Rigoletto Trattoria

We stumbled upon this place and I have to say it was like finding a gem. The service was outstanding and the food was even better. The meatballs and Caesar to start was like a meal by itself. The main dishes were unbelievable. The fish special was the best fish we have ever eaten. Lastly a cannoli for dessert was incredible. The décor was confusing and maybe makes people think twice before entering, but we took the leap of faith and we can’t wait to go back.
Main complaint. It was expensive but you get why you pay for. We would like to go more often if it was more affordable.

Been here maybe 5 times. Has always been great. Last nights dinner was the best to date… Pistachio encrusted salmon in a bourbon glaze. It’s a regular item on the menu but it was special!

I don’t recall a single specific detail of my first visit to this restaurant a few years ago, and that’s not a good thing, as I’m pretty passionate about places that impress me and always return to and recommend them when possible.
Worse though, is what I do recall about my second and final visit starting with the ignorant and appalling attitude and behavior of the woman at the front desk that, though not directed toward us, made me not want to support this establishment. Next was the waiter being old school personable and accommodating until told by the chef that he would not make the simple dish (pasta primavera) he suggested at which point he changed his attitude to one of complete dismissal and annoyance.
Then there was, as a result, my being forced to eat exactly what I didn’t want – pasta (manicotti) swimming in marinara, and paying a ridiculous price for a truly unacceptably small (at any cost) serving that was mostly said sauce (gravy (as my family calls it (just in case any of ‘em ever read this…))).
Finally, an overall rather geriatric feel to the place.
That, and to be fair, awesome chocolate mousse.
But I can make awesome chocolate mousse at home…

Gave it try even though most said owners and Maria were rude. Can tell they have an edge to them, and the conversation can go either way, good or bad.
Maria was our server (can’t tell if she’s the owner) and she was a little edgy in her tone, but was nice to the kids and my wife.
Food was very good. Menu was pricey however it got pretty crowded on a rainy Friday night by 7pm. Bathrooms were very clean, which is such a rarity even in higher end restaurants.
Just 2 servers, Maria and heavy male in his late 50’s? Both are owners?
Only complaint is I took the wrong copy of the check and the male server (other owner?) ran after me in the rain. I explained «didn’t know I took the wrong slip» expecting «no problem but here’s the right one»…I got a tort «of course you did that’s why I’m standing in the rain to get it from you!» Really? Am I a customer or one of your employees? Either way the response from him is still out of line. Upset that I spent $ 150 for my wife and 2 young children and was treated rudley. A shame as I would have gone back.
You’d think after all the bad service reviews they’d make a change or hire friendly staff.

I love Rigoletto. I’ve been going there to eat for years and it is always a cozy experience. The waiters and waitresses are all friendly and their service is always top notch. Phil is always funny, professional and on top of his game. He pays attention to the smallest of details that I wish every waiter would know… From offering bringing lemons before asking to refilling coffee before the last drop. Marie is also a wonderful waitress, who is eager to make sure you are having the best dining experience and caters to every need. The food never disappoints. It is a breath of fresh air to have such a great family owned restaurant in an area with an over abundance of chain restaurants. We have given them business for everything from afternoon lunches to my wedding rehearsal dinner and they always went above and beyond. I wouldn’t think twice before recommending them for any event. I hope they are around for many years to come.

Loved my panini and my friends enjoyed their pasta choices. Service was friendly and atmosphere was nice. Not much of a crowd at lunch time! Would definitely go back!

We went there this past Saturday night at 630 pm. Restaurant was half empty. We sat down and did not get our menus (this has happened before) but we figured they would bring it by shortly after. Well 15 minutes later still no menus after asking 3x for them. I don’t understand why their policy is to slow down the kitchen by not giving customers who are paying for their dinner their menus when they restaurant is half empty. This is a terrible business practice and you feel like you are being dictated while dining. It’s too bad that we will never go there again because their good is pretty good.

