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Mr Taster
Aug 1, 2012 02:33 PM
This thread stimulated an intense lunchtime meatball parm craving in me.
Against my better judgment, I went with the only meatball parm accessible to me on the Miracle Mile, which is the pit known as Johnnie's NY Pizza.
What a mistake.... mealy, dry meatballs, lubricated with just a tiny spread of boring marinara, half melted cheese with nary a whisper o' browning or crispiness to either the cheese or the bread.
I need to fix this, stat.
Mr Taster
›15 Replies-
re: Mr Taster
While not a sandwich, the meatballs al forno at Pizzeria Mozza are excellent and decently close to the Miracle Mile. They are served with sauce and some garlic rubbed crostini. These are my current favourite meatballs. They are just a nose ahead of the meatballs from Salumi in Washington.
I'd love them in a warm Bay Cities roll.-
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re: kevin
wienermobile
Aug 2, 2012 09:41 AM
FYI.... Pizzeria Mozza Meatballs al forno $12. And yes they are really that good.
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re: ns1
Meatballs, Pizza and Butterscotch Budino at Mozza3Go -- that Blackboard Eats 30% Off Passcode is going to come in handy!
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There was a sub shop on the east side of Sepulveda bl just north of LAX toward the back near the parking lot that had the best Meatball sub I ever had, probably not there anymore because this was late 60's to early 70's. Could still be there but I havn't been down there in years. Anybody remember this??
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re: malibumike
Servorg
Aug 1, 2012 08:16 AM
While I doubt that this is the same place you are talking about (?) it may occupy the space from the one you recall. I've seen this place on some of my middle of the night bike rides, but have never been there when they were open to try it: http://www.oliveit.com/about_us.html
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re: ns1
Mr Taster
Jul 31, 2012 10:27 AM
The distinction between the two is probably lost in Los Angeles, where ordering a "meatball sub" could include cheese, or not, depending on the restaurant.
In the Italian American havens of New York and New Jersey (where I'm from), there is a definite distinction. A meatball parm is covered with mozzarella (and, I suppose, Parmesan) while a meatball sub would be cheeseless.
Mr Taster
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re: linus
Das Ubergeek
Aug 1, 2012 08:53 AM
Mmmmmmh... sort of. Things are either kosher or trayf, certainly, butyou may choose to eat something I consider unfit, because I may subscribe to a much stricter interpretation of the rules.
Where exactly to draw that line has been the subject of intensely boring debate for millennia.
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re: kevin
PaulF
Aug 1, 2012 09:39 AM
Kevin,
Have you ever eaten the meatball sub at Rinaldi's in El Segundo?
I haven't been there in years. My recollection is that they have beef meatballs and maybe turkey meatballs? They have a ridiculously extensive menu with all sorts of combos -- so I don't remember if I ever tried a straight meatball sub sandwich there.
I think they also have a second location in the South Bay somewhere, but the original Rinaldi's is in El Segundo.
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re: PaulF
Yep, I've been numerous times.
And thanks for reminding me. Their turkey meatballs are truly delicious and I love their eggplant parm too. Just like you I get it without the cheese sometimes.
And sometimes I get one of their subs and a meatball on the side. A nice, delicious lunch.
This is in regards to the El Segundo location.
I have never been to the location in Rendondo Beach in the Riviera Village.
