Meatballs that deserve a holiday: Here's where to find our favorites in Palm Beach County

Liz Balmaseda, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·5 min read

Let’s lift a fork in honor of the mighty meatball, the savory orb that’s just as delicious over pasta, atop polenta, tucked into a sub bun or simply enjoyed on its own. Hand-shaped or scooped, baked, grilled, simmered or fried, a meatball is a multi-talented, multicultural thing.

Fittingly, there’s a holiday devoted to all the above: National Meatball Day, which happens each year on March 9. But don't let that stop you from celebrating them any other day. Celebration-worthy they are. Beautiful in Italian red sauce, soul-warming in Mexican soup, tempting in Swedish gravy, they deliver what we crave: tons of flavor packed into a bite.

That flavor does not always depend on the meat. You’ll find flavorful vegan meatballs made by executive chef Fabrizio Giorgi at Café Sapori in West Palm Beach. He combines eggplant, mushrooms, onions, roasted lentils and breadcrumbs to make the restaurant’s polpette di verdure, which he serves with tomato sauce ($18, lunch).

I still miss the mini turkey meatballs at the late Epicure Market in Miami Beach. Gently seasoned, studded with bits of shredded carrot and baked, they were delicious warm or cold. I’d slice them over salads, dip them in creamy mustard sauce or pop them into dinner rolls.

In Palm Beach County, there’s no shortage of meatball options, even for those seeking renditions beyond your neighborhood red-sauce restaurant.

Swedish meatballs are on the menu at Johan's Joe in downtown West Palm Beach.
Swedish meatballs are on the menu at Johan's Joe in downtown West Palm Beach.

◾ In downtown West Palm Beach, you can find Swedish beef-and-pork, handmade meatballs (köttbullar, $19.95 platter) at Johan’s Joe restaurant and coffee shop.

◾ In Jupiter, you can find Cuban-style meatballs (albóndigas “al estilo Paco”, $22) at Copacabana Cuban Cuisine restaurant on Main Street, Abacoa.

◾ In downtown Lake Worth Beach, you’ll find Turkish-style grilled meatballs (köfte platter, $24) at Sofra Mediterranean restaurant.

◾ In Palm Beach, you’ll find chicken meatballs in creamy mustard sauce ($15, starter) at Honor Bar.

Where to find some of the best meatballs in Palm Beach County? Here ya go!

Grato

Meatballs over Parmesan polenta is a menu favorite at Grato restaurant in West Palm Beach.
Meatballs over Parmesan polenta is a menu favorite at Grato restaurant in West Palm Beach.

This popular West Palm Beach restaurant offers one of my favorite meatball dishes anywhere. Grato’s meatballs in marinara over creamy polenta with a swirl of basil pesto ($16) are on the small plates menu, and they will become a meatball lover’s new favorite.

You can also order them with a pasta entrée or in a meatball sub with mozzarella and pesto at brunch or takeout lunch.

Grato: 1901 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, 561-404-1334, GratoWPB.com

Lynora’s

Lynora's meatballs are the star of the local restaurant chain's popular Meatball Mondays.
Lynora's meatballs are the star of the local restaurant chain's popular Meatball Mondays.

The local mini-chain of Italian hotspot restaurants hosts one of the tastiest weeknight dine-in deals in the county:

Meatball Monday. Every Monday at all five locations, Lynora’s fluffy, beef-and-pork meatballs are offered at $3. (Monday deals also include $10 Margherita pizzas and $7 classic martinis.)

Of course, you can enjoy Lynora's meatballs anytime at the restaurants.

They're served with pappardelle, topped with ricotta at lunch and dinner ($17.95 lunch, $24.95 dinner) and Parm style in a sub at lunch and brunch (Parmigiana Hero, $15.95).

Lynora’s: For menu and locations, visit Lynoras.com.

Al Fresco

The veal-and-beef meatballs at Al Fresco restaurant in Palm Beach are served in a slightly spicy red sauce.
The veal-and-beef meatballs at Al Fresco restaurant in Palm Beach are served in a slightly spicy red sauce.

