By Leslie Weinberg
Meatball lovers can meet their match at 1211 Walnut Street at Marabella Meatball Co. This spacious BYOB offers affordable and irresistible meatballs in a variety of ways. While some Italian families make their meatballs from a mixture of beef, pork and veal, the Marabella family’s traditional meatballs are made from 100% beef.
However, their meatballs go beyond just beef; they carry pork, chicken, veggie and special meatballs, each with a distinct taste. The meatballs are rolled fresh each morning, baked in a pan of homemade sauce using the family recipe and comes out of the oven moist and full of flavor.
MMC offers meatballs in variety of options; on a bed of pasta, as a sandwich on long (traditional) or round (nonni) rolls from Liscio’s Bakeryor paired with crostini or vegetables. They are always introducing new twists on the classic dish and offer specials daily.
For first time Marabella’s diners, owner Gabe Marabella recommends going with the Classic; their hand-rolled beef meatballs saturated with a sauce made from scratch with aged provolone. After experiencing Marabella’s staple dish, Gabe recommends the Chicken Ricotta sandwich with chicken meatballs, ricotta cheese and spinach or a customer favorite–the Pork Olive with Piave cheese and olive tapenade. In case customers crave a meatball combination that can’t be found on their mouthwatering chalkboard menu, customers have the option to build the meatballs as they like it.
Since the original Marabella members emigrated to Philadelphia over 100 years ago, they have been doing what they do best – cooking authentic Italian dishes. At one point, they owned eight family full service Italian restaurants in the Greater Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. The coveted meatball was the favorite entree at all of them. The Marabella family hopes to serve up another batch of meatballs at a second MMC location west of Broad Street in 2012.
Gabe attributes a portion of his success in working with local insurance company, the Wright Agency in Downingtown. “Being a small local family run business that we are, the Wright Agency was a perfect fit. Jon [Wright] understood our needs and has provided the level of service we deserve. He is quick to respond and allows us to concentrate on the things we do well, make meatballs,” said Marabella.
“He really understands the ins and out of a small business and it has been a great experience thus far. We are excited to continue to build our business and I know that the Wright Agency will be right along side us as we grow in the future.”
Have a ball at your next event, office party or special occasion by rolling out a tray of Marabella’s meatballs. Round out your week with a visit to Marabella Meatball Co. at 1211 Walnut Street, Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. To p.m. or Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
