Emporio: A Meatball Joint

"If this had been our first trip there, we’d never have gone a second time. We hadn’t been back much since the pandemic and I’m not sure if we hit it on a bad night, or if their food is always horrible now. The vibe is still good. Service was friendly, but bad (almost nothing we got the first time around matched what we ordered. The food tasted like it had been made hours and hours ago and sitting around getting cold. The restaurant was more empty than I’d ever seen it, so them being too busy wasn’t the issue. I’m definitely not in a rush to return unless I hear that they’re going back to the old restaurant standards. Very disappointing dinner for the same prices."

"Sadly this used to be my favorite lunch spot since I work just a few doors down. I am not a fan of the menu change and may not be back for some time. They got rid of my favorite Rocket Salad and the changes with the meatballs, sandwich options and sauces are not ideal. I had the beef smash ball sandwich today and it was dry (almost no sauce), too many cheese curds and I miss the side of sauce for dipping. The meatballs were smashed to the point that the meat was falling out of the sandwich. The Tots were great and that was the best part of my lunch."

"Grabbed a quick bite to eat before the pens game & it was so yummy! I went hear a few years back and thought it was just okay, but after coming again with their updated menu I’ll definitely be a repeat customer. The meatballs were so yummy and flavorful and moist. Before they were so dry I could barely cut into the ball, but that’s no longer the case. I don’t have dietary restrictions, but I see that they have both gluten free & vegan options which is a must in 2023. Whatever they’re doing they are doing RIGHT!!! I can’t wait to take my boyfriend here I know he’ll love it just as much as I did!!"

"I never been to a restaurant that mostly served variations of meatballs and sauce. It was quite crowded due to the events gong on downtown. Food came out fast and tasty with dipping sauce that was just too good to describe. I really appreciated the fancy jugs of water they brought out to the table for quick refills."

"2nd attempt in one weekend to go here. First attempt I was told to sit at a 2 two-top with a party of 4 after 30 minutes of waiting. I left after not being provided an alternative option or even being apologized to for the mistake. Second attempt. The service was much better(Nicole) and was great! However. My salad was quite warm. The meal was terrible. I think Costco has better beef meatballs. This was offensive to my palette as a professional Italian cook. I'm disappointed and will not return."