A city with balls

Photo/Gluten-Free Garden State

At first mention, I was skeptical about a suggested visit to The Meatball Shop. With five locations in New York City, these dining establishments focus on, well, meatballs. As most celiacs are aware, meatballs are typically made with bread crumbs, and therefore, we tend to avoid them, unless we know for sure they were made gluten-free.

My sister, one of the pickiest eaters I know, assured me there were gluten-free options. Since she rarely, okay NEVER, gets excited about food, I figured it was worth checking out. Of course, I viewed a menu available on the small chain website first to be sure.

The Meatball Shop doesn’t have an extensive regular menu, and its gluten-free options are even more limited. What’s impressive is that these restaurants HAVE gluten-free options, and they’re delicious. They also provide options for other common allergies, including dairy, nuts and egg.

There are four types of meatballs on the regular menu, plus specials, but only the chicken is gluten-free. (Hey, it’s healthier than beef anyway.) They can be topped with tomato and pesto sauces. Most of the side dishes are gluten-free, including polenta, mashed potatoes, simple salad, broccoli and spinach. In addition, the white beans can be made without allergens.

On my visit to the West Village location, I had the chicken meatballs with tomato sauce and polenta, which was creamy without being too mushy and had a great flavor. (My husband, who typically does not eat polenta, decided we should “share” the dish.) The portions were filling without being too big. Others in my party of four had the simple salad and mashed potatoes with their meatballs, and they enjoyed their meals, as well. We also liked the social atmosphere of the place that came with the communal dining tables.

It’s definitely worth a trip across the Hudson River, although you may have to wait for seating, since these are small spaces. In addition to the West Village, The Meatball Shop has locations in Chelsea, Williamsburg, Lower East Side and Upper East Side.

Kristen