The Meatball Shack
312 S Mill St, Aspen, CO, 81611
The Meatball Shack Menu
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Address :
312 S Mill St
Aspen, CO, 81611 - Phone (970) 925-1349
- Website https://www.themeatballshack.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Kate K.
Walking around Aspen when the hunger hits hard. Happened to be right in front of The Meatball Shack with my 12 year old niece. It was getting late in the evening so we figured - what the heck. When we got inside, neither of us wanted anything meatbally so we ordered mac and cheese. It was excellent. But the thing we'll both remember is how good the tots were. Come on, they're tots! They did something magical to them. Gold dust probably... It's a smaller place - friendly and seemed to be a locals place but then, what in Aspen isn't. Can't have visitors all the time. Wish I'd read Becky W's post first - a beignet and an oreo had a baby and I didn't get an announcement! Our server was particularly nice to the 12 year old - that made my day.
(4)Becky W.
Hey!!! Hey!!! Hey!!! Who reviewed this place and didn't give it 5 stars? Whomever you are, you should edit your review. Period. Drinks =amazing and fast (a rarity in Aspen) Food= the best thing we've experienced in Aspen (chicken parm with the spicy marinara) service = all good with chill music too Dessert = a beignet and an oreo had a baby, so YES, I'll have 4!!!!!
(5)Nancy C.
We were in for about five days and ate here for two of the nights. I'm still thinking about how delicious the meatballs were. Great beer and beverage selection also. The atmosphere is chill and low key which was nice to chill out after a day on the mountain.
(5)mike b.
Great bar and location . Food is average and really over priced. They don't have a lunch menu. Service is also just average. Hopefully this place can improve love the concept
(3)James R.
This was a great find. I did have the best crab cake ever, I only take off 1 star because the salad it was served on was nothing special. Had a local draft lager that was excellent and saved $4 by checking in on yelp. Wife loved her shrimp fra diavolo. Friendly place full of locals, definitely recommend.
(4)Brian A.
Pretty good. I went with the standard Classic Meatballs to start. They were a bit underwhelming. 3 1/2 stars
(4)Katherine T.
The Meatball Shack is a relaxed and good feed with tasty meatballs, bangers and mash and brussel sprouts. It's one of the rare places in Aspen where kids have plenty of options and so do the adults. Not only that, so much variety that I would've kept going back!
(4)Tyler B.
This is unlike any shack I've been to before. A group of us came in for drinks and apps after skiing, and it was one of the best experiences we had the entire weekend. As you might guess, the meatballs were great. The best being the General Tso's and Buffalo Chicken. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Must try.
(5)Danielle G.
Was here a couple weeks ago during Yelps Winter Break. I totally dig this place. We were treated like royalty by the owner, Michael and his lovely staff. We basically tried everything on the menu so I'll tell you what my favorites were: Buffalo Chicken Balls Spicy Pork Balls Tomato Bruschetta General Tso's Balls Skirt Steak Brussel Sprouts Horseradish Mashers Shack Mac Mm.. just thinking about all that makes me hungry for it all over again. :) I will be back the next time I'm in town for sure.
(5)Christy A.
This place was great! Really good food & great vibe with cool music. My husband and I each had glasses of the house wine - chardonnay & merlot and they were good. We ordered the appetizer turkey meatballs with wing sauce & blue cheese - Yummo! My hubby had the chicken parm for dinner and that was excellent. I had the stuffed chicken special that was very good also.
(4)Morison W.
They have the best mushroom appetizers here. Also the Moscow mule is really good. Lots of yummy little dishes, and the owner is really nice!
(4)S P.
If mediocre overpriced meatballs are your thing than you're in luck! The meatball subs were the driest meatball subs I have ever had, when we asked for more sauce they brought out the tiniest side of sauce possible for our whole table of four to share. On top of the sub being sub par the price was ridiculous, $16 for a sandwich and an extra $4 if you want fries instead of salad. My husband had the chicken meatball parm and it was inedible. On top of the poor food our service was terrible. We were a party of 8 and they made us sit at two separate tables even though the restaurant wasn't very busy they were too lazy to put two tables together. They were unfriendly and rude to all of us. Surprised a place like this is open in Aspen, I have no problem paying for an expensive lunch but I expect it to be delicious and not served with a side of attitude.
(1)Andrea K.
Came in here for light bite and some drinks one evening. Had the brussels sprouts with apple and I can definitely recommend those! If You See Kay is a delicious glass of wine and there's a $4 draft Yelp check in deal to use. Great stop in Aspen with a fun bar.
(4)Darren K.
If it is Xmas you will find us at the meatball shack. Fantastic !!!!!!!!! It is a must have spot for our trip. Best Cobb salad in aspen... In fact this salad is better than the Freddy salad at pinions Best meatballs In aspen Fantastic location
(5)Jenn A.
The meatballs were the best part of this meal. The meat was varied (chicken, pork, etc.) and the original flavorings complemented the meat. The mac 'n cheese had too much going on and it was dry. They also added tater tots to the top - not sure why. For entree, I ordered the steak with mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, the steak tasted as if it was marinated in a balsamic reduction. The reason that's unfortunate is because the actual piece of meat was really great quality. The added flavoring was unnecessary and overpowered the enjoyable texture of the meat. A simple flavoring of a quality piece of meat should not be overrated. The mashed potatoes were stiff and flavorless. There were two types of brussel sprouts - one with apple flavoring and one with pomegranate. I really enjoyed the one with pomegranates; the one with apple seemed like it needed something to bring out the flavors, maybe sea salt or kosher salt. The service was great. And they had lots of Colorado beer and cider, which I loved because I love hard cider, and even nicer that I got to taste a local Colorado cider. The space is really nice.
