Just okay The Good 1. Brand new waitress today, whose obviously been dumped on but she did a great ! 2. Food came out fast 3. Decent size parking lot with overflow 4.Good wine The Bad 1. My dish was bland and I ordered "spicy" 2. They only have ice-cream for dessert. 3. The atmosphere and and layout is awkward. 3. Somehow they mistook tea for coffee and the customer would not let the waitress forget it ! 4. Everything just seems grimy-unclean. 5. Young employees but older patrons
(3)
Omar D.
Fantastic Italian Food, Service and Setting Our family has been coming to Riggios for years and it has only gotten better over the years. Eating at the restaurant is always fun and when we can, we do despite it being further than many other Italian places by our home. Carry out is great and they get it right every single time! The manager is a great guy and the restaurant does well under his leadership. This is the real thing. Highly recommend!
(5)
Bob S.
We eat out a lot and decided to grab the Reggios groupon. I grew up with first generation Italian cooking but appreciate the variety I get eating out and enjoy most restaurants at this price point (an many well under). Even with the coupon, the dinner was overpriced for the quality. The service was good and the appetizer was exceptional. From there, everything was a downward trajectory. The salad was decent and the Minestrone was not bad but tasted more like french onion. The entrees were edible but ended there. The food was cold and under-seasoned and the Alfredo separated on the plate. So many good options on NW side (many right on Milwaukee) that are cheaper and so much better. Maybe the Pizza is what keeps em running, I will never know
(2)
Mark P.
Nothing bad, but nothing good. Mediocre food. Nice decor. Mediocre service. The salads were good.
(3)
Elizabeth P.
Attending dinner at Riggios started as a nostalgic filled afternoon. Riggios is one of those places that you think is great as a child, but once you grow up and go back you realize it was only good because your parents were taking you out. .... Let's fast forward to the present. Our waitress was nice but she failed at trying to effectively use light hearted table banter. She was almost offensive, but not. We had to ask for bread, and when we did we were told our appetizers would be coming soon... ( way to be chincy on the bread) After what seemed like an eternity, our food arrives. I was excited to eat a common Italian dish of Fettuccine Alfredo....simple enough, should be cooked pasta, creamy sauce, heavy butter , meat if you choose. I got hard pasta, what looked like dry microwaved chicken chunks, and some special seasons that should not be in this dish. ( tasted like ginger) My husband ordered seafood ravioli, I guess the only seafood was because he could "see" his food. Perhaps there was canned lobster chunks, but it was hard to tell. My daughter's pasta was delicious. ... plain spaghetti in olive oil. ( she's 3) Everyone else in our party enjoyed their bland meals, but everyone else was also over 60....love ya ma! I think this is a place for old timers.....bland food, bland service, bland decor.
(2)
Karen M.
I had a Groupon for 2 for 1 dine-in. The 3 pasta dishes we ordered were okay, nothing special. The Waiter was attentive and nice but not very well versed on the menu. I will stick with their pizza, which is consistently good.
(3)
Curt M.
Very Very Disappointed. Let me start out by saying that this was one of my favorite places for Pizza in the 70's and 80's. After Today's meal I won't be back. 12" pizza with mushrooms, ground beef, and iced tea way too expensive at $25. The pizza had no flavor, very little sauce, and was over baked. There was actually huge pieces of charcoal here and there on the bottom of the pie. With the classical music in the background The ambiance was sad and sleepy....
The staff are always friendly, comfortable place whether dining with my wife or if we bring the whole family. Have never been disappointed with any entree - lasagna, pasta, chicken, salmon, everything is solid. Kids are always happy with the pizza & the spaghetti & other items. Never a bad experience here & I've been returning for years.
(4)
Selvana Y.
We been to Reggio's for dinner, pricey for nothing ( meaning nothing special about their food), their waitress has no knowledge regarding dry or sweet white wine options; We decided to not go back any more :(
(1)
Howard L.
We've been passing by this place on and off for 30 years, and we finally stopped in with a Groupon certificate. It has a dated exterior, but the interior has been modernized somewhat with 3 dining areas, flat screen TV's, and a bar area. We weren't too ambitious on their Italian menu and just tried their pizza and it was a hit. It was quite good, with a touch of that nice, burnt carmelized flavor. It was also cheesy, and plentiful with the sausage and mushrooms - all for $18.80 for a 12". I would come back just or the pizza. The restaurant also has plentiful parking on both sides of the restaurant and you can park just steps away from the entrance and conveniently right off of Oakton.
(4)
Gary B.
New owners and you can tell. Ordered 3 pizzas to go. Brought a $3 coupon but they would only grant $1.50 due to a change in the coupon that the $3 off is only with 2 ingredients or more but they couldn't grant me $3 with three pizzas? (wonder what lawyer thought of that one? The sausage was lacking on all of them. Some pieces had non at all! Bye Riggios, I won't be back!
(1)
Steve O.
I love this place. Always on time with carry out orders and they're always as good as the sit in versions. It feels warm and inviting and the staff is very pleasant and accommodating.
(5)
thaisha c.
Went to eat here after my sister saying she had a groupon. We both has a side salad, it was good, portions were big. The pizza, a deep dish cheese and sausage was not my cup of tea..it was litteraly cheese and sauce on top of foccacia bread..lots of bread! Would I return, probably..but on a high note my server was very nice :)
(3)
Deanna R.
Very good for the area( which is NOT Italian ;)) with big portions, easy to share. We enjoyed the farfalle pesto primavera. And big kudos that they are BYOB! treated us well. Next time I will try the pizza!
(4)
Dave S.
Ate there 5-20-15 for the first and last time. Waiter should write the orders down, but it looks so cool, and TRENDY not to, while he struggles to remember it. Ordered a TWELVE INCH pizza with 4 toppings, and it was $23.75. Also ordered lasagna and it was SMALL, came with nothing else, and looked lonely on the plate. I felt sorry for it. It cost $13.00. Also an order of garlic bread, which the waiter forgot about, because he tried to remember it. This lasagna was bland, sloppy, SMALL, and overpriced. It did not have that BAKED look on the top, indicating to me that it was stored frozen and microwaved. The pizza was good, but I have had better than that! The garlic bread was fantastic, but I mean I's GARLIC BREAD, so an Italian restaurant should be able to pull that one off. LOL I will happily pay more for a dinner in which the food is a cut above. In this case you are paying more for food that is SUB-PAR. CHEAP RESTAURANTS water down their Coca-Cola. That is what this one did, and it was $2.75 in a SMALL glass which means you have to constantly ask the waiter for more. "Easy Ice" means nothing to them. Now that I have looked at the receipt, it says ICED TEA, which is what my friend ordered. Did I say that the waiter should write it all down? Grand total: $48.51 + 20% tip, (I am very gracious) was $58.51. That = two 16oz STEAK DINNERS at Texas Roadhouse. LOL
(1)
Natalia C.
Horrible. Don't go here, the food was absolutely disgusting and very obviously over priced. I usually am fine with eating out anywhere, even if the place has bad reviews, but this was just total sh*t.. Especially for the price. The bread that was brought out (15min after we got seated) was stale. The little broccoli soup had one baby broccoli head in it and was nothing special. Could get better one @ panera for way cheaper. Im pretty sure that the pasta was old and just got heated up in the microwave. I got a chicken sandwich with crispy chicken rather than grilled and when it came I new it was going to be bad. I took two bites and began to feel sick. I don't know what they did with that chicken but it made me very worried. It tasted raw and just very disgusting. I was hoping I could at least be satisfied with some damn fries, but those were obviously just some cheap a** tiny ones that you can get at the frozen section in the dollar store. Really? (12$ for the sandwitch and fries) I got an Americana coffee which was $2 and was about 1/3 of a cup.. Rest was milk. Also, I got grossed out by their glasses. Very foggy.. You can tell they don't wash them properly.. Probably just soak them in ht water. Altogether we spent $40. For what? S*itty food (and service) If I'm going to spend that kind of money on eating out, I'm going to Cheesecake Factory. I haven't ate McDonalds in over 2 years but if I had to chose between Riggios or McDonalds, I would chose McDonalds in a heartbeat! Who the hell pays that much money for such crappy food?? No wonder it was so dead over there!! Save your money!! These are THEVES!!
(1)
Vesna S.
I went with my friend wednesday night .used my groupon .service was great -girl was very nice serving us and keep asking is it anything else she can do for us !calamari grilled and fried were delicious !The bottle of "merlot "vine was very good price -only $20.We were Pleasantly surprised !Only thing that bothered us was restouant was almost empty !Anyway we enjoyed our diner &I will come back for sure next week !
(4)
Livvy O.
I'm not big of Italian food, but I have to say this place was average like most. It was a birthday dinner so this was not choice of my own. I liked the bread selection with the olive oil and parmesan. I ordered the zucchini soup which was delicious! As far as my meal - I ordered the baked rigatoni. It was good, except they burnt the pasta around the edges. The meatball could have been better, the meat quality tasted kind of cheap. It also came with sausage which I don't like but that was my fault for not reading the fine print. The group was split in half with happiness with their meals. Word of advice, don't order the fettuccine Alfredo and lasanga which were both bland or the seafood pasta which had hardly any seafood. I had to say mine wasn't bland, but if you like sausage, it would be a winner. Two other people ordered the Lufranos special which they both enjoyed and was similar to my dish.
(3)
Wendy K.
Why did we go there? Went for my sister's birthday as a second choice, bc it was Monday, and her first choice was closed. Got water almost ten minutes after we sat down, then ordered cocktails which came another ten minutes later, aound the same time the bread basket arrived. The cocktails were not what we ordered. The waitress, while very nice, had no idea what was stocked in the bar, and was not knowledgable about the menu. My salmon, at $19, was about what you would expect if you were getting a meal on an airplane, but a bigger portion. Slow, overpriced, poor food. Writing this review to help remind myself not to go there again for any reason!
(1)
Georgia B.
