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Showing posts from 2014

Test Your Knowledge on Mizzou Football

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On New Year's Day, the Mizzou Tigers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers will battle for Citrus Bowl supremacy! A win for the Tigers would break the school record for most wins in a 2-year period and would make the 2014 team only the 4th in MU history to win at least 11 games. Mizzou has won it's last 2 bowl games and a win in the Citrus would give MU its first 3-game bowl win streak since Mizzou won 3 straight in 1973, 1978 and 1979. In anticipation of the big game, Li'l Rizzo's thought it would be fun to challenge you with a little Mizzou Trivia! 1. In 1890, Mizzou played it's first football game against whom? A. Kansas B. Nebraska C. Washington University D. Illinois 2. In 1907, the University of Missouri was a founding member of what athletic conference? A. Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association B. Big Seven Conference C. The Big Ten D. The Big Eight 3. What is the Missouri Tigers' Mascot's name? A. Truman B. Tommy C. Te

Order Your New Year's Eve Dinner from Li'l Rizzo's

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Li'l Rizzo's has delicious food options to help you celebrate the beginning of a new year! Surprisingly versatile, champagne actually pairs well with a variety of foods. The acidity and low sugar content compliment many ingredients found in our Lake of the Ozarks Italian food . Here is a selection of items from our menu that pair nicely with a glass of champagne! Toasted Ravioli or Mozzerella Sticks Our golden meat-filled ravioli or our deep-fried mozzerella sticks are the perfect appetizer pairing for champagne. A dry champagne will lighten up the heaviness of the breading on either dish. Sparkling wine also pairs well with fried foods. Cannelloni con Bianco Champagne compliments the earthiness of fungi and therefore pairs well with dishes that include a creamy mushroom sauce like our Cammeloni con Bianco. These rolled noodles are stuffed with beef and pork are served covered in our deliciously creamy mushroom sauce. Try to avoid tomato-based sauces, as the

4 Fun Facts About Italian Food You May Not Know

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Lake of the Ozarks Italian food can be quite different from the traditional cuisine you would find in Italy.  From pizza to pasta, each chef has his or her own take on how it should be made.  At Li'l Rizzo's we focus on generous portions and a wide variety of menu items, all made from the freshest quality ingredients. While Italian food has successfully spread across the world, many facts about traditional Italian cuisine remain unknown or misunderstood.  Here are some interesting facts about Italian food that you may not know! 1. Traditional Italian pizza virtually always has thin crust.  Everyone knows that pizza originated in Italy.  However, something they may not know is what that pizza actually looks like.  Today we have everything from deep dish to thin crust and everything in between, with as many different toppings as you can think of.  Most of the pizza served in America has little resemblance to that which you'd find in Italy. Authentic Italian pizza vir

Testimonials of the BEST Italian Food at the Lake!

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Li'l Rizzo's has the BEST Italian food at the Lake of the Ozarks !  We strive to give our guests a great dining experience in a unique Italian atmosphere. Generous portions and a wide variety of menu options, all made from the freshest ingredients, make for a refreshing dining experience.  Don't just take our word for it though, check out these raving testimonials from our wonderful customers! Excellent "This is an excellent place to eat and take your family. I have been going to Li'l Rizzo's for years, and it is still one of my favorite places to eat. They have two locations in the Lake of the Ozarks area, however the location at Horseshoe Bend Parkway, offers a better atmosphere, and view. The pizza is especially worthy to add to this review."   - Kriss E of St. Louis, Missouri  Excellent Italian Restaurant with Character "This is one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever eaten at. It is small and friendly, is located on easy-

Customer Appreciation Night

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Join us Thursday, December 11th at our Osage Beach location for our Customer Appreciation Night! Li'l Rizzo's would like to thank all of our amazing customers with a night of food and fun.  Happy Hour is from 4-6 PM, followed by a free buffet from 5:30-7:30 PM.  Spontaneous Serendipity will be providing musical entertainment from 5:30-8:30 PM.  Come out and celebrate with us! FREE BUFFET Enjoy many of our delicious menu items for FREE!  This is our way of saying Thank You for all your support in helping make our Italian restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks such a success! Appetizers Pizza  Pasta House Salad Get the BEST Italian Food around at Li'l Rizzo's! From pizza to pasta, all our menu items are made with the freshest quality ingredients and make for a refreshing dining experience.  Our Lake Ozark restaurant location will be closed next Thursday to allow for more staff at the Osage Beach location that night.  We hope to see you see you there! La