(3)Butters S.
Yelp censored my last review (I didn't know they did that). So I'm trying again. We came here 2 years ago and it was excellent so, of course, we were looking for a repeat. However, the meatballs were small and cold (they used to be huge!) and the quinoa salad was much smaller and quite bland due to hardly any dressing. Quality has gone downhill. Scary how many 5 star reviews this place has.
(1)Jesse M.
I'm gonna tell you something now. Meatball Shack is freakin' KILLAIR! Came here with my sister and fam last Thanksgiving holiday and stumbled into this joint. It's small, it's loud, and reeks of garlic - which should be a tip off. The food here is fantastic. As a group, we ordered a menagerie of items: meatballs, steak, mac & cheese, desserts, and their incredible Moscow Mules. C'mon man, this place is for real! Trip to Vail for the skiing? Grind it out at the Meatball Shack. Expect a wait - it's way worth it.
(5)Daniel H.
Really tasty food, you can eat inside or out, great cocktails and a small enough place to have an intimate yet lively atmosphere.
(4)Tyler R.
I have a hard time with places that are named after a food - and then that very food isn't up to normal standards (for that food, of course). Now, bias originates from the fact that the majority of my italian food ingestion comes from Manhattan, Hoboken, Brooklyn, and Queens. Even with a hefty curve, TMS doesn't really stack up for a few reasons. Oil. I ordered the house dish - classic meatballs, classic pasta, classic sauce. Having never been here before I figured that was the best bet. The pasta was al dente, which I appreciated, but the sauce was a little off (probably due to the oil emanating from the meatballs themselves). I can appreciate the inherent oil in the this type of food, but it just sat on top like a cover. I was hungry so I didn't send it back or anything, but it was definitely noticeable. Meatballs. I'm used to a certain consistency and ingredient base...it just wasn't there for me. They were flaky instead of dense, crumbly and oddly crunchy. Chopped salad. Not what I was expecting. This wasn't the first time I had an issue with a "chopped salad" while I was here...it was still good, but could have used a handful more lettuce and could have been a little lighter on the meats/cheeses. That said, my friend ordered a Greek salad and it looked and tasted great. Dessert - holy crap. Fried Oreos definitely don't scream "I'M ITALIAN!"...but they sure were good. I've never had them before (yes, even at all the fairs and carnivals...) but these were definitely a unique way to end the meal. Four to a plate, each of us killed two without issue. No coffee. An italian place that doesn't serve coffee? No espresso to cap off the meal? No biscotti and Marie Brizard? Instead, they pointed us to a coffee shop around the corner, and we happily obliged after the meal was over. Iced tea was plentiful, and the view, of course, was killer. We sat outside and enjoyed the music and a lot of intense people watching. Nice waitstaff, amazing view...but the food just wasn't there for me. Will I be back? Sure. Next time i'm in Aspen i'll give it another try, perhaps a different meatball/sauce combo and see if that does the trick.
(2)Michael S.
Ok if you in there, please do not waste your time or anyone else's and order the Rib Eye Sandwich . Seriously. As a matter of fact, stop reading this review and get that sandwich. You're welcome.
(5)David L.
Thought the food was good and location was terrific. Sitting outside at night is decent people watching. Meatballs are great- get an entree with the chicken meatballs on the side.
(3)Mariella C.
Great food.... I had the PÃo Tosini Bruschetta and the Chicken balls and fettucini. Delish!!! And the staff were very nice and friendly. This is definitely a place to come back, next time I'm in town.
(5)Bryony B.
The food was pretty tasty, though nothing particularly stood out to me. The staff was very nice and even gave us free Tequila shots - woa, maybe that's why its hazy!! They have some good dessert options too. The place is a little small, but homey feeling.
(4)Edgar N.
My wife and I love coming here whenever we're in town, If you love spicy food. I recommend the Shrimp Fra Diavolo best in town and great Service, Never had a Bad meal here!
(5)Kevin S.
Big thanks to Darcy, crushing it! Keep it up ! We all had a great night having fun n carrying on n such
(5)Steve W.
Ate there in late July, 2015. Service was terrible. Had to go to the bar twice to get a soda refill. Then, price was really high, lunch spaghetti $22 and totally tasteless. Reminded me of Subway meatballs and sauce. The sauce was gross. Don't go there, so many other places. We make a bad pick.
(1)Crys A.
Five stars forever. What an original and fantastic place. Went here with my husband, brother and a gaggle of kids, all of whom ordered a variety of meatballs and the adults, a bunch of Moscow Mules. The drinks were terrific and the service was great. And the meatballs? Delicious! They have a variety here (and we tried them all), all of which are moist, delicious and definitely worth a try. Highly recommended.
(5)Mike C.
Went on a Friday night and was not very pleased with the slow service. Also they were sold out of 3 menu items which was frustrating because it is a small menu. Two stars for that. BUT, as a follow up ..... I left my cc there and phoned 4 days later to learn they had it and would mail it back to me. Four stars for ethics.
(4)Jerad L.
The service was so slow and the food is not anything incredible at all. It costs $21 for pasta...
(1)Anna C.
