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The Meatball Shop

The First branch of The Meatball Shop was opened in 2010. This is the East Village Meatball Shop on Stanton Street. It didn’t take long for neighborhood diners to get clued-in to the delicious meatballs. The restaurant soon became famous for its impressive variety and the great quality of this classic food. There are two other branches, one in the West Village and one in Brooklyn.

Co-owners, Michael Chernow & Daniel Holzman, wanted to create simple and delicious food. They take pride in creating great food and giving diners a customizable eating experience. The menu is designed to make eating fun and easy and, of course, to delight the taste-buds.

When you order, you get a laminated menu on which you then tick-off which meatballs you want, which sauce you want on them, and an variety of combinations besides.

The vibe of The Meatball Shop is also part of the pleasure of eating there. It’s informal with a New York buzz, where people gather for affordable lunches, dinners and late night or, on the weekends, 3 a.m. meals. It’s often very busy, and there might be a short wait for a table if you arrive during peak hours. The good news is, they’ll take your cell number and call you when a table opens up. But they don’t take reservations, so get there early or at off-peak times to get a table quickly. Or you can, as many do, order a take-out.

The Menu At The Meatball Shop

Now for the good stuff. The basic order is meatballs with a sauce and fresh focaccia. The variations offered will have visitors wanting to try more than the four which come with the basic order.

There are beef, chicken, spicy pork, and vegetable variations. Check out the daily specials, where you’re sure to find something unusual. It’s good to know that all the meatballs, and the other dishes, are made from fine ingredients. The beef comes from Creekstone Farms, poultry from Bell & Evans, pork from Heritage Food, and the prosciutto from La Quercia. Other ingredients, whether dairy or fresh vegetables, are all from specialist farms.

With your meatball, select a sauce. There is something tempting about the traditional tomato sauce with any meatball, but you’ll have your pick of a mushroom gravy, spicy meat sauce, pesto, and, if you like it rich, there’s the Parmesan cream sauce.

Try the smash, which is two meatballs of your choice, of course, with the sauce of your choice. It arrives on toasted brioche, with the addition of a soft Italian cheese.

There are heroes and sliders, all created to incorporate your preferred meatballs in the way that will delight you best. It’s all about freedom of choice and letting hungry diners choose any combination from the menu.

Not all the deliciousness at The Meatball Shop has gone into the meatballs. There are some very tempting sweet offerings, in both drink and crunchier form. For your customizable ice-cream sandwich, you can even choose different cookies between which to sandwich your favorite ice-cream ball.

The floats are also popular. Have these with house-made root beer or cream soda. There are, among others, espresso, chocolate, mint and caramel versions, or keep an eye on the daily specials board for something different.

There is also a list of quality beers and good wine. For a treat, try one of seasonally available drinks. In winter, you’ll get a port toddy to warm you up, while summer sees the ever-refreshing house-made sangria flow by the jug-full.

All the branches have the same opening hours. The Meatball Shop opens at noon, seven days a week. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open till 4 a.m. The rest of the week, they stay open till 2. a.m.

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The Meatball Shop