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A while back, we did a post on the meatball trend. With national meatball day (oh, what a holiday!) arriving on Saturday, March 9, it’s high time to shine the light on a couple additions to the local scene.
Slotted Spoon, the long-awaited meatball eatery from chef and co-owner Jensen Cummings (formerly at Row 14) opened in University Hills a month ago. The Chipotle-style ordering system allows you pick the meat, the sauce, the fancy upgrades like peppered bacon, and the vessel (hoagie, salad greens, or pasta). You can stay (semi) classic with bison (from Rocky Mountain Meats) meatballs, San Marzano tomato sauce, and aged provolone, or explore more chef-y options such as the beef Philly (chile queso, peppers, onions, and mushrooms) or S.S. Salmon (Swedish salmon meatballs, tzatziki crema, spicy relish, and onions). Bonus: When you order March’s special—Spanish-style yak meatballs—two percent of sales go to Heroes Against Hunger, Slotted Spoon’s partnership with Share Our Strength.
Across town, Patxi’s Pizza (a San Francisco export that just opened a second Denver area location in Cherry Creek) is best-known for its pies. But it’s the meatball (pictured) that most impresses us. Made with a blend of sustainably raised beef and Chicago-style Italian sausage, the hefty dish comes draped in tomato sauce and shaved Grana Padano. Order the item as an appetizer to share—or pair it with a salad and call it dinner.
More meatball madness: In honor of national meatball day, Al Lado, a Spanish wine and tapas bar in Riverfront will offer complimentary albondigas (Spanish-style meatballs) from 5–6 p.m. to parties of four with drink purchase. Gaetano’s is whipping up signature veal and veggie meatballs for the occasion. And Wazee Supper Club is offering a “Beer and a Ball” deal where customers purchasing a meatball-focused dish—sliders, hoagie, pizza, spaghetti, and meatballs—will receive a complimentary beer from Wynkoop Brewing Company or Breckenridge Brewery (one per person). Note: These specials are available on Saturday, March 9.
Slotted Spoon, 2730 S. Colorado Blvd., #19, 303-756-3072
Patxi’s Pizza, 185 Steele St., 303-331-1000 and 3455 S. University Blvd., Englewood, 303-783-2000
Al Lado, 1610 Little Raven St., 303-572-3000
Gaetano’s, 3760 Tejon St., 303-455-9852
Wazee Supper Club, 1600 15th St., 303-623-9518
Follow Amanda M. Faison on Twitter (@5280Eats), Facebook, and Pinterest.
THIS STORY WAS PART OF 5280’s 20 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!
Additional comments do not enter you into the giveaway, which ended March 26, 2013.
