Papa Perrone’s

I love thr vegetarian rice balls. They are perfect. I usually order a whole buch of them and freeze them since I do not work or live near the food truck

The balls were good. I. T dude at my j. o is Italian and told me about this truck and it’s balls. Told me how they make them and all so one day we trooped it up to the truck. Let me tell you, those ares some good Italian Balls. I got the Chicken Parm balls. Lot’s of Chicken with delicious sauce. Huge massive Rice Balls. Papa went on vaca a couple days after I had these balls. I think he’s back at the location close to my j. o so I’ll def go and try some Italian Sausage next week. Look out for that review.

Had a rice ball from here this past Friday while there were parked outside of the Brooklyn Brewery. I am a huge fan of rice balls. I make them myself upon occasion. I thought this was tasty but I had 2 complaints. First, the rice inside seemed a tad mushy and over cooked. The second was that it just wasn’t crispy on the outside. It might have been when it was first cooked, but it was kinda soggy due to however they re-​heat it. While it was tasty and helped out on a rice ball craving, it wasn’t something I would search out again. It was just OK.

Warning: If you take the pizza slices to go… The crust is CRUNCHY so your cubicle neighbors will hear you eat every tasty bite!
This was my first time here thanks to a BOGO coupon from Tenka. Fast and very friendly service. Worth checking out for lunch if you work in the area. And they have $ 1 Poland Spring Water which I consider a bargain as I’ve paid much more elsewhere for the same size bottle.
Rumor has it their riceballs are worth a taste so I will have to venture back for another lunch soon.

Took a stroll down to 55^th between Park + Madison today to check out Papa Perrone’s. While they served some nicely sized meatballs, they were ALMOST dry. My very Italian colleague enjoyed his sandwich but said that he wasn’t blown away.
I am curious to go back and check out the arancini. It seems that I totally missed the ball on this place… (Haha, see what I did there? So cheesy. Help! I can’t stop!)

Very reasonably priced and great tasting italian. Had my first riceball here, which was pretty good. It has a very interesting taste and texture between the rice and cheese, like something i have never had before. I have also tried their meatball parm hero and pizza which were both excellent. The sauce is what makes or breaks italian food, and they have a great sauce.

Rice ball and meatball. Go figure they would be the best food at the NYC food and wine festival. Can definitely see the appeal as street food. Would definitely go out of my way to find the truck again.

It’s difficult for me to have someone else’s sauce besides my families and this was not a challenge at all. Someone suggested to me that I give this place a try and although I’m always hesitant about getting Italian anywhere but from home it was awesome. I had a meatball and a riceball parm style and it was hot and fresh. I have to say I did like the rice ball a bit better. The guy on the truck was super nice and also they just started selling Uncle Louie G’s Italian ices.

Holy meatballs. I feel as though the meatball was slightly breaded and fried… don’t quote me. Because I know you were about to. Put your pen down.
The riceballs are equally sensational. I went with the Sicillian which contains ground beef and peas. And yes to answer your question… one riceball will be plenty for lunch.
Great service and the guy makes you feel like a regular. MANGIA!

I dont know why this place doesnt have more reviews. It’s amazing. I love the vegetarian riceball (with spinach) and meatball parm. the sauce is sweet and yummy and my only complaint would be more sauce please!!!
John is a doll. Super sweet and pretty quick.

I went by last Tuesday with my family and we had some of the best food that we ate during our entire trip to NYC. First, the guy in the truck is great! He is incredibly friendly and talkative, and works the line with precision and humor. He treats everyone as a regular. Now on to the food… We ordered the Rice Ball, which you have to taste to believe… A Soft ball sized round of rice stuffed with ground meet, rolled in flour I am guessing and then fried or baked to a golden brown. Check out his website for pics. Add a little marinara, and you have a great lunch. Oh and it’s only $ 4.50. Two slices of pizza… great crust and sauce… and a baked ziti that my kids split and loved. My oldest daughter called it «AMAZING!» Finally the kids each had Italian ices. They were the best I had ever tasted. Smooth consistency and bold flavor, and a large serving as well. Overall, I will seek out Papa Perrone’s the next time I visit NYC… Go visit his truck, you won’t be disappointed! I forgot to mention, my family of four all ate for roughly $ 21.00. Where else can you get food of that quality for that price in NYC?