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re: PaulF
wienermobile
Aug 1, 2012 10:02 AM
Rinaldi's second location is in Manhattan Beach on Sepulveda Blvd. in the Goat Hill mini mall (in the old Ben & Jerry's space). Meatballs Sandwich either Beef or turkey with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella
http://www.theoriginalrinaldis.com350 N Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 1
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-6742 US -
re: PaulF
Let me add to the confusion...the second "Original Rinaldi's" is actually located in that mall that is referred to as Goat Hill in Manhattan Beach. The address is something like 350 N. Sepulveda (I think). 2 Guns Expresso is on the south end and Rinaldi's is at the north end. The story I've heard, but never researched is that the original owner of the Original Rinaldi's in El Segundo is Mike Rinaldi who owns the sandwich shop called Rinaldi's in Redondo Beach. He sold "Original Rinaldi's" in El Segundo to the asian family that runs it now. They added a second Rinaldi's in Manhattan Beach (run by the wife). She's tried to make it a tad more upscale by added some new sandwiches and adding baked on the premises bread. I asked an El Segundo resident I know how the older Original Rinaldi's compared with the newer owners (who've owned it a long time now). He told me he thought it was just as good and the asian family that runs it are nicer and that Mike "could have a bit of an attitude" as he put it. That being said, I am pretty sure the meatballs are made on premises in the El Segundo, because the smaller Manhattan Beach one doesn't have a real kitchen (currently). End of diatribe.
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re: Feed_me
PaulF
Aug 1, 2012 10:33 AM
So, the really original Rinaldi's is the one in Redondo and owned by a guy named Rinaldi, while the original Original Rinaldi's is run by a nice Asian family who also run the Original Rinaldi's in Manahattan Beach.
Technically, the original Original Rinaldi's is unoriginal, it's branch in Manhattan Beach is even more unoriginal in an upscale sort of way, while the Original Rinaldi's in Redondo Beach was originally unoriginal, but now is in some ways more originally Original Rinaldi's than the original Original Rinaldi's.
Well, thanks for clearing up the confusion.
For what it's worth I've only eaten at original Original Rinaldi's in El Segundo since the nice Asian family took over -- so that's my original point of reference.
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Das Ubergeek
May 14, 2012 09:15 AM
There used to be a place called Milano's on North Brand in Glendale... if I could find the owners and beg for the meatball sub recipe, I would.
In the meantime, I get my meatball sub fix at Niberino's inside the His Nibs liquor store at Ball and Sunkist in Anaheim, opposite end of the buiding from das Jägerhaus.
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Being from the aerospace industry, most of us in the El Segundo area frequented Tony's on Aviation Blvd.. Those were the good old days with the hot meatball sandwiches topped with mozzerella cheese just dripping off a hot French loaf...oh yeah, but don't forget the cold pitcher of beer! Life was good while it lasted!
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re: kevin
Nah Kevin, it was back in the 80s and early 90s when El Segundo was teaming with aerospace workers as well as military personnel from the AF base nearby. Tony's was like THE PLACE to go for lunch because it was fast, good, and inexpensive. Of course the Wild Goose down the street did a pretty good lunch special too. But I digress. Tony's does a mean meatball sandwich which I'll have once in a while. But remember, it's only open for lunch.
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re: ns1
Reporting back, found the meatball sub to be pretty good.
Meatballs had good flavor, nice texture (not to dense not too fluffy), bread was nicely toasted/crusty and maintained it's form (ie sauce did not break through the side).
It was like 4-5 meatballs + sauce + mozz + parm on bread, toasted, with a light sprinkling of herbs. Closest representation to the fantastic meatball sub I had in NJ thus far.
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Mr Taster
May 3, 2012 09:36 AM
Haven't been there is years, but with that in mind:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5737...
Also, All About The Bread makes a somewhat untraditional but very tasty meatball sub on their odd, crispy, blistered Bay Cities ripoff bread. (Incidentally, I find their meatballs to be way better than the mealy ones at Bay Cities).
Mr Taster
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re: Mr Taster
I agree with you about the mealy meatballs at Bay Cities, but I still enjoy them. I get them to go along with sausage in a 2:1 meatball to sausage ratio. I heat them up in the sauce, cutting both the meatballs and sausage into bite size pieces. The mealiness fades away a bit when cut into smaller pieces and mixed with the sausages. The Bay Cities roll comes to life in a low oven--about 250-275 degrees for 10 minutes.
