493072 Mon Feb 25 08:34:30 -0800 2008 50 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 3432132 For the last few months I've had a craving for a meatball sandwich with marinara. So I've sampled several, and I list my rankings below. Are there other places in SF that 'Hounds recommend? 1. The Gold Standard: Pasta Gina on Diamond near 24th. Wonderfully seasoned, huge meatballs, perfect texture, cut in half on an Acme roll. The marinara is thick and deeply flavorful. Mozzerella is the highest quality. With tax it's a bit over $9, and you have to sit outside on a bench, but this is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had, bar none. 2. Morty's Deli, in the Tenderloin. Also obviously homemade meatballs, with hints of fennel and oregano. Good, substantial roll (MAY have been sourdough), marinara tasty, cheese unremarkable. 3. Mastrelli's Deli in SF Ferry Building. Also homemade meatballs, but spicing not as delicious as Pasta Gina or Morty's. Marinara tasty. Choice of rolls. On the clerk's recommendation, I got the ciabatta roll. Mastrelli's puts the sandwich in a press, which I don't care for - and the roll dissolved before I was done with the sandwich. I don't remember the cheese. 4. Marina Submarine on Union St. I'm pretty sure these are factory meatballs. "Homemade" marinara is unremarkable. Cheap roll that disintegrates after the first bite. 5. Subway. The meatball is the sandwich of the day on Tuesdays, when it's only $2.99. Cheap bread, toasted, factory meatballs, but not bad at all for the price. On my list to try: Birley's Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Pomodoro Mozzarella de Buffula Giorgio's Pizzeria. Any other suggestions/favorites? Mon Feb 25 08:34:30 -0800 2008 31877 lmarie 1 3432213 On nasty rainy days, I crave meatball sandwiches as well. There was a place I liked on Union Street in Cow Hollow--a little Italian deli that was only open weekdays during regular business hours, so I only visited a few times when I was home sick. I think it is Corsagna's? Mon Feb 25 08:53:14 -0800 2008 3432132 19097 pane 1 3432228 Try Bigfoot Subs on the east side of Divisadero, north of Haight (I think). Also try Gambino's, on the street level of One Embarcadero Center. Mon Feb 25 08:54:37 -0800 2008 3432132 23776 DavidT 2 3432412 I second Gambino's. Haven't tried their meatball sub, but the sausage & pepper sub just like I remember from childhood in NJ/NY Metro area Mon Feb 25 09:38:56 -0800 2008 3432228 12154 Concetta 3 3432723 Gambino's is where I go (although now I must try Pasta Gina) I always ask for extra sauce, and they are happy to accomodate. Mon Feb 25 10:56:06 -0800 2008 3432412 10485 ChowFun_derek 2 3434392 As noted below by Gordon Wing, I believe it is King Foot (not Bigfoot) Subs, on Divisadero, near Haight. Mon Feb 25 17:54:27 -0800 2008 3432228 23776 DavidT 1 3432718 I like the meatball sandwich at Amici's (I've only had the sandwich at the King St. branch near the ballpark.) The only problem here is that they stop serving it at 3:00 pm every day. I wish that they'd put it on their dinner menu. It's very delicious. I also like the take-out only meatball sandwich at Roxie's on San Jose Ave. (I think that they also serve it at their branch on Kirkham in the Inner Sunset. Mon Feb 25 10:54:23 -0800 2008 3432132 10644 Nancy Berry 1 3433122 I used to be a fan of the meatball sandwich at the old US Restaurant. I haven't been since it moved and now I hear the restaurant has been sold. It was a great sandwich back in the day....maybe worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood. Mon Feb 25 12:24:27 -0800 2008 3432132 44445 HungryGrayCat 1 3433193 It's been awhile since I've been there but I used to enjoy the meatball sub at King Foot Subs - 258 Divisadero Ave. SF ( near Haight ) Couldn't find any old posts on Chowhound but did come up with some others..... http://www.yelp.com/biz/king-foot-submarine-san-francisco Mon Feb 25 12:38:40 -0800 2008 3432132 10429 gordon wing 2 3434710 The meatball sub is as good as ever at Kingfoot. I have it about twice a month. Mon Feb 25 19:40:54 -0800 2008 3433193 14801 mc2 1 3433888 Went to Gambino's today for a meatball sub. Nowhere near as good as Pasta Gina, Morty's