«It’s Friday, for God’s sake. To hell with my damn diet! Everyone sucks and I deserve an artery clogging lunch!» I mumbled while exiting my office building. I was a woman on a mission en route to Papa Perrone’s truck for a greasy, red-​sauce-​laden, carboholic’s dream lunch.
As I walked up 55^th Street between Park and Madison Avenues, there she was: A large white truck/​van (think along the lines of an Ararmk/​Cintas uniform or food service truck) with a huge red, white and green Italian flag on the back. Nearly the entire passenger-​side wall of the mobile kitchen-​on-​wheels was outfitted with a counter, where shakers of basil, salt, Parmesan cheese and hot pepper flakes stood. And beyond that stood Papa Perrone himself, working up the kind of healthy sweat only observed on multi-​tasking chefs.
By noon, there was already an ample line of hungry Midtown Manhattanites hovering around the truck. The Papa handled himself with charm, humor, charisma and precision; I was impressed. «Hey dowall, what can I getcha?» He asked me in his thick Staten Island accent.
I ordered a slice of grandma-​style pizza (a thin crust, square-​shaped Sicilian), paying a little extra for a hefty topping of meatballs. Fifteen minutes later, I was back at my desk, ready to indulge. My first bite was a mouthful of sweet and tangy tomato sauce with just the precise consistency (not too thick/​pasty and not too thin/​sparse). The crust was thin and crunchy, giving way to a skinny interior layer of moist and pillowy dough. The meatball topping was generous, and while I found the texture velvety and the product flavorful, I couldn’t help but wonder about its gamey lamb-​meat aftertaste. Could it be that the Papa mixes his polpette (Italian for meatball, come on, people!) with lamb? Readers, do any of you know?
For just under $ 6, I enjoyed a warm, homemade lunch prepared by one of the friendliest and hard working entrepreneurs I’ve encountered in a very long time. And to that I say: Go out and support your city’s local businesses. Both your wallet and stomach will thank you.

As a born and raised NYer I look down on anything from Staten Island (where Papa Perrone is from) …but whaddayaknow something good has come from garbage Island.
And not just something good, it’s something «Ey oh, now that’s a effin sammich!» good.
I first read about this gem on midtown lunch and promptly dropped everything I was doing to head over and try their «Midtown Lunch Special» The MLS (I’m gonna copyright that) is an eggplant parm on a garlic bread hero roll with –drumroll please– baked ziti all up in it. Wow. Orgasmatron.
It’s the kind of sandwich you dream about being able to make yourself. It’s hot, it’s salty, it’s sweet, it’s extremely filling. Follow that with sharing a Sicilian Riceball with your lunch buddy and you’re golden.
The fact that Papa P does this all himself and doesn’t include a side of «I’m stressed out, make your decision dbag!» attitude is extra points for this guy.
Other things to note:
— Seating is plentiful right outside whatever large corporate building is there but still be sure to get their early.
— The line isn’t out of control but the food takes a while to make on occasion and he has run out of ingredients. I wept the day the Rutgers style greasetruck Fat Cats were being made there and he ran out of food 5 mins before we arrived.
— Sometimes he’s got Manhattan Specials! If you’ve never had one do yourself a favor… do eeeeet. A Manhattan Special is an espresso soda (think coffee and coca cola) and made in good old Brooklyn, NY (Manhattan Ave in WillyB) It washes the baked ziti and riceball down with perfection.
Papa Perrone knocks this one outta the park. 5 for 5 my man, keep it up!

I give this truck 5 stars without hesitation. The riceballs are so delicious and as filling as you can get for $ 4.50 (just went up $ 0.50). They are frequently my Friday «no diet day» lunch. It’s been awhile since I had the pizza, but that was the reason I originally started going here. I remember it being wonderful, light crust and not too heavy on the cheese. John (the guy running the truck) brings fudge and cookies sometimes too. He’s very friendly and fast with your order.

Pizza off a truck? Sicilian RICEBALLS? WTF?
comes through for me once again with a great lunnch recommendation.
–Sicilian Slice ($ 2.75) [from Jiannetto’s] — more like two long sicilian slices uncut. no cheese, only tomato sauce on top, but boy is that tomato sauce AMAZING! They also offer 2 slices/​$ 5.50 w/​free bottle of poland spring
–Sicilian Riceball ($ 4) — +1 if you want it parm’ed up — the rice was airy and fluffy, not overdone, there was a hint of cheese in it and some ground meat, diced peppers, i asked for my tomato sauce on the side so my ball wouldn’t get soggy
On Vacation Jul31-​Aug10 so don’t say I didn’t warn you jerkies! I will definitely be back before then to try the highly revered artichoke pie!
Total came out to $ 6.75
pics: