For years now, more specifically, since opening a location on the Upper East Side, The Meatball Shop has been a go-to no-brainer restaurant for me. In its white subway tiled walls, wooden tables and countertops, grinder clad walls, chalkboard “specials” menus hanging amidst the old world aged black and white framed photos on their walls, laminated menus with check boxes that I will always doodle on with their dry erase markers and grinder art embellished copper Moscow Mule cups, I have found my home away from home—thanks Chef Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow!

For the creature of habit in me, it's nice to know that there is a consistency to their menu, that way, when I'm not hustling to the next new restaurant, I can always find the comfort in my bowl of naked veggie balls with pesto. For those days when I want to stray, but still want my balls, the menu is super customizable making it perfect for any balls-to-the-wall mood I'm in. There's always a different yummy kind of naked ball to mix and match with a different sauce, there's a great customizable hero, The Meatball Smash where your balls are served on a brioche bun or The Kitchen Sink where your balls are placed a top veggies and greens. Really simply put, it's easy, it's fun, it's delicious and it has a killer playlist filled hit songs from my high school days that I like to remix in my brain and make all about meatballs—I like meatballs and I cannot lie, you other brothers can't deny, that when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist, and a plate of balls in your face, you get hung(ry)!

Can't wait to see you there!