The last time we were at Riggios, the food did not impressed us, NOT A BIT. Sorry, I used to love this place, it was below average on our last visit. They need to check the kitchen and make sure the quality is still there it surely wasn't last night. The Pesto pizza which used to be "to die for" was not good, no flavor and tasted frozen and reheated!! I had the Large "stuffed shells" (which were lasagna pasta sheets folded over filling of cheese and spinach) who were they trying to fool! Absolutely tasteless. Everything was so bland no flavors popped out of any of our meals! The prices were very high also for what we got! On a good note our server was very attentive and very nice. He was doing his best! Don't think we will be back there again...so many other Italian places to try...too bad!
(2)
A. T. T.
Just a wonderful place to eat! Warm, welcoming atmosphere and really good Italian food with flair! Lots to choose from, and they are amenable to making substitutions and changes based on your preferences, which lots of places will not do! Intimate atmosphere yet it actually kind of feels like you're in somebody's big old home! The decor is interesting and they have a nice big parking lot, which helps in the winter time! Really like this place and have been back multiple times and will be back again!
(4)
lou L.
Just awful... Awful food...Awful service...no free refills on soft drinks... Stay away.. Do not know how this place stays open?
(1)
Mike K.
If you like Italian food made by non Italians I.e. Ukraine or Polish this is the place for you. After eating there for over 40 years and in the past 10 years having that it was time for a post. The owner is Italian, he should order some of the food to go anonymously. A table spoon of dressing with your salad and 4 shrimp to an order with a bunch of 1/4 inch shrimp doesn't cut it. Or a meatball sandwich with parm cheese an you get a few sprinkles of cheese, hum. No bread either. Not to mention when you ask for a Jamason and yasemosh can't find it that is a problem. When it's right on the top shelf and I have to point it out. Amici here we come
(1)
Joelle S.
The last time we were at Riggios, neither the food or the service impressed us, NOT A BIT. Sorry, I used to love this place, everything about it was average on our last visit. The vodka sauce was rather bland. Now, I'm not going to blast them for one bad meal... I've had multiple dinner parties there and they have always been very good. But... I have to say, they need to check the kitchen and make sure the quality is still there!
(3)
Paul P.
This place was absolutely disgusting. Frozen vegetables. My girlfriend and I took one bite of our food and stopped. No flavor whatsoever. A child could have made better food. Cold, stale bread was served. Pasta with cold sauce plopped in the center of the plate. Highly dissapointed
(1)
Ana M.
This review is just for the pizza. I have not had the pleasure of dining at the restaurant yet. One of our clients brought us some carry-out pizza from Riggio's. I have to say that this is one of the best sausage thin crust pizzas I have had. I would definitely consider visiting their location just to have the pizza again.
(4)
J T.
Had a Groupon here so went for an early dinner. Our waitress was very attentive but then again we were the only ones there. Food was really good. Italian beef sandwich on garlic bread and the meat ravioli very tasty. The restaurant could use a make over in decor. All in all, it was worth trying.
(3)
M. S.
I've really tried to like this place after 3 visits here. All I can say is that the food is okay. If you don't speak up when placing your phone order you get scolded. The first aroma you get when walking into a restaurant should be food not what I smelled (this may differ for you so I'll let you fill in the blank).
(2)
Mister M.
I remember a Riggio's on Western Ave. from many years ago. This one does not compare. Bland, bland, and more bland. . .poor service. . .and I always wonder about a place that brings too-hot-from-the-oven food to the table. The highlight was the bread basket and olive oil, which says a lot. If you are looking for an authentic Italian meal, this is not the place. Very rarely have I or the Mrs. refused to try to eat more, but (no joke) we both had our fill after eating about a third of our food. We will not be back.
(1)
JoAnne L.
Long time customer....just not the same???? Eggplant parm???? I think not!!!
(1)
vince v.
Went for the sun set menu special 2 for 1 entrees. Need to purchase two drinks ok. Than the bill came and it was way more than expected.They added 18% service charge automatically with out asking.they said because you had the special we add gratuity on the bill. I usually tip 20% but this was very bad customer service.WILL NOT BE BACK AND WILL TELL ALL MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS SCAM!!!! NOT TO REASONABLE TO START. AND JUST OK FOOD!
(1)
Debbie I.
I used to eat here years ago and the food was always excellent. So recently I purchased a Groupon and brought my daughter here for lunch. Again, the food was excellent. The bread is probably one of the best breads I have ever had. Their minestrone soup is outstanding! The pasta in the soup is al dente as it should be so I was very impressed. We had the spaghetti and meatballs which was very good as well. Service was great. All in all, great dining experience. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Rob W.
This is a solid three star review. I used to drive by this place all the time and always thought about trying it but never did. A recent Groupon offering sealed the deal and I tried it for lunch on a Friday afternoon. I was surprised at the interior - while I didn't really know what to expect, the high walls and ceiling and numerous rooms was a bit different - and also seemed like a waste of space. I was greeted soon after walking in - though the way the place is set up, unless someone is standing at the desk, there's no way of really knowing that someone has entered the restaurant. I was seated at a booth on the east side of the restaurant - about five other tables seated as well, not too busy for a Friday lunch. The menu had a decent variety of traditional southern Italian dishes. I wasn't sure what to order so I asked my waitress for her recommendations. She suggested numerous dishes - almost at the point of the waitress who responds "everything is good" when asking for specific pointers. Nonetheless, I forged on and selected the baked rigatoni. The entree included soup or salad, so I opted for clam chowder. It was pretty well loaded with clams, though not as thick as some chowders I've enjoyed. The breadbasket that came out had a nice variety of breads, including a decent foccacia and an onion bread that I really enjoyed. The entree came out in a skillet type dish - never seen it prepared like that before but functional for sure. Initially I was a little disappointed with the size of the portion relative to the price ($12 or $12.50, can't recall which), but as I consumed it, I came to discover that it was loaded with a sizeable meatball and a lot of sausage, so in that sense, Riggio's was NOT being stingy! I also had a lemon ice for dessert that was good - when I left I was pretty full and content all in all with the experience. Will I return? Yes, I just bought the $20 for $10 Yelp deal when I came to this page to write the review. Without the Yelp deal, I'd say I would go back if in the area, but it wasn't sooo good that I would drive out of the way to return. This is one I should update after my next visit. I surely enjoyed this place a lot more than some recent reviewers - it will be interesting to see if my return stop is as good, better or worse than the first.
(3)
Jack M.
I've eaten many pizzas over the last five decades, but Riggio's thin crust sausage/mushroom is the best. Great staff, fair prices, nice dining room or easy take out (plenty of free parking). Stop what you're doing now and order some pizza.
(5)
Andy O.
I can't technically say I've dined here because my wife and I walked out before we could finish order. When you walk in it looks like a typical Italian restaurant and my wife found a groupon for $10 off so we figure we would give it a try. We sat down and she knew from the get go that she wanted the chicken Parmesan. However she ironically does not like Parmesan cheese on it only mozzarella. The waitress however said it was not possible to prepare it this way because the food was already made and they just reheat it in the oven. Enough said for me. I can microwave my own food at home, we walked out and contacted groupon for a refund. Beware.
(1)
Tom W.
I picked up a Groupon for Riggio's carryout and had some high hopes. A pesto pizza and a veal parmesan sandwich were ordered but when I went to pick it up a full veal dinner had been put in for the order instead, adding an additional $10 to the bill. Fine, I'll deal with a simple mistake. I should have returned it right there. As far as the pizza goes it was acceptable though the crust was disappointing. For the price I expect fresh dough and did not get it. The veal, with the vegetable side, soup and garlic bread was a wreck. I honestly didn't think you could hammer veal that thin, but its leathery texture explained how Riggio's pulled it off. Besides thin and tough meat, the sauce was bland. The carrots were steamed and utterly void of flavor. Maybe a little salt could have helped. The minestrone soup was comparable to a can of Campbell's. No better, no worse. Riggio's also managed to make garlic bread that was both burnt and chewy. A late Christmas miracle but they pulled it off. I would give them no stars but for the pizza which was overpriced but not terrible. Even with a Groupon, Riggio's is no deal. No chance I'll return.
(1)
John A.
Could have been the entree but not that great. Went on a Groupon deal.
(2)
Jack O.
Always great pizza. I always ask for it to be well done. Not a bad Italian item in the menu. You fell like your eating at grandma's. Awesome surroundings, atmosphere and service. Could not name an improvement.
(5)
David W.
- 1 star for awkward waitress - 1 star for watery salad - 1 star for super small portion of chicken on salad not going back!
(2)
Randall K.
AWSOME PIZZA. Really great pizza. Fantastic pizza. We ate in, so the pizza was hot and really, really good. I had sausage, great. I had pepperoni, great. I passed on the cheese, but the kids liked it. We also had the calamari. The fried was institutional, but decent. The Grilled was better. The red sauce was cold. Not very good. Service was really bad too. One of those places where he waitress is "bothered" to wait on us. I guess she didn't know she was working on tips. BUT....the pizza was AWSOME. I'd go back for the pizza.
(3)
Michael E.
I loved the southwest BBQ chicken thin crust pizza!!! Yummy....and of course great service from my two favorite servers, Adrian n George...top notch service
(5)
Kelsey W.
This was a very disappointing meal. Our waitress was extremely socially awkward and only came to our table once. The selection on the menu looked promising but I ordered the baked ziti and it was disgusting. It was just sitting in a ton of grease. Ate a couple bites, asked for a box, and threw it in the back dumpster. Won't be back.
(1)
Nick B.
My family have eaten at Riggios for many years, including the one in Chicago on Western Ave. We have patronized the Riggios in Niles, IL for many years and found that the last 3 times we ate there, it has changed for the worst. For the most part, the food including the pizza has been consistent but, when my wife and I went there on New Years Eve, 7:00 pm, it was dead like the Alamo. The host who's been there for many years was rude, as always, threw our menus on our table and did not say like, welcome to Riggios. Our waitress who was inexperienced was very nice. We have never got the same wait staff there in many years which tells you something. We ordered a large thin crust pizza with pepperoni, green peppers, onions & easy garlic. It was great as usual. Something on the pizza kept me & my wife up all night with indegestion. To add insult to injury, the server did not know how to handle gift cards. The host or manager, threw my card on the table with anger and said my card cannot be activated. The next day I checked with the credit card company and they said it was activated. Their prices keep going up. Our 16" pizza with 3 ingredients was $30.10. A lot more for their competitors that have deep dish pizzas. A small quarter glass of Pinot Griggio was $8.00. I told the waitress I didn't want to buy the whole bottle:)
(2)
Jeff W.
