us. They start to eat it ( I'm sure they were starving also) we see chef shakes his head and start making another. By the time my food showed up my BF was done with dinner and we're just ready to go. Oh and the risotto had good flavor but was a little under cooked, probably because he was in a hurry. Dessert showed up shortly after and that was also disappointing. We really wanted to like this place and tried to be understanding. Service was horrible. Food was mediocre. Try at your own risk. In the end he tried to make it right but our night was just ruined.
(1)Kayla S.
Came here for my husband's birthday dinner (which happens to coincide with Halloween) and had a lovely dinner! 1. Great service and attention to detail. Our waiter was very attentive to our every need (water's constantly filled, plates bussed, wine glass never empty, and food coursed out perfectly). The owner also stopped by to check in and make conversation, which I appreciate and portrays the character of the business. 2. Great portion sizes. Had the Linguine and Gnocchi. Food seasoned and cooked perfectly. 3. Beautiful atmosphere. We sat down by the kitchen/ bar area due to a large event they were having in the main hall and enjoyed the warm intimate space. 4. Awesome wine list. Excited to come back and try more!
(5)Zak B.
It's hard not to give Rigoletto 5 stars. The place looks charmingly unique and cozy. Warm dark orange and brown colors, dark colored woods, beautiful chandeliers, very high ceilings, Great Wall art. I was there tonight for dinner. The red wine selection was great. We had a nice southern Italian red blend, we had the chicken salad, and the buffalo mozzarella salad with tomato and basil. For entrees, we had squid ink seafood risotto, and lamb chops with sautéed veggies. The waitress was sweet and attentive, and the food came out perfectly on time. The chef and owner was also kind enough to go around and make sure everyone was having a pleasant experience. Great Italian dinner all around, warm place, and great people. 5 stars.
(5)Chris H.
Had a delicious Italian meal. Lovely ambiance. Ordered the veal tenderloin risotto and it was fabulous. Creamy but not too rich and the veal was cooked to perfection. I love this place.
(5)James M.
South Lake Union is an up and coming vibrant part of this beautiful city and this venue is a marvelous addition to the Stackhouse Apartment complex in the Supply Laundry Building (c.1906). We just happen to attend a private wedding and reception for this wonderful restaurant today, the day after their "Grand Opening" last night. Giuseppe Verde would be proud of the Italian influence in the unique upscale restaurant and bar. Imagine a "full house" and a beautifully served four-course meal:. Bruschetta, Sun Dried Tomato in Olive Oil and Buffalo Mozzarella; then Risotto...the best I have tasted with a lovely light cheese sauce and shrimp; Entrees offered were fresh Salmon, Roasted Pork and Rack of Lamb....ALL magnificent !!! ALL beautifully and artfully served. Lastly was the (non) traditional wedding cake...like pound cake topped with caramel-like sauce and fresh raspberries!! Check out RIGOLETTO when you visit the Emerald City (still the QUEEN CITY in my mind)!! Buono Appetito!!! CHOW!!
(4)Amanda S.
Love the atmosphere....we went for our community happy hour, everything was so delicious. The drinks and the amazing pasta. We ordered from the happy hour menu if course and we got the ravioli and bruschetta. Bruschetta is was ok actually...the bread was a little bit soggy but the pasta was amaaaazing!!!!!
(4)Deetle D.
Drinks are good , skip the main courses , order the broccolini veggies, skip desert , and go right to desert wine. The Osso Bucco dish was the worst ever. The veal shank was way overlooked . It supposed to be tender and easily come apart with a fork , not already be all in pieces , meat and bones. The tomato sauce they served with it was so thick I could stand my fork in it , and tasted so strong of under cooked tomato pasted , even Olive Garden would not serve this. The Ragu sause they served with the gnocchi had potential but was so salty I could not finish it. The ribeye steak was just over cooked. The broccolini that come with two of our dishes was really the only good food we had at this place, I could not get enough of them .
(1)E D.
Great atmosphere, but the food didn't match. Pricy for pasta that was missing taste, soul and originality.
(2)Sean D.
We went on New Year's Eve for dinner and to celebrate a birthday. We had a large group and were placed awkwardly in the middle of the restaurant. People struggled to get past us as they walked back and forth to the bathroom or coming into the restaurant. The lighting was terrible and dark. The meal was not impressive and way overpriced for what we received. Our entire group was disappointed at the service and the overall feel of the space.
