LOWER EAST SIDE — Popular rice ball purveyors Arancini Bros. plan to open a new flagship location in the Essex Street Market early next year, where it will offer a new, expanded menu, an owner said.
In addition to the fried golden treats that made it a popular late-night staple in Bushwick, the eatery will also serve salads and vegetable sides, as well as a variety of toppings and sauces to pair with its arancini risotto balls starting on Jan. 2, said co-owner Giulia Della Gatta, who added they were still finalizing the menu.
The balls will also be baked — not completely fried, as they had been in the past — making them even lighter than before, Della Gatta added.
“We just want to have a lot of fun, and we want to have a sort of a healthy vibe and have the arancino remain the star,” she said.
Arancini Bros. had been on the hunt for a new brick-and-mortar location after its Flushing Avenue storefront closed more than a year ago, Della Gatta said.
The owners kept up their visibility by taking part in various markets and events, as well as a pop-up location at the Gowanus Whole Foods, but ultimately chose to rent space at the Essex Street Market so they could be part of the massive Essex Crossing development, which will incorprate the market into the project.
“That is exciting, because it’s just so much positive energy. We love to be in areas that are experiencing this kind of awakening, just like Bushwick was for us. It’s just kind of parallel,” she said.
