The Meatball Shop
84 Stanton Street
(Between Allen & Orchard)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 982-8893
www.meatballshop.com

Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow have decided to shine some light onto a character that is usually playing a supporting roll--the meatball. Meatballs, usually accompanying the almighty spaghetti, have been out of the culinary lime light for some time, until now. The Meatball Shop opened this February in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City and is utterly devoted to meatballs.

Open until 4am, The Meatball Shop is a counter service restaurant with a build-your-own-menu meal. You start by choosing the ball--2 ounces and house ground-which can be made from either classic beef, spicy pork, chicken, salmon, vegetable, or their weekly special. A meatball is not complete without sauce; choose from classic tomato, spicy meat sauce, mushroom gravy, or parmesan cheese. You can then decide how you want your meatballs served. The first option is Naked ($7), which consists of 4 balls served with focaccia bread and sauce. There is the Slider ($3), simply 1 ball on a bun with sauce, or if your feeling really hungry, the Flight of Sliders ($8), where you can mix and match any 3 balls. Finally, there is the Hero ($9), composed of an Il Forno baguette, an option of whole wheat is available, stuffed with meatballs, sauce, and your choice of either provolone or mozzarella cheese. See why it's called the Hero?

The Meatball Shop has an assortment of sides, divided into two categories. Pasta (spaghetti or rigatoni), risotto, and mashed potatoes are on the "Stick It To Your Bones" sides ($3) menu. The "Greenmarket" sides ($4) menu has such items as daily roasted veggies or an arugula and apple simple salad. Here meatballs are never on the side.

Ice cream sandwiches, made by Chernow's wife, are freshly baked cookies that sandwich together housemade ice cream. Again, have fun building your own meal with your personally designed ice cream sandwich. Cookie options are chocolate chip, peanut butter, walnut meringue, brownie, or ginger snap. Move onto the best part, choosing your ice cream filling; select from chocolate vanilla, espresso, mint, and caramel.

At a place where meatballs are the star and you can design your own ice cream sandwich, you may catch yourself humming "On Top of Spaghetti" without even noticing it. The Meatball Shop is out to bring your inner child to life.