Went here for lunch. First of all. No one at the counter. Finally a manager or owner noticed me and reluctantly wandered over to seat me. Ordered the Linguini with Clams. This thing wasn't exactly swimming in oil because the grease was so thick. The pasta was WAY under cooked. I'm not sure how any chef or cook could have thought that pasta was ready. It wasn't bending very easily. I simply pushed the food aside and was taking care of some business on my phone. The waitress noticed I didn't eat the meal. i pointed out that it was inedible. She apologized and asked if I'd like anything else. I mentioned that I didn't have the time. She didn't offer to not charge as I hadn't even taken a bite. The only people in there were grand parents. Please do your part in sending this place a message. DO NOT EAT HERE.
(1)
Brian B.
Riggio's is trying to be something it's not. For those that used to know, it used to be a cheap place to eat that specialized in pizza. They remodeled everything and doubled the prices. The food was pretty good but the value just wasn't there. The portions weren't huge. Even basic pasta dishes were $13.50. Service was horrible. My server didn't know what she was doing. Getting my water refilled was a hassle. She ran my credit card without applying the Groupon. The dessert portion of their menu said "cannolis" and I only got one. The filling it contained was good but it was a soupy mess. They sat a family with a kid next to me that thought the forks and knives were drumsticks. I had a Groupon which made me feel like I didn't get totally ripped off but I would never go in there any pay full price.
(2)
Brigitte M.
This is absolutely our favorite place for thin crust, cheese only pizza. We always order it with extra sauce and it's as good as it gets! I admit we haven't tried anything else there, because we get ready to order something else from the menu and don't want to miss out on our favorite pizza. In fact, we compare every other thin crust pizza to Riggio's. Wish we lived a little closer.
(5)
Steve W.
I've even familiar with riggios for quite a long time ... Recently moved back a couple blocks away. This is not the same place I remember. Sorry to say won't be giving it another chance. Had a carry out order tonight .... I should have returned it. Meatball was dry and tasteless, pasta was way overdone. Honestly noodles & co has better pasta and meatballs. I thought I ordered lasagna, not sure what it was. Just a big disappointment all around, my advice would be to go elsewhere.
(1)
Dee M.
We had a groupon to go here and we just moved to the area so we thought we'd check it out. My fiance got the Chicken Marsala which was pretty tasty and I got the Meat Ravioli and it was awful. I didn't even finish it cause it was so gross. If we ever decide to go back I'll try the pizza. A few people near us had it and it looked really good. To end on a good note our server was great and really on top of things.
(2)
Elle F.
We used a Yelp deal. The meat was very good, the pasta quite un-memorable. I probably wouldn't go back, just because there's so many other great Italian restaurants in town.
(3)
Laura N.
For Christmas, my parents gave my boyfriend and I a gift certificate to this restaurant for a nice dinner - neither of us had been here before. We finally made reservations for a Wednesday night. It's a very cute restaurant that is bigger inside that it looks on the outside. Great stucco and brick walls, decor, etc. We were seated at a booth in one section of the restaurant. It seemed divided into four parts: the smaller front dining area, the bar area, a dining area with tables and chairs, a dining area with booths. Bread: Great! The basket arrived with three different types of bread and we were supplied with olive oil and cheese for the dipping. Caesar salad: YUM. Good size, too. Bruschetta: Delicious. There was no cheese on it, though. Chicken Florentine with Fettuccine Alfredo: THE BEST. Chicken was cooked perfectly, the sauce was rich and creamy (not watery) and the noodles were thick and cooked well, too. Our waitress was also very friendly and the busboys seemed very, very nice (our glasses of water were always at least half-full)! I probably didn't have to make the reservations. The restaurant had a lot of diners, but there were still a few empty tables. I imagine it is packed with the need for reservations on weekend nights. We are very excited to return in the near future!
(5)
Jimmy J.
Too old school to thrive. Needs new blood. But a solid thin crust.
(3)
Steven M.
I wanted to like this place since it was my pop's staple back in the day. The last time I was here was for a H.S. party in 1984 and the only thing I remember about that was one of the guys was eating the pats of butter! It was Wednesday afternoon and the place was dead. It did have a couple dozen crustaceans inside, but like I said. It was dead! We were seated promptly and the server took our drink order. I started with a salad and as soon as I saw it, I knew it had been made the day before and put in the fridge. The leaves were wilted and stuck to the plate and the ranch was forgettable. The fettucini looked good and they were nice and light. But I kept getting this fish taste from them? The chicken parm that my mom had, looked like a Burger King slab with sauce. Now I know this place has been here since 1952. So that would mean you don't have a mortgage anymore and you can afford to serve better food. But the prices are ridiculous for what you get. 16 bucks for the plate of pasta I got and 5 bucks more if I wanted shrimp (Is that where the fish taste came from?) would be acceptable if I was in a modern restaurant that had a chef who knew what Italian food tasted like. Not so much for this shabby-not-so-chic sicilian buca with it's log carvings on the wall and Olive Pit Garden wannabe food. Thanks for the memories! But I am all grown up now. buca translation Italian - English : buca, che sf (gen, Golf) hole:
(2)
Katie W.
Excellent pizza! Sausage was great and the sauce was tasty. The grilled calamari was too cold and had a strange tasting spice. Good service and a very cold pitcher of beer. Will definitely be back for the pizza!!!
(4)
Elaine P.
Chicken was not cooked, still raw in the center. They did not want to take the chicken back to the kitchen and cook it some more. Horrible dinner. A few things with this restaurant. First of all, in regards to their "coupons" and "reggio's club" -- they make up their own rules day by day. They may not honor coupons because it is "a weekend" or because you ordered something they do not consider to be worth a coupon. Unfortunately, none of this is printed or listed. So by the time you get the bill, they do what they want. Would skip this place and look elsewhere to eat. Just a horrible experience.
(1)
Linda C.
Mediocre food; brusque almost rude service.
(1)
Rae C.
This is one of those old-fashioned places that your parents and grandparents went to decades ago. Why I decided to go is beyond me since there are better options in the area. The place wasn't busy but I had to wait five minutes to get a seat. The menu is lackluster at best. There's nothing inspiring or exciting on the menu. My friend and I decided to order a small pizza and also split the chicken parmigiana. Both were pretty bad. The pizza was a pile of grease that was overly bland. The chicken parm was drowned in generic marinara sauce and salt. Again, no flavor. Sorry, but I won't be coming back Riggio's. Maybe I'll see you on Kitchen Nightmares or Restaurant Impossible in the near future.
(1)
Cat D.
Our waiter was very nice and attentive he gets a gold star. As for the rest of it the wood carving on the wall would have tasted better. Both the veal and strip steak were beyond cooked, reminds me of shoe leather! Not worth wasting your time or money. ..
(1)
Christina K.
Bought a giftcard from Resturants.com so we can try it out. It was for $25 then there was all this terrible fine print.. so that $25 ended up covering the tip and our drinks. This place looks nice on the outside and is an absolute craphole on the inside. Plastic table clothes with fruit on them that belong on a grandma kitchen table and tvs on in the resturant part! what the... so strange. the food was alright. My husband order a steak and it came with squash. strange selection.. Good for me because I love squash the problem is that there was no seasoning on it so it was very bland. The steak was fine. I had a salad and french onion soup and the soup was the worst I have EVER had and the salad was also just fine. We have 2 more giftcards for here and sadly will not end up using them.
(2)
Jay W.
Last time I was here was a little while back, but today something reminded me why I stopped coming here. We got a Groupon offer, so I thought to check the menu and get a fresh idea what the Groupon would get us. Last time I was here we had pizza, pretty good as I recall. Not great, but above average. WOW! It must be a while since I bought a pizza there. Quick math reveals the pizza we normally get would be $30 for a 16" thin crust! No, no way. Their pizza isn't that good. Not even close. The other food is average to below average for Italian food in the area (for which alternate choices are abundant). Yes in the 70s, 80s this place was pretty good. By the 90s, they'd been surpassed by the competition. I think they've stalled out there. [Last time I was at the Howard Street Inn, the pizza was great. WAY better deal, too.]
(2)
Bill M.
I dined at Riggio's with a couple of buddies on Friday evening. I had never heard of the place before (no, it's not related to Reggio's frozen pizza) and none of us really lives near this place. One of my buds had dined here before, and I was not the one driving up to Niles so what the heck. I enjoyed a nice and relaxing dinner here, and we did not even have to wait for a table (perhaps the locals are here for the "sunset menu" with 2 for 1 entrees between 330-530PM on weekdays?). The three of us split a small thin cheese pizza as appetizer. I really liked the minestrone soup and the eggplant parmigiana, though the side of penne pasta was a bit bland. The cannoli was good, with a filling that was more creamy than dense. No real surprises here, just a nice solid Italian meal.
(4)
Tony M.
Riggios has a great pizza. the sausage is great with fennel in it and the crust is crispy and buttery. the staff is very friendly and greets you at the doors. On any usual night you can see many locals in here sitting at the bar and dining. I haven't tried any of the entrees but I would like to in the future. Such a Great little restaurant.
(4)
Brian C.
We went last night, armed with our 2 for 1 coupon that had arrived in our mailbox that day. The coupon had some fine print, though. We each had to order a drink, and 18% gratuity based on the full value of the 2 meals would be automatically added. Not that big a deal, but coupons with too many conditions, not the best marketing plan overall. I had an Italian syrah (yes, it really does exist in Italy), and it wasn't bad. Syrah is most fickle, so kudos for this, but I'm not sure if $7-$7.50 is the range for wines by the glass given what they were serving. Salad was okay, about as expected. I had an okay pasta dish that had a meatball and some Italian sausage. It ran about $15. My wife had an eggplant parm dish, and it cost about the same amount. She really didn't get a very good portion, though. And when she ordered a decaf espresso after dinner, they seemed to skimp on it. A sip was about all she got. We live in Edison Park, so without the coupon, it's hard to justify driving out to Riggio's and paying these prices. We have a lot of places by us that charge comparable prices, and they are certainly a cut above Riggio's. Riggio's could create a niche for itself if they didn't overcharge for their food. It could be something like Dave's in Evanston. I am having a hard time understanding what Riggio's strategy is today. They just don't deliver at the level expected at that price point. And if they want to offer deals, they have to keep it simple. Coupons are great, but too many conditions make them a real hassle.