(1)Yen H.
Went here on Valentine's Day, Dinner for 7 girls at 6PM. PROS: - Gave the girls all a rose - Charming decor, ambiance - Seafood LInguine was pretty tasty CONS: - Bait & Switch! Online didn't mention any Valentine's special menu. When you got there, the items were the same as online, but they INCREASED the pricing! Shaddy! - Really SLOW service. I was the only one to order a salad which came out fast, I was still eating my salad when I got the entree which came out quickly too. After they brought our entrees the waitress was MIA for a lonnnnng time. She finally checks on us, boxed my leftovers, drops it off and doesn't come back for a little while. When she came back we asked for the dessert menu, ordered one sampler dessert to share, it comes out quick, we finish it. Then we wait a while to ask her for the bill. She doesn't come back to pick it up, so I bring it to her. Then it took her a long time to run our cards (she said she needed to tend to her other tables first). Made us run late to catch a show. The actual food service was quick, so if she was more attentive and didn't have us waiting around so much for her, then we could have been in & out, relieving her of a table, which I'm sure the next reservation would have appreciated. I get that it's a holiday, but I dine out a lot and other places have it together on holidays. Either book fewer tables or staff more employees, don't get greedy. Our dinner time was also earlier in the night, so I feel for the people after us. I will probably come back to see how they are on a non-holiday. I'll either raise or lower my rating after.
(3)ryan r.
I rarely write reviews, but felt the need to here. I really wanted to like this place. It is located in a great space and the decor is really well done. However, the dining experience was really mediocre at best. I am in Italy frequently on business travel, so I may have a higher bar than most. But, I recognize this and never expect Italian restaurants in Seattle to compare. My first visit to Rigoletto this week was just so far from great. I was in a group of six, and the ladies had cocktails which I'm told were decent. The guys wanted beers, and they have none on tap. No big deal. But you'd expect they'd have some Italian beers. Turns out, they had two bottles of Peroni. After finishing those, they essentially said they had a few bottles of Full Sail and after that, only Caronoa. Strange... For the anti pasto course, we had the anitpasto della casa, which was not bad, but for $13 per person (and we did x3), we expected more than the little plate that came. We also had the calamari, which was not bad and came in a pretty large dish with lots of nice broth. However, it came with only 3 small pieces of crostini. When we asked for more, we were told we'd have to order more bread--which is fine. But the waitress came back with 2 little pieces of crostini on a plate. Are you kidding? Totally fine to pay for more bread, but if you do, it's got to be more than 2 pieces! About 30 minutes after placing main course orders, the waitress came back and said they were out of the spaghetti scampi....30 minutes after placing the order? A couple of us enjoyed our mains, but most thought it was either ok, or not good at all. I could go on, but I wont. We decided to skip dessert and go some place else. Great ambiance...but go somewhere else if your looking for a nice Italian dinner and good service.
(2)Mark J.
Excellent food, outstanding service, delicious drinks, and a great atmosphere. Definitely a hidden gem. If you're thinking of going to Il Terazzo Carmine, reconsider your choice and go here instead. It's a better experience all around.
(5)KM L.
The octopus linguine was a little too salty. I asked to have an addon on scallop but only got one. Over all the dinner waa good. The antipasta was a great choice for aptz. Wine is a killer! Great service. Hard to find the location.
(4)Denis G.
Beautiful old building in South Lake Union. Huge space, though ironically hard to find (entrance is in a courtyard across the street from Feierbrand). Very authentic Italian food and great owner (he also has a bakery on Westlake). We did the mixed antipasti which was great and a middle course of the squid ink risotto they are know for (excellent). I had a steak for entree and my wife had osso bucco - both very good. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a new restaurant in Seattle.
(5)Jeremiah P.
Went here during the opening. Food was ok, nothing special. Many people said it was mediocre as well. I live across the street and would not return unless there was a deal or discount. A few people we know have said the same. They set the bar pretty low and will disappear faster then they arrived if they don't step up the quality of the dishes. Won't be going back any time soon and we tell everyone in the area the same. The restaurant is beautiful, they should have put the money into their cooks and food as well.
(3)M K.
