The Italian Kitchen

God, I miss them. I could go for a dozen anchovy crispelli right now.

Good luck Peter and Ruth. Will always remember coming in to chat while waiting for my rice balls and crispelli's. I will always look back with fondness and good memories of your welcoming "Italian Kitchen".
Always enjoyed the conversations! Enjoy your time! I am sure trips to Sicily are on your agenda now.

Been coming here for years, since I was a kid and LOVE their crispellis so I was a bit surprised by crispelli flavor when I got 2 dozen today ....noticed they smelt different too. When you've been eating same thing that tastes exactly the same every time for nearly 40 years and suddenly it's different thought it was worth mentioning. Hoping you didn't change the oils type cause think that may be reason for flavor and smell change. If you read this please use the oil you were using at my last visit back on sept Still great crispelli but loved the old flavor more.

A rare treat, had em from when I was a kid. Best Finger food ever. Chewy fried dough with either anchovies, Ricotta or Sugar. Plain for the boring....

So tasty and fresh. Something EVERYONE should try. Its not for all, but if you want to try the Sicilian version of fried dough, the best ever in your life, try Peter's crispelli's...

We love the cheese crispelli's. Well worth the drive from Haverhill. The delicious rice balls are also my favorite. Brings back memories of the old days.

My first time having a Crispelli and that shit is bombayyyy! Lol. U know it's legit when the place been there for 50 years with only 3 things on a menu. Ill be back again. Cheap fast and easy. But better than your favorite hooker!

If you wanna look like an outsider, go into the Italian Kitchen and order some ricotta crispelli's and some anchovy crispelli's. Those of us who have been going all our lives call 'em cheese and fish.

I started with the sugar as a toddler, graduated to the plain and then the cheese. Took me til my mid-20's to gain a taste for the fish. It's the only time I'm getting near an anchovy.

That said, I am guaranteed to get crispelli's on labor day weekend while I'm there for the Feast of the Three Saints. Aside from that it's catch as catch can between me getting to Lawrence and them being open.

Prices are right. They have the rice balls prepped and drop them in the oil when you order, but the crispelli's will be made in front of your eyes. Unless you go for the Feast but then they sell so fast they haven't been sitting for long!

As stated cash only but seriously you can get a dozen crispelli and a rice ball for under $20. Do it.

Shhh, don't tell anyone. This place is a secret.

Whenever I go visit my brother in Lawrence, I stop in for the worlds best crispelli and arancini. They only do these 2 things, and they do them well.

Rice balls and crispelli...that's all you'll get here and it's all you'll need. Other places attempt to make rice balls: Borelli's in Methuen (fair), The Green Barn in Salem (great but now closed), McKinnon's in Salem (dreadful)...The Italian Kitchen has them all beat by a mile.

Their working hours are odd almost as if they are an exclusive club. I never can seem to remember the hours and drive down when they are closed. A friend always brings me the cheese crispellis during the Feast in Sep so I generally only get to enjoy them once a year.

If you can remember their hours and are in the area The Italian Kitchen is worth a special trip. Lots of Yelpers comment that Tripoli's is right across the street. Tripoli's pizza is a great; but, if you want excellent Italian pastry head on over to Fisichelli's on Union street. There you'll find the best canoli on the planet.

This place is full of memories... I only get here once every ten years or so and it never changes. I finally had to introduce my husband to rice balls and crispellis, so we stopped in after picking up a few cannolis from Tripolis across the street. Pack your cash, grab some napkins, and prepare to be super-wowed for super cheap. Oh dear sweet rice ball, how I have missed you!! With sauce! The hubs is a convert. Reluctant and doubting at first - he is a rice ball fan. The crispelli was delicious... I'm a cheese gal, I just can't bring myself to stomach the anchovies.

The service is great. Very personable. Witty and entertaining. If you've never had a rice ball or a crispelli - get your tush to The Italian Kitchen. Doubt no more... if my husband can finish my rice ball while I step away for a minute, you'll love them too!