Arancini

The dish, then the button

Arancini are breaded, fried balls of rice. In Sicily they often have a savory center. In a New York pizzeria they are the rice ball you order with a pie. Bravo names them Homemade Arancini Rice Ball, three to an order, and Rice Ball Parmigiana, two to an order. The item pages do not print a filling. The photo shows rice inside a fried ball. It does not document the center the kitchen uses today.

Parm on the second item is its own order, not a note you add to the first. Order the name that matches what you want.

Why pizzerias sell them

A rice ball is a starter that does not require a fork and a table if you are picking up. It sits next to garlic knots, mozzarella sticks, and fried calamari on Bravo's appetizer list. It is not a substitute for a hero, and it is not a dessert. Three is the listed count. This post will not turn three rice balls into a guest count.

The shop is at 413 New Dorp Lane. The family has made pizza since 1985. This location opened in 2020. The near-me page is the short order. This post is the explanation of the word.

Getting them

Add them to a pie for pickup, or eat them in the dining room. Hours are 11 AM to 1 AM daily. The full appetizer list runs until 11 PM. The Extended Hours menu is shorter, so a late rice ball depends on that list.

Call (718) 317-1010 if you are ordering a pile of them for a house and want the count confirmed. The phone is better than guessing from a blog.

Questions