(2)
nicole h.
I was here for a party and everything was served family style. The service was pretty good. The food was A-OK. The house salad was a delightful mix of greens and veggies and the salad was light and flavorful. The entrees were a little boring, but solid. The pizza was good, but not outstanding. The service was good. It is what it is. A-OK.
(3)
Better B.
I had a Groupon (I am new to groupon) and called them to ask if I could use the groupon with a carry out and was told YES. I drove 4 miles and got there to have them tell me that it was NOT good for a carry out. I did not have the time to stay and dine. Anyway, our family is large and we are new to the area and have a couple of weddings and christenings coming up and I was told that this might be a good place to have the party events.So, I was casing out the place and thought that this might be a good way to check out some of the appetizers (intending to come back again when I could actually stay for dinner). That's not going to happen now. How could I trust their word on plans like wedding rehearsal and christening parties that involve hundreds of dollars if they can not HONOR their word when they say something is so. I spoke to the manager who said that he would speak to the EE. Not one word about honoring the coupon OR come back for a complimentary drink or whatever on us for your efforts. Poor management = poorly trained or versed staff. In this day and age, I would think that customer satisfaction would be very important to staying alive. But maybe not that important to this place. Well, thought that others might want to know this about what they TELL people and what they actually DO (two different things). As my Dad taught me, "Your word is your bond". Was this $ 20 dollar groupon worth all the money that this place could have potentially earned from our family???
(1)
Vi D.
This restaurant is a disaster! Very poor service, the weitress barely spoke any English! The food was awfull, no taste, cold, dry meat. Kids menu overpriced, we got small plate of pasta for 6 $ and nothing came with it! The wine glasses are propably less than 4 oz, and were very expensive. The worst for me me was the silverware was just laying on a dirty mat, and the table was wiped with a dirty rag! I hope i don't get sick from this! I hope the management is reading this and they can fix this place!
(1)
Matteo S.
Great looking place---Great Service---Old style Italian menu not the greatest I would say emergency dining only Probably will not return My wife got really sick from the veal I hate to give a bad review but I have to . 30 years ago this place was the spot I think they should redo the menu.
(3)
Mandi M.
I used to like riggios, I really did... I've been here about 5 times, and those times have been pretty good, except for the time before last, my dad got a meatball sandwich, and got sick for 2 days after that..... But last time I went about a month ago I came with my dad, and I got baked rigatoni and my dad got lasagna, and when our food came, my pasta was LOADED with greese, i mean if I had a cup, i could literally tip the plate over and pour the greese/oil into the cup and it would be halfway full. I'm not too picky about greasy food, I really don't care but this was just too much, I had to get about 25 napkins to dab some of it off. And when my dad started eating his lasagna, he noticed there was a long black hair in it, and he pulled it out and set it down on the table, He wasn't going to make a big deal about it, but I told him thats gross and that he should tell our waitress. We told her, and she said its not hers, because her hair is curly AND LONG and this hair was straight, and that none of the cooks have long hair. ( I have long hair, so she was trying to hint it was mine) I have light brown hair, not BLACK, and why would my hair be in my dads food anyway?! But anyway, she went to the back, and said she can take half off his meal, and he said forget about it he didn't want to make a deal of it, but it totally turned us off, besides my pasta being loaded with oil, I don't think we will be coming back here again. Come on riggios, step it up!
(2)
Tom Z.
I had a chance to have the pizza this evening. I would like to give the place a 3 1/2 star rating, but that's not available, so I gave them the benefit of 4 stars. I thought the pizza was pretty good, but not the best I've had in the Chicago area. The crust was nice and crispy. The sauce was pretty good with a nice array of spices. There was just the right amount of cheese. There was the right amount of sausage, but it was very uneven on the top of the pizza. The sausage tasted pretty good. I will probably be back again.
(4)
Bill M.
The pizza was, as usual, very good. It is round pizza cut into squares. Only complaint is the wait staff tends to be unpleasant, which has been characteristic for the several times we have dined here. This time, our waitress actually rolled her eyes and sighed when we asked for additional drinks.
(4)
De I.
I ordered a pizza because my wife said they have good pizza. The pizza is way overrated. It's over priced and nothing special.
(1)
Susan B.
I've lived in Niles for years but always forget this place is here. We went there w/ friends ( Sunday) and we were greeted by a guy and 2 girls who said absolutely nothing to us. (but we seated right away). The place was calm & quiet, w/ several rooms ajoining each other-very cool pics, odd layout but who cares. The bread basket was good, warm, w/ different types of breads and some home made brown cracker thingys-good. Their table olive oil for the bread was like the good stuff. I had the eggplant parm. My salad was perfect, love their blue cheese dressing, my eggplant was on the small side, but very tastey, and the side of pasta was just right. My husband TOTALLY loved his thin crust pizza w/ green peppers, sausage etc. Normally he HATES green peppers--he is now a fan! Friends had a cheese pizza w/ extra cheese and told me it was perfecto. The prices are a tad high for absolutely no leftovers. Our service was very good, but the waitress seemed cold.. indifferent. ? Smile when your customers are there- we pay you!
(4)
Michael P.
I had the eggplant which is excellent! My friend had the ravioli and loved it. The chocolate mousse with strawberries and whip cream is great. The service is wonderful and friendly. They constantly come by to fill your water glasses. You can sign up and they will send you 2 for 1 lunch and dinner offers.
(5)
Leocris L.
1 more star. great, quick service on super bowl sunday.. the 'za was piping hot, and tasted awesome. it's probably my fav pizza spot at the moment.. it's pretty hard to beat. although, my only dilemma is pie or square slices. tough choice.
(5)
Jacob K.
I went here a while back and was pretty happy with the selection. The garlic bread was alright, the salad a bit wilted but the pizza was pretty good. Its super thin crust although I preferred the cheese over the sausage and peperoni which were overly greasy. I can't say much for the ambiance but if you are passing by and want a thin crust cheese pizza it might be worth your while to stop in.
(3)
Melissa P.
I found this place because I had a Groupon. Everything we ate was delicious. The seafood soup had good chunks of fresh fish. The riggatoni pasta was a generous portion with a really good sauce. The prices are very reasonable. I definitely plan on going back!
(5)
Adele S.
This is going to be an unfair review based on a not so recent visit, ok maybe six months to a year ago. It's been festering in the back of my mind and my recent trip to Super H Mart and subsequent drive down Oakton St. brought it back. Background info first...my family had gone to Riggio's for years and years, until they discovred Arvey's, now a korean bookstore :( (Arvey's by the way, was an awesome greek owned restaurant, real veal parmesan, not a ground veal patty, and real home made spaghetti sauce with bay leaves in it and the frowning old man who made the caesar salads, and the greek statue with the penis broken off and spackled over...oh do I miss that place!!!!) Anywho, back to Riggio's... So, since I hadn't been there for a long time (30+ years) I thought I'd try them for lunch. I only get an hour and it takes me twenty minutes to get there. When I get there, there is no one to hand me a menu or direct me to a table or take my carry-out order. I look in the dining room, I look down a hall, waitstaff see me and do nothing. Hello? Hello? Anyone there? I call. I stood for ten minutes, even leaving the restaurant for a second...maybe this was a private party and they aren't really open? No, nothing like that. I guess I wasn't dressed appropriately or maybe it's that I'm fat and they didn't feel I needed to eat. So, Riggio's even though I loved your pizza as a child, your blatant shunning has earned you one star...ok, two stars, one extra for the memories. I am very pissed off at you and will never go to you again, even if I'm starving.
(2)
Nancy V.
Amazing pizza! Amazing eggplant parmesan! Excellent service. Good prices. Highly recommend and will definitely be back.
(5)
Epicure S.
The 5 stars represent: PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA The rest of the menu is hit and miss.
(5)
Suellen G.
Cute from the outside but dingy on the inside. Perhaps I did not order their speciality and I have to say that I do like more flavor. The salad was wilted but the dressing was OK. The spaghetti sauce has lots of sugar and the fish was really bland. Service was quick but the waiter could not help with recommendations. The prices on the wine were great. Music playing was from the early 70's. Probably will not go back.
(3)
Sheila X.
Riggios... things to try: calamari, pesto pizza, pepperoni/green pepper pizza, the Italian chicken sandwich and Rigatoni Michele. The food is really good food, but the service isn't. The 4 stars were for the food on this one... the service would get a 1 1/2.
(4)
Ray S.
My friends and I loved Riggio's until they began to cut back on the food. For what you pay, you expect a little more, at least we do because we remember how it once was. The pizza is ok but what we really loved was the calamari. I can honestly say that they had the best fried calamari you could find in the burbs. Not that it is so terrible now, they just cut back so much and they don't load it up with the garlic like they once did. Did I mention that I love garlic? One thing that has not changed though is their cheese argentera. OMG this stuff is like heaven! It's melted cheese in a pan that is brought to your table with a little wine in it and loads of garlic. You just scoop it up with some good bread and let your taste buds enjoy the ride. In closing, Riggio's is ok if you're looking for some Italian food but I wish they'd go back to serving a more abundant dish.
(3)
Kathy R.
My family has been eating Riggio's pizza, and dining there, for many years. The pizza is quite good -- the crust is crisper and thinner (not at all doughy), which gives it a different texture and taste - which I like a lot. I believe they specialize in Sicilian-style cuisine; the veal marsala is good as are all of the pastas I've tried. Most entrees are around $10-$15 (haven't gone there for lunch, though); service is good.
(4)
Sir ..
Riggio's has pizza I only stopped for a quick bit and the pizza was good. I'll be good and go back for a sit-down lunch and report back to you all.
(4)
john s.
i really only like their fried calamari and sizzling cheese argentera (both appetizers).
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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.
Andi C.
