Meatballs on Main

You might mistake Meatballs on Main for one of the many quintessential turn-of-the-century houses that line the streets of Davidson and Cornelius, and it’s true that when you walk inside, it feels as if you are back at your grandmother’s for Sunday brunch. The restaurant, located on South Main just a few blocks down from Fuel Pizza and Campania Café and Trattoria, is a charmingly renovated residence with strings of white lights decorating the Southern wrap-around front porch and a fireplace area that doubles as a small bar. Different sections of the house correspond to seating sections, so no one room feels crowded or noisy, lending itself to comfortable conversation and a homey feel.

            Although the restaurant atmosphere encourages a relaxed and laid-back dining experience, it’s not a big appetizer or four-course-menu kind of restaurant, so it definitely caters to college students who want a great home cooked meal that does not take two hours away from a busy weeknight. My friends and I were seated immediately but never felt rushed to order or eat, though our salads were brought out right after we ordered and our entrees followed soon afterward. Meatballs on Main certainly specializes in, well, meatballs, but the menu boasts an impressive array of salads, soups, burgers, and sandwiches to choose from as well.

I had a hard time deciding between their oven meals (macaroni and cheese and baked pastas) or their daily house specialties, but eventually I decided on the restaurant’s traditional Ultimate Meatballs platter. This dish is cooked in one of four different sauces and served with a salad and your choice of side item, and they also have a vegetarian meatball option. One of my friends ordered the house special – Ultimate Meatballs served over mashed potatoes in a mushroom cream sauce – and another decided to try the gourmet grilled cheese, a mouthwatering combination of buttered toast, tons of melted mozzarella cheese, and a layer of sliced vegetarian meatballs. Needless to say, we all cleaned our plates and were considering a slice of their homemade pumpkin cheesecake for dessert before realizing we were too stuffed to eat any more.

Meatballs on Main is probably not the best place to go if you are counting calories or looking for a light meal – the portions are immense and the menu consists mainly of “comfort foods” and homestyle dishes. However, the amount of food they serve is well worth the mid-range prices ($8 - $15). The restaurant has regular lunch and dinner hours every weekday and is open all day on Saturdays. To check out a full list of hours and the menu, go to www.meatballsonmain.com.