Swimming in sauce and coated in breadcrumbs, rice balls are the perfect alternative to pizza when visiting your local pizzeria or Italian restaurant. Sink a fork into the crusty exterior and dig in until you reach the the heart of this round delight: the savory meat and perfectly cooked grains of rice. Long Island is home to several eateries that have mastered the art of cooking delicious rice balls, but these spots do it the best!
2024: Long Island Voted Grandpa Tony’s Best Rice Ball!
Grandpa Tony’s
101 Althosue Ave, East Rockaway
(516) 799-8669 – grandpatonysli.com
If you’ve never had a buffalo rice ball, then you need to check out Grandpa Tony’s Wood Fired Pizza in East Rockaway! This specialty appetizer features five rice balls made with creamy risotto, mozzarella, buffalo chicken and breadcrumbs drizzled with homemade buffalo sauce. Other outstanding appetizers include chicken vodka parmigiana sliders, coconut shrimp and zucchini squares. In addition to being known for hearty portions and fresh ingredients served in all their old-world favorites, the restaurant features a roster of daily specials focused on everything from chicken and pasta to sandwiches and salads. Other specials include a Sunday brunch, Sunday pizza night, Wednesday chicken night and Thursday pasta night. Visit Grandpa Tony’s for the very best traditional Italian cuisine where passion makes every dish perfect.
2023: Long Islanders Voted Grandpa Tony’s Best Rice Ball!
Grandpa Tony’s
101 Althosue Ave, East Rockaway
(516) 799-8669 – grandpatonysli.com
No trip to Grandpa Tony’s would be complete without tasting the restaurant’s signature buffalo rice balls. The twist on this Italian staple — creamy risotto, mozzarella, buffalo chicken, and breadcrumbs drizzled with homemade buffalo sauce — is so good you won’t want to share. The fresh ingredients, generous portions, and enthusiastic service set Grandpa Tony’s apart in the Long Island Italian restaurant scene. Grandpa Tony’s menu, which features brunch, lunch, and dinner options, promises a delicious meal at any time of day — just like a true Italian grandparent. Glowing reviews enthuse about family-friendly service, great drinks, a gorgeous indoor and outdoor setting with a view of the canal, and food that is simply out of this world.
2022: Long Islanders Voted Grandpa Tony’s Best Rice Ball!
Grandpa Tony’s
101 Althouse Ave, East Rockaway
(516) 799-8669 – grandpatonysli.com
Everything that happens at Grandpa Tony’s is a pleasant and delicious experience. Have you ever had a Buffalo Rice Ball? Try it at this Italian eatery where super-friendly service and an original take on a classic Sicilian recipe has become the talk of Long Island foodies lately. Eating any dish at Grandpa Tony’s is so laid back and enjoyable, much like you’d feel at home at Sunday dinner, though this delectable app is probably now on your dinner table. The one-of-a-kind way to enjoy the best rice balls around is a dish of rice balls made with creamy risotto, Buffalo chicken, mozzarella, and breadcrumbs. They come served with house-made Buffalo sauce. Rice symbolizes prosperity and wealth and this pleasing uptick on a traditional “arancini” is a memorable, surprising, and substantial way to enjoy the classic favorite.
2021: Long Islanders Voted Grandpa Tony’s Best Rice Ball!
Grandpa Tony’s
101 Althouse Ave, East Rockaway
(516) 799-8669 – grandpatonysli.com
Everything that happens here is a pleasant and delicious experience. Have you ever had a Buffalo Rice Ball? Try it at this Italian eatery where super-friendly service and an original take on a classic Sicilian recipe has become the talk of Island foodies lately. Eating any dish at Grandpa Tony’s is so laid back and enjoyable much like you feel at home at Sunday dinner though this delectable app is probably now on your dinner table. The one-of-a-kind way to enjoy the best rice balls around garnering attention is a dish of rice balls made with creamy risotto, Buffalo chicken, mozzarella, and breadcrumbs. They come served with house-made Buffalo sauce. Rice symbolizes prosperity and wealth and this pleasing uptick on a traditional “arancini” is a memorable and surprising and substantial way to enjoy the classic favorite.