We came here for dinner after a long drive from Denver. The town itself is extremely pretty, and a welcoming area for locals and tourists alike. Public parking was pretty easy to find, and only about a minute or two away from the the restaurant. The restaurant seems to have nice local vibe, lots of good beers on tap and an extensive wine menu. The specialty is obviously the meatballs, and damn were they delicious! A bit pricy per meatball, but hey you are in Aspen. I ordered the Meatballs with tomato sauce, over fresh pasta. The meataballs were pretty damn delicious especially complemented with the tomato sauce. My friend had the chicken meatballs with the marsala, which was possibly the best thing on the menu.
(4)Claudia B.
Decided on this place based on Yelp reviews and so glad we did!! We came with a big group and the place was packed. It's a very small place so it's hard to find a place to fit 8 people. The manager (maybe...or possibly he was just the host/bartender/waiter) actually pulled it off. It's dark and loud, not really ideal for a date night but great for some drinks at the bar or to watch a game. Food was fantastic. We had this watermelon/mozzarella appetizer that was ridiculously good. Great wine list, great meatballs, great service. What more can you ask for?!
(4)Paige G.
Chicken parm was great! The service was a little slow so that's how it lost its fifth star...I would recommend it on a less busy weekday! It's a great family atmosphere!
(4)Jill M.
Seriously one of my favorite places to go when I come to Aspen. I came up for the Jazz festival and stop in for some great balls and beer. My bartender (I believe her name was Darcy) was super friendly and had a great sense of humor. I highly recommend!
(5)Evan A.
I could defiantly see why this is a favorite spot for visitors and locals a like. The environment is super chill, my friend and I came in on a Monday night and everyone was hooked to the TV's. The atmosphere is a small bar with a great menu. We weren't too hungry, but we shared the buffalo chicken meatballs and I was a happy camper. I'm not a fan of anything spicy but the mix of the dressing and the sauce were perfect. I could see this place as an Aspen regular when I head up soon.
(4)Eddie B.
Perfect place to warm up before or after hitting the slopes. The meatballs are originals, and become an instant favorite. The atmosphere s cozy and very friendly. Not too expensive either!
(4)Antonio P.
Great experience! Food was better than I expected. Good service. Definitely, will come again. Recommend pork Meatballs with fettuccine Alfredo. The fried Oreos are amazing!!!
(5)Robert B.
Really cool spot in this pretentious s*hithole that is Aspen. And by the way, pretentious for no reason. Came in and had a drink or two and met the bartender Natalie who could not have been more kind. Obviously a local spot, but Natalie introduced me to everyone she knew who walked in. Then I was recommended the pork chili. You're straight crazy if you don't try it. Next time I'm here in Aspen, I'm here at the Meatball shack. Can't say enough good about it. Service goes a long way, food helps a lot, and it seems the felonious douchebaggery was absent that is all to common around here. Highly recommended.
(5)Jonathan Y.
The meatballs are generous, but a little too salty for my taste. It was also quite pricey and ultimately with all the choices around I wish I'd gone elsewhere. The service was great though, and business was flowing so perhaps I just had an off day.
(2)Ann H.
superrrr duper overrated and overpriced. who knew meatballs could be so expensive. and they weren't even epic or anything. :/ i guess that's what you get when you're in aspen. in fact, my entree was actually hard to finish. the noodles were wayy undercooked and the masala sauce was way too strong. my husband's burger was decent, but not anything amazing. the restaurant was crazy packed too and service was kinda blah. wouldn't come back.
(2)Andrew F.
Love me some Meatball Shack! Such a great place to eat and drink in Aspen. Service staff always friendly and go out of their way to please. Meatballs are out of this world (buffalo balls especially), but the flank steak is also not to be missed. Cooked perfectly. My wife is vegetarian and said the quinoa was fantastic. I also tried the Brussels sprouts... Not such a Brussels guy but I could eat these every night! Crowd seemed to be primarily local, which was comforting -- always good to know we aren't in a tourist trap. If you like tequila make sure you check out the extensive list of premium and rare ones. Can't wait to go back on our next vacation.
(5)Yukias X.
A nice place to hang out with friends. Great drinks and appetizer! Spicy pork balls 4/5, tasty sauce. Truffle fries5/5, good combination of garlic and cheese, recommended to try! I usually love spicy food, but the shrimp fra diavolo is way too spicy than my range. 3/5 Cuz its a small but popular place, serving can be slow. Be prepared! We wait 30mins till all entrees on the table.
(4)Drew P.
It was good but nobody out of the 9 of us thought it was better than 3 stars. Ok, 5 were kids, but they have enhanced palates!! :)
(3)First P.
The pictures on yelp make it look so good. But it's not. Meatballs, eh. Hot wings, worst Salads, horrible. Almost not edible. Burger, not bad, very homemade in a 15 year old kid made it kind of way. Good fries though. But, I didn't come here for fries. Recommended? no way. Not even good ambiance. Pissed at myself for this being our last place to eat on our trip. Ah!
(2)Cousin J.
Great location and nice ambience but these attributes do not outweigh the fact that a place called the Meatball Shack has the worst sub sandwich I've ever eaten. And for $15 it had one meatball and one piece of sausage and 1/3 of the sandwich was cheese only. Fail.
(2)Krysta C.
One star for good bread. We got there and half the menu was sold out. Prep more Chicken. Service was awful. Don't waste time here!
(1)Alexa C.
Terrible service. Took one hour to get a cold bowl of mediocre meatballs. VERY overrated. I would never go back.
(1)M L.
