The Meatball Joint

Ordered delivery from their website. Food came quickly in half an hour. We got two meatball subs, one with beef meatballs and 1 with turkey. Both were yummy and big portions served with a salad. Sautéed greens were good, lots of garlic. Would like to try a meal there so I can try their happy hour drink specials and desserts. Would definitely recommend for a good meatball sub.

Places are closing so quickly, I can’t keep up. Miami, stop this! While a big fan of the LA Café, I had some concerns about TMJ and though saddened at its passing, I can’t quite say that I am surprised. The saving grace of TMJ was the ice cream sandwich: two delectable (and, in my case) chocolate chip cookies topped with whipped cream, drizzled with hot fudge and packed in the middle with vanilla ice cream. Worth the price of admission. The problem here is that this was, ostensibly, a meatball joint… not an ice cream sandwich joint.

Delicious and awesome place!
The service was awesome and the meatballs were DELICIOUS. I had three different sliders. One was turkey, one was ‘calle ocho’, and the other was the standard meatball. All were AMAZING, especially the calle ocho one. I can’t wait to go here again. It was so great. There was such an awesome down-​to-​earth vibe and everyone was so friendly. The service was fast too! I love that! Seriously, I can’t wait to go here again.

Edited 01÷18÷13 — I think the have closed :(I tried to go for lunch today and the door was locked, chairs up, and there is a «For Rent» sign in the window. Too bad.
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This is a welcome addition to Alton Rd near Lincoln.
Things I like:
Veggie Meatballs with Marinara.
Mac & Cheese (they use cornflakes to make the crunchy top layer… yum!)
The Look!
Friendly Staff!
They Deliver!

Balls are meaty. Balls are round. Balls are tasty, when they’re in your mouth. Lamb meatballs. Beef meatballs. Pork meatballs. In addition to balls, they have a deelish-​us dessert: ice cream sangwich! Good choice of beverages.
Go for the balls, leave with a smile and a happy belly.

The second I took a bite of my Italian meatball slider, I didn’t even had a chance to swallow before I mumbled «5 stars».
I was so impressed with the flavors that I came back the very next day with another lunch date. I felt instantly like I was part of some meatball cult, desperately trying to spread the word that these amazing flavors exist, and that they very well might change your life. And best of all? It’s inexpensive.
If you’ve even been to The Meatball Shop in NYC, the concept is very similar. You get a menu, a magic marker, and check off the following:
1) What kind of meatball would you like? (PROTIP: Classic Italian is deliciously reliable, and get Lamb if its available)
2) How would you like your meatballs? (PROTIP: The sliders are fantastic, and you can get them in a wrap, although it’s not on the menu)
3) Do you want any sides? (PROTIP: Waffle fries are the bomb, but the spaghetti is a surprising winner. The sauce is the owner’s grandma’s recipe. SO GOOD!)
Being a conservative diner actually works in your favor. The Italian meatball with marinara doesn’t necessarily sound exciting, but it’s the best benchmark for this place — you’ll instantly see the love put into making these flavors amazing.
And for dessert? Grab the banana pudding or white chocolate macadamia cookies with vanilla ice cream. Holy cow.
Dinner for two: $ 25, with dessert: $ 30, + bonus leftovers for lunch. Yeah!

Yum! Went for a late lunch, early dinner on a Saturday afternoon. The place has a cool New York feel. And the balls were really good…
I had the classic meatballs on a Sammy (panini pressed focaccia bread) with the fire roasted marinara and my husband had the same with the fredo sauce. I ended up making a pink sauce by joining the two sauces — delicious!!! We had the waffle sweet potato fries and Mac and cheese (which is really penne and cheese) and those were just ok.
Overall a great meal. We will definitely be back.

Ok-​ish restaurant. Meatballs served by 4 and you choose how/​what you want them with: solo with fries, veggies, over pasta, in a sub, as a panini. You choose also your sauce.
I got the turkey & herbs meatballs solo with fire roasted marinara sauce and waffle sweet potato fries. The meatballs are a decent size but nothing special about them. Maybe it was because of the spicy marinara sauce that overwhelmed the meatballs taste. The sweet potato fries were pretty tasteless too unfortunately.
My husband got the classic italian meatballs (beef and pork) in a panini (called sammi) with salad (it is only served with salad). He said the meatballs were actually good.
No dessert although they have a selection of apple pie, bread pudding and meatball ice cream sandwiches where you pick your cookie (choice between 5 or 6 cookies) and ice cream flavor (chocolate or vanilla).
Good place for lunch but I didn’t like it much for dinner.

In life, all other things being equal, one would like to think everything has its rightful place and can be judged «in context.»
This is not Le Cirque, nor is it Jean Georges, nor Nobu. You won’t find smoked salmon, dishes with foam, tapas, nor whole fish freshly flown in from the Costa Brava, either.
But you will find the very best meatballs in Miami Beach, and if you pair them carefully (I recommend the «Sammy» pressed sandwich with mozzarella and roasted tomato marinara sauce), you’ll have a meatball sandwich that is as good as it gets, at least outside of Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, and Staten Island.
I’ve eaten here four times for lunch, and each meal has been terrific. Sides are great, too. (Try the sauteed kale or the great fries. And the lamb meatballs with tzatziki, offered on special or as a wrap, are first rate.)
Everything in its rightful place, as they say. Oh yeah… it’s a nice, casual ambience, too – perhaps the nice folks at Books & Books Café (who run this place) have something to do with that. Great to have this joint in town!

I am very surprised to see a few low star reviews for this place.
The first time I went to eat at The Meatball Joint I was on lunch break from work and was ridding my bike towards Subway. On the way there, I saw this place and decided to give it a try. (The reason I recognized the place was because I had received a mailing a few weeks earlier)
I sat down and ordered the South Beach meatball and on a Baguette with the tomato sauce. After my first bite I was sold. It was one of the best meatball sandwiches I have ever had.
I liked it so much that I came back later that evening with my girlfriend and my friend. Over all I had returned to this place 3 times in two weeks.
They do have some beer on tap and not the watered down crap we are used to but some good selections.
The only reason for the for the 4 stars rather than the full 5 is because of the service. During lunch I had great service from this young guy. But at dinner there were 3 girls behind the bar and when our beers ran out we waited quite a bit to get them refilled. Its not really the wait that it bugged me, but it was the standing around with their backs to the bar and the door.
I think if they get a fun and personal bartender it could do a bit better.
Either way, if you want a place to eat that is reasonable and that will fill you up, try The Meatball Joint.
P. S. I wrote this review yesterday and today I tried to Order delivery by calling 305−674−9441 the phone number that is on their To Go Menu and it says the number is disconnected. I hope these are only Growing Pains.

They only get 2 stars because they made an attempt at decent service. For starters, it’s a tIny place and they squeezed too many tables into it. They had to pull the entire table out just for me to sit down so that once I did I was essentially trapped. Someone had locked the ladies room from the inside and after waiting 15 minutes for them to get it open I finally just used the really icky mens room (my boyfriend was the one who finally got the door open for them with a pocket knife).
Then there’s the food… It really was horrible. I had the vegetarian meatballs with Alfredo sauce and the drunken mushroom sauce on the side, along with the macaroni and cheese casserole. First of all everything was cold. Both the Alfredo and the mushroom sauce were horrible flavor wise, the Alfredo being floury– like the roux wasn’t cooked long enough, and the mushroom being salty and otherwise flavorless. I found the texture of the eggplant meatballs too closely resembled that of real meat and that grossed me out. The macaroni and cheese was just ok.
My boyfriend had the South Beach meatballs (turkey if I recall) with spagetti and a side of veggies consisting of Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, carrots, and pears. He didn’t have any complaints but he’ll eat anything. I thought the veggies were a nice mix but not cooked enough.
I wouldn’t go back. They need to go back to the test kitchen and serve hot food.

This place is OK.
Thats not a cop out review it really just describes it.
The location is good but only for locals as there is no real parking for the place so I would come from Miami just to try this place.
The food is «alright «comfort food if you just came from the movie and few careful smuggled in drinks and need to eat on the way home — who does that anyway? RG
The service is also just ok but credit where credit is due — how much service can you provide for putting meatballs on my plate other than suggesting a «provincial red wine from muted vineyard of France «that goes great with a meatball?

I have been trying to write this review for two weeks because the number of witty (read: corny) cultural references to cajones, Mama Mia, and Lady and the Tramp that come to mind when trying to express my sheer love of the Meatball Joint is staggering. I’ll spare you this time — but trust me when I say made-​to-​order meatballs are probably the most novel idea to hit the Beach in the last three years. The Gotham-​City-​gone-​casual atmosphere is the perfect place to indulge the gourmet meatball lover inside you that you never knew existed. After experiencing the Meatball Joint, I’m having a problem thinking of a better Friday dinner than vegetarian, pork, lamb, beef, jerked, alfredo, or marinara-​ed meatballs a la pasta, sandwiches, salad, or sides over a glass of wine.

It was OK but I’m not a fan.
The restaurants itself is nice. Its a modern décor that’s clean, A couple of tables and chairs inside with a bar with a few stools.
I started off with the mac and cheese with toasted corn flakes, It was OK but I have had much better. The corn flakes added nothing to the dish. The menu offers several types of meatballs served different ways. I had the traditional meatball sandwich with cheese. The meatballs were bland and the cheese didn’t taste good and was not well toasted. The servers were nice and friendly.

Nothing like a good meatball. Could not wait to give this new place a try. The inside décor is sleek, modern and simple. It’s a small space yet we had no problem getting a table. They have a long bar area with stools with all their wine and beer selection on shelves behind the bar. First thing I noticed was they offer a nice assortment of beer and wine.
The menu offers meatballs, several different varieties, pasta, sandwiches, and choice of sauces. I opted for a Italian meatball sandwich on a hoagie with a side of greens. Hubby ordered several different meatball sliders to try. My meatballs had Parmesan cheese, mozzarella and a side of marinara. Our server was very friendly and very helpful with the menu. I was really digging the vibe and service. When my food arrived I was so excited it looked great. The bread was fresh, as far as the meatballs, well let’s just say they were bland and had too much Parmesan cheese. I love Parmesan cheese but this is all I tasted. It was so bland I kept pouring more marinara sauce on it. The marinara sauce also did not offer much flavor.
Hubby had the eggplant slider that I also tried along with the Italian and lamb. We enjoyed our beer and wine, ate our lunch but wished it was tastier.
Cool place, nice service but honestly I prefer my Italian balls bigger, and tastier.
Prices were average, good for a quick lunch.

My, My Meatball!
The people of the Café & Books & Books can do no wrong in my eyes (and tummy), so I was eager to check out this fresh new local spot when I saw its sign up.
I stopped by last Saturday night with my dining partner, shortly after their initial opening. The place was busy but there was a table for two available right by the window, and down we sat. Yes, it’s a small restaurant, but square feet are pricey in south beach. There’s enough room so just find a spot at a table or the bar.
The menu is simple: choose your balls, style, and sauce. We tasted all three sauces before choosing the drunken mushroom and marinara. The aflredo was delicious too, but a little salty/​heavy for my current craving. Our solo style balls came out from the kitchen quickly along with the veggies and sweet potato fries we ordered.
Being a vegetarian I was excited to try these eggplant «meatballs» and my excitement only grew after tasting them. I will certainly be back and might have the exact same thing! The drunken mushroom sauce paired really well with the eggplant balls and the garlic bread on the side was perfectly crispy on the outside with a buttery texture as you bit in. The sweet potato fries were light and crispy, but the veggies missed the mark a bit. I’ll try the greens next time instead.
A note on service: so friendly and accommodating, like all their sister restaurants.
Bottom Line: The Meatball Joint serves up delicious food at a great value; it’s the best new restaurant in sobe, 2012.

I’m holding off the fifth star because they had run out of apple pie!
Having seen this in «Hot New Businesses» and being hungry and in the area after an Elite event, I decided to stop by. Although it was a packed Friday night, their customer service had a good start by giving me change for a dollar to save me from earning a walk-​on role in «South Beach Towing.» Servicewise, I also like that the owner went around the tables checking on myself and the other diners. I also had the pleasant surprise of running into a couple other Unilocalers there.
Décor is modern and clean, with exposed steel structures and menu specials on an old school chalk board. The space is a little snug.
I ordered my meal as a scantron sheet, bubbling in the order on a card with retro markers. My 4 smoked chicken meatballs and whole wheat pasta was very nicely spicy with the marinara sauce. However, the sweet hints of the guava BBQ sauce subtly came through. Two pieces of garlic bread were toasty, warm and garlicky. Besides the carbs and meat, I closed my meal with a strong cuppa of coffee. As I noted in the intro, I’m holding out the 5^th star because they were out of the apple pie I was craving. While I’m digging the fact they make it fresh, perfection will be attained only when I taste apple pie!

Great decorations, NYC 50’s themed. Friendly staff greeting you upon arrival are very helpful with choosing items on the menu and ready to serve you drinks (many kinds of beer), wines, etc. After I placed my order I learned that they were out of veggie meatballs. Oh well… I guess I will have to come back and try again…

Eh, it was good… but I’m unsure about this restaurant’s staying power.
They have three different meatballs to choose from that you can then pair with sides like pasta or veggies, or you can put them on a variety of sandwich types. They also have different sauces to choose from.
My order came with 4 meatballs which I could mix and match. I got two traditional meatballs and two turkey meatballs. The marinara is super chunky and is like an italian salsa. I didn’t love it. It didn’t cover the meatball like a sauce should. Their other sauce is a «fredo» sauce and it was awesome. That was probably the tastiest part of the meal. You can really taste the cheese, and it has a thick texture that coats the meatball perfectly. The meatballs were served over pasta and mozzarella cheese was baked on top. It didn’t really work. I barely touched the pasta. We asked for extra sauce because they didn’t bring enough to really make this a pasta dish. I would’ve preferred just a bunch of meatballs with cheese and sauce. Skip the sides. My friend got a sandwich that looked pretty good and came with a side salad. We didn’t order dessert, but the guy next to us did, and it also looked awesome.
So here’s the thing, this place has lots of potential. Service was attentive and the meatballs were pretty tasty. I’d like to see more sauces and another (smoother) variation on the marinara.

The Meatball Joint is opening tomorrow (5÷21÷12) at the old King Kone on Alton and 15^th. We had the opportunity to sample the whole menu tonight.
The menu is pretty much laid out in a build-​your-​balls way. Get a pen and pick your meatball type (beef, turkey, veggie or a daily special), pick your sauce, and either go naked or choose a vessel from a sammy, slider or a sandwich. You can also add some good stuff on the side like roasted corn polenta, watercress pear salad, garlic bread, grilled veggies, pasta, etc… Everything is under $ 10 with the exception of eating 6 sliders at $ 15. So we tried all the balls — the beef, the turkey and the veggie (which is mostly eggplant and surprisingly delicious). Large tasty balls in flavorful sauces at a terrific price point.
We also ordered dessert. They have apple pie, bread pudding (sold out) and a «make your own» ice cream cookie sandwich. Ours was a giant ball of vanilla ice cream shaped like a meatball in between two chocolate chip cookies! Nom Nom Nom
Happy having delicious balls in my mouth: P