Mondo Meatball Reinvents the Classic

* I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately, Mondo Meatball has closed its doors. It truly was a delight.*

*Feel free to read below how amazing it was.*

When I think of meatballs, one of the first things to pop into my head is the children's song that tells the sad tale of a lost meatball that rolls off the table and out the door when someone sneezes. Thankfully, no one sneezed around me on my recent visit to Mondo Meatball, a new joint in Wicker Park reinventing the classic meatball in more ways than one.

The Vibe

Mondo Meatball is located on the main Milwaukee strip alongside many great restaurants and bars. They have an outdoor sidewalk area with a few tables, as well as an interior with booths, a bar, round family style tables, as well as long communal tables. Basically there is a space for any size group! Along the wall is a mural of the world, which speaks to the goal of Mondo Meatball which is to share meatball recipes from cultures across the globe.

During my visit, the founder, Dean Casagrande, was there checking in with the customers to ensure that every was happy and well fed. I found his presence to be an extra nice touch in addition to the friendly staff who answered all of our questions about the menu and provided speedy service.

The Food & Drinks

I had found a deal for Mondo Meatball which prompted my visit. With my deal I got to choose two drinks (one for me and one for my boyfriend), two entrees, one shared side, and a dessert. Mondo Meatball has a full bar which features classic cocktails with a twist as well as beer and wine. I opted for the Pimo Cup (a version of a Pimms Cup) featuring Pimms, gin, and a grapefruit soda. My boyfriend ordered the Mondorita, a margarita with hints of organ. Both were delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day. With our meal we also received complimentary sweet potato chips to snack on while we waited for our order.

When ordering at Mondo Meatball, you first choose the style of meatball that you want. Meatballs can be ordered on their own with bread, on top of pasta or a salad, as a sub, or as a mini sliders. After picking the style, the next step is to pick which kind of meatball you would like: beef, chicken with bacon, spicy pork, turkey, or the meatball of the day. Vegetarians have no fear! There is also a veggie/gluten free/vegan option for meatballs. The final step is to choose which sauce you would like. The options reflect different cultures from around the world and include classic red, summer red, pesto, dijonnaise, guac-acado, 4 cheese, Thai peanut satay, Korean BBQ, tzaziki and a chimichurri.

I ordered the Mini-Mondo Sampler, three meatball sliders of different meatballs and sauces: the classic beef with classic red sauce, a turkey meatball with guaca-acado, and a spicy pork meatball with Korean BBQ sauce. All three meatball sliders were juicy, full of flavor, and delicious! The classic was amazing and probably my favorite, with the spicy pork and Korean BBQ a close second. The sliders also came with a side salad that was lightly dressed and the perfect companion to my mini-mongo sampler.

My boyfriend ordered a sub with the ball of the day (a pork and beef southwestern mix) with 4 cheese sauce. The sub was served on a cabana loaf and also came with a side salad. He was a bit disappointed when it first arrived because the sauce was white, but quickly forgot any reservations he might have had when he took a bite. It was incredibly cheesy and the ball of the day was also moist and flavorful. We also ordered a side of the pasta of the day to go with our meals, since neither of us opted to eat meatballs on pasta, although I am keen to go back and try them that way.

Our meal ended with a shared dessert: two scoops of gelato from Black Dog Gelato – a Chicago favorite. I choose a chocolate while my boyfriend got lemon. It was the perfect way to end what was a delicious meal from beginning to end. If you are a meatball lover, than Mondo Meatball needs to be on your short ‘To Do' list. All of the food was excellent, the service was fast and friendly, and most importantly I left full and satisfied. Check them out!