Our large party (extended family) decided to give this place a shot after walking the farmers market for a few hours and we were hungry. We arrived just as they were opening but had to wait fifteen minutes for them to set our large table. As the hostess left us, we realized no high chairs had been set up. My brother in law and I went inside and retrieved two. The waitress was very nice and understanding when we asked politely if we could order and pay quickly, as the kids were approaching nap time. The food came out on the double and it was great. Everyone thought the spicy pork balls were awesome and the classic balls were great too, you can't go wrong with their most popular dishes. However, shortly after this point, two couples arrived at the table next to us and the world stopped. They were either celebrities we did not recognize, or a few of the town's many beautiful, smart and interesting centimillionaires. Either way, it became apparent they were more important than us. Our table didn't have a plate cleared during the time the Clooney and Damon party had wine poured, appetizers served, more wine poured, and a visit from the owner or manager. Sigh...OK I get it. I'm not a service snob and it wouldn't have been an issue at all, had we not told them we were in a bit of a hurry in the first place. We paid up and left much later than we would have liked, but full of great meatballs and humble pie.
(3)Pete A.
Great concept, cool location, some pros and some cons. The appetizer special the other night were the General Tsos meatballs and they were unbelievable!!! Seriously one of the best tasting things I've ever had. They were like $10 or $12 for an appetizer portion of 5 balls. We are off to a good start. Next super bonus, there was a free Pacifico beer for you Yelpers out there when you check in. Very Yelp friendly. The dinner size salads (a few of us got the chopped Grrek) were pretty tasty and nicely sized for about $13. Now for the cons...the dinner sized portion of meatballs were between $21 and $28 which we gladly were willing to pay considering we just got 5 appetizer meatballs for about half the price so the main course must be ridiculously meatbally. When the entree came out, however, there were 3 meatballs on a small bed of pasta and the balls were just slightly larger than the appetizer sized....WTF??? Are these dinner meatballs somehow magically better than the app balls to require twice the price? We were all quite shocked since a few people at our table ordered them for dinner. Next super con...the waitress asked us if we'd like chicken, steak, or shrimp on our chopped Greek salads but there were no prices for these "adds" on the menu. I got the chicken and the others got shrimp. When the bill came there were numerous expletives thrown about. My chicken was reasonable....the shrimp, however....ready for this??? 3 small grilled shrimp for $12 extra. It was almost comical. I'm really wanting to give this place 2 stars for some of their ridiculous pricing, but the General Tso balls bumps it up to 3.
(3)Jennifer S.
We ate dinner here one night in Aspen due to the great Yelp reviews. We were lucky enough to walk in and get seated immediately...think we snagged the last table. We tried the classic balls and the chicken balls and actually preferred the chicken; however, both were quite tasty. Convenient location, comfortable space and good food.
(4)Hailey R.
I think they need to rename their restaurant. The filet was delicious and there are defiantly some good things in the menu, but the meatballs are not one. I really like the idea but I was expecting some damn good meatballs considering it was in the name. The actual meatballs were small, bland and crumbly. I wouldn't go back and pay 22 dollars for them again.
(2)David W.
Good food. Great bar selection. They have clase azul tequila. However, the service tends to lag. But hey, when it's nice outside, there's really no rush. So you might as well just enjoy the outdoors
(3)Carolyn D.
The food here was pretty good but the service wasn't so good. The food was great but could use some eprovement
(3)Morris M.
Great location... Eat outdoors and watch all the people go by. Food is tasty, unique and fairly priced. Service can be spotty. Seem understaffed and/or maybe under-trained. But it is a relaxing and enjoyable spot to spend an hour or so.
(4)Hayley C.
I'm not sure if it's what I ordered but it was not good at all especially for the price. I ordered the classic meatball with pasta and red sauce and it was super bland, the meatballs were overcooked and not juicy at all which is my only requirement but I will say the staff was very nice and gave great service.
(2)Jim B.
Great location, service could use some help, but interesting food for not a bad price in the heart of Aspen.
(4)Jasmine T.
Great ambience, good service and the food is excellent!! Try it and you won't get disappointed!
(4)Shayna P.
Simple, high quality food. Grilled veggies were fresh and amazing. Beef and tomato meatball fettuccini was very good. Pinot project wine was also great for the price point. Great service. Not pretentious or stuffy. We came here twice while staying in Aspen.
(5)Kate C.
Fresh, delicious food! Don't be fooled by the name--there is a lot more than meat on the menu. The salad selection was outstanding. And the two sauces that came with my skirt steak were mouthwatering. Very kid-friendly on the patio because it's directly in front of a playground. The staff was accommodating and friendly, too.
(5)Yanhua P.
This little place was popular for sure. We arrived for dinner around 7 on Saturday and grabbed the last two spots at the bar. Soon after the place filled up with people waiting. The meatballs were good, and I was surprised it has an extensive wine list. My boyfriend raved about his spicy pork balls but I think it was good, but not wow. Anyway, this restaurant had the good vibe group going out for the night.
(4)Dominick Q.
In from NYC for the Aspen Ideas Festival, decided to see what Colorado knows about meatballs. First, you pick your "balls" (insert joke here) - classic meat, chicken or veal balls. Then you pick your sauce - tomato, buffalo sauce w/blue cheese, marsala, or fra diavolo. Not sure how fettuccine and buffalo sauce with blue cheese work together, but I didn't want to find out. I went with the classic meatballs and fra diavolo sauce. The dish came with 4 meatballs on a bed of fettuccine and sauce (the meatballs were unsauced). I thought the sauce was actually the best part of the meal - creamy and with the right amount of bite. The meatballs were suitable, but nothing really distinctive/memorable about them. A beer, an arugula/parmesan salad, and classic meatballs with Fettuccine (plus tip) ran me about $50. Great location for outdoor seating/people watching - right along the main walk on South Mill.
(3)Leslie F.