BIG Football Weekend at Li'l Rizzo's

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Li'l Rizzo's hopes all of our great customers have a very Happy Thanksgiving!  After the holiday, join us at Li'l Rizzo's for one of the BIGGEST football weekends of the year!  Both of our Lake of the Ozarks sports bar locations offer multiple large screen TVs for your viewing pleasure.  Here's what's going on with our Missouri teams, as well as some other big games this weekend: Friday   Arkansas at Mizzou at 1:30 PM Saturday  We have a big slate of college games on Saturday including:  Georgia vs. Georgia Tech at 11 AM Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss at 2:30 PM Iron Bowl: Auburn vs. Alabama at 6:45 PM Sunday Oakland at St. Louis at 12:00 PM And the BIG game of the weekend...GO CHIEFS!! Denver at Kansas City at 7:30 PM While you're at the BEST Italian restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks , try some of our delicious appetizers, tasty pizzas and award winning wings!  We have everything to make your game day the best.  Don

Get Your Holiday Gift Cards Now!

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As we dive into the Holiday Season, one thing on everyone's mind is how to get all the shopping done. Let's face it, we all have at least one family member that is extremely hard to buy for.  Make your holiday shopping easy with Li'l Rizzo's gift cards.  Our gift cards make the perfect stocking stuffer!  Who doesn't enjoy getting delicious Italian food at the Lake of the Ozarks for FREE? Gift Card Promotion Li'l Rizzo's has a great gift card promotion to get you more bang for your buck!  We are offering a FREE gift card with every gift card purchased.  The free gift cards are valued at 20% of the original gift card value.  For example, if you purchase a $50 gift card, you'll get a $10 gift card for free and if you buy a $100 gift card, you'll get a $20 one for free and so on.  Now you can get your holiday shopping done and get a little something for yourself, for free, while you're at it! You can use your Li'l Rizzo's gift

Holiday Shopping Season is Upon Us!

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Temperatures are dropping, snow is in the forecast and Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away. Now is the time to start your Holiday shopping! The Lake of the Ozarks offers the perfect shopping experience with Kohl's, Target, local shops and of course the 110 outlet mall. Take a break from shopping to enjoy the best Italian food at the Lake of the Ozarks .  Li'l Rizzo's is directly across the street from the mall.  While the men are out in the woods hunting, you can be hunting for the best deals this Holiday season! Osage Beach Premium Outlets Join us for a giving season with the exceptional brands you love at extraordinary savings.  For holiday shopping that's always worth the trip visit Osage Beach Premium Outlets.  Find impressive savings at Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Gap, Factory Store, J. Crew, Nautica, Nike, Nine West, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more! 1st Annual Deer Widows

Let Li'l Rizzo's Cater Your Next Party!

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Whether you're having a birthday or anniversary coming up, wedding or holiday party, let Li'l Rizzo's provide the catering!  Our delicious Italian food at the Lake of the Ozarks will put your gathering over the top.  Guests will enjoy savory appetizers, delicious pastas and more.  Check out these options from our spectacular catering menu! APPETIZERS Toasted Ravioli Wings Garlic Toast Sampler Platter (Wings, Cheese Sticks, Toasted Ravioli, Spinach Dip) SALAD 1/2 Pan (12 Side Salads) Full Pan (24 Side Salads) PASTAS 1/2 Pan Feeds 7-10 People Full Pan Feeds 8-20 People Carbonara Lasagna (9/18 Servings) Spinach Lasagna (9/18 Servings) Spaghetti and Meatballs (5/10 Meatballs) Spaghetti and Italian Sausage (5/10 Sausages) Baked Mostacioli Spaghetti with Meatsauce Sausage-N-Peppers Chicken John Mannicotti Canneloni con Bianco Canneloni con Salsa Cavatelli con Broccoli Fettucine Alfredo Fettucine con Pollo Tortellini Alfredo Pesto Primave

The BEST Happy Hour at the Lake!

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What's better than eating the BEST Italian food at the Lake of the Ozarks ?  How about enjoying 1/2 price appetizers on top of the already great drink specials during Happy Hour!  Join us Monday through Friday from 4-6 at either location to take advantage of the BEST Happy Hour at the Lake of the Ozarks . Happy Hour Drink Specials 1/2 Off Domestic Beers $1 Off Premium Draft  1/2 Off Well Drinks 1/2 Off House Wines Li'l Rizzo's Appetizers Spinach, Green Chili and Jalapeno Dip delicious, creamy spinach dip with chopped green chilies and jalapenos Chicken Tenders strips of boneless chicken breast served with our special dipping sauce Loaded Potato Skins potato cups filled with bacon, scallions and melted provel cheese Portobello Mushroom sauteed in butter, garlic and Rizzo's marinade Toasted Ravioli  golden meat-filled ravioli sprinkled with parmesan and served with a side of meat sauce Cheese Sticks mozzarella stick d

The BEST Pizza at the Lake of the Ozarks!