2020: Long Islanders Voted Pizzatini Best Rice Ball!
Pizzatini
185 Henry St, Hempstead
(516) 280-8226 – pizzatini.com
Not in the mood for a specialty pizza pie? Not a problem. At Pizzatini in West Hempstead, the possibilities to enjoy a meal are endless — and that especially includes the Arancini, better known as rice balls. This Italian cuisine staple typically consists of risotto, mozzarella, peas, sauce, bread crumbs and prosciutto. But at Pizzatini, this dish is served with a twist. As soon as you take a bite, you’ll instantly get a taste of their perfectly cooked ground beef that’s been carefully prepared by their cooks. Enlighten your senses, and your stomach with the best rice ball dish on the island!
2019: Long Islanders Voted Pizzatini Best Rice Ball!
Pizzatini
185 Henry St., Hempstead
(516) 280-8226 – www.pizzatini.com
Arancini (rice balls) is a Sicilian delicacy of rice, cheese and meat that the staff at Pizzatini have perfected into a feast for the eyes and stomach! Located conveniently in Hempstead, Pizzatini features great service and great food. You can even order online at their website or over the phone.
2018: Long Islanders Voted Mario’s Pizza & Restaurant Best Rice Ball on Long Island
Mario’s Pizza & Restaurant
655 Broadway, Massapequa.
(516) 797-1122. mariosmassapequa.com
Family-owned since 1969, Mario’s Pizzeria not only serves the finest pizza on Long Island; customers can’t get enough of their delicious Italian specialties – like their famous rice balls, voted the best on Long Island! Come on in today to Mario’s Pizzeria in Oyster Bay. They certainly aren’t just pizza!
Who knew that something so small, but yet so beautifully crafted could bring so much joy to your life, particularly your taste buds? Mario’s famous rice balls are a must when dining at the Massapequa restaurant. Thoroughly packed with rice and cheese and carefully cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of flavor and crispness, you won’t be able to get enough of this amazing appetizer and will be sure to order it every time you visit, which will be a lot!
2017: Long Islanders Voted Mario’s Pizza & Restaurant Best Rice Ball on Long Island
Mario’s Pizza & Restaurant 655 Broadway, Massapequa. 516-797-1122. mariosmassapequa.com Who knew that something so small, but yet so beautifully crafted could bring so much joy to your life, particularly your taste buds? Mario’s famous rice balls are a must when dining at the Massapequa restaurant. Thoroughly packed with rice and cheese and carefully cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of flavor and crispness, you won’t be able to get enough of this amazing appetizer and will be sure to order it every time you visit, which will be a lot!
2016: Long Islanders Voted Mario’s Pizza & Restaurant Best Rice Ball on Long Island
Mario’s Pizza & Restaurant 655 Broadway., Massapequa. 516-797-1122. mariosmassapequa.com Perfect singularly as an appetizer or piled high together as a full meal, Mario’s rice balls are the epitome of all that is exceptional with this classic Italian creation. The tightly packed sphere is loaded with all the rice, cheese and flavor that has made this dish such a staple, and then some! Crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, Mario’s knows rice balls, and Long Islanders know Mario’s makes The Best!
2015: Long Islanders Voted Ciao Baby Best Rice Ball on Long Island!
Ciao Baby Multiple Locations. ciaobabyrestaurant.com This app is billed as “Our Legendary Homemade Sicilian Rice Ball” on Ciao Baby’s menu for good reason: It is a risotto rice ball packed with ground meat, peas and plum tomato sauce topped with melted mozzarella and fresh ricotta cheese. Yes, a creation such as this truly does exist, and Long Islanders have resoundingly voted it The Best! Now head over there and try one!