Just okay The Good 1. Brand new waitress today, whose obviously been dumped on but she did a great ! 2. Food came out fast 3. Decent size parking lot with overflow 4.Good wine The Bad 1. My dish was bland and I ordered "spicy" 2. They only have ice-cream for dessert. 3. The atmosphere and and layout is awkward. 3. Somehow they mistook tea for coffee and the customer would not let the waitress forget it ! 4. Everything just seems grimy-unclean. 5. Young employees but older patrons
(3)Omar D.
Fantastic Italian Food, Service and Setting Our family has been coming to Riggios for years and it has only gotten better over the years. Eating at the restaurant is always fun and when we can, we do despite it being further than many other Italian places by our home. Carry out is great and they get it right every single time! The manager is a great guy and the restaurant does well under his leadership. This is the real thing. Highly recommend!
(5)Bob S.
We eat out a lot and decided to grab the Reggios groupon. I grew up with first generation Italian cooking but appreciate the variety I get eating out and enjoy most restaurants at this price point (an many well under). Even with the coupon, the dinner was overpriced for the quality. The service was good and the appetizer was exceptional. From there, everything was a downward trajectory. The salad was decent and the Minestrone was not bad but tasted more like french onion. The entrees were edible but ended there. The food was cold and under-seasoned and the Alfredo separated on the plate. So many good options on NW side (many right on Milwaukee) that are cheaper and so much better. Maybe the Pizza is what keeps em running, I will never know
(2)Mark P.
Nothing bad, but nothing good. Mediocre food. Nice decor. Mediocre service. The salads were good.
(3)Elizabeth P.
Attending dinner at Riggios started as a nostalgic filled afternoon. Riggios is one of those places that you think is great as a child, but once you grow up and go back you realize it was only good because your parents were taking you out. .... Let's fast forward to the present. Our waitress was nice but she failed at trying to effectively use light hearted table banter. She was almost offensive, but not. We had to ask for bread, and when we did we were told our appetizers would be coming soon... ( way to be chincy on the bread) After what seemed like an eternity, our food arrives. I was excited to eat a common Italian dish of Fettuccine Alfredo....simple enough, should be cooked pasta, creamy sauce, heavy butter , meat if you choose. I got hard pasta, what looked like dry microwaved chicken chunks, and some special seasons that should not be in this dish. ( tasted like ginger) My husband ordered seafood ravioli, I guess the only seafood was because he could "see" his food. Perhaps there was canned lobster chunks, but it was hard to tell. My daughter's pasta was delicious. ... plain spaghetti in olive oil. ( she's 3) Everyone else in our party enjoyed their bland meals, but everyone else was also over 60....love ya ma! I think this is a place for old timers.....bland food, bland service, bland decor.
(2)Karen M.
I had a Groupon for 2 for 1 dine-in. The 3 pasta dishes we ordered were okay, nothing special. The Waiter was attentive and nice but not very well versed on the menu. I will stick with their pizza, which is consistently good.
(3)Curt M.
Very Very Disappointed. Let me start out by saying that this was one of my favorite places for Pizza in the 70's and 80's. After Today's meal I won't be back. 12" pizza with mushrooms, ground beef, and iced tea way too expensive at $25. The pizza had no flavor, very little sauce, and was over baked. There was actually huge pieces of charcoal here and there on the bottom of the pie. With the classical music in the background The ambiance was sad and sleepy....
(2)Linda S.
I ate at this restaurant many many times as a high school student in the 60's. I make it a point to each here every time I come back o visit. The Chicago area has many fine Italian eateries, but I pizza here is my favorite. The décor is kind of dated, but who cares when the pizza is this good! Regardless of what toppings you get, I recommend some Italian sausage on it--much tastier that way. I wish I could recommend other dishes, but the pizza is so good that I keep ordering that every time I visit. Visited October 2014 tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(5)John K.
The staff are always friendly, comfortable place whether dining with my wife or if we bring the whole family. Have never been disappointed with any entree - lasagna, pasta, chicken, salmon, everything is solid. Kids are always happy with the pizza & the spaghetti & other items. Never a bad experience here & I've been returning for years.
(4)Selvana Y.
We been to Reggio's for dinner, pricey for nothing ( meaning nothing special about their food), their waitress has no knowledge regarding dry or sweet white wine options; We decided to not go back any more :(
(1)Howard L.
We've been passing by this place on and off for 30 years, and we finally stopped in with a Groupon certificate. It has a dated exterior, but the interior has been modernized somewhat with 3 dining areas, flat screen TV's, and a bar area. We weren't too ambitious on their Italian menu and just tried their pizza and it was a hit. It was quite good, with a touch of that nice, burnt carmelized flavor. It was also cheesy, and plentiful with the sausage and mushrooms - all for $18.80 for a 12". I would come back just or the pizza. The restaurant also has plentiful parking on both sides of the restaurant and you can park just steps away from the entrance and conveniently right off of Oakton.
(4)Gary B.
New owners and you can tell. Ordered 3 pizzas to go. Brought a $3 coupon but they would only grant $1.50 due to a change in the coupon that the $3 off is only with 2 ingredients or more but they couldn't grant me $3 with three pizzas? (wonder what lawyer thought of that one? The sausage was lacking on all of them. Some pieces had non at all! Bye Riggios, I won't be back!
(1)Steve O.
I love this place. Always on time with carry out orders and they're always as good as the sit in versions. It feels warm and inviting and the staff is very pleasant and accommodating.
(5)thaisha c.
Went to eat here after my sister saying she had a groupon. We both has a side salad, it was good, portions were big. The pizza, a deep dish cheese and sausage was not my cup of tea..it was litteraly cheese and sauce on top of foccacia bread..lots of bread! Would I return, probably..but on a high note my server was very nice :)
(3)Deanna R.
Very good for the area( which is NOT Italian ;)) with big portions, easy to share. We enjoyed the farfalle pesto primavera. And big kudos that they are BYOB! treated us well. Next time I will try the pizza!
(4)Dave S.
Ate there 5-20-15 for the first and last time. Waiter should write the orders down, but it looks so cool, and TRENDY not to, while he struggles to remember it. Ordered a TWELVE INCH pizza with 4 toppings, and it was $23.75. Also ordered lasagna and it was SMALL, came with nothing else, and looked lonely on the plate. I felt sorry for it. It cost $13.00. Also an order of garlic bread, which the waiter forgot about, because he tried to remember it. This lasagna was bland, sloppy, SMALL, and overpriced. It did not have that BAKED look on the top, indicating to me that it was stored frozen and microwaved. The pizza was good, but I have had better than that! The garlic bread was fantastic, but I mean I's GARLIC BREAD, so an Italian restaurant should be able to pull that one off. LOL I will happily pay more for a dinner in which the food is a cut above. In this case you are paying more for food that is SUB-PAR. CHEAP RESTAURANTS water down their Coca-Cola. That is what this one did, and it was $2.75 in a SMALL glass which means you have to constantly ask the waiter for more. "Easy Ice" means nothing to them. Now that I have looked at the receipt, it says ICED TEA, which is what my friend ordered. Did I say that the waiter should write it all down? Grand total: $48.51 + 20% tip, (I am very gracious) was $58.51. That = two 16oz STEAK DINNERS at Texas Roadhouse. LOL
(1)Natalia C.
Horrible. Don't go here, the food was absolutely disgusting and very obviously over priced. I usually am fine with eating out anywhere, even if the place has bad reviews, but this was just total sh*t.. Especially for the price. The bread that was brought out (15min after we got seated) was stale. The little broccoli soup had one baby broccoli head in it and was nothing special. Could get better one @ panera for way cheaper. Im pretty sure that the pasta was old and just got heated up in the microwave. I got a chicken sandwich with crispy chicken rather than grilled and when it came I new it was going to be bad. I took two bites and began to feel sick. I don't know what they did with that chicken but it made me very worried. It tasted raw and just very disgusting. I was hoping I could at least be satisfied with some damn fries, but those were obviously just some cheap a** tiny ones that you can get at the frozen section in the dollar store. Really? (12$ for the sandwitch and fries) I got an Americana coffee which was $2 and was about 1/3 of a cup.. Rest was milk. Also, I got grossed out by their glasses. Very foggy.. You can tell they don't wash them properly.. Probably just soak them in ht water. Altogether we spent $40. For what? S*itty food (and service) If I'm going to spend that kind of money on eating out, I'm going to Cheesecake Factory. I haven't ate McDonalds in over 2 years but if I had to chose between Riggios or McDonalds, I would chose McDonalds in a heartbeat! Who the hell pays that much money for such crappy food?? No wonder it was so dead over there!! Save your money!! These are THEVES!!
(1)Vesna S.
I went with my friend wednesday night .used my groupon .service was great -girl was very nice serving us and keep asking is it anything else she can do for us !calamari grilled and fried were delicious !The bottle of "merlot "vine was very good price -only $20.We were Pleasantly surprised !Only thing that bothered us was restouant was almost empty !Anyway we enjoyed our diner &I will come back for sure next week !
(4)Livvy O.
I'm not big of Italian food, but I have to say this place was average like most. It was a birthday dinner so this was not choice of my own. I liked the bread selection with the olive oil and parmesan. I ordered the zucchini soup which was delicious! As far as my meal - I ordered the baked rigatoni. It was good, except they burnt the pasta around the edges. The meatball could have been better, the meat quality tasted kind of cheap. It also came with sausage which I don't like but that was my fault for not reading the fine print. The group was split in half with happiness with their meals. Word of advice, don't order the fettuccine Alfredo and lasanga which were both bland or the seafood pasta which had hardly any seafood. I had to say mine wasn't bland, but if you like sausage, it would be a winner. Two other people ordered the Lufranos special which they both enjoyed and was similar to my dish.
(3)Wendy K.
Why did we go there? Went for my sister's birthday as a second choice, bc it was Monday, and her first choice was closed. Got water almost ten minutes after we sat down, then ordered cocktails which came another ten minutes later, aound the same time the bread basket arrived. The cocktails were not what we ordered. The waitress, while very nice, had no idea what was stocked in the bar, and was not knowledgable about the menu. My salmon, at $19, was about what you would expect if you were getting a meal on an airplane, but a bigger portion. Slow, overpriced, poor food. Writing this review to help remind myself not to go there again for any reason!
