The Rivoli, located on Queen West, has been around since 1982, hosting a variety of shows, including musical acts, comedy shows, and private events. Their upper level is home to a pool hall and entertainment space. Their restaurant serves up some great tasting food at reasonable prices, whether you're looking for a light bite before catching a show, or something more substantial.
I recently had an opportunity to try items from their updated menu, as well as some fan favourites.
Their Wookie Balls are a longtime crowd favourite, featuring deep fried rice balls coated with sesame seeds and served with a sweet chili sauce. They were actually quite good!
The Parmesan Truffle Fries had a very enchanting aroma that made them hard to resist, especially when dipped in their house aioli. Yummy!
Danish Meatballs, aka Frikadeller, were certainly meaty and delicious! Everything was really good, and nicely presented in a manner that made it easy to eat, especially if catching a live show or shooting pool.
We enjoyed their hefty and delicious Blackened Burger, their popular Pad Thai, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Pesto Linguini, a variety of Flatbreads, and their D'Oh Balls for dessert. Everything tasted great!
There are two full service bars offering a variety of wines, beer, and cocktails to quench your thirst. The second floor is also home to a very spacious pool hall and additional entertainment space.
The Rivoli has hosted many musicians since opening in 1982. Popular acts include Adele, Arcade Fire, Beck, Blue Rodeo, Iggy Pop, Tegan and Sara, Jully Black, and many more!
The Rivoli has a lot to offer. Check them out the next time you're downtown, near Queen and Spadina!
I know that the Rivoli is a music venue with an upstairs pool hall, some arcade games and another bar. I did not know that they also serve delicious dishes and have a massive menu made from scratch with quality ingredients. This definitely isn't your typical bar .
A couple of us foodie's gathered for a luncheon and to take in some of the history.
My personal favorites were the Spicy Thai Flatbread, the Korean BBQ Flatbread, Korean Lettuce Wraps and the Parmesan Truffle Fries.
Solid experience
Logan Miller
Always good time at the Rivoli. If you have sensitive ears, bring ear plugs. The sound in the venue is very loud. But it’s so fun to see and feel the history in that place. If you love live music, you need to go check it out.
Service: 4
Jessica Grossman
Shoutout to John!
I was at Rivoli for an industry event. Typically, I am unable to eat the food at any event I attend, as I am both vegan and gluten-free due to health reasons.
I saw a man take a sign from the food area that said "fries" but no fries were in sight. I went over and asked him if he worked there (and his name was John) and if the fries were coming out, because there was nothing else I could eat. He said fries actually weren't on the menu for the event but would get some fries just for me.
Flash forward 10 minutes and John comes out with the promised fries, but ALSO with a giant plate of roasted Brussel sprouts and a plate of their rice balls (that have apparently been a menu staple since the 80s!) - all of this food was just for me!
The food was delish (still dreaming of those sprouts!) and the gesture was so kind.
Thank you John and the Rivoli team! ?
Practical Velocity
Horrible experience at this venue, the middle aged bartender woman was extremely rude, and shouted at us for absolutely no reason when she could’ve calmly communicated. They have no AC inside either and it’s very hot, stay away!
Atul Nath
Diego our server was awesome. Loved the patio. Had some awesome music... Thanks Craig (DJ). What a wonderful patio afternoon on Saturday!
C-anon W
Worst bartenders ever two slow indian dude suck at makin cocktails my paper plane was sooo bitter almost undrinkable than i waited 10 mins to order a beer ..... not to metion expensive for poor service got Korean lettuce wrap which was so trash ...will not return ..don't waste your money
Sandy Walsh
An institution. Great pool hall upstairs.
Shane Gallant
Great time at the 80s night!
Francois Auger
Very friendly staff, but the place needs updating.
I recently attended a concert at Rivoli Toronto, and it was an incredible experience! The venue is located in the back room of the bar/restaurant, and it offers a fantastic, intimate setting for live music. The sound quality was excellent, and the atmosphere was just right—cozy, yet energetic, making it the perfect spot for catching live performances.
The staff were friendly and efficient, ensuring the crowd was well taken care of without being intrusive. The bar had a great selection of drinks, and the overall vibe was laid-back but lively. The size of the room also meant that every spot had a good view of the stage, so you never felt too far from the action.
I also appreciated how well-organized the event was, with everything running smoothly from start to finish. If you’re looking for a unique concert experience in Toronto, Rivoli’s back room is definitely worth checking out. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!
Richard Russell
Great hidden gem! Old school feel in a cool venue.
kimia heidari
Food here is a joke ! 20$ for a small - SMALL- bowl -BOWL of mac and cheese???????? Is that a joke ??? Caesar salad 13$ add chicken 11$ ! Salad is here its a thin lanyer of chiken breast ?? i couldn’t even find them ! How is that even possible! Expensive + low quality + tiny portions! Took 10 minutes to get the bill on a Saturday noon ! With only 2 tables with guests! This is a joke
Andrew Kostyshyn
Great service and amazing cocktails from bartender Yana!! Definitely recommend this place!
Gregg Quinn
Great food, great negroni, great comedy. Had dinner before the Mental Hellth show, we had an excellent time and it was clear the rest of the crowd did too. Only bad part of the evening was forgetting my delicious steak leftovers at my table, truly a shame.
The Rivoli, located on Queen West, has been around since 1982, hosting a variety of shows, including musical acts, comedy shows, and private events. Their upper level is home to a pool hall and entertainment space. Their restaurant serves up some great tasting food at reasonable prices, whether you're looking for a light bite before catching a show, or something more substantial.
I recently had an opportunity to try items from their updated menu, as well as some fan favourites.
Their Wookie Balls are a longtime crowd favourite, featuring deep fried rice balls coated with sesame seeds and served with a sweet chili sauce. They were actually quite good!
The Parmesan Truffle Fries had a very enchanting aroma that made them hard to resist, especially when dipped in their house aioli. Yummy!
Danish Meatballs, aka Frikadeller, were certainly meaty and delicious! Everything was really good, and nicely presented in a manner that made it easy to eat, especially if catching a live show or shooting pool.
We enjoyed their hefty and delicious Blackened Burger, their popular Pad Thai, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Pesto Linguini, a variety of Flatbreads, and their D'Oh Balls for dessert. Everything tasted great!
There are two full service bars offering a variety of wines, beer, and cocktails to quench your thirst. The second floor is also home to a very spacious pool hall and additional entertainment space.
The Rivoli has hosted many musicians since opening in 1982. Popular acts include Adele, Arcade Fire, Beck, Blue Rodeo, Iggy Pop, Tegan and Sara, Jully Black, and many more!
The Rivoli has a lot to offer. Check them out the next time you're downtown, near Queen and Spadina!
? Wookie Balls
? Garlic Mashed Potato Balls
? Fish Ball Fusion
? D’oh Balls
? Korean BBQ Flatbread
? Spicy Thai Flatbread
? Blanco Flatbread
? Love From Parma Flatbread
? Truffle Parm Fries
? Rivoli Pad Thai
? Pesto Linguini
? Blackened Burger
? Chicken Sandwich
I know that the Rivoli is a music venue with an upstairs pool hall, some arcade games and another bar. I did not know that they also serve delicious dishes and have a massive menu made from scratch with quality ingredients. This definitely isn't your typical bar .
A couple of us foodie's gathered for a luncheon and to take in some of the history.
My personal favorites were the Spicy Thai Flatbread, the Korean BBQ Flatbread, Korean Lettuce Wraps and the Parmesan Truffle Fries.
Solid experience
Always good time at the Rivoli. If you have sensitive ears, bring ear plugs. The sound in the venue is very loud. But it’s so fun to see and feel the history in that place. If you love live music, you need to go check it out.
Service: 4
Shoutout to John!
I was at Rivoli for an industry event. Typically, I am unable to eat the food at any event I attend, as I am both vegan and gluten-free due to health reasons.
I saw a man take a sign from the food area that said "fries" but no fries were in sight. I went over and asked him if he worked there (and his name was John) and if the fries were coming out, because there was nothing else I could eat. He said fries actually weren't on the menu for the event but would get some fries just for me.
Flash forward 10 minutes and John comes out with the promised fries, but ALSO with a giant plate of roasted Brussel sprouts and a plate of their rice balls (that have apparently been a menu staple since the 80s!) - all of this food was just for me!
The food was delish (still dreaming of those sprouts!) and the gesture was so kind.
Thank you John and the Rivoli team! ?
Horrible experience at this venue, the middle aged bartender woman was extremely rude, and shouted at us for absolutely no reason when she could’ve calmly communicated. They have no AC inside either and it’s very hot, stay away!
Diego our server was awesome. Loved the patio. Had some awesome music... Thanks Craig (DJ). What a wonderful patio afternoon on Saturday!
Worst bartenders ever two slow indian dude suck at makin cocktails my paper plane was sooo bitter almost undrinkable than i waited 10 mins to order a beer ..... not to metion expensive for poor service got Korean lettuce wrap which was so trash ...will not return ..don't waste your money
An institution. Great pool hall upstairs.
Great time at the 80s night!
Very friendly staff, but the place needs updating.
Restaurantji Recommends
I recently attended a concert at Rivoli Toronto, and it was an incredible experience! The venue is located in the back room of the bar/restaurant, and it offers a fantastic, intimate setting for live music. The sound quality was excellent, and the atmosphere was just right—cozy, yet energetic, making it the perfect spot for catching live performances.
The staff were friendly and efficient, ensuring the crowd was well taken care of without being intrusive. The bar had a great selection of drinks, and the overall vibe was laid-back but lively. The size of the room also meant that every spot had a good view of the stage, so you never felt too far from the action.
I also appreciated how well-organized the event was, with everything running smoothly from start to finish. If you’re looking for a unique concert experience in Toronto, Rivoli’s back room is definitely worth checking out. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!
Great hidden gem! Old school feel in a cool venue.
Food here is a joke ! 20$ for a small - SMALL- bowl -BOWL of mac and cheese???????? Is that a joke ??? Caesar salad 13$ add chicken 11$ ! Salad is here its a thin lanyer of chiken breast ?? i couldn’t even find them ! How is that even possible! Expensive + low quality + tiny portions! Took 10 minutes to get the bill on a Saturday noon ! With only 2 tables with guests! This is a joke
Great service and amazing cocktails from bartender Yana!! Definitely recommend this place!
Great food, great negroni, great comedy.
Had dinner before the Mental Hellth show, we had an excellent time and it was clear the rest of the crowd did too.
Only bad part of the evening was forgetting my delicious steak leftovers at my table, truly a shame.
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