I hardly ever give bad reviews, but this was the worst service I've had in a very long time. It took the waitress about 20 minutes to come over to our table to get drink orders, then another 20 to bring us the bottle of wine. We waited over an hour for the appetizers, and had already finished the (1st) bottle of wine by then. While waiting for the apps, we had asked for bread to snack on while we waited, which actually took about 25 minutes to get, and arrived after we had already gotten the appetizers. Plus, she ended up making us PAY for it! Over an hour of waiting, and (not surprisingly) the soup arrived lukewarm. Plus, it was supposed to be tomato bread soup, but there wasn't any bread to be found. Still, it was pretty yummy -- just would have been better fresh and hot. About 30 minutes after finishing our appetizers, we asked how long it would be for our entrees (which we had ordered at the same time as the apps), and were told it would be 5-10 minutes. Well, about 30 minutes later we got our entrees -- which was delicious. The dessert was ok. The place is very cute and has a nice atmosphere. Bathrooms were missing TP in 2 of 3 stalls in ladies' room and no paper towels. If even just once the waitress had acknowledged that we had been waiting for so long, we would have been satisfied. We have waited tables before and know that sometimes there are things beyond the servers' control. A simple "sorry you've been waiting so long" would have sufficed. But to charge us for bread when we waited over an hour for the appetizer is completely classless. I suggest you take your money elsewhere. There are plenty of good Italian placed in Seattle, complete with good (or even decent would have been better!) service.
(1)Graham E.
I went here not expecting much at all and was very happy I did. Great food and the service was really on point. If you enjoy authentic Italian please give this a go.
(4)Deanna K.
Rigoletto is amazing! Beautiful ambience, the food is exceptional and the wine selection incredible. I frequent Rigoletto often, including NYE and Valentine's Day, and I have never had a bad meal or service. Perhaps the delay for the 8-8:30p Valentine's Day reservations were possibly caused by the major accident on I-5 and the fire in South Lake Union that had several street blocked. Thank you Rigoletto and chef for always accommodating me and my food allergies. Not many restaurants pay close attention to food allergies and health restrictions as you do. See you tomorrow for happy hour and dinner, always a wonderful way to end a busy day.
(5)Sommer T.
I planned a birthday party for 15 people here and unfortunately had a terrible experience. Two of our salads had hairs in them, the servers were extremely slow and didn't seem to know what they were doing, AND they offered to slice the cake I brought for us to later find a $20 cake cutting fee on the bill that we were never informed of. They offered to cut the cake so we didn't have to do it at the table, didn't say anything about charging for it. To top the night off it took them over an hour to give us our bills. Every time we asked they said splitting the bill takes longer. Really? It's takes over an hour to split a bill? NOT happy with this place at all and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(1)Zack H.
Restaurant week in Seattle has been an awesome experience for me since I moved up here a few years ago, and while I'm sure its quite hectic for restaurants, every place that I have been has been a great experience...well, until last night. My girlfriend and I had a reservation at Rigoletto, and walking up, the building it quite impressive. It's an incredible old brick building with high ceilings, nice decor, warm colors, and exceptional Italian tiling on the floor. We were seated immediately, but they tried to jam us in between two couples that were already close together, and started deconstructing one couple's table to fit us in. Having already done a quick lap of the restaurant, I realized that aside from the bar area and room they were trying to seat us in, it was fairly empty - maybe at 40-50% capacity. The couple whose table was being taken apart was clearly unhappy, and, had we not requested another table, I would have literally been banging elbows with the people to either side of me. Our waitress moved us to a table in the back corner of the restaurant that was entirely unlit - I couldn't even read the menu without leaning over and holding it up to the candlelight. Our waitress greeted us, but then didn't return for 20 minutes. At that time, she took our drink and appetizer orders. My girlfriend and I each received a glass of wine 20 minutes after that, and our appetizers didn't arrive until 20 minutes after the wine. At that point, we had been in the restaurant for an hour already. The appetizers were generously sized and quite tasty. The waitress took our orders for the main course when the appetizers were delivered and apologized for the wait on the appetizers. Fair enough - maybe the kitchen had been a little backed up. The restaurant had been filling up a bit, and was probably closer to 60-70% capacity, though there were still large areas where they were not seating people. Another 40 minutes passes, wine glasses and appetizer plates long since empty, and we were getting pretty agitated. We had now been sitting for an hour and 40 minutes, and had not even been asked if we wanted a drink refill! A couple of express waiters arrived with our main courses, canneloni and a butternut squash ravioli, both of which were lukewarm at best. This was a bit of a last straw - we simply wanted to leave at this point. The waitress finally asked whether we wanted another drink refill, and we declined respectfully. 20-30 minutes later, the waitress returned, and we requested that we take our desserts to go. She respectfully agreed, and they showed up very quickly, boxed up and ready to be eaten at home. They weren't great. We finally walked out the door 2 hours and 15 minutes after we had arrived. To top it off, my girlfriend awoke at 1am and was unable to sleep for the remainder of the night due to a minor case of either digestive allergy or food poisoning. She cannot eat red meat, but that's her only dietary restriction and she expressly avoided red meat dishes, so I was suspicious. While the food may have been pretty good if actually hot, the experience was pretty awful. The waitress was very, very nice and talkative, and we were very respectful and conversational the whole time - no disrespect to her. It could very well be that the kitchen was suffering or some other variable was out of whack, but all in all, extremely poor service, no attention to our drinks, lukewarm entrees, and a small bout of food poisoning was enough to make me avoid Rigoletto going forward.
