This thread is all about that staple of Jersey Cusine, the Meatball Parmigiana sandwich.
I will be posting, with pictures, various meatball parmigiana sandwiches found in the Garden State, including a brief review.
Others are welcome to join in.
Today was Tavola Pronto in Fair Haven:
Whatās Good: Bread was superb, rustic and nicely toasted (from Balthazar). Fresh Mozzarella. 4 big half meatballs on a 7 inch roll.
Not so good: Sauce, and or meatballs, could have used a kick. Fresh tomato flavor noticeably missing. Not enough sauce.
Price: $ 9.00 plus tax
Overall grade: B+
Would order again: Yes
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I like this thread. I love meatballs and meatball subs in general, but 95% of the time if Iām at a local Italian joint Iām going for a chicken parm over meatball.
Generally I only get meatball subs from only two sources:
- Quick takeaway chains like Quick Chek (itās really hard to screw up a meatball sub)
- Ocean View bakery in Long Branch, because thereās literally a grandma making it and I canāt imagine anything being better than that.
Iām realizing that my life has been seriously lacking in the meatball sandwich department.
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I have a weird relationship with meatballs and rarely ever get them on a sub. Iāll say Joanneās meatball parm is probably my favorite but I rarely get them at restaurants/delis. So +1 for oceanview @joonjoon. Ive been going to her spot for over a decadeā¦more like 13 years as I look back. A lot of people here have introduced me to great places, and I hope I have turned some people onto a cool local deli in the heart of long branch.
Vik can we open this up to other meatball topics or do your want to strictly stick to parm sandwiches? I say this because Iām on a meatball bender from hell but not sandwich-wiseā¦if that is a word 
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I have yet to take a photo but the menu at Old Glory in Keyport includes an appetizer that is entree worthy. Two large meatballs stuffed with mozzarella cheese served on a bed of homemade red sauce and free brick oven toasted Italian bread with a dish of olive oil. I believe itās $12. Enough for two.
The meatball parm with or without bread at Spiritoās in Elizabeth is old school, bar prep, but a childhood favorite.
Ferraroās in Westfield serves my favorite meatball parm sandwich. I could eat one a week.
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Funny, there are few, very few items that I make that I honestly do not think I can get anywhere near the quality of anywhere else. Iām not nearly arrogant enough to believe that somewhere, someone, canāt make a better steak or chicken francese etc. better than me. Thatās one of the great things about dining is I love tasting, enjoying and many times trying to replicate dishes I enjoy out.
Not with my meatballs. Fā you, Fā you and F YOU!! Noboyās meatballs beat mine, and ass such I rarely can bring myself to eat them out. I just donāt want to bother being disappointed so you will NEVER see me order a meatball parm sub. Nope, not gunna do it!!
I will on occasion order a meatball appetizer in an Italian restaurant just to gauge my opinion of them. Rarely do they live up to my expectation, however as is the case with Christineās, sometimes I am happily surprised and satisfied with their rendition.
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next Ho-Down- meatball mixer at casa JVā¦Iāll bring the Andre champale and Mountain Dew.
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NotJrās magic meatballs ā¦ donāt ever think I will let you forget!
lol 
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Now weāre talking. Sounds like a meatball battle is brewing. Iāll put my balls against anyone. Count me in .
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Donāt you have a warrant in Pensacola Fla for doing EXACTLY that? Some people just never learn. Although on behalf of @VikingKaj Iāll say: āDonāt threaten me with a good timeā.
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Meatball cooking contest? Yes please.
Iāve got balls - count me in.
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Looking forward to meatball parm reviews!
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Happy Ho birthday/anniversary!!!
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Happy 1 year Anniversary @fershore!
I donāt know if this qualifies, but I had the meatball sliders at Osteria Cucina Rustica happy hour. They were housemade at least. I wouldnāt say the meatballs were bad as such, but a friend had praised them to no end so I was expecting more. For a place that also runs a joint with āParmā in the name, the sauce and cheese could have been better as well.
Overall grade - C+
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Double zero ā¦ Fairfield is excellent IMO
A giant meatball or two made with a combination veal, beef and pork topped with a perfectly balanced house made tomato sauce and house made mozzarella tucked into excellent pizza dough bread redolent with the flavor of good olive oil.
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Delete ā¦ repeat
We landed at Brandoās happy hour this week and our friends had already ordered the foodā¦for $5, one of the plates was a pair of (huge) meatball sliders. DELICIOUS. The meatball was yummy and the sauce really āclean,ā which is my preference. I didnāt eat the bun, but everyone else was scarfing them down.
I later heard they have a FORTY-FIVE DOLLAR veal parmigiana. Um, NO. This is why I donāt generally go to places like this, but for happy hour? ABSOLUTELY. @joonjoon have you been? All of the HH food is $5, iirc, including the pizzas.
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So today my fellow ho-bags we have this delectable little beauty courtesy of Luigiās in Lincroft:
Whatās Good: Meatballs were very tasty, tomato sauce had a fresh zesty zing, and there was plenty of regular ole creamy NJ moozerell melted into everything.
Plus it came with FRIES.
Not so good: Six smallish half meatballs on a 7 in sub, could have used a couple more. Bread, while delicious and with lots of sesame seeds, could have been toasted more. A little crunch would have been nice.
Price: $ 7.95 plus tax, fries included
Overall grade: A-
Would order again: Yes
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Sure, itās a free forum, you can drop your balls in this thread.
Just donāt forget the sauce.
And photos please.
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