We had such a great, delicious time at the Meatball Shack while we were in Aspen! The food was fab and we really loved the atmosphere to boot. Highlights were the shack shrimp, Brussels sprouts and the shack mac...so so so good. If you find yourself in Aspen definitely stop in for a meal!
(5)Sloane S.
One of my favorite spots. The meatballs are awesome! And if you like spicy, try their Diavolo sauce. And don't forget to order the mac and cheese with tater tots. It's really awesome. It can get a little loud so make sure you are prepared to yell a bit over the din. All in all, a great chill experience.
(4)John H.
Had the beef balls with buffalo and bleu sauce. Came with a side of linguini. Overall pretty good. It was basically a bar though. Very small dining room.
(4)Michelle W.
The meatballs here are pretty good but because there aren't that many customers during certain hours, they hover over you. This makes it very uncomfortable eating there. Also, the TV kept breaking and turning off by itself. The tables are also very close to each other so you can hear the whole conversation of the people next to you.
(3)Lacy M.
Found The Meatball Shack while walking around Aspen. We were looking for a kid-friendly place (which isn't the easiest on a Saturday night) and stumbled upon this restaurant. I'm glad we stopped in, the food was great! My fiance and I got the fettuccine alfredo with 'chicken balls' and the sauce tasted homemade, our 4 year old got the mac and cheese which came with tater tots and bacon. I'd recommend both dishes, delicious. We'll we returning next time we're in the area.
(4)Mike H.
First, the staff was awesome. All were friendly and attentive. Natalie was particularly awesome. The meatballs were damn good. Perfectly executed and accompanied with delicious hot ciabata. Yum!
(5)Aman S.
Great place, for a quick meal. Their spicy marinara sauce is to die for! The meatballs could be slightly larger though....
(4)H C.
Came here for a Sunday football game. It wasn't very busy, and the bartender only seemed to care about her friends sitting at the bar. I chose to be polite and wait for her to finish, but after 10 minutes of being completely ignored, I had to flag her down. I can't stand doing that if a place isn't packed. I also had to flag down the manager to get my check since the bartender was not paying attention. To be fair, the food was good.
(2)Liz H.
I am shocked that this place is still in business, we ate there on our vacation last year and it was horrible- dry meatballs and lousy service from a staff that smelled like marijuana. Maybe they've cleaned up their act since then, but with all the good restaurants around it's not worth the risk.
(1)Mark K.
We all really enjoyed our evening dinner on the patio at The Meatball Shack. I had the standard beef meatballs with fettucine noodles and marsala sauce. It was a wonderful dinner for my last night in Aspen. The kids really enjoyed the bruschetti; so much so that we ordered a second one. The bread apparently was so good that everyone else in the party gobbled it up during the short time I was in the bathroom! The Meatball Shack is located right next to the Wagner Park playground so the kids went to play after finishing the appetizers and waiitng for the meals to arrive. This confused the wait staff, though, and they asked if I would like me check. They clearly keep an eye on things! Nearby, a quartet of string musicians played music during dinner -- they just hapened to be on the plaza; they weren't there for the restaurant. I would definitely return the next time I was in Aspen.
(5)Joe J.
Terrible. At 7:30 they wee out of several choices on the menu. Service was terrible, We waited one and a half hours for our meal and were told this is Aspen!
(1)L B.
Great place and great atmosphere. Spicy balls were the best! Will definitely return when I'm in Aspen!
(4)Reshma S.
Friendly folks, good service, food was average not amazing. FYI, the place is very small and they only take reservations for 5:30pm (when they open).
(3)Eric A.
Excellent spot tucked away downtown with a creative menu and great service! Well worth a visit.
(5)Courtney G.
The portion sizes were underwhelming. I figured if a dish was just 3 meatballs and sauce, we'd get a little more bang for our buck. Granted, the prices appear very reasonable, but as soon as the dish of 3 small meatballs comes out for $13, I am reminded that I am in Aspen and you're never going to get much bang for your buck here. Don't get me wrong, I love living here, but eating out here is tough if you aren't comfortable spending minimum of $30 per person without booze at an average restaurant for a 2 course meal. Wings at Zane's for happy hour are awesome and all, but sometimes a girl needs a little more somethin somethin. On the other hand... the service was great. Friendly, knowledgable and engaging. Definitely won't be going back, but I'm glad we tried.
(2)Aileen S.
Despite all of the great reviews, this was our least favorite dinner on our vacation. Bret and Avocado salad sounded promising, but was awful and the meatballs w/Marsala were expensive and blah. My kids had Mac & cheese which was yummy, but not worth the general lackluster experience. Bummer.
(2)Mimi H.
Best food ever!!! Yo-yo and I had dinner here on our last night in Aspen and it was delicious. We had the Mac and Cheese and the Chicken balls with homemade pasta. It was yummy!!! If you are in town, make sure you check out this place. The food and service is great.
(5)Chris G.
Checked out the Meatball Shack with a bunch of friends last weekend while on vacation. Saw a bustling patio with a good vibe so decided to check it out. And who doesn't like meatballs.? We tried a little of everything- Truffle Burschette - Great pesto sauce Watermellon Burrata Salad- This was a special but I hope it becomes a staple Shack Salad (chopped salad) - We added grilled chicken Quinoa Bowl - We wanted something super healthy and it turned out to be a really tasty item. Naked Buffalo Chicken Balls - Was our favorite ball- Excellent homemade buff hot sauce and ranch. Lobster Fra Diavolo-Great too. Think it was a special that they turn into a regular item. Shack Mac- Loved the jalapeño and pancetta. Brussel Sprouts- Best I have ever had. Ribeye Special- This was as good a steak as Ive ever had and worth every penny. They cooked it medium rare to perfection as ordered. They had a nice selection of wines and their prices seemed very reasonable compared to all our usual spots in town. Homemade Cookie and ice cream- Great way to end the meal. Watched them make our cookie from scratch and the Toffee ice cream (must have been home-made too) was out of this world. Got to meet the owner and chef who even sat down with us and bought us a round of drinks as we closed the place down. All of the above made this a great experience. Could be our new favorite place in town.
