The Scoop: The Meatball Shop is a restaurant devoted to perfecting a simple dish and serving it in new and inventive ways. The menu includes meat and veggie balls, spicy sauces, and sturdy pastas that can hold it all together. The Meatball Shop offers a fun space for making memories and building relationships over good food made with the freshest ingredients. This meatball movement started at Stanton Street on the Lower East Side, and now it has four locations where diners can dig into hearty pasta dishes.

I think everyone has a meal that reminds them of childhood. No matter when or where they have it, the food brings a taste of nostalgia and fills them with warm memories of the family member who made that special dish.

For me, it’s spaghetti and meatballs. My mom didn’t have a lot of tested recipes or cooking experience to rely on when she was making our family dinners. Spaghetti and meatballs was a dish that she felt confident putting together, and it was something the whole family enjoyed. As a result, it became her go-to treat to make on birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations.

Photo from The Meatball Shop
Enjoy a spaghetti dinner date at The Meatball Shop in New York City.

To this day, if my mom wants the family to gather for a big meal, all she has to say is, “I’m making spaghetti and meatballs.” And you can bet we will be there with forks and extra napkins in hand.

There’s just something cozy and comforting about a big saucy meatball resting in a bowl of spaghetti. It’s a crowd pleaser, so it isn’t at all surprising that someone decided to open a restaurant dedicated to this versatile and delicious dish. The Meatball Shop is everything spaghetti lovers like me could ask for — and then some!

The NYC restaurant features a mix-and-match menu that has won over people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s the kind of place where families can gather for a fun meal and couples can celebrate relationship milestones while sharing a pasta dish.

If you’re looking for a fun and casual date venue, The Meatball Shop could hit the spot and provide a lot of interesting flavor combinations to explore with that special someone. This restaurant prides itself on having something for everyone — including vegan and vegetarian patrons.

“This was a go-to date spot for my boyfriend and me for a long time because it is just a straightforward, no-frill, delicious place,” said a vegetarian named Sarah in a Yelp review. “It is a great place to get comfort food and healthy food, and everyone you bring here will love it — from the meat eater to the health nut.”

NYC Foodies Have Embraced This Saucy Date Spot

The Meatball Shop has established itself as a fun and casual eatery with three locations in New York City, including one in Hell’s Kitchen. The restaurants are full of good vibes and the smell of delicious food. It’s common to see couples enjoying cocktails and pasta dishes at a table for two. Some are going to a Broadway show afterward, others have just gotten off work — the restaurant welcomes an eclectic mix of hungry people.

One of the secrets to the restaurant’s success is in the food sourcing. The team works with high-quality and high-integrity suppliers who are based in New York or the surrounding area.

Photo of a meatball in sauce
The Buffalo chicken balls pair perfectly with blue cheese.

Heritage Foods USA is a farm-to-table butcher with headquarters in Brooklyn. Its meat products come from humanely raised livestock with no antibiotics used ever within the life of the animal. The local farmers put a lot of care into the production of meat, and that forms a solid base for the meatballs that have become world famous for their freshness and flavor. 

As a family-owned company, Murray’s Chicken has structured its business to support family farmers throughout the Northeast. Its birds are raised in Southeastern Pennsylvania and processed in the Catskill Mountain region of New York state. All its poultry products are certified as humane with no hormones, antibiotics, or growth drugs used.

Meyer Natural Foods is another dependable source for The Meatball Shop. This supplier offers wholesome and natural foods that maintain high ethical standards. “Doing what’s right for our cattle and land is The Meyer WayTM. When we say natural, we mean truly natural with no compromises,” Bob Meyer said.

By partnering with local, sustainable farmers, the Meatball Shop has ensured its dishes feature fresh ingredients that people can trust.

The kitchen stores are the result of collaboration across the agricultural industry. The Meatball Shop gets its European-style breads from Il Forno Bakery, its eggs from Brey’s Egg Farm, and its flour and cornmeal from Wild Hive Farm.

Catering & Delivery Services for Special Occasions

The Meatball Shop isn’t just a great date spot, it can also deliver for events that call for a delicious dinner. The catering options can suit an at-home birthday party or relationship anniversary. Couples can plan a scrumptious feast backed by this savvy kitchen staff.

The signature meatballs can feed a family of four or a large wedding reception crowd. The portion sizes are flexible to meet the needs of just about any type of event.

Photo of a Bucket 'o Balls
Bucket ‘o Balls can bring restaurant flavors to your home kitchen.

The Baller Boxes are a popular catering option that include meatballs served with a choice of sauce over pasta. Up to two sides are included. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available.

“Our modern Italian menu mixes our famous meatballs with plenty of additional options like pasta, salads, and a wide array of delicious seasonal veggie sides,” the team said. “We pride ourselves in offering guests with even the most restrictive dietary concerns a fantastic selection of dishes.”

Cutlery sets and heating sets can be ordered as add-on items. Many party planners also spring for the fresh-baked focaccia slices, which are sold by the dozen.

The restaurant locations offer delivery services for catering orders within 30 miles. Pickup orders are also available for no additional charge. The staff only requires a 48-hour notice for a catering order, so it can be a nice impromptu surprise for couples who want to spice up their date routines and celebrate their relationship in style.

All four locations also offer private event spaces, which can be a nice option for wedding rehearsal dinners, family reunions, or intimate date nights. Some locations even have a sound system, projector, and screen available upon request.

Finally, if you want to bring the signature meatballs to your freezer, you can shop on Goldbelly where The Meatball Shop sells party packs of 20 meatballs that ship frozen nationwide.

The Meatball Shop Adds Some Flavor to Dinner Occasions

My mom didn’t set out to make anything special when she cooked spaghetti and meatballs the first few times. She just needed something easy to put on the table. However, years of memories and love have become the secret ingredient in her signature dish, and now it’s something that brings our family together through all of life’s milestones.

The Meatball Shop has taken this classic comfort food to the next level by creating a variety of sauces, pastas, and ball options that can tempt all types of diners. The NYC restaurant has hosted countless date nights and relationship anniversaries, and it has delivery and pickup services for folks who’d rather stay on their home turf.

Whether you’re craving a wholesome veggie dish or spicy meatballs smothered in sauce, The Meatball Shop puts in the extra effort to make every meal something worth remembering.

“The menu has food for everyone. You can have any type of meatball in a variety of sauces and sides,” said Cintron in a TripAdvisor review. We sat and ordered a lot of random items just to sample them all. If you like tasty meatballs, I recommend The Meatball Shop.”

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