When it comes to places focused on one tasty dish or drink, Kansas City has it covered. We have bars that celebrate champagne or whiskey, a lounge that loves doughnuts and now a restaurant dedicated to the meatball!
The Meatball District opened this January on West 39th Street in Kansas City, Mo.
"So I did my research. Thirty-Ninth Street was perfect for it,” said owner Kal Tandel.
He and his family moved to Kansas City from San Francisco. Tandel said his family was in love with Kansas City’s friendliness and affordability. Tandel also said he loved the growing start-up and technology scene.
He said they had no family, friends or ties to the area, but after visiting, this is now home.
Why meatballs?
"Well that's kind of what I grew up on,” said Tandel. “When I first started learning how to cook, I didn't know how to make much except for spaghetti. Spaghetti and meatballs was always my thing."
One of Tandel’s top sellers, the Meatball Samosa with lemon pesto sauce, combines his love for meatballs with his Indian heritage and one of his mother’s creations.
"I grabbed my mom's dough and I was like, ‘You know mom, let me try something.’ Put a meatball in there, wrapped it up, deep fried it… My brother was there too and we were just like, 'Oh my god. This is amazing!’"
The restaurant features their signature meatballs and sauce. You have a choice of four meatballs, which includes a vegetarian option, as well as four sauces and several types of noodles, even spaghetti squash. Sliders, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and cocktails round out their menu.
You can find more on their website at http://www.meatballdistrict.com/.
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Lindsay Shively can be reached at lindsay.shively@kshb.com.
