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    Eat Right: 10 Great Meatball Dishes in Columbus

    Balls, the meatball-themed restaurant that took over the old Jury Room space, may have been a bust but that doesn’t mean our city’s affection for meatballs has waned. Quite the opposite. Just look at the new meatball-centric Palle by Moretti, which has been drawing crowds on Fifth Avenue. Here’s a look at some meatball dishes worth seeking out around town.

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    Copious
    520 South High Street – Brewery District
    Located in a renovated Downtown building, this combination restaurant-slash-music venue serves an excellent Meatballs and Marinara entrée. The house meatballs are served on shortcut pasta in a plum tomato marinara sauce and topped with shaved local cheese.

    Figlio
    1369 Grandview Avenue – Fifth by Northwest
    Craving Grandma’s spaghetti and meatballs? Go for a plate of Figlio’s “Old School” Spaghetti and Meatballs. Their hearty ’balls are made with a mix of veal, pork, sage, onions and breadcrumbs, and the whole shebang is topped with a mound of shaved parmesan.

    Marcella’s
    615 North High Street – Downtown, and 1319 Polaris Parkway
    The holy grail of Columbus meatballs, Marcella’s behemoth Braised Veal Meatball is served as a starter in its own little crock. The much-loved meatball can also be ordered as an entrée in the Spaghetti & Meatball, topped with tomato marinara and fresh grated parmesan.

    Nicola
    4740 Reed Road – Northwest Columbus
    You can—and should—pay an extra $3 to add a meatball to the classic Spaghetti al Pomodoro, topped with Chef Nicola’s signature tomato basil sauce. All of Nicola’s pasta dishes are served with his homemade egg pasta, too.

    Palle by Moretti
    1021 West Fifth Avenue – Fifth by Northwest
    A new concept from the owners of Moretti’s of Arlington, Palle bills itself as a modern, casual, meatball-centric restaurant and bar. The concept is typical fast-casual. Pick your choice of meatball (classic beef, chicken, spicy pork or veggie) and sauce (gouda cream, house marinara, pesto, spicy meat, marsala mushroom gravy or Buffalo) and decide whether you want them served as part of a bowl, on a sandwich, or any number of other ways.

    Little Palace
    240 South Fourth Street – Downtown
    One of the city’s surefire cheap-eats picks is this downtown hot spot’s Meatball Mini sandwich. It’s a Fire Roasted Meatball topped with Peppadew Cheddar and crushed tomato for just $3.50. Order two!

    Sweet Carrot
    1417 West Fifth Avenue – Fifth by Northwest
    This food truck turned brick-and-mortar serves unique Ohio Chicken Meatballs, which you can order on top of your choice of griddled corn cakes, mac ‘n cheese, a salad or as a sandwich.

    Trattoria Roma
    1447 Grandview Avenue – Fifth by Northwest
    Chef Matt Prokopchak does a Stuffed Meatball—a 6-oz. meatball oozing with mozzarella and provolone, served with marinara sauce and grilled crostini. Or you can create your own meatball pasta bowl with your choice of pasta topped with marinara, alfredo, puttanesca, arrabiata, diavola, Bolognese or burina sauces.

    The Wine Bistro
    4416 North High Street – Clintonville, 925 North State Street – Westerville, 8231 North High Street – Crosswoods, 1750 West Lane Ave – Upper Arlington
    With locations in Upper Arlington, Clintonville, Westerville and Worthington, The Wine Bistro specializes in seasonal fare to pair with the well-curated wine list. Try the Braised Veal Meatball as a starter, served atop marinara, mozzarella, provolone and fresh basil, or with Spaghetti and marinara sauce for an entrée.

    Z Cucina
    1368 Grandview Avenue – Fifth by Northwest
    Mondays at Z Cucina are Meatball Mondays! They offer a three-course feast featuring your choice of any salad, fresh spaghetti served with housemade meatballs, and cannoli for just $25.

    dine-originals

    Dine Originals Columbus celebrates, supports and promotes the culinary diversity that locally owned and operated member restaurants contribute to the identity and culture of our city. The nonprofit group is committed to strengthening the local economy and enriching the community through education and charitable partnerships.

    A limited number of Dine Originals Columbus restaurant gift certificates go on sale for 30% off on Wednesday, Nov. 16! Buy them at doc.instagift.com/discount-sale.

    For more information, visit www.dineoriginalscolumbus.com.

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    Shelley Mann
    Shelley Mannhttp://www.umamicolumbus.com
    Shelley Mann is the executive director of Dine Originals Columbus, a nonprofit group that celebrates, supports and promotes independently owned restaurants in Central Ohio. She's also the founder of Umami Consulting, a company that provides marketing and public relations support for local, independent restaurants in Columbus.
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