(1)Georgia B.
The last time we were at Riggios, the food did not impressed us, NOT A BIT. Sorry, I used to love this place, it was below average on our last visit. They need to check the kitchen and make sure the quality is still there it surely wasn't last night. The Pesto pizza which used to be "to die for" was not good, no flavor and tasted frozen and reheated!! I had the Large "stuffed shells" (which were lasagna pasta sheets folded over filling of cheese and spinach) who were they trying to fool! Absolutely tasteless. Everything was so bland no flavors popped out of any of our meals! The prices were very high also for what we got! On a good note our server was very attentive and very nice. He was doing his best! Don't think we will be back there again...so many other Italian places to try...too bad!
(2)A. T. T.
Just a wonderful place to eat! Warm, welcoming atmosphere and really good Italian food with flair! Lots to choose from, and they are amenable to making substitutions and changes based on your preferences, which lots of places will not do! Intimate atmosphere yet it actually kind of feels like you're in somebody's big old home! The decor is interesting and they have a nice big parking lot, which helps in the winter time! Really like this place and have been back multiple times and will be back again!
(4)lou L.
Just awful... Awful food...Awful service...no free refills on soft drinks... Stay away.. Do not know how this place stays open?
(1)Mike K.
If you like Italian food made by non Italians I.e. Ukraine or Polish this is the place for you. After eating there for over 40 years and in the past 10 years having that it was time for a post. The owner is Italian, he should order some of the food to go anonymously. A table spoon of dressing with your salad and 4 shrimp to an order with a bunch of 1/4 inch shrimp doesn't cut it. Or a meatball sandwich with parm cheese an you get a few sprinkles of cheese, hum. No bread either. Not to mention when you ask for a Jamason and yasemosh can't find it that is a problem. When it's right on the top shelf and I have to point it out. Amici here we come
(1)Joelle S.
The last time we were at Riggios, neither the food or the service impressed us, NOT A BIT. Sorry, I used to love this place, everything about it was average on our last visit. The vodka sauce was rather bland. Now, I'm not going to blast them for one bad meal... I've had multiple dinner parties there and they have always been very good. But... I have to say, they need to check the kitchen and make sure the quality is still there!
(3)Paul P.
This place was absolutely disgusting. Frozen vegetables. My girlfriend and I took one bite of our food and stopped. No flavor whatsoever. A child could have made better food. Cold, stale bread was served. Pasta with cold sauce plopped in the center of the plate. Highly dissapointed
(1)Ana M.
This review is just for the pizza. I have not had the pleasure of dining at the restaurant yet. One of our clients brought us some carry-out pizza from Riggio's. I have to say that this is one of the best sausage thin crust pizzas I have had. I would definitely consider visiting their location just to have the pizza again.
(4)J T.
Had a Groupon here so went for an early dinner. Our waitress was very attentive but then again we were the only ones there. Food was really good. Italian beef sandwich on garlic bread and the meat ravioli very tasty. The restaurant could use a make over in decor. All in all, it was worth trying.
(3)M. S.
I've really tried to like this place after 3 visits here. All I can say is that the food is okay. If you don't speak up when placing your phone order you get scolded. The first aroma you get when walking into a restaurant should be food not what I smelled (this may differ for you so I'll let you fill in the blank).
(2)Mister M.
I remember a Riggio's on Western Ave. from many years ago. This one does not compare. Bland, bland, and more bland. . .poor service. . .and I always wonder about a place that brings too-hot-from-the-oven food to the table. The highlight was the bread basket and olive oil, which says a lot. If you are looking for an authentic Italian meal, this is not the place. Very rarely have I or the Mrs. refused to try to eat more, but (no joke) we both had our fill after eating about a third of our food. We will not be back.
(1)JoAnne L.
Long time customer....just not the same???? Eggplant parm???? I think not!!!
(1)vince v.
Went for the sun set menu special 2 for 1 entrees. Need to purchase two drinks ok. Than the bill came and it was way more than expected.They added 18% service charge automatically with out asking.they said because you had the special we add gratuity on the bill. I usually tip 20% but this was very bad customer service.WILL NOT BE BACK AND WILL TELL ALL MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS SCAM!!!! NOT TO REASONABLE TO START. AND JUST OK FOOD!
(1)Debbie I.
I used to eat here years ago and the food was always excellent. So recently I purchased a Groupon and brought my daughter here for lunch. Again, the food was excellent. The bread is probably one of the best breads I have ever had. Their minestrone soup is outstanding! The pasta in the soup is al dente as it should be so I was very impressed. We had the spaghetti and meatballs which was very good as well. Service was great. All in all, great dining experience. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Rob W.
This is a solid three star review. I used to drive by this place all the time and always thought about trying it but never did. A recent Groupon offering sealed the deal and I tried it for lunch on a Friday afternoon. I was surprised at the interior - while I didn't really know what to expect, the high walls and ceiling and numerous rooms was a bit different - and also seemed like a waste of space. I was greeted soon after walking in - though the way the place is set up, unless someone is standing at the desk, there's no way of really knowing that someone has entered the restaurant. I was seated at a booth on the east side of the restaurant - about five other tables seated as well, not too busy for a Friday lunch. The menu had a decent variety of traditional southern Italian dishes. I wasn't sure what to order so I asked my waitress for her recommendations. She suggested numerous dishes - almost at the point of the waitress who responds "everything is good" when asking for specific pointers. Nonetheless, I forged on and selected the baked rigatoni. The entree included soup or salad, so I opted for clam chowder. It was pretty well loaded with clams, though not as thick as some chowders I've enjoyed. The breadbasket that came out had a nice variety of breads, including a decent foccacia and an onion bread that I really enjoyed. The entree came out in a skillet type dish - never seen it prepared like that before but functional for sure. Initially I was a little disappointed with the size of the portion relative to the price ($12 or $12.50, can't recall which), but as I consumed it, I came to discover that it was loaded with a sizeable meatball and a lot of sausage, so in that sense, Riggio's was NOT being stingy! I also had a lemon ice for dessert that was good - when I left I was pretty full and content all in all with the experience. Will I return? Yes, I just bought the $20 for $10 Yelp deal when I came to this page to write the review. Without the Yelp deal, I'd say I would go back if in the area, but it wasn't sooo good that I would drive out of the way to return. This is one I should update after my next visit. I surely enjoyed this place a lot more than some recent reviewers - it will be interesting to see if my return stop is as good, better or worse than the first.
(3)Jack M.
I've eaten many pizzas over the last five decades, but Riggio's thin crust sausage/mushroom is the best. Great staff, fair prices, nice dining room or easy take out (plenty of free parking). Stop what you're doing now and order some pizza.
(5)Andy O.
I can't technically say I've dined here because my wife and I walked out before we could finish order. When you walk in it looks like a typical Italian restaurant and my wife found a groupon for $10 off so we figure we would give it a try. We sat down and she knew from the get go that she wanted the chicken Parmesan. However she ironically does not like Parmesan cheese on it only mozzarella. The waitress however said it was not possible to prepare it this way because the food was already made and they just reheat it in the oven. Enough said for me. I can microwave my own food at home, we walked out and contacted groupon for a refund. Beware.
(1)Tom W.
I picked up a Groupon for Riggio's carryout and had some high hopes. A pesto pizza and a veal parmesan sandwich were ordered but when I went to pick it up a full veal dinner had been put in for the order instead, adding an additional $10 to the bill. Fine, I'll deal with a simple mistake. I should have returned it right there. As far as the pizza goes it was acceptable though the crust was disappointing. For the price I expect fresh dough and did not get it. The veal, with the vegetable side, soup and garlic bread was a wreck. I honestly didn't think you could hammer veal that thin, but its leathery texture explained how Riggio's pulled it off. Besides thin and tough meat, the sauce was bland. The carrots were steamed and utterly void of flavor. Maybe a little salt could have helped. The minestrone soup was comparable to a can of Campbell's. No better, no worse. Riggio's also managed to make garlic bread that was both burnt and chewy. A late Christmas miracle but they pulled it off. I would give them no stars but for the pizza which was overpriced but not terrible. Even with a Groupon, Riggio's is no deal. No chance I'll return.
(1)John A.
Could have been the entree but not that great. Went on a Groupon deal.
(2)Jack O.
Always great pizza. I always ask for it to be well done. Not a bad Italian item in the menu. You fell like your eating at grandma's. Awesome surroundings, atmosphere and service. Could not name an improvement.
(5)David W.
- 1 star for awkward waitress - 1 star for watery salad - 1 star for super small portion of chicken on salad not going back!
(2)Randall K.
AWSOME PIZZA. Really great pizza. Fantastic pizza. We ate in, so the pizza was hot and really, really good. I had sausage, great. I had pepperoni, great. I passed on the cheese, but the kids liked it. We also had the calamari. The fried was institutional, but decent. The Grilled was better. The red sauce was cold. Not very good. Service was really bad too. One of those places where he waitress is "bothered" to wait on us. I guess she didn't know she was working on tips. BUT....the pizza was AWSOME. I'd go back for the pizza.
(3)Michael E.
I loved the southwest BBQ chicken thin crust pizza!!! Yummy....and of course great service from my two favorite servers, Adrian n George...top notch service
(5)Kelsey W.
This was a very disappointing meal. Our waitress was extremely socially awkward and only came to our table once. The selection on the menu looked promising but I ordered the baked ziti and it was disgusting. It was just sitting in a ton of grease. Ate a couple bites, asked for a box, and threw it in the back dumpster. Won't be back.
(1)Nick B.
My family have eaten at Riggios for many years, including the one in Chicago on Western Ave. We have patronized the Riggios in Niles, IL for many years and found that the last 3 times we ate there, it has changed for the worst. For the most part, the food including the pizza has been consistent but, when my wife and I went there on New Years Eve, 7:00 pm, it was dead like the Alamo. The host who's been there for many years was rude, as always, threw our menus on our table and did not say like, welcome to Riggios. Our waitress who was inexperienced was very nice. We have never got the same wait staff there in many years which tells you something. We ordered a large thin crust pizza with pepperoni, green peppers, onions & easy garlic. It was great as usual. Something on the pizza kept me & my wife up all night with indegestion. To add insult to injury, the server did not know how to handle gift cards. The host or manager, threw my card on the table with anger and said my card cannot be activated. The next day I checked with the credit card company and they said it was activated. Their prices keep going up. Our 16" pizza with 3 ingredients was $30.10. A lot more for their competitors that have deep dish pizzas. A small quarter glass of Pinot Griggio was $8.00. I told the waitress I didn't want to buy the whole bottle:)
(2)Jeff W.
