meet the mistress: the meatball shop
My boyfriend has been traveling a lot recently for work, so when he’s back in New York for 1-2 week stretches, The Meatball Shop is on his “must” list. Little did I know, he’s so into this place that the staff knows his name. I mean, this isn’t freaking Cheers. It’s New York City, where people are programmed to forget about you instantaneously and then steal your cab from you on the street during a torrential downpour.
When he’s home, he frequents the Greenwich Village location about 2-3 times in the span of a week. And those are just the visits that he’ll admit. He once broke down and confessed that he had gone RIGHT BEFORE WE WERE GOING OUT TO DINNER TOGETHER. So I forced him to have 2 meals. Cuz I’m evil like that.
I’ll give it to him though: this place is pretty great. I’ve only been twice, because I try not to intrude on his not-so-secret spot. You get a laminated menu (which is normally a clear sign that you’re in high school and at Denny’s) with a marker, and create your dream meatball meal. Here’s the breakdown:
- pick your balls (heyo!): naked style, in a brioche bun, in mini slider buns, in a hoagie, or over market veggies and salad. You have your choice of veggie balls, chicken balls, regular meatballs, pork balls, and the special of the day. And the specials are usually something amazing - like chicken balls with bleu cheese crumbles and Frank’s Red Hot.
- pick your sauce: your choice of marinara, parmesan pesto, mushroom gravy, ETC.
- add some goodies (either under your balls or on the side): mashed potatoes, polenta, spaghetti, risotto, etc. OR for the health conscious - an array of veggies
My go-to order (see below): naked veggie balls with mushroom gravy served over mashed potatoes. Boyfriend’s order: chicken balls in a brioche bun with side salad and side order of summer squash and zucchini in a lemon-basil butter.
Moral of this meatball story: Competing for your significant other’s love is no easy feat. Especially when “the other woman” is consistently awesome, and totally BALLIN’.
