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13 of Boston's Best (Non-Deflated) Balls

In Boston and beyond, the last couple of weeks have been more devoted to ball talk than ever before.

by Katie Chudy
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by Katie Chudy

In Boston and beyond, the last couple of weeks have been more devoted to ball talk than ever before, so let's continue the conversation. And no, not deflated or semi-deflated conspiracy theory footballs, but balls — as in food that comes in a (fully inflated) spherical shape. Bonus: these are all great for snacking while watching the Super Bowl.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Boston Burger Company

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Fried mac and cheese: Served up in neat little balls, the mac and cheese bites, as one could guess, start with some macaroni and cheese and fry it crispy. They can be ordered on their own or as part of a sampler plate. [Photo: Yelp]

1100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215
(857) 233-4560
(857) 233-4560

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Bova's Bakery

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Here, balls come in chocolate and in the form of other assorted Italian cookies. And since Bova's is open 24/7, these balls are available all the time. [Photo: Yelp]

134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