(1)Jojo S.
First, if you haven't seen the building in which Osteria Rigoletto resides, that's a reason to go all by itself. The formerly run-down industrial area between I-5 and Dexter, north of Denny, is going through a spate of revitalization. The former laundry building, complete with huge brick steam vent, is turned into a gorgeous 4-level space that Rigoletto calls home. It is, simply, beautiful. There's the restaurant part, with romantic curtained booths, there's the bar, which is sort of shabby chic, but more chic than shabby... love the chairs. And there's a "multi-purpose" room, possibly for private parties, who is lined on all sides with leather benches. A 4th story goes up to the mezzanine, ringed with small figure busts and has a spendid view of the restaurant. Oh, the food. It's almost a second thought after feasting your eyes on the space. If only ALL the food lived up to the surroundings! The pastas are the best things on the menu: the ravioli (which is called something fancier) and the lasagne were especially tasty. From there, the food starts heading south fast. I was excited to try the veal scallopiine, as few italian restaurants seem to offer it. Unfortunately, the veal was grisly and very chewy; the sauce was light on marsala and had barely any taste. Calamari suffered the same chewy syndrome. It is meant to be sauteed lightly with a tomato-based sauce, but it was badly overcooked and the sauce was extremely watery. Sad! That said, they have Happy Hour in the bar from 3:00 til closing, which is a blessing. Note that they don't honor Happy Hour drink prices in the restaurant. Order a bunch of pastas and be happy. And hope the rest of the menu catches up soon!
(4)Sue M.
We visited Jan 3 and it was empty, which was nice for us. After reading the review, here is my 2 cents. Atmosphere - I loved it. Service - attentive and friendly but bar service could have been faster since it was 5:45 and we were the ONLY ones there. Rest was fine. Music was loud but not offensive. We laughed as it was all in Spanish and EVERYTHING else is Italian focused. Wine - OK, but 95% Italian. Whties were very limited. our server brought me two reds to taste though which helped! Food - delicious, large portions. If I owned the restaurant, I'd cut the portions down and lower the prices. Bruscetta small but fabulous/please give four pieces of bread per order...really. even asked and they didn't. Chicken, spaghetti/scampi, ravioli, and the salad (with anchovies) delicious. The squid ink dish and canneloni were nothing special. Price $50 each- by the end of the day, this restaurant was at least 20% more expensive than the local competition. Our group of 7 dines out several times a year in Seattle (often Italian) and this dinner was 20-25%! more (with fewer drinks). I would go back but doubt my husband will due to the price. All in all it was a good place to eat and I look forward to our left overs today!
(3)Scott L.
Had to try it because it is the same chef/owner as La Toscanella - producer of all the great Italian pastries served around town. Can't say enough about this place. Great wine list with a range of options and pricing. Worth trying the squid ink risotto. Osso Buco was well prepared and a nice portion size. Incredible decor. Located in a historic structure - lots of charm. Server was knowledgeable and super friendly.
(5)Kai A.
Incredible venue and the food is darn tasty. Still need to work out the kinks with the waitstaff service. Recommend trying it out. The antipasto plate with some red wine is very nice during happy hour.
(4)