or Mastrelli's. Factory meatballs with no particular seasoning except lots of salt. Marinara is fairly good though, and they are generous with it. The worst part was the cheap factory roll, which instantly turned into a sopping pad of marinara-flavored cotton. Mon Feb 25 15:10:46 -0800 2008 3432132 31877 lmarie 2 3435872 I went to Pasta Gina's yesterday..at 11:30 they were out of rolls so they couldn't make me a sandwich!!!....so I bought just the meatballs, but haven't tried them yet...since I was in the neighborhood I went to the new sub shop on Castro and 24th where the ice cream place used to be...they had a meatball sandwich but no mozzarella, only other cheeses...they do make a vegetarian sandwich with buffalo mozzarella, but even with me saying I would pay the difference, he would not make my sandwich with it....the meatballs were good, the sauce was good but on the sweet side, I like a more tangy marinara....on my way back to the car after downing this sandwich...I spied Andiamo a deli about a block from Pasta Gina...and being the sick Chowhound that I am ..I ordered a sandwich there...I could only down a bite or two in the car...meatballs seemed okay...sauce had no personality...I gave the rest of the meatballs to Maya my real Chowhound (see photo)....she thought it was the best meatball sandwich she ever had...maybe because it was the ONLY meatball sandwich she ever had! Tue Feb 26 08:03:25 -0800 2008 3433888 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 3439532 follow up on Pasta Gina's meatballs... Imarie was spot on...these meatballs have character....I'm glad they were out of rolls when I went, so I got to taste the balls and sauce straight......balls..terrific texture with herbage...basil and or parsley....superior tomato sauce, thick and flavorful.....Pasta Gina ...definitely a place I will return to..... They fill canolli's fresh there, but they are not cheap....a little too powdery (from powdered sugar in the mixture) but with good guality chips, and of course a crisp shell..... re: My Chowhound Maya and her experience with Andiamos' meatballs....she wolfed them down with obvious pleasure...(I thought they were ordinary...but different animals...different tastes)....HOWEVER she had diarrhea all the next day...a cautionary "tale"....perhaps.. As to Pasta Ginas' meatballs...she ain't getten none..they're ALL mine! Wed Feb 27 07:37:04 -0800 2008 3435872 10485 ChowFun_derek 4 3440442 link Wed Feb 27 11:41:33 -0800 2008 3439532 10264 rworange 1 3434017 CHOW in Lafayette! bob Mon Feb 25 15:44:49 -0800 2008 3432132 97872 robertwells 2 3434154 Genova on 51st ST and Telegraph in Oakland. Mon Feb 25 16:31:10 -0800 2008 3434017 10708 Oakland Barb 2 3440506 Yep, the meatball sandwich at Chow, at least in SF, is terrific, but it's the Sunday special sandwich only and not on the regular menu. Wed Feb 27 12:00:08 -0800 2008 3434017 10125 Frosty Melon 3 3440655 I'm not a meatball sandwich connoisseur, but the version at Chow is definitely good enough I'd say it should be on lmarie's list to try well ahead of Pomodoro... house made meatballs, pretty good roll (not factory wonderbread that dissolves!) , melted mozzarella, plenty of sauce. Wed Feb 27 12:32:53 -0800 2008 3440506 17221 SteveG 4 3441471 Granted it has been a number of years ago that I ordered the meatball sandwich at Chow (it really is my 'go to place' (a little like my local upscale diner)...but I found the meatballs then to be almost "powdery" in their consistency ..if that is a description that resonates with anyone....dry and powdery...! Other stuff are great...burger, salads, chicken, shortribs etc....perhaps I should try them again.... Wed Feb 27 15:39:54 -0800 2008 3440655 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 3901149 Saturday and Sunday sandwiches (BLT and meatball) are available every day of the week. Just ask for them. Fri Jul 25 10:37:25 -0700 2008 3440506 147113 ola 1 3434243 Bucci's in Emeryville makes a darned respectable meatball sammich, or at least it was good the last time I was there. (2 plus yrs ago...). Have to disagree about Chow, though. Thought their meatballs were a tad rubbery and meat had a funny "Alpo" like quality. Yes, I have eaten