Went here for lunch. First of all. No one at the counter. Finally a manager or owner noticed me and reluctantly wandered over to seat me. Ordered the Linguini with Clams. This thing wasn't exactly swimming in oil because the grease was so thick. The pasta was WAY under cooked. I'm not sure how any chef or cook could have thought that pasta was ready. It wasn't bending very easily. I simply pushed the food aside and was taking care of some business on my phone. The waitress noticed I didn't eat the meal. i pointed out that it was inedible. She apologized and asked if I'd like anything else. I mentioned that I didn't have the time. She didn't offer to not charge as I hadn't even taken a bite. The only people in there were grand parents. Please do your part in sending this place a message. DO NOT EAT HERE.
(1)Brian B.
Riggio's is trying to be something it's not. For those that used to know, it used to be a cheap place to eat that specialized in pizza. They remodeled everything and doubled the prices. The food was pretty good but the value just wasn't there. The portions weren't huge. Even basic pasta dishes were $13.50. Service was horrible. My server didn't know what she was doing. Getting my water refilled was a hassle. She ran my credit card without applying the Groupon. The dessert portion of their menu said "cannolis" and I only got one. The filling it contained was good but it was a soupy mess. They sat a family with a kid next to me that thought the forks and knives were drumsticks. I had a Groupon which made me feel like I didn't get totally ripped off but I would never go in there any pay full price.
(2)Brigitte M.
This is absolutely our favorite place for thin crust, cheese only pizza. We always order it with extra sauce and it's as good as it gets! I admit we haven't tried anything else there, because we get ready to order something else from the menu and don't want to miss out on our favorite pizza. In fact, we compare every other thin crust pizza to Riggio's. Wish we lived a little closer.
(5)Steve W.
I've even familiar with riggios for quite a long time ... Recently moved back a couple blocks away. This is not the same place I remember. Sorry to say won't be giving it another chance. Had a carry out order tonight .... I should have returned it. Meatball was dry and tasteless, pasta was way overdone. Honestly noodles & co has better pasta and meatballs. I thought I ordered lasagna, not sure what it was. Just a big disappointment all around, my advice would be to go elsewhere.
(1)Dee M.
We had a groupon to go here and we just moved to the area so we thought we'd check it out. My fiance got the Chicken Marsala which was pretty tasty and I got the Meat Ravioli and it was awful. I didn't even finish it cause it was so gross. If we ever decide to go back I'll try the pizza. A few people near us had it and it looked really good. To end on a good note our server was great and really on top of things.
(2)Elle F.
We used a Yelp deal. The meat was very good, the pasta quite un-memorable. I probably wouldn't go back, just because there's so many other great Italian restaurants in town.
(3)Laura N.
For Christmas, my parents gave my boyfriend and I a gift certificate to this restaurant for a nice dinner - neither of us had been here before. We finally made reservations for a Wednesday night. It's a very cute restaurant that is bigger inside that it looks on the outside. Great stucco and brick walls, decor, etc. We were seated at a booth in one section of the restaurant. It seemed divided into four parts: the smaller front dining area, the bar area, a dining area with tables and chairs, a dining area with booths. Bread: Great! The basket arrived with three different types of bread and we were supplied with olive oil and cheese for the dipping. Caesar salad: YUM. Good size, too. Bruschetta: Delicious. There was no cheese on it, though. Chicken Florentine with Fettuccine Alfredo: THE BEST. Chicken was cooked perfectly, the sauce was rich and creamy (not watery) and the noodles were thick and cooked well, too. Our waitress was also very friendly and the busboys seemed very, very nice (our glasses of water were always at least half-full)! I probably didn't have to make the reservations. The restaurant had a lot of diners, but there were still a few empty tables. I imagine it is packed with the need for reservations on weekend nights. We are very excited to return in the near future!
(5)Jimmy J.
Too old school to thrive. Needs new blood. But a solid thin crust.
(3)Steven M.
I wanted to like this place since it was my pop's staple back in the day. The last time I was here was for a H.S. party in 1984 and the only thing I remember about that was one of the guys was eating the pats of butter! It was Wednesday afternoon and the place was dead. It did have a couple dozen crustaceans inside, but like I said. It was dead! We were seated promptly and the server took our drink order. I started with a salad and as soon as I saw it, I knew it had been made the day before and put in the fridge. The leaves were wilted and stuck to the plate and the ranch was forgettable. The fettucini looked good and they were nice and light. But I kept getting this fish taste from them? The chicken parm that my mom had, looked like a Burger King slab with sauce. Now I know this place has been here since 1952. So that would mean you don't have a mortgage anymore and you can afford to serve better food. But the prices are ridiculous for what you get. 16 bucks for the plate of pasta I got and 5 bucks more if I wanted shrimp (Is that where the fish taste came from?) would be acceptable if I was in a modern restaurant that had a chef who knew what Italian food tasted like. Not so much for this shabby-not-so-chic sicilian buca with it's log carvings on the wall and Olive Pit Garden wannabe food. Thanks for the memories! But I am all grown up now. buca translation Italian - English : buca, che sf (gen, Golf) hole:
(2)Katie W.
Excellent pizza! Sausage was great and the sauce was tasty. The grilled calamari was too cold and had a strange tasting spice. Good service and a very cold pitcher of beer. Will definitely be back for the pizza!!!
(4)Elaine P.
Chicken was not cooked, still raw in the center. They did not want to take the chicken back to the kitchen and cook it some more. Horrible dinner. A few things with this restaurant. First of all, in regards to their "coupons" and "reggio's club" -- they make up their own rules day by day. They may not honor coupons because it is "a weekend" or because you ordered something they do not consider to be worth a coupon. Unfortunately, none of this is printed or listed. So by the time you get the bill, they do what they want. Would skip this place and look elsewhere to eat. Just a horrible experience.
(1)Linda C.
Mediocre food; brusque almost rude service.
(1)Rae C.
This is one of those old-fashioned places that your parents and grandparents went to decades ago. Why I decided to go is beyond me since there are better options in the area. The place wasn't busy but I had to wait five minutes to get a seat. The menu is lackluster at best. There's nothing inspiring or exciting on the menu. My friend and I decided to order a small pizza and also split the chicken parmigiana. Both were pretty bad. The pizza was a pile of grease that was overly bland. The chicken parm was drowned in generic marinara sauce and salt. Again, no flavor. Sorry, but I won't be coming back Riggio's. Maybe I'll see you on Kitchen Nightmares or Restaurant Impossible in the near future.
(1)Cat D.
Our waiter was very nice and attentive he gets a gold star. As for the rest of it the wood carving on the wall would have tasted better. Both the veal and strip steak were beyond cooked, reminds me of shoe leather! Not worth wasting your time or money. ..
(1)Christina K.
Bought a giftcard from Resturants.com so we can try it out. It was for $25 then there was all this terrible fine print.. so that $25 ended up covering the tip and our drinks. This place looks nice on the outside and is an absolute craphole on the inside. Plastic table clothes with fruit on them that belong on a grandma kitchen table and tvs on in the resturant part! what the... so strange. the food was alright. My husband order a steak and it came with squash. strange selection.. Good for me because I love squash the problem is that there was no seasoning on it so it was very bland. The steak was fine. I had a salad and french onion soup and the soup was the worst I have EVER had and the salad was also just fine. We have 2 more giftcards for here and sadly will not end up using them.
(2)Jay W.
Last time I was here was a little while back, but today something reminded me why I stopped coming here. We got a Groupon offer, so I thought to check the menu and get a fresh idea what the Groupon would get us. Last time I was here we had pizza, pretty good as I recall. Not great, but above average. WOW! It must be a while since I bought a pizza there. Quick math reveals the pizza we normally get would be $30 for a 16" thin crust! No, no way. Their pizza isn't that good. Not even close. The other food is average to below average for Italian food in the area (for which alternate choices are abundant). Yes in the 70s, 80s this place was pretty good. By the 90s, they'd been surpassed by the competition. I think they've stalled out there. [Last time I was at the Howard Street Inn, the pizza was great. WAY better deal, too.]
(2)Bill M.
I dined at Riggio's with a couple of buddies on Friday evening. I had never heard of the place before (no, it's not related to Reggio's frozen pizza) and none of us really lives near this place. One of my buds had dined here before, and I was not the one driving up to Niles so what the heck. I enjoyed a nice and relaxing dinner here, and we did not even have to wait for a table (perhaps the locals are here for the "sunset menu" with 2 for 1 entrees between 330-530PM on weekdays?). The three of us split a small thin cheese pizza as appetizer. I really liked the minestrone soup and the eggplant parmigiana, though the side of penne pasta was a bit bland. The cannoli was good, with a filling that was more creamy than dense. No real surprises here, just a nice solid Italian meal.
(4)Tony M.
Riggios has a great pizza. the sausage is great with fennel in it and the crust is crispy and buttery. the staff is very friendly and greets you at the doors. On any usual night you can see many locals in here sitting at the bar and dining. I haven't tried any of the entrees but I would like to in the future. Such a Great little restaurant.
(4)Brian C.
We went last night, armed with our 2 for 1 coupon that had arrived in our mailbox that day. The coupon had some fine print, though. We each had to order a drink, and 18% gratuity based on the full value of the 2 meals would be automatically added. Not that big a deal, but coupons with too many conditions, not the best marketing plan overall. I had an Italian syrah (yes, it really does exist in Italy), and it wasn't bad. Syrah is most fickle, so kudos for this, but I'm not sure if $7-$7.50 is the range for wines by the glass given what they were serving. Salad was okay, about as expected. I had an okay pasta dish that had a meatball and some Italian sausage. It ran about $15. My wife had an eggplant parm dish, and it cost about the same amount. She really didn't get a very good portion, though. And when she ordered a decaf espresso after dinner, they seemed to skimp on it. A sip was about all she got. We live in Edison Park, so without the coupon, it's hard to justify driving out to Riggio's and paying these prices. We have a lot of places by us that charge comparable prices, and they are certainly a cut above Riggio's. Riggio's could create a niche for itself if they didn't overcharge for their food. It could be something like Dave's in Evanston. I am having a hard time understanding what Riggio's strategy is today. They just don't deliver at the level expected at that price point. And if they want to offer deals, they have to keep it simple. Coupons are great, but too many conditions make them a real hassle.