(5)Scott D.
Overpriced for the small, hard meatballs that they serve. For a place called the Meatball Shack, I was surprised to see the only things not considered "house specialties" were the meatballs. Then I tasted the spicy pork and I understood. I'll give them an extra star for their honesty there.
(2)Katie P.
Great atmosphere and wonderful quinoa and chicken balls :)
(5)Marley K.
I wanted to go to a local place after being tired of all the tourist traps. This WAS the place. Great vibe, friendly atmosphere, and fantastic service. I wanted something on the healthier side, so I opted for the Quinoa Bowl - it was really good. Being from San Francisco, I have had my share of quinoa bowls - this was really tasty, great flavor and really filling and good portion size. I also got the Brussel Sprouts - the flavor was great and it was cooked with pomegranate. Overall, a great place and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Sara E.
As the name suggests, they serve meatballs, and you just might find yourself wanting to lick the plate. Awesome place for local drafts, fun cocktails, and creative meatball appetizers to share like 'buffalo chicken balls' or 'General Tso's balls'. Very fun rustic, but hip atmosphere.
(4)Eric J.
Great staff, great food, great location, you can't go wrong here. Try out any versions of the meatballs.
(5)Trey H.
Such an awesome little place in downtown Aspen. Bartender was super friendly. We met the owner and he had a few recommendations that were spot on. We will def be back in the future!!
(4)Stu T.
Great place, however, very small inside. Food is smaller dishes with basic flavors, but all dishes are well done. Great place for 3-4 drinks and a good meal and is not expensive. We were here for a week, eating out every night, and chose this as our off-night casual meal, we were very satisfied!!
(4)Craig J.
Fun spot with great food and great service. I got the original meatballs (they were out of the veal that I would have liked to try) with the diavolo sauce, and brussels sprouts on the side. The meatballs and sauce were great, and the sprouts were creative in that they included pomegranate seeds, but it just didn't quite work for me (a bit too crispy, maybe), but were still pretty ok.
(4)James R.
Perhaps they were short-handed for a Sunday night, but there is no excuse to wait 45 minutes after sitting down to be served a plate of lukewarm meatballs over cold pasta. The bread was the highlight of the dinner. Three veal meatballs over pasta should not cost $30.00 either!
(1)Allison S.
The Meatball Shack is located in the heart of downtown Aspen and is pretty small. But busy. It's got a huge bar, a few dinner tables and a few high top tables. It's not a quiet place, but it's still awesome. Their food, while a little bit pricey, is totally worth it. I shared a meatball and spaghetti dish with marinara sauce, and it's probably one of the top 3 meatballs I've ever had. The pasta was freshly made and the sauce was awesome. They've got a pretty solid beer list, and the desserts looked awesome too (was too full to try). The service was a little slow, but they were so busy that they were turning people away at the door - we were lucky to get a table. I wish they would open another location on the east coast!
(4)Abra A.
Very good food, but prices are very 'Aspen'. Went here with my husband, brother and father for casual meal. Great friendly service. Quinoa Salad was fantastic. Warm, flavorful and full of seasonal root vegetables. Greek Salad was deconstructed and very good. Meatballs were yummy and portions are HUGE! You could easily split an order between two people. A bit to many specials - was overwhelming to hear the extensive list. Would definitely return to this new Aspen gem.
(4)Keith G.
Aspen is slowly adding a few more "affordable" restaurants to the high end eating bags in town. Meatball Shack is a casual joint specializing in, you guessed it, meatballs! Menu also included steak, fish and a few other tasties. We arrived at 7:30 and the place was packed. The manager greeted every person that came in the door immediately. Seemed like family hour was coming to a close as quite a few of the under 12 crowd were taking leave when we got there. It was very hectic as lots of tables were leaving and staff was turning tables quickly. We ate at the bar and the service was great. My partner had the buffalo chicken balls and they were h-o-t! I had general tsp's balls and they very good but nothing to brag about. Wine pours were generous and there is a full bar. It's a small pace and the bar takes up much (too much) of the space. Nice experience but probably would not make a quick return.
(3)Ryan L.
The balls are great and so is the booze! Aiden was very helpful and the waitresses are hot! I love the breakfast sandwich and they definitely have a great Sunday brunch!
(4)Steve G.
Last night in Aspen so we thought we would give the shack a try. We sat at the bar and was greeted right away. The bartender was very nice and knowledgable of the menu and specials. I had the risotto cheese balls over a homemade pasta meat sauce, excellent. My brother had the house specialty, meatballs over linguini. The pasta was cooked perfect, the sauce was very nice, the balls, eh. Still I would highly recommend. Great service, very friendly staff, and excellent food.
(4)Jim T.
Place was rocking on a Tuesday night. Really good meatballs and a pretty chill atmosphere in the heart of Aspen. Will return the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Med B.
The meatball shack rocks! My kids are forcing me to write this review. Super tasty meatballs, and the quinoa bowl and rocket salad were fabulous. Keep up the good work guys!
(5)Brenda K.
