Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night Meatball starring this week’s host, Rizzi’s On State and featuring The Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. And now, please welcome this week’s host from beautiful downtown Peoria, Rizzi’s On State!
I still haven't satisfied my taste for meatballs, so we're heading out in search of more meaty orbs this week. I thought we'd go and try the Linguini and Meatballs at Rizzi's, which isn't far from where I work, we'll just head down Water Street, park...
Walk down this alley, which is deserted and kind of looks like New York to me...
And here we are, Rizzi's on State.
Lunch Buffet...I wonder if that's any relation to Jimmy? Oof!
Obligatory framed Phil Luciano review in the foyer!
As I head to the bar, I see a familiar face there...
It's Rizzi's owner, Bekim, a really nice guy and wonderful host. Bekim told me that he and his wife, Sindis are the proud parents of a one month old baby daughter named, Nevine! Congratulations to both of them and this calls for a celebratory beer!
And that beer is promptly served up with a pretty smile by Jill, the bartender on duty.
Bekim said he'd hang out and chat while I had dinner at the bar and look, fresh bread has already arrived. They have wonderful service here, of course, having the boss sitting next to me probably helps a little bit! The bread is homemade and delicious by the way.
Sparkling wine glasses with the the Rizzi's logo etched in them hang overhead.
This is the view from the bar where I'm seated.
I started out with an appetizer called, Arancini which are crispy fritters filled with melted ricotta cheese. That's the biggest appetizer portion I think I've ever seen!
This is so good, crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, you need to try this out when you come to Rizzi's. Really a unique appetizer that I've never seen offered anywhere else around town.
As you can see, Jill's a busy blur behind the bar. There's two bachelorette parties in here tonight and they're keeping her hopping!
Here's the main course for the evening: Linguini and Meatballs. It looks fantastic!
This dish is so tasty and the sauce really takes it over the top. Bekim told me it's a family recipe that's been handed down through the years.
Okay, it's just about closing time in here, so let's take a look around before they lock the doors in here. These tables are opposite the bar and they look out on State Street.
The lunch buffet is covered now, but it'll be uncovered soon for Monday lunch.
Here's some of the smiling and friendly staff at Rizzi's, from left: Mike, Jessica, Ali and Ashley.
There's nice booths and tables in this room that's opposite the bar.
There's even more tables here in this room off to the side. It's very colorful in here and I like the Italian mural on the wall.
Obligatory dining room mirror shot!
There's a nice beer garden out here to dine and enjoy a drink or three.
Meanwhile, back at the bar, it's just about closing time...
But there's just enough time for a shot generously bought by Bekim! Cheers and we'll see you all tomorrow!
My Meal
I started out with an order of Arancini for an appetizer and it could’ve been the main course! It’s three large risotto fritters stuffed with ricotta cheese and served with their homemade Italian marinara sauce. The fritters are large and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with the melted ricotta cheese adding a creamy goodness to the mix. Next came the actual main course of Linguini and Meatballs. This is also a large portion with perfectly cooked linguini, savory and tasty meatballs and the Italian marinara sauce is a tasty family recipe that’s been passed down through the years and it really makes the dish.
I have to add here that while Googling around for this post I happened upon a review at Trip Advisor from someone who had the same dish and gave Rizzi’s a bad rating, here’s a screen shot of the review below:
This is a “review” written by some jackass named “Shawn J” and this clown is a “Senior Contributor” to Trip Advisor. This is what I hate about sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp. Any bumbling idiot that can hunt and peck on a keyboard can submit a review and there’s no fact-checking or copy editing of any kind before it’s put out there on their website. It’s so unprofessional. One glaring mistake here is that he’s saying he had spaghetti and meatballs, well, there’s not spaghetti and meatballs listed on Rizzi’s menu, it’s linguini and meatballs. Now check out this part of a sentence this idiot wrote: “the spaghetti was sorta mushii in the sauce did not taste very well and the meatballs are thought were horrible.” If you can make sense out of that bumbling gibberish, then go ahead and take this review seriously, otherwise take it for the idiotic nonsense that it is. Bottom line, don’t trust reviews from some brain-dead idiot that doesn’t even know how to spell, “mushy.”
SNM Rating
Four Galloping Gourmets
Italian dining at it’s homemade finest awaits you at Rizzi’s on State and don’t forget to check out the other Rizzi’s on Sheridan.
Rizzi’s on State
112 State St, Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 673-2500
Related Posts: SNC @ Sky Harbor Steak House, The Publik House and Jim’s Steakhouse.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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