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Best I have had so far is at Big Mike's in San Pedro, but like most good meatballs it probably is not all beef. Large, fresh and you can actually taste the oregano and other spices in them. Never had a meatball sub in Greater LA that comes close, which is not surprising given San Pedro's large Italian population.
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re: Ernie
Peripatetic
May 3, 2012 10:57 AM
According to this thread, Big Mike's closed in 2007:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/78250
It seems as if two other places have opened and closed at the same location since then:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gypsy-way-bbq-san-pedro-2
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tonos-cafe-an...
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re: ipsedixit
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re: ipsedixit
Peripatetic
May 4, 2012 12:42 AM
I agree about Porto Via being a bit twee. When I go, I prefer eating on the back patio, which is mercifully short on "atmosphere". But their meatball sub is my favorite so far.
I'll definitely try Tarantino's meatball sub. For some reason I've never been there even though they're near my 'hood.
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I love the meatballs at Al Gelato in Beverly Hills, and think they are the best in LA. However, the meatball sandwich is not a sub. It's open-faced piece of their huge bread with a couple of meatballs on top covered in their sweet tomato and basil sauce. A picture: http://s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphot...
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I would recommend Harry's Deli in Irvine. He makes everything by hand, and I've never had anything less than a great sandwich there, including the meatball. I don't know if his meatballs are all beef, and it's not always on the menu, so call ahead.
It's been closed for a few months, but I have heard that they are planning on reopening in May.
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re: ns1
No, I've been there many many times. I've eaten many things off the menu but the meatball sub just hasn't made it to my mouth yet. Their Italian Beef with Hot Peppers and Mozzarella is just phenomenal. The deep dish pizza (Chicago Style) is also quite good. A buddy has had the meatball sub and said great things about it. Like I said, it Looks tasty.
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re: ns1
Das Ubergeek
May 14, 2012 09:12 AM
I realize this place is about as inauthentic as it's possible to get—it frankly is the Izzy's Deli of Italian food—but the meatball sub at Monte Carlo Deli is really good.
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re: kevin
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re: kevin
Das Ubergeek
Jul 31, 2012 08:07 AM
Kevin, for the love of God, please just call them. I did not research the meatball all the way; it's a good meatball and I don't honestly care if it's beef or beef and pork.
Jägerhaus is tasty but it's heavy food for this time of year.
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re: Das Ubergeek
Mr Taster
Jul 31, 2012 09:32 AM
Das! As a fellow un-kosher Jew (and after having spent all too much time around religious types who obsess over the minutiae of hechsher certification), you've echoed my feelings with aplomb.
But to kevin's credit, his original post did specify "all beef", and the trend in this post has been to all but ignore that original directive.
Granted, if the all-beef aspect of the post was so critical, kevin should have made that element more visible by posting it in the subject line. I completely missed it as well.
In light of this, my immediate reaction would be to check out the Pico kosher corridor, as no Italian deli worth their bucatini would even dream of making an all-beef meatball.
And kevin, you may want to repost this on the Kosher board.
Mr Taster
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re: Mr Taster
Then would you guys say that the majority to Meatballs would be either pork or pork/beef ?
On another note, posting for an all-beef meatball on the kosher board does feel weird because just because it's all beef does not mean it's kosher. But I do get your point.
And yeah, that is true I did mention all beef on the the thread.
I do have to say that I still really like the meatballs at Eastside Deli and al gelato, both are pretty darn good.
Thanks das, i'll give em a ring next time I'm in town.
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PaulF
May 1, 2012 09:22 PM
Kevin, when I feel like eating a meatball sub, I always go to Victor Jr.s on Washington near the studio.
No idea if it's all beef or not.
Sorrento's has an interesting meatball sub. The sauce is more like gravy than a rich, red sauce. It's a little different than others I've had.