(2)nicole h.
I was here for a party and everything was served family style. The service was pretty good. The food was A-OK. The house salad was a delightful mix of greens and veggies and the salad was light and flavorful. The entrees were a little boring, but solid. The pizza was good, but not outstanding. The service was good. It is what it is. A-OK.
(3)Better B.
I had a Groupon (I am new to groupon) and called them to ask if I could use the groupon with a carry out and was told YES. I drove 4 miles and got there to have them tell me that it was NOT good for a carry out. I did not have the time to stay and dine. Anyway, our family is large and we are new to the area and have a couple of weddings and christenings coming up and I was told that this might be a good place to have the party events.So, I was casing out the place and thought that this might be a good way to check out some of the appetizers (intending to come back again when I could actually stay for dinner). That's not going to happen now. How could I trust their word on plans like wedding rehearsal and christening parties that involve hundreds of dollars if they can not HONOR their word when they say something is so. I spoke to the manager who said that he would speak to the EE. Not one word about honoring the coupon OR come back for a complimentary drink or whatever on us for your efforts. Poor management = poorly trained or versed staff. In this day and age, I would think that customer satisfaction would be very important to staying alive. But maybe not that important to this place. Well, thought that others might want to know this about what they TELL people and what they actually DO (two different things). As my Dad taught me, "Your word is your bond". Was this $ 20 dollar groupon worth all the money that this place could have potentially earned from our family???
(1)Vi D.
This restaurant is a disaster! Very poor service, the weitress barely spoke any English! The food was awfull, no taste, cold, dry meat. Kids menu overpriced, we got small plate of pasta for 6 $ and nothing came with it! The wine glasses are propably less than 4 oz, and were very expensive. The worst for me me was the silverware was just laying on a dirty mat, and the table was wiped with a dirty rag! I hope i don't get sick from this! I hope the management is reading this and they can fix this place!
(1)Matteo S.
Great looking place---Great Service---Old style Italian menu not the greatest I would say emergency dining only Probably will not return My wife got really sick from the veal I hate to give a bad review but I have to . 30 years ago this place was the spot I think they should redo the menu.
(3)Mandi M.
I used to like riggios, I really did... I've been here about 5 times, and those times have been pretty good, except for the time before last, my dad got a meatball sandwich, and got sick for 2 days after that..... But last time I went about a month ago I came with my dad, and I got baked rigatoni and my dad got lasagna, and when our food came, my pasta was LOADED with greese, i mean if I had a cup, i could literally tip the plate over and pour the greese/oil into the cup and it would be halfway full. I'm not too picky about greasy food, I really don't care but this was just too much, I had to get about 25 napkins to dab some of it off. And when my dad started eating his lasagna, he noticed there was a long black hair in it, and he pulled it out and set it down on the table, He wasn't going to make a big deal about it, but I told him thats gross and that he should tell our waitress. We told her, and she said its not hers, because her hair is curly AND LONG and this hair was straight, and that none of the cooks have long hair. ( I have long hair, so she was trying to hint it was mine) I have light brown hair, not BLACK, and why would my hair be in my dads food anyway?! But anyway, she went to the back, and said she can take half off his meal, and he said forget about it he didn't want to make a deal of it, but it totally turned us off, besides my pasta being loaded with oil, I don't think we will be coming back here again. Come on riggios, step it up!
(2)Tom Z.
I had a chance to have the pizza this evening. I would like to give the place a 3 1/2 star rating, but that's not available, so I gave them the benefit of 4 stars. I thought the pizza was pretty good, but not the best I've had in the Chicago area. The crust was nice and crispy. The sauce was pretty good with a nice array of spices. There was just the right amount of cheese. There was the right amount of sausage, but it was very uneven on the top of the pizza. The sausage tasted pretty good. I will probably be back again.
(4)Bill M.
The pizza was, as usual, very good. It is round pizza cut into squares. Only complaint is the wait staff tends to be unpleasant, which has been characteristic for the several times we have dined here. This time, our waitress actually rolled her eyes and sighed when we asked for additional drinks.
(4)De I.
I ordered a pizza because my wife said they have good pizza. The pizza is way overrated. It's over priced and nothing special.
(1)Susan B.
I've lived in Niles for years but always forget this place is here. We went there w/ friends ( Sunday) and we were greeted by a guy and 2 girls who said absolutely nothing to us. (but we seated right away). The place was calm & quiet, w/ several rooms ajoining each other-very cool pics, odd layout but who cares. The bread basket was good, warm, w/ different types of breads and some home made brown cracker thingys-good. Their table olive oil for the bread was like the good stuff. I had the eggplant parm. My salad was perfect, love their blue cheese dressing, my eggplant was on the small side, but very tastey, and the side of pasta was just right. My husband TOTALLY loved his thin crust pizza w/ green peppers, sausage etc. Normally he HATES green peppers--he is now a fan! Friends had a cheese pizza w/ extra cheese and told me it was perfecto. The prices are a tad high for absolutely no leftovers. Our service was very good, but the waitress seemed cold.. indifferent. ? Smile when your customers are there- we pay you!
(4)Michael P.
I had the eggplant which is excellent! My friend had the ravioli and loved it. The chocolate mousse with strawberries and whip cream is great. The service is wonderful and friendly. They constantly come by to fill your water glasses. You can sign up and they will send you 2 for 1 lunch and dinner offers.
(5)Leocris L.
1 more star. great, quick service on super bowl sunday.. the 'za was piping hot, and tasted awesome. it's probably my fav pizza spot at the moment.. it's pretty hard to beat. although, my only dilemma is pie or square slices. tough choice.
(5)Jacob K.
I went here a while back and was pretty happy with the selection. The garlic bread was alright, the salad a bit wilted but the pizza was pretty good. Its super thin crust although I preferred the cheese over the sausage and peperoni which were overly greasy. I can't say much for the ambiance but if you are passing by and want a thin crust cheese pizza it might be worth your while to stop in.
(3)Melissa P.
I found this place because I had a Groupon. Everything we ate was delicious. The seafood soup had good chunks of fresh fish. The riggatoni pasta was a generous portion with a really good sauce. The prices are very reasonable. I definitely plan on going back!
(5)Adele S.
This is going to be an unfair review based on a not so recent visit, ok maybe six months to a year ago. It's been festering in the back of my mind and my recent trip to Super H Mart and subsequent drive down Oakton St. brought it back. Background info first...my family had gone to Riggio's for years and years, until they discovred Arvey's, now a korean bookstore :( (Arvey's by the way, was an awesome greek owned restaurant, real veal parmesan, not a ground veal patty, and real home made spaghetti sauce with bay leaves in it and the frowning old man who made the caesar salads, and the greek statue with the penis broken off and spackled over...oh do I miss that place!!!!) Anywho, back to Riggio's... So, since I hadn't been there for a long time (30+ years) I thought I'd try them for lunch. I only get an hour and it takes me twenty minutes to get there. When I get there, there is no one to hand me a menu or direct me to a table or take my carry-out order. I look in the dining room, I look down a hall, waitstaff see me and do nothing. Hello? Hello? Anyone there? I call. I stood for ten minutes, even leaving the restaurant for a second...maybe this was a private party and they aren't really open? No, nothing like that. I guess I wasn't dressed appropriately or maybe it's that I'm fat and they didn't feel I needed to eat. So, Riggio's even though I loved your pizza as a child, your blatant shunning has earned you one star...ok, two stars, one extra for the memories. I am very pissed off at you and will never go to you again, even if I'm starving.
(2)Nancy V.
Amazing pizza! Amazing eggplant parmesan! Excellent service. Good prices. Highly recommend and will definitely be back.
(5)Epicure S.
The 5 stars represent: PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA The rest of the menu is hit and miss.
(5)Suellen G.
Cute from the outside but dingy on the inside. Perhaps I did not order their speciality and I have to say that I do like more flavor. The salad was wilted but the dressing was OK. The spaghetti sauce has lots of sugar and the fish was really bland. Service was quick but the waiter could not help with recommendations. The prices on the wine were great. Music playing was from the early 70's. Probably will not go back.
(3)Sheila X.
Riggios... things to try: calamari, pesto pizza, pepperoni/green pepper pizza, the Italian chicken sandwich and Rigatoni Michele. The food is really good food, but the service isn't. The 4 stars were for the food on this one... the service would get a 1 1/2.
(4)Ray S.
My friends and I loved Riggio's until they began to cut back on the food. For what you pay, you expect a little more, at least we do because we remember how it once was. The pizza is ok but what we really loved was the calamari. I can honestly say that they had the best fried calamari you could find in the burbs. Not that it is so terrible now, they just cut back so much and they don't load it up with the garlic like they once did. Did I mention that I love garlic? One thing that has not changed though is their cheese argentera. OMG this stuff is like heaven! It's melted cheese in a pan that is brought to your table with a little wine in it and loads of garlic. You just scoop it up with some good bread and let your taste buds enjoy the ride. In closing, Riggio's is ok if you're looking for some Italian food but I wish they'd go back to serving a more abundant dish.
(3)Kathy R.
My family has been eating Riggio's pizza, and dining there, for many years. The pizza is quite good -- the crust is crisper and thinner (not at all doughy), which gives it a different texture and taste - which I like a lot. I believe they specialize in Sicilian-style cuisine; the veal marsala is good as are all of the pastas I've tried. Most entrees are around $10-$15 (haven't gone there for lunch, though); service is good.
(4)Sir ..
Riggio's has pizza I only stopped for a quick bit and the pizza was good. I'll be good and go back for a sit-down lunch and report back to you all.
(4)john s.
i really only like their fried calamari and sizzling cheese argentera (both appetizers).
(2)