Bacon Balls. Those are probably the only words you need to hear to find a gigantic incentive to head down to Knead.
But Bacon Balls are worth well more than two words. While there won’t be any “Knead” or “Balls” puns (especially together) in this article, feel free to use your own wordplay in the comments.
So, Bacon Balls. When seen on the menu, you might expect them to be something that’s mostly breading, like sauerkraut balls.
That’d be a wrong assumption. Bacon Balls are pure, lean bacon; finely shredded and miraculously balled up inside a crunchy, fried breading. Paula Deen would be proud.
What more could you want?
Wait, there’s an answer to that question. You want the house mustard sauce. Normally, sauces can be a distraction, but the reddish, very smoky mustard sauce at Knead is transcendently spicy. It teams perfectly, PERFECTLY, with the Bacon Balls.
Those who are familiar with Knead are probably not terribly surprised that it’s paving the way with this appetizer (please let it replace the tiresome local mini-burger trend). The restaurant has an adventurous side; it’s also offered an appetizer that involves tenderloin cut in the shape of calamari. And Knead’s known for the house-cured bacon it uses in its sandwiches.
One more thing worth knowing: Bacon Balls are dirt cheap. It’s four bucks for an order of this little appetizer, which yields plenty of teeny-bouncer sized globes. That’s half the price of most appetizers in this town. It hardly covers the cost of the bacon in the recipe.
You can find Knead, and its Bacon Balls at 505 N. High Street. The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesdays through Fridays from 11am until 3pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, it opens at 10am. The restaurant has dinner hours too: Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5pm until 9pm. Fridays and Saturdays, it’s 5pm until 10pm.
More information can be found online at www.kneadonhigh.com.
Photos by Mollie Lyman of www.fornixphotography.com.