RIGOLETTO BAR AND GRILL — Restaurant in Tokyo

It was Halloween night on a Friday, and my husband and I had planned a dinner with another couple. They booked a table for 7:30pm, and when we arrived, we were immediately greeted by the festive spirit, staff with Halloween face paint, fun decorations everywhere, and a lively crowd filling both the bar and dining area. The atmosphere was incredible, energetic, modern, and stylish, it really reminded me of the vibrant bars and restaurants in London.

We were seated near the open kitchen, slightly elevated so we could see the whole restaurant. It felt exciting to watch the chefs work while hearing the buzz of happy conversations around us.

We ordered drinks first (I don’t drink, but my husband and our friends enjoyed trying different beers throughout the night), and then came the food, a wonderful selection of Italian-style dishes with a modern twist.

We started with the “Prosciutto 10 Months” served with breadsticks. Thin, delicate slices of ham with just the right saltiness, simple but delicious, and a great way to begin.

Next came the “Tomato Stewed Tuna Cheek”. It was beautifully presented but quite small. The sauce had a lovely depth, though the texture and flavour of the tuna cheek felt quite similar to regular tuna, I couldn’t help but imagine how interesting it might taste if it were beef instead.

The “Fresh Catch Carpaccio” followed, also a very small portion, but the fish was fresh, clean-tasting and enjoyable.

Then came the star of the night, the “Genovese Napoletana Pizza”. The moment it arrived, we knew we were in for something special. With slow-cooked Wagyu beef, onion sauce, gouda and basil, every bite was heavenly. The crust was perfect, soft and chewy at the rim, not too thick, not too thin. The beef was incredibly tender and juicy, and the flavours blended so well that we found ourselves saying “wow” after each bite. Definitely eat it while it’s hot, that’s when it truly shines!

After that, we tried the “Aglio Olio Pasta with Dried Baby Sardines, Bottarga & Perilla”. It smelled amazing and the portion was just right. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, which I love. Although it looked simple at first glance, the flavour was delicate and layered, and the dried baby sardines added a lovely savoury touch.

Finally, we had the Grilled Pork Spare Ribs. Two ribs, served with mashed potatoes, sounds simple, but the taste was unforgettable. The ribs were juicy, tender, and packed with flavour, and I loved that the bones were long enough to hold and enjoy every bit of meat. The mashed potatoes were creamy and delicious, even though I was already quite full, I still couldn’t stop eating them.

We left feeling extremely satisfied, full stomachs, happy hearts. The atmosphere, the service, and the food all came together for a fantastic evening. There is a table charge of ¥400 per person, just to note, but for the experience, we think it’s absolutely worth it.

My husband and I are already planning our next visit, and when we go back, we will definitely order the “Genovese Napoletana Pizza” and “Grilled Pork Spare Ribs” again. Highly recommended for a fun date night or dinner...

Spend your money elsewhere 😬 Absolute mess from start to finish. (For context the staff serving us spoke fairly fluent English, and we spoke basic Japanese- so this isn’t a case of lost in translation.)

I asked the server about a chicken pasta with short noodles- they told me the sauce was a cream and red blend and that the spice level could be adjusted. Based on that, I asked for mild spice.

What I got was a SHRIMP pasta with completely different noodles— I politely told the expo this wasn’t what I ordered, yet, the expo disregarded this and INSISTED it was chicken, even though shrimp was clearly visible…. imagine if I had a shellfish allergy.

They eventually realized it was shrimp after much dismissal and remade the dish, but when it arrived, the pasta came out completely RAW, like inedible raw- clearly rushed as it was a remake. On top of that, there was no cream in the sauce — just red — and the spice was NOWHERE near mild.

I’ve worked in the service industry for over 9 years, I understand mistakes happen. I was very polite when we told the server about the issue- who brought over the manager. She 100% brushed it off, saying she checked with the chef and that’s how the pasta is “supposed” to be cooked. They didn’t even consider offering a remake….. I guess crunchy and raw pasta is their specialty!

No apology, no ownership, and they DIDN’T comp the dish (even though it was essentially untouched) ….. unbelievable.

This was a mess from start to finish. Absolutely will not...

Beautiful skyline views, affordable cocktails, and an abundance of ambient lighting set the stage at Rigoletto Bar and Grill - but the overall vibe doesn’t quite land, mostly due to the music. At first, the space feels like a stylish night bar with unique lighting and a clean, dimly lit interior. But after an hour of generic house tracks - so flat and sterile they could’ve been composed by a corporate boardroom - the atmosphere starts to lose its appeal.

Still, there were highlights. The El Porn Star cocktail - with chili and coconut milk - was a fun surprise. I also had the double burger, which was nothing special on paper but ended up a gory mess that left me greatly satisfied. My girlfriend had the Chipotle Burger, and she was satisfied with it as well.

We were lucky to get seats at the bar without a reservation - the place was fully booked. Props to the bar setup: hooks for purses and baskets for bags were a thoughtful touch. The staff were unexpectedly international and remained professional and efficient throughout.

We regularly visit their HACIENDA DEL CIELO location, which consistently delivers better food, atmosphere, and music. Rigoletto falls a tad short by comparison, but it’s a decent choice if you’re nearby and want a decent cocktail...