Meatballs, Anyone?

On Sunday, May 1, Damian’s Cucina Italiana was packed to the gills with 17 chefs, nine judges and several hundred carnivores, all joined together for the 1st Annual Meatball Invitational. We’ve mentioned this event on SideDish several times so we’ll spare you the details and tell you the winners: New-to-Houston Trattoria Il Mulino took home the trophy for Best Italian. Azuma‘s team #1 led by chef Harold Wong (Azuma was very ambitious, and two of the restaurant group’s chefs led two different teams) took home Best Non-Italian. Meanwhile the People’s Choice award — the golden meatball trophy — was given to D’Amico’s Italian Market Cafe.

Restaurant Category Meatball Description


  • D’Amico’s Italian Market Cafe
  • Italian
  • D’Amico’s Traditional Italian Meatballs
  • Jonathan’s The Rub
  • Italian
  • Brooklyn Meatballs
  • Paulie’s
  • Italian
  • Paulie’s Old World Sicilian Meatballs
  • Patrenella’s Restaurant
  • Italian
  • Arancini Sicilian Rice Balls
  • Genuine Hospitality Consulting
  • Italian
  • Mama Abuso’s Sicilian Meatballs
  • RC’s Pizza
  • Italian
  • RC’S “More Than A Mouthful” Meatballs
  • Arturo Boada Cuisine
  • Italian
  • Beef and pork meatballs served with a fresh marinara basil sauce
  • The Barbed Rose
  • Non-Italian
  • Albondigas & Elote
  • Vincent Mandola Restaurant Group
  • Italian
  • Mamma Mandola Meatballs
  • Westin Houston Memorial City
  • Non-Italian
  • Foie gras and kobe meatball with black truffle corn pudding
  • Trattoria Il Mulino
  • Italian
  • Beef, pork, and veal mixed with ricotta cheese
  • Oporto
  • Non-Italian
  • Albondigas Marruecos, Moroccan lamb meatballs
  • Bistro Alex
  • Non-Italian
  • Tri-pork-fecta – meatball with 3 types of pork
  • Carrabba’s
  • Italian
  • Carrabba’s Hand-Made Beef and Pork meatballs
  • Azuma Downtown (Team 1)
  • Non-Italian
  • Gong Wan – Taiwanese meatballs
  • Azuma Downtown (Team 2)
  • Non-Italian
  • Marinated smoked duck meatball with a Sambal sauce
  • divino Italian Resaturant
  • Italian
  • Cotechino – Emilia-Romagna-inspired meatball
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