Alpo....in College......on a dare.....too many shots... Mon Feb 25 17:02:29 -0800 2008 3432132 154787 adamshoe 1 3434585 I love the meatballs served with the spaghetti at Mary's Pizza Shack in Walnut Creek (other North Bay locations, too). Someone on this board raved about their meatball sandwich. Their meatballs have sausage in them and they're super tasty. Mon Feb 25 18:54:39 -0800 2008 3432132 10992 katya 2 3438773 Open faced turkey meatball sandwich at Bovolo in Healdsburg. The best ever, each detail from scratch. Tue Feb 26 21:18:19 -0800 2008 3434585 119894 ambercontegssa 1 3439007 Dino's on Fillmore and California is pretty good. Wed Feb 27 00:38:12 -0800 2008 3432132 57083 Donna566 1 3516429 Anyone know what happened to the recipe from Herb's Deli on Taraval? They made the best meatball sandwiches and only sold them on Thursdays. I even planned days off of work so I could get a sandwich! They closed around 2001 and had a sign in their window that they were going to either sell the recipe to another deli/restaurant or sell copies to individuals. I signed up twice but never heard a thing. I would love to have that recipe! Fri Mar 21 21:58:39 -0700 2008 3432132 176890 RussG 2 3917518 Herb's definitely had a great meatball sandwich! Used to go there in the 80's. Funny, Herb's was the first place to pop into mind when I saw the title on the thread. Wed Jul 30 23:43:23 -0700 2008 3516429 105131 elm3c 1 3585680 Amici's does a very good meatball sandwich, not available after 3 pm. Lots of cheese and just enough sauce. Because the bread is toasted, it's easier to eat if you cut the meatballs in half. Fri Apr 11 15:21:56 -0700 2008 3432132 112963 cheesecakeking 1 3886264 I have been looking for a good meatball sub in the Silicon Valley area, and finally have one worth reporting to Chowhound. A Slice of New York is best known for its pizza, but this time I tried the meatball sub and it is the best I've had out here, and one of the best I have had anywhere. Meatballs, marinara, and cheese are layered into the delicious bread and toasted in a real pizza oven for a few minutes. The bread by itself would be a star; the combination of the four flavors was just magnificent. This takeout-oriented place has only four seats inside, but with the nice summer weather there are some tables outside that practically triple the seating capacity. So it is good news that they have been successful enough for the owner to be looking to add a second, larger location. Michael Sun Jul 20 18:23:07 -0700 2008 3432132 10707 mdg 1 3888063 If there is a better meatball sandwich in SF than at Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, I haven't tasted it. Mon Jul 21 11:04:06 -0700 2008 3432132 211799 sfhound 2 3888551 do you know whether Emmy's is open for lunch? Mon Jul 21 13:11:19 -0700 2008 3888063 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 3888790 SF menu pages. Hours Sun-Thu: 5:30pm-11pm Fri-Sat: 5:30pm-12am Interesting there seems to be 2 different place sites in terms of history. http://www.chow.com/places/2418 http://www.chow.com/places/34174 Mon Jul 21 14:16:24 -0700 2008 3888551 105235 wolfe 4 3890195 hmmm? a sandwich for dinner?? I prefer a Hero for lunch...Pasta Gina in Noe Valley has become my favorite! thanks for the info though! Tue Jul 22 00:17:55 -0700 2008 3888790 10485 ChowFun_derek 1 3897416 Mmmm, Angelina's on 22nd and California. Apparently a catering company with a small storefront cafe. Nice, toasty sub roll that stays crisp on the outside, soaking up the marinara (not sweet, yay!) on the inside. Melted, gooey mozzarella and peperoncini. Meatballs have a very finely ground texture, house-made. My friend's slow-roasted pork sandwich with ham, melted cheese, and sliced dill pickles may have been even better. Something like $6.95? Very good... http://www.angelinascatering.com/ Thu Jul 24 09:07:05 -0700 2008 3432132 10896 chaddict 2 3898646 You have a knack for finding sandwiches in little-mentioned places. Thu Jul 24 14:53:46 -0700 2008 3897416 10264 rworange 3 3898727 I'm telling you, their sandwiches looked gooood. They also had 2 sandwiches featuring Boccalone meats. And while not listed on the board, I'm willing to bet they would make a