Stumbled on this place on our girls ski weekend. Great food and service! We tried a little bit of everything. Recommend the mac and cheese (w/tater tots!) the burrata, chicken balls and the desert - fried oreos! Next time we are back in Aspen, we will go again.
(5)Jorge G.
Place just opened monday the 11th Incredible meatballs. Not just beef but chicken and shrimp as well. Try the spinach side dish and the grilled watermelon salad. Great find!!
(5)Tradd H.
Great food and creative menu. Service is friendly and very helpful. Restaurant space was small and filled up quickly with patrons. My kids had a great time too. One of my kids had a pasta dish that came with Tater Tots on top. He was the envy of all around us. Give it a try. You won't be sorry!
(5)WInston F.
This place rocks!! Fun, small and loud space makes for a roady Monday night! Nice and friendly staff had tons of suggestions in both food and drink. Loved the Truffle Chicken, Chix Parm and the Quinoa Bowl. Spicy Marg was spot on and the music was not bland but rather different and fun. Amazing tequila selection and great beer selection!! Will be back!
(5)Molly M.
Do not eat here, there are many great places in Aspen and this one does not deserve your business. We sent our teens here for a special lunch, they had bad tasting expensive food, and a bad waiter experience. We followed up with the manager twice, and he blamed the bus boy. This shows a poorly trained staff and management that does not care about food quality or service. You would think three times of politely complaining would yield a result more than patrons should know to flag down another worker who speaks English. By the way, the non English speaking bus boy bus boy was fine, and one of the teens speaks Spanish so communication was not an issue. Soggy pasta and bad waiters and management seem to be the real problem.
(1)C R.
If you are The Meatball Shack, your meatballs better be better than home-cooked. They weren't and the little pasta that came with the meal was only average which is what the restaurant is, at best.
(2)M P.
This was by far the worst meal I have ever had in Aspen. And a very unpleasant experience. We asked to hostess if we could sit at the 4 top in the corner (we were only two) and she said, " no, that doesn't work for me". Really?? Not so professional. About 10 minutes later she sat a couple (only 2 people) at that table. Their website advertises Gluten Free (my husband can't have it) and when we asked the only options were salads. You would think that if you go out of your way to put Gluten Free you would try to be creative. I had the crab balls. I had one bite and my husband had a bite and both of us thought it was disgusting. I don't know where or when they got their crab, but it was spoiled. The waitress turned it around on me saying, "everyone love these, maybe you just don't like fish" Then we had the Brussels sprouts and they were burnt. Not just charred, they were like charcoal. There was no offer to bring something else or to take it off the bill. We had to call over the manager who did finally take it off the bill. When we left the owner came by and instead of apologizing or seeing how he could make things right said:" that's how we cook our Brussels sprouts". Aside from the taste, I think these people need to go back and take some hospitality courses. We will never go back. And seeing how this is just the beginning of the season; if they don't get their hospitality refresher they will never last through the winter.
(1)Taylor J.
Their daily special of grilled watermelon and fresh cheese (burrata?) was out of this world good. A little drizzle of balsamic tied it all together and it was just what anybody wants to eat on those sunny, hot Aspen afternoons. I also shared a spicy pork meatball sandwich which was excellent as well. Portions a little small for the price, but tasty/original food and one of the best people-watching locations in town more than made up for it
(4)Stink C.
The classic beef meatball was too salty, with coarse salt granules in the meat. The salad is okay. The truffle bruchetta was the best dish. The serving size is small. Be prepare for at least two orders per person.
(2)Curtis G.
Great addition in this little town. Great beer. Great booze. Great balls and even an amazing quinoa salad for those looking to keep their arteries clear! Good luck to the shop, hope to see you live long and prosper.
(5)Katy J.
DELICIOUS! We absolutely adore this new little restaurant. I wish it was closer to home. The service was a little slow, but definitely worth the wait. HIGHLY recommend.
(5)Elias B.
I went in for meatballs and left having the best steak ever!! I will go back to make sure I try everything. Will make a great spot for watching football.
(4)Jackie S.
Great classic meatballs and delicious grilled watermelon and burrata salad!
(5)Ian W.
Amazing food!! Incredible staff!! Atmosphere is warm and inviting!! A must do while visiting Aspen.
(5)Bill H.
Very good meatballs and fun to watch the colorful Aspen people walk by. Try the Brussels sprouts!
(4)Avi T.
The service was perfect and the food was amazing!! I ate here 2 times in 2 days b/c I had to come back and try more of the menu. This is the perfect place to go with a group of friends. If they have the rib-eye, you have to order it. Oh, and if you love chicken wings, they have buffalo chicken meatballs served with their homemade blue cheese! This place is a can't miss while visting or passing through Aspen.
(5)Natalie G.
This great concept is executed perfectly, and just feet from beautiful Ajax Mountain. The food and the atmosphere combined in this gorgeously designed spot couldn't be done better. As the name suggests, you can't go wrong ordering any of the many styles of meatballs, but there are also many other things on the menu that are beyond delicious. We all ordered something different and each dish was to die for. The skirt steak, the truffle chicken, the bruschettas, even the vegetarian quinoa bowl were perfection. They also have nightly specials i.e. General Tsos balls, a filet served 2 different ways, and some great football munchies over offseason. Besides the excellent food the atmosphere is a blast. Everyone that works there is extremely friendly, laughing and having fun with the customers as well as each other. There is lots of tequila shots and libations had at the bar and the energy is like no where else in Aspen! I would have to say "The Shack" is sure to be legendary when looking at the history of Aspen restaurants. One not to be missed!