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Li'l Rizzo's is the place to celebrate National Pizza Month.  With the freshest quality ingredients, our Lake of the Ozarks Italian restaurant has the BEST pizza around.  Choose how you want your pizza made or select one of our specialty pizzas. If you love thin crust, you will love our St. Louis style thin crust pizza, topped with hand cut fresh vegetables, premium meats and the finest cheeses! Pizza Menu at Li'l Rizzo's Cheese Pizza Small 10" - $7.98 ~ Medium 14" - $11.98 ~ Large 16" - $13.98 Specialty Pizzas Small: $10.98 ~ Medium: $17.98 ~ Large: $20.98 Supreme - sausage, onion, bacon, pepperoni, mushroom, black olive Macho Meat - pepperoni, bacon, hamburger, canadian bacon, sausage  Veggie - mushroom, tomato, zucchini, broccoli, green pepper, onion Hawaiian - pineapple, canadian bacon, green pepper BBQ Chicken - roasted garlic chicken, bacon and onion in our tangy barbeque sauce Buffalo Chicken - chicken tossed in our original wing

Pizza Trivia for National Pizza Month

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Pizza is one of America's favorite foods, right up there with burgers and fries.  Although pizza may have originated in Europe and would be considered Italian Cuisine at the Lake of the Ozarks and across the US, Americans have accepted it as their own. To continue in the celebration of National Pizza Month, here are some interesting facts about pizza that you may not have known! Margherita Pizza Many of you may be wondering where the popular Margherita pizza got its name. The name actually came from Italy's Queen Margherita who visited the Pizzeria Brandi in Naples in 1889.  The pizza maker created a pizza for her that contained the three colors of the new Italian flag: the red of tomato, white of the mozzarella and fresh green basil. The Largest Pizza The largest pizza ever made and baked was 122 ft. 8 in. in diameter and weighed 26,883 pounds.  To make this pizza, 9,920 lbs of flour, 198 lbs of salt 3968 lbs of cheeese and 1,984 lbs of tomato puree were neede

It's National Pizza Month!

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October is National Pizza Month! Have you ever wondered where pizza came from? Why do we have an entire month dedicated to the celebration of pizza?  Your favorite Italian restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks did some research and we have the answers!  In honor of National Pizza Month, here are some things about pizza you may not have known! History of the Pizza Although the exact origin of the "Pizza" can be argued, Naples is known as the home of modern pizza.  Pizza began as a peasant's meal; they used what few ingredients they could get their hands on to produce modern pizza dough and then topped it with olive oil and herbs. The introduction of the Water Buffalo gave pizza another dimension with mozzarella cheese.  While other cheeses have made their way onto our American style pizzas, no Italian pizzeria would ever use the dried shredded type of cheese we do. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the true modern Italian pizza was born.  Before then, tomato

Meet Bill Borders

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Li'l Rizzo's has been in the Borders family since the very beginning!  Carol Borders, along with Mike Rizzo and Ed Alexander, founded the original Rizzo's in 1985.  The restaurant was a success and soon Carol acquired full ownership.  Two other restaurants have since opened, which brings us to her son Bill.  Carol and Bill opened the Premium Outlets location together and now he runs both it and the Horseshoe Bend location.  To get to know who's running your favorite Italian restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks  today, we asked Bill some questions and here are his answers! Q:  Tell us about your family.  A:   My mother is a remarkable woman who overcame many obstacles to become a successful business person. She moved to the Lake from St. Louis in the spring of 1985 to be the dining room manager of a new Italian Restaurant.  She worked tirelessly at Rizzo's and ultimately bought the business from her partners.  She opened three more successful restaurants bef

Did you say Gummy Bears on the Menu?

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Li'l Rizzo's has the best Italian food at the Lake of the Ozarks !  We're open for lunch and dinner, so come on in anytime for a delicious meal with the family.  You can even take our food on the go if you're in a hurry.  With a special kid's menu featuring gummy bears, Li'l Rizzo's is a hit for children and adults alike! Li'l Rizzo's Kids Menu  The kid's menu at our Lake of the Ozarks Italian restaurant is for kids 12 and under. Kid's meals include coca-cola products, tea or apple juice.  A side of gummy bears is $0.95. *Gummy Bear Pizza  6" cheese pizza with a side of gummy bears *Spaghetti and Meat Sauce  *Cavatelli Con Broccoli  *Chicken Tender and Fries  Homemade chicken tender and fries *Fettuccini Alfredo  Stop by either of our two locations to enjoy one of Lake of the Ozarks' best restaurants!  At Li'l Rizzo's you'll enjoy a great dining experience in a unique, family-friendly atmosphere.  D