The oceanfront Al Fresco restaurant serves a meatball appetizer inspired by its sweeping views of the Palm Beach Par 3 golf course. The Al Fresco “Golfballs” are veal-and-beef meatballs served with spicy tomato sauce and herbed ricotta ($18 per five golf ball-sized meatballs).

Al Fresco: 2345 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, 561-273-4130, AlFrescoPB.com

Rose’s Daughter

Meatballs are on the menu at Rose's Daughter trattoria in Delray Beach.
Meatballs are on the menu at Rose's Daughter trattoria in Delray Beach.

The oregano-scented, beef-and-veal meatballs at this Pineapple Grove neighborhood gem are offered with house-made marinara sauce and Parmesan as a starter ($12) and over angel hair pasta as an entrée ($28).

Rose’s Daughter: 169 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach, 561-271-9423, RosesDaughterDelray.com

Fiolina Pasta House

On the menu at Fiolina Pasta House in Boca Raton: Nonna Palmina’s Meatballs.
On the menu at Fiolina Pasta House in Boca Raton: Nonna Palmina’s Meatballs.

This newish restaurant on Boca Raton’s “Restaurant Row” offers an antipasti-sized meatball dish. Nonna Palmina’s Meatballs at Fiolina ($26) are served in tomato sauce with Parmesan.

Fiolina Pasta House: 5377 Town Center Rd., Boca Raton, 561-473-9400, FiolinaPasta.com

Palm Beach Meats

Take-and-make wagyu meatballs are offered at Palm Beach Meats in West Palm Beach. The shop and pop-up venue also offers the meatballs cooked and served over locally made fresh pasta on Mondays.
Take-and-make wagyu meatballs are offered at Palm Beach Meats in West Palm Beach. The shop and pop-up venue also offers the meatballs cooked and served over locally made fresh pasta on Mondays.

This hybrid market/pop-up space also offers a Monday special. Palm Beach Meats’ Wagyu Meatball Mondays features handmade, beef meatballs served over fresh pasta (by Lake Worth Beach pasta-maker Leah “Mama” Gizzi) from 5 to 9 p.m. The Monday special is priced at $23.99. The meat shop/venue also offers ready-to-cook wagyu meatballs ($19.99 per six).

Palm Beach Meats: 4812 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, 561-623-7471, PalmBeachMeats.com

Adrienne’s Pizzabar

Meatballs are on the menu at Adrienne's Pizzabar in West Palm Beach.
Meatballs are on the menu at Adrienne's Pizzabar in West Palm Beach.

This family-friendly spot in downtown West Palm Beach may be known for its square, thin-crust Sicilian pizza, but it also serves a standout meatball. The beef-and-pork meatballs at Adrienne’s are oven-baked and served with tomato sauce, basil and pecorino ($20). They’re also offered atop a salad ($19) and, of course, as a pizza topping ($6 upcharge).

Adrienne’s Pizzabar: 378 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach, 561-834-0300, AdriennesPizzabar.com

Speaking of pizza…

The Rossano pie at Rossanos Pizza in Delray Beach is topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, arugula, prosciutto di Parma and burrata.
The Rossano pie at Rossanos Pizza in Delray Beach is topped with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, arugula, prosciutto di Parma and burrata.

Have you seen The Post’s best pizza poll? The pizza competition kicked off Monday with 16 pizza joints vying for a win. The field was narrowed to eight contenders Thursday night. We’ll reveal those eight pizza spots at 7 a.m. Monday morning, when voting resumes. You can find the best pizza poll on The Post’s “restaurants” tab.

Throughout March, the voting window is open every Monday through 6 p.m Thursday through March 28. Palm Beach County’s Pizza Champ will be announced April 2. Who will be champ? Your vote helps decide!

Hungry for more restaurant news?

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Read recent columns by Liz Balmaseda

Liz Balmaseda is The Palm Beach Post's food critic.
Liz Balmaseda is The Palm Beach Post's food critic.

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Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. She covers the local food and dining beat. Follow her on Instagram and Post on Food Facebook. She can be reached by email at lbalmaseda@pbpost.com. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best restaurants for meatballs in West Palm, Jupiter, Boca, Delray Beach