Li'l Rizzo's Italian Restaurant

What better way to start your meal than with one of our delicious appetizers at Li'l Rizzo's ? From our creamy spinach dip to our crispy chicken tenders, we have something for everyone in your party to enjoy. Be sure to check out our selection next time you're at our Lake of the Ozarks Italian restaurant ! What is an Appetizer?  An appetizer is a small dish of food or drink taken before a meal or the main course of a meal to stimulate one's appetite. They occupy the mind and stomach while guests wait for the food that will satisfy their hunger to the fullest. The Ancient Romans and Greeks are depicted lounging with trays of fresh fruit, wine, olives and cheese, something that surely inspired the appetizers we enjoy today. During the Renaissance, physicians recommended eating small morsels of salty meats prior to a meal in order to prepare the digestive system for the main course and to ensure proper digestion. All throughout history, those who had the means enj...

Each year, National Waitstaff Day is observed on May 21! The holiday was created to show appreciation for the hard work our waiters and waitresses do each day. It is a day to say thank you for everything they do to make our Lake of the Ozarks dining experiences enjoyable. Restaurant owners and managers should also recognize and express their appreciation to their dedicated employees! Here are some of the qualities that make our Li'l Rizzo's waitstaff so great: 3 Top Qualities of Great Waitstaff 1. Knowledge.  Being familiar with every item on the menu will not only help the waitstaff with taking orders, but will also allow them to make suggestions to the customer. Avoiding frustration with the customer is easier when the waitstaff have the knowledge of each dish and what it comes with. Familiarity with the daily specials will also help to enhance the customer experience. Everyone always likes a good deal. 2. Friendliness. Food service is obviously a customer serv...

Dining out versus cooking at home is one of the all time largest disagreements. Some people will argue that eating out costs too much or they don't want to load all the kids up in the car. Think about this, time is money and how much time are you going to be spending cooking and cleaning when preparing a meal at home? Li'l Rizzo's is here to tell you that eating out can be a great thing! Here are 5 of the top reasons why you should dine out: 1. No Messy Kitchen.  The worst part about cooking a meal for the family is the cleanup afterwards. Not only do you have the dishes that you ate off of, you also have all the pots and pans, bakeware and utensils needed to prepare it. After you've slaved away in the kitchen preparing this delicious meal, the last thing you want to do is clean up that mess. When you go to a restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks , we take care of all the cleanup for you. You just sit back, relax and let us wait on you! 2. Everyone Gets What T...

What are you doing for your mother this weekend? Mother's Day is this Sunday! While there are many gift options to choose from, why not treat your mom to a delicious dinner at the BEST Italian restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks ? Make this Mother's Day one she will never forget! History of Mother's Day  While Mother's Day is celebrated differently all around the world, the American version was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. She helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of the country still divided over the Civil War. Following her mother’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis conceived Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in G...

Enjoy live music at the Lake of the Ozarks when you dine at Li'l Rizzo's on Horseshoe Bend. Me & Jim will be joining us every weekend for the 2015 season. Check out the schedule below and make plans to come visit the best Italian restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks soon! About Me & Jim  "Me and Jim" play instrumental renditions of rock music from the 60'S and 70's. They use vintage guitars and sometimes mandolin, performing familiar tunes at conversational volume. "Jim," that is Jim Biggs, has performed in concert with such big names as Chuck Berry, Barbara Mandrel, and Barbara Fairchild. Jim played the Hotel Circuit pickin' country and rock music during the 70's and 80's all across the country. He owns a pile of vintage guitars, mostly Les Pauls, and has been known to bring several of them to the shows and switch guitars as they become too hot to handle! As for "Me," Frank Phelps grew up playing rock music and p...

When talking about Italian food, pasta is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Pasta is really the dish that unifies the whole of the nation. However, if you think that food is prepared the same way everywhere in Italy, you're wrong. In fact, there are only a few Italian dishes that are considered "national." Each region of Italy has its own typical food and recipes. Although Italy can be broken down into 20 different regions, you will find some common cooking trends allowing the division of Italy into 3 different gastronomic areas: North, Center and South. Our Lake of the Ozarks Italian restaurant brings you these regional differences from LifeInItaly.com . North In northern Italy, tradition revolves around hot soups, like minestrone and vegetables like radicchio, and is based on dishes that are rich in fat. Cheese, truffle, polenta, risotti and game are the most popular of ingredients. Potatoes are also used a lot and are the main ingredient of a famous nor...

At Li'l Rizzo's , it's not all about the pizza and pasta. We offer delicious sandwiches and burgers at our Lake of the Ozarks restaurant as well. Try one of these mouthwatering subs or sandwiches next time you're here! Tuscan Chicken Sandwich Tender marinated chicken breast smothered in melted provel and served on a ciabotta bun with pesto mayonaise, lettuce, tomato and red onion. Hot Italian Sub  Italian roast beef, smoked turkey and pastrami served hot on a ciabotta bun with our house dressing, melted provel and green onions. Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich Hand-breaded chicken tender topped with cheese and marinara sauce. Meatball Sandwich Our homemade meatball served on a hoagie with meat sauce and melted cheese. Hamburger An 8 oz. ground chuck burger. Add cheese for additional charge. Rizzo Burger  Bacon, sauteed mushrooms and onions topped with melted provel cheese. Sausage & Peppers Sandwich Italian sausage, sauteed onions,...