Rigaletto trattoria is the reason I downloaded Unilocal.I’m trying to let people know NOT to go to rigalettos in advance. Although the food was good everything else about my experience was awful. My family and I must have sat for 15 minutes trying to decide on our order because it’s all so over priced it only seemed logical to get the very best thing on the menu. In the meantime, we ordered an appetizer of the fried calamari but they refused taking the appetizer order without the rest of our entrée order. So we then began to rush picking our food out because we were hungry. Surprisingly the food was very good. Which is why I gave it one star. The water boy doesn’t walk to each glass. He reaches over the entire table, almost elbowing my father in the nose. They also bus your table as you sit there (almost dumped an entire plate on my grandmother doing so) Not when you leave. My father also wanted to sprinkle Parmesan cheese on his pasta. Instead the waitress insisted she put it on for him asking «how many spoonfuls?» Like he actually knew exactly that he wanted two spoons of it. He asked multiple times if he can do it and she had trouble saying yes (weird) and responded «we do it for you to help» clearly it’s not about what the customer wants. A couple other tables came in while we were eating. The whole restaurant was empty but they still sat everyone within a 10 inch reach from our table. It looked like a family of 15 all at seperate tables. We finished and asked for the check. Ten minutes go by and they’re bringing us the desserts. We said no and asked for the check again. Another 15 minutes went by and they finally came with our check after asking at least five times. I’ve never been so excited to leave a restaurant. Red bank is an incredible area to go out, eat, and have a good time. There is no reason to go here when there are so many good restaurants near by.

John and Maria never disappoint. Over the years I’ve never had a bad meal here. I love the new menu. So many fresh and innovative new dishes right along some of my favorites. Everything we ordered tonight was a new dish.

Bravo! Excellent dinner. The calamari was the best I’ve had in a long time. The veal Milanese was memorable. Good service as well.

Food was ok and the waitress/​owner was snappy. First, when we sat down the waitress told us that we had to hurry up and order because she squeezed us in and they had others coming in right after us. That is not something that should should tell your customers if you want them to come back again.
Then, my sister and I have celiac disease. We established this to the waitress when we sat down and explained that we can’t eat gluten, If we eat it we will get sick. Having never been here before we double checked with her on the food that we were ordering to make sure that there was no gluten in anything and she was not very friendly in answering our questions. When my fish arrived, it looked like it was coated in something — maybe flour or egg. Again I wanted to double check to make sure that I didn’t get sick. The waitress came over and I explained and she didn’t listen to what I was trying to say, she then said that I never told her that I was allergic to eggs, but what I was trying to say was that it is ok if it is egg. She also go annoyed when my sister asked for hers without garlic because her stomach is sensitive to it.
Overall she was not friendly and accommodating. In running a business and working with people, she should have a little bit more patience.

Great food, service was pretty good and will definitely go back!

I love this place! I think they have THE BEST Italian! My boyfriend’s parents live about 3 minutes from the restaurant and they frequent quite often (3−4x per week). I recently went on Christmas Eve with the boyfriend’s family and a very good family friend — 12 total. I have not had one single dish on the menu that wasn’t amazing. Here are some items I’ve tried and loved: every table comes with bread and bruschetta (tomatoes drenched in balsamic vinegar — so good!), calamari (with a spicy marinara sauce), broccoli rabe, spedini, Caesar salad, penne vodka (with chicken and peas), bucatini with a spicy marinara sauce, pistachio encrusted salmon (garlic mashed potatoes are so good), pork chop (like other reviewers have said, yes it looked a little rare but that’s apparently ok with pork. As long as it’s cooked to a certain temperature it’s ok. I’m still here and not sick. And I’m not a big pork chop person because it usually is dry and chewy but this was so good!) and the desserts… OMG they’re all so good! Tiramisu. I can’t remember them all right now but I’m pretty sure I’ve tried at least half of them. And they make THE BEST CANOLIS!!!
The restaurant is owned by a husband and wife duo. The husband is the chef and the wife is a waitress. The first time I went to this restaurant, I was not pleased with the way I was spoken to from the wife (yes, Maria), but unfortunately, that’s just something you have to get over with. It’s probably better that you’re forewarned before you try this spot for the first time, but it’s still worth it because it will be the best Italian food you’ll ever have. Just make reservations ahead of time and make sure you ask for Phil as your waiter. He is always our waiter and now a family friend. He has a hilarious sense of humor and he will call all the women gorgeous and his queen. And watch him when he opens your bottle of red wine. He’ll usually sniff the cork as he pulls it out — and let him save the corks for us. My boyfriend’s family saves corks for projects. They recently made the «R» made of corks in the restaurant.
If you do happen to get Maria, just accept that you won’t have the nicest waitress. You just have to find the right balance in working with her. No one is perfect.
Oh, don’t forget to order a cappuccino with your dessert. And Maria does make the most yummy looking ones with endless visible layers of espresso and milk!
Can’t wait to go back again for some more yumminess!

Ate here Friday night, came based on Unilocal reviews.
Service was good, the gentleman who was our server had a great personality and enjoyed him. He’s a big plus.
Had the clam appetizer and it was swimming in bread crumbs… I mean really swimming, just ok would have been better without the massive amount of bread crumbs. Had the shrimp risotto and that was ok. My wife had fish and said it was ok too.
All in all it was just ok. I wouldn’t make a special trip to go again. Just nothing special that wants to make you go back.