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re: kevin
PaulF
May 1, 2012 09:52 PM
Ronnie's has all around good food. I'm blanking on the meatloaf at the moment -- I think (not sure) it's a daily special. They might not have it every night. I'm sure I've enjoyed, but I don't remember if it's a Chow worthy meatloaf. Let's put it this way: Even if you don't think it's the greatest meatloaf you've ever had, you'll still think it's a good meal.
Ronnie's is a place I don't spend a lot of time recommending on the board. It's just good solid diner food, that's a bit healthier and less greasy than most diners. For example, I don't eat or drink much dairy -- and Ronnie's will give you a pitcher of soy milk for your coffee. Their breakfast is really great, to me.
When I started going there ten years ago, it wasn't very crowded.
Now they do a real good business on the weekends for breakfast. It's not packed at dinner time.
Just a nice, neighborhood spot.
And -- Kevin -- there is an Italian joint in the same parking lot called Vinny's. I've only been there a couple of times, but my son really likes it. They do a sub with meatballs and sausage and pepperoni (or something like that.) Give them a try, too.
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wienermobile
May 1, 2012 06:44 PM
I love the meatball sandwich at Bay Cities Italian Deli in Santa Monica but I don't know if it's all beef. Will try to find out.
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re: kevin
wienermobile
May 1, 2012 06:47 PM
Order on line and your sandwiches are there waiting for you. I do it all the time.
http://www.bcdeli.com/offline.html -
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re: ozhead
Was a big fan of the meatball sub at Bay Cities but I've cooled. First, they are really difficult to eat -- the meatballs are really large, so when you bite thru the crusty roll and get a section of meatball the rest pushes the remaining meatballs out of the roll. Second, they don't put on enough cheese -- sometimes only a sprinkle of the parm, sometimes a thin slice of provolone (I don't recall if I have to ask for it). And if I travel with it, most of the bread, except for the crust, gets too sogged. I've tried buying the ingredients and constructing them at home, but several years ago they got wise to being gamed that way and now charge (I think) $1.75 per meatball and sauce but $1.25 for six or more. Never passing up value, I go for six and being a single guy, get really tired of meatball subs by the bottom of the container.
Victor Jr.'s, discussed below, does a very good meatball sub. Their meatballs are smaller and their rolls softer, so the sandwich is easier to eat. But I have to admit that I haven't returned to their meatball sub since discovering their Italian beef dip -- really rich, tender slices of beef (I think it is brisket, but it isn't fatty) piled onto the roll with a cup of the au jus (I'm sure it is the cooking liquid -- it has all the bits of meat in it) -- delicious. And I have to be really hungry to finish more than the first half.
And we haven't mentioned the meatball sub, or the roast beef and pastrami, at Eastside Deli just north of downtown and east of Chinatown. Now I'm hungry, but I brought home a #7 before my disappointing lunch downtown today!
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re: nosh
Servorg
May 3, 2012 01:33 PM
nosh, what about La Rocco's in Culver City? I like their pizza but have never had their mb sub. http://www.laroccospizzeria.com/Menu....
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re: nosh
Mattapoisett in LA
May 14, 2012 08:59 PM
Nosh, There is a garage with 2-hour free parking right behind La Rocco's
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re: wienermobile
wienermobile
May 2, 2012 03:50 PM
The meatballs at Bay Cities are made from beef, pork, and a modest sprinkling of fennel seeds, sorry Kevin.
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Not a sub, but Huckleberry's turkey meatball sandwich on their homemade ciabatta is delicious. Whoops, sorry Kevin, I just noticed that you asked for all beef. Still, I maintain that the Huckleberry meatball is the best anywhere,
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re: maudies5
all turkey is fine too,
or as another addendum, a beef and veal mixture is fine too.
anyhow, i may try it out but for some reason i am on the minority on this one but i just don't really get the savory foods at huckleberry nor it's appendage milo and olive. the pizzas at m and o left me non-plussed. and the famous fried chicken at huckleberry, only on fridays, was not good at all in my opinion.
but in the interests of research i may make my way out to huckleberry.
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