2024: Bronx Voted Frankie & Johnnie’s Pine Restaurant Best Rice Ball!
Frankie & Johnnie’s Pine Restaurant
1913 Bronxdale Avenue
(718) 792-5956 – fjpine.com
If you love a good rice ball, Frankie & Johnnie’s Pine Restaurant is the place to go for their savory Arancini “Traditional Rice Balls,” voted the best in the Bronx. It’s no surprise, since Frankie & Johnnie’s Pine Restaurant has been a Bronx landmark known for Southern-inspired Italian dishes and rustic charm for over forty years.
2023: Bronx Voted Antonio’s Trattoria Best Rice Ball!
Antonio’s Trattoria
2370 Belmont Ave
(718) 733-6630 – antoniostrattoria.com
Antonio’s Trattoria not only has delicious, fresh pasta dishes, pizza, and pasta, but tasty sides, as well. The restaurant’s rice balls are a delectable symphony of Italian flavors. Each golden ball encompasses perfectly cooked rice, expertly seasoned and generously filled with savory delights like gooey mozzarella and succulent meat. The exterior has a delightful crunch that gives way to a melt-in-your-mouth interior, creating a textural masterpiece. Antonio’s Trattoria elevates the humble rice ball into a gourmet experience, marrying tradition with innovation. Served with love and meticulous attention to detail, Antonio’s rice balls are a must-try, embodying the essence of Italian comfort food in the Bronx.
2022: Bronx Voted Emilio’s of Morris Park Best Rice Ball!
Emilio’s of Morris Park
1051 Morris Park Ave
(718) 822-6758 – www.emiliosofmorrispark,com
For many fans of Italian rice balls, Emilio’s of Morris Park offers the borough’s best version of the classic appetizer that is made of Arborio rice and mozzarella rolled into a ball, covered in breadcrumbs and fried. The restaurant’s jumbo rice balls are filling and also delicious, according to online reviewers. Don’t look for a new twist on the rice ball at Emilio’s of Morris Park, which has been serving Morris Park and surrounding neighborhoods since 1989. As one online reviewer who returned to the restaurant notes, the rice balls and vodka pizza he ate “taste exactly the same as I remembered them.” That is more than good enough for the many loyal diners who continue returning to the restaurant for its rice balls, pizza and other traditional Italian foods.