The Meatball Shop Awards

The Meatball Shop Restaurant Review:

Perhaps the ultimate recession friendly food, the meatball is hearty, comforting, affordable, fun, and reminds us of our childhoods. And this Lower East Side eatery, dedicated to that spherically shaped hunk of meat, does an admirable job of keeping it diverse. The menu is loaded with options: there are individual meatballs (which come in chicken, pork, beef or veggie varieties); there are satisfying sliders (which is really just a tender meatball between a soft bun); diners with a bigger appetite can opt for a smash, a two-meatball sandwich; and finally a hero, three meatballs on a baguette that tends to overwhelm the entire thing. More meat, less bread should be the diner’s mantra here. All options come with sauce: tomato, spicy meat, Parmesan cream or mushroom. A small but very affordable wine list and three beers on tap complement the offerings.