Great ambiance and service and the food’s pretty good also.

Well, from reading the other reviews about the RUDE waitress, I am going to guess her name was Maria. The food was great at this place (except the pork chops), but the server was a nightmare. This was our first time at Rigoletto. When we first sat down at the table, Maria was Quite abrupt and acted like she was doing us a favor. We told her this was our first time to this restaurant and she was everything BUT welcoming. We asked her what the specials were and instead of telling us, she says «you need to order your appetizers and food at the same time. We don’t take the orders separately.» That was totally fine, but that is not what we asked her. Anyway, when dinner came, one of the pork chops was rubbery and the other persons came out completely rare. We brought it to her attention and all she kept arguing was that you asked for it juicy. Seriously lady, learn the difference between rare and juicy with a pork chop. She took it to the kitchen and brought it back ten Minutes later, in exactly the same condition. RARE! She acted like we were doing something wrong, when all we wanted was just a properly cooked pork chop. Needless to say, she brings it back again (for the 3^rd time) completely dead. I think they microwaved it. It tasted horrible. At this point everyone at our table was done eating. We asked her to please just take it back and off the bill because it tasted very chewy and overdone. Well, she flipped out. She actually started screaming and acting defensively and proceeded to tell us that we are not chefs and we do not know what we are talking about. While walking away from the table she mumbled, «next time order your meat well done.» About ten minutes later she brings the porkchop back all
Cut apart and continues to argue that it was juicy. Seriously? We didn’t come to this place to go through world war 2, we just wanted a nice meal as a family .
This was embarrassing for me and my family. We went out to celebrate my birthday and this woman did nothing but go out of her way to destroy it.
Her attitude is disgraceful. She was definitely an owner or related To the owners because all she did was battle. We have never ever had an issue like this anywhere and we were horrified.
This lady needs to go if this place plans on staying in business. It doesn’t matter how
Good the food is, but when you have someone this toxic involved, people will not go back. The food was amazing, but Maria needs an attitude check.
I hope these people at the restaurant read this because this lady needs to go! That kind of behavior may be acceptable where she lives, but it certainly is not here. This restaurant is located in a nice area. She really needs to take her trashy attitude back Where she came from.

One of favorite restaurants in the area. Warm Tuscan atmosphere. Family owned and operated and they really know their customers. The Chef is excellent and I often tell him to compete on the food shows on TV. Great food great place we are always satisfied! The specials are great. Our favorites include mussels and the filet Mignon.

Another long spell between visits to this old favorite Italian eatery on the out skirts of Red Bank proved to be a perfect way to forget about hurricane Sandy for a few hours last weekend. Three of us ordered from their limited but varied menu and each dish was delicious including a great grouper, seafood medley over angle hair pasta and finally an excellent gnocchi. We shared a slice of pumpkin cheesecake that was scrumptious.
The server was very efficient but a little to brash at times — but all in all a very nice dining experience and we will return again soon.
Update: Another trip a few weeks later with friends proved to be a hit with them as well. They were very pleased with all aspects of the meal and are looking forward to returning again on their own soon.

Wow! Friend got her son’s 1^st communion party catered from Rigoletto. Loved it all, but must make special mention of the eggplant rollatini, exquisite. All her guests were crazy about the food too, we are making plans now to have dinner there soon…

There are lots of Italian byo options in Monmouth County so you need to be good to survive. This place is waaay better than good, and really seems to be thriving. This was our 3^rd trip here in the last 2 years on a relatively slow Saturday evening in August. Seems they have a wealthy customer base because the owner, who waited on us, told us most of their regulars were away for the summer at their beach houses and that the place gets jammed on weekends once the summer is over. I believe her so probably a good idea to make a reservation in advance.
The first thing you notice when you walk in the place is the burgundy red bordello-​ish curtain you pass through to enter the rustically decorated dining room. The four-​legged wood tables are pretty cool, definitely different. So the place has a nice warm feel.
As for the food, we had a great meal. We shared a delicious salad with goat cheese, candied nuts, etc. Almost licked the plate when we were done. I had the pork chop special which was cooked perfectly and to die for, and my wife had the Angel Hair Rigoletto which was also great.
My only complaint is that service has been a bit spotty over our few visits here. For example, on this visit things were moving along at a nice pace and then it took a long time to order dessert and get the check.
Bottom line… this is a great choice for a casual evening of great Italian food in a pleasant setting where you can bring your own wine.