meatloaf sandwich if requested as they do serve it alone (someone had a chicken Parmesan sandwich even though that wasn't listed either). Thu Jul 24 15:16:54 -0700 2008 3898646 10896 chaddict 3 3918227 Maybe little-mentioned, but they've been around for 25 years according to the website. Some people must have noticed them. Thu Jul 31 08:19:27 -0700 2008 3898646 131118 Xiao Yang 2 3898977 Ooh, your friend's sandwich sounds like a Cubano, yes? Thu Jul 24 16:39:51 -0700 2008 3897416 10039 Melanie Wong 3 3899021 well, they didn't call it a Cubano and I, myself, have never had a real Cubano. But come to think of it, I guess you could say that... I'm telling you, it was tasty. Perfectly toasted bun, good roast pork with bits of fat, thinly sliced ham (but he is saying he doesn't remember the ham), melted cheese (I don't remember the exact type), and long, sliced pickles. Darn! Now *I* am craving one! They also serve wine and beer which seemed odd for such a little corner cafe/ deli. Try it! I think you'll like it. Thu Jul 24 16:52:59 -0700 2008 3898977 10896 chaddict 2 3920177 I should clarify: it's provolone, not mozzarella. You can skip Village Pizzeria on Clement, yuck! Thu Jul 31 17:30:19 -0700 2008 3897416 10896 chaddict 1 3898824 I had a meatball sandwich today from Mr. Pickles at 20th St and South Van Ness. Overall, not that good. The meatballs were okay, sauce was too sweet and too seasoned......I had the sourdough roll which I somewhat regretted - the sourdough flavor didn't mesh well with the pasta sauce. I think a regular Italian roll would have been better. Thu Jul 24 15:46:09 -0700 2008 3432132 21930 Dave MP 1 3899972 Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store 566 Columbus Ave Sounds weird but try this little gems focaccia meatball sandwich.. Fri Jul 25 00:54:44 -0700 2008 3432132 212950 arste 2 3900885 Mario's has been a fixture in North Beach for a long time. Thanks for reminding me of it. Fri Jul 25 09:29:53 -0700 2008 3899972 10724 Mick Ruthven 1 3901130 When you finally get to the inner sunset, you can try Milano's as they are great all around, but you *MUST* try Pasquale's. I thought it was weird that a *delivered* meatball sub was one of the best I ever had. So I walked down there later that week and had number two... holy yum. Fri Jul 25 10:32:28 -0700 2008 3432132 200575 pavlov 1 3918057 North Beach Pizza has a good mb sandwich with the sub roll toasted just right and enough cheese to handle the meatballs. Thu Jul 31 07:31:50 -0700 2008 3432132 214795 AlongfortheRide 1 3919354 Dino's on Fillmore and California has a basic meatball sandwich that works for me...garlic and onions and cheese...it's solid. Thu Jul 31 13:14:55 -0700 2008 3432132 214342 deanpaul2 1 3919445 Don't bother with Goat Hill Pizza's meatball sando. Cheese on the bottom...open faced...crunchy roll. Blech. Their pizza on the other hand is fantastic... Thu Jul 31 13:37:23 -0700 2008 3432132 203808 scosco 2 3919490 I have not found Goat Hill pizza to be fantastic - the all-you-can eat buffet is not bad, since it's a good bargain, but the one time I ordered take out, the pizza was small and pretty flavorless - and very expensive! (I went to the Goat Hill in Potrero Hill) Thu Jul 31 13:50:42 -0700 2008 3919445 21930 Dave MP 3 3919836 Hmmm...go figure. I've had a couple bad pies there over the years myself, but in general they beat most out there. Aside from Delfina and Pauline's that is. "Fantastic" might have been a stretch I guess. Very good might have been a better phrase. Thu Jul 31 15:31:34 -0700 2008 3919490 203808 scosco 1 3919738 There is a great new pizza dive at 46th Ave. and Noriega in the Sunset that has awesome sandwiches-they call them grinders and they do meatball....incredible! They stop serving the sandos at 4pm I think....it's called "The Pizza Place on Noriega"...easy parking great food...if you're adventurous, try the roasted cauliflower as a side....mmm! Thu Jul 31 15:03:35 -0700 2008 3432132 175784 Satyr 2 3922253 link 2 Fri Aug 01 11:12:07 -0700 2008 3919738 10264 rworange 2 3923130 Thanks for this Satyr! This is silly, as the name is used far and wide... you don't happen to DJ locally? Fri Aug 01 16:08:29 -0700 2008 3919738 200575 pavlov