Rigoletto Italian Bakery and Café in Virginia Beach celebrates nearly 20 years of sharing Italian tradition.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — At Rigoletto Italian Bakery and Café, every dish tells a story of family, tradition, and resilience.
The longtime Virginia Beach staple, located on Upton Drive, has grown from a small Italian pastry shop into a beloved neighborhood café, nearing its 20th anniversary. But its roots stretch much farther, across the Atlantic to Italy.
“I mean, I wasn’t even born,” recalled founder and matriarch Gilda Di Domenico, describing memories of her grandparents’ food shops in Italy. “I just remember that when I was little, I was in the store with them.”
Di Domenico eventually brought that heritage to Hampton Roads after immigrating to the United States.
“I decided to bring a little tradition and culture to Virginia Beach,” she said. “It looks like it went well. People really appreciate it.”
Named after the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, a nod to the main character Gilda, who shares the founder’s first name, the café has become known for its homemade Italian dishes and pastries. It was even featured on a 2011 episode of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” However, its journey hasn’t been without challenges. In 2022, a fire damaged the building, threatening the family’s dream.
Despite the setback, the business bounced back with new leadership and the same commitment to quality and culture. Di Domenico’s daughter, Jessie Guzman, now runs Rigoletto alongside her husband, Victor.
“It’s not a business to me. It’s home,” said Guzman. “Living that dream of why you open a family business is so that your family can take over and keep that legacy alive.”
Guzman treated us to a number of dishes off the cafe’s extensive menu, including Mediterranean linguine with olives, fresh tomatoes, and feta cheese, as well as clams in a white wine sauce. Their panini selections and made-to-order cannoli remain local favorites.
Di Domenico says she’s proud of her daughter for preserving the bakery’s heritage while also introducing fresh ideas.
“She just comes out with these beautiful ideas, and they taste really good,” she said.
For Guzman, continuing the legacy was always part of the plan.
“I walk in and I feel at home,” she said. “When I’m home, I think about it, and I want to be here. I just always knew this is where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.”
Dining and Cooking