(5)Babak A.
had a nice dinner here, liked the wine menu, very reasonable, will visit again
(4)Ana H.
I ordered to take out, waited for over 40 min and the steak I got was raw. The people there care about to charge but not about good service of food. A no no no. Stay away avoid aggravation.
(1)Hunter L.
As much as I use Yelp, this is the first time I have stopped and taken the time to write a review, but the Meatball Shack deserves it. We decided we had to come eat here after looking over the menu and reading a bunch of other reviews. Considering that we are in aspen, and the previous reviews didnt carry on about it being anything fancy, we tempered our expectations a little bit, not expecting anything overly special before we went to eat. Casual atmosphere and straightforward menu was what we wanted. It sits right on the edge of the park and has a great patio. Rain was threatening so we decided to eat inside. The walls are covered with aged wood, and it has a surprisingly large bar area, with not a lot of tables that seem designated specifically for dining. The room has a really warm, friendly feel and the staff was awesome. We ordered drinks as the room continued to fill with people standing 2 and 3 deep around the bar. It's obvious why locals seem to love this place, they did the relaxed bar ambiance just perfectly. We ordered the buffalo chicken balls as an appetizer and they were excellent. A genius dish that would be perfect for game day. We devoured them in short order. I highly recommend. For our entrees, my wife ordered the truffle chicken, I ordered the Filet, rare. Her chicken was moist and flavorful. Roasted veggies and huge grilled asparagus complimented it nicely and were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The chicken was cooked bone-in and it gave the meat a wonderful richness that escapes so many chicken dishes. I am not a snob about steaks, but I do know how I like mine cooked. When I order a steak rare, it should be red ALL THE WAY through and slightly cool to barely warm in the center. This steak was cooked FLAWLESSLY. It was seasoned just right and was juicy and uniform. No silver skin or gristle anywhere. Needless to say that it was a hardy steak, no petite filet here. It sat atop a bed of scalloped potatoes that was outstanding. They had layers of potatoes that had just the right amount of al dente bite to go perfectly with flavorful, rich layers of creamy cheese. Seriously, this dish was very close to perfection. After the superb entrees, the GM Hayden highly recommended the fried Oreos. He nailed it. They were amazing. My wife has tasted the deep fried winners at the Texas state fair many different times and said they were right up there with the best. Do not miss these. Overall, I almost can't complain about anything that the Meatball shack offered us. The staff was attentive and friendly. The food was incredibly good, and the environment is relaxed and fun. The GM pays a great deal of attention to detail with everything that comes out of his kitchen. He has a pulse on how the clients are enjoying their food and drinks, and remains involved in the food service to ensure everything is perfect. Some reviews bitch about prices being too high or not appropriate for what they ordered. Those people are idiots. If you want a $14 steak, go to Golden Corral or some mediocre chain restaurant. Aged, grass fed beef and organic chicken costs more. Get over it. I have paid a lot more money for dinners that didn't hold a candle to the Meatball shack. I highly recommend that anyone go pay them a visit while in Aspen. You will be hard pressed to find a more fun place with food of this caliber.
(5)Ingrid B.
Went to the Meatball Shack recently and I had such a great experience that I returned the next day for lunch. I can't stop thinking about the Buffalo Chicken Balls and my daughter loved the shack mac. Go and order the brussel sprouts and the quinoa bowl. Both are healthy but ridiculously good dishes. Of course we had the homemade cookie pie for dessert which was delicious. The atmosphere was cozy and the staff were very friendly which made the experience even more enjoyable. Great place to take the kids for a bite or sit at the bar and hang with friends. Loved the Shack and can't wait to go back!
(5)Scott K.
Had the rudest waitress that I've ever experienced here! Me and a small hiking group decided to try The Meatball Shack. Two people ordered beers and immediately complained that the glasses were only 80% filled. Our waitress just rolled her eyes. When we were ordering our food, we had asked nicely if we could have separate checks and she rolled her eyes again and asked if we were serious! One person in our group finally asked her what her problem was and she said, "I'm not used to dealing with you types of people." What is that?! She then went to complain to her manager about us, then he came out to find out what the situation was. I at least give them 2 stars because after we told him about our waitress's attitude, he apologized and offered to give us another waitress and have the beers be free. We were too disgusted so we cancelled our food order and left. Their menu is small and a bit pricey too.
(2)Jill C.
I love this place! Their food is amazing, it has a great vibe and excellent staff. The food is so much more than just meatballs. The buffalo balls are so far my favorite with homemade hot sauce and blue cheese. The Quinoa Bowl was also a hit. I would definitely recommend visiting the Meatball Shack the next time you are in Aspen!
(5)D L.
Was very disappointed with food. Ordered chicken and beef meatballs with housemade fettuccine. Meatballs were undercooked and quite unimpressive in flavor. Fettuccine was salty. Also tried the falafel appetizer which was terrible. They did not taste fresh and were gooey inside.
(2)Staci G.
Food here is outstanding! I could eat at The Meatball Shack everyday. The meatballs are tender and juicy, and they have a variety of creative balls, such as crab balls, buffalo chicken, veal balls, and even veggie balls. When I am not in the mood for balls, I sometimes get a Greek salad with grilled chicken or the quinoa bowl which comes with fresh veggies and avocado - it's by far the best in town! The desserts are also sick. You can get a customized cookie (you choose the dough and filling) and homemade gelato. I forgot to mention that they have a great bar scene with a super cool energy and vibe. The Meatball Shack is truly amazing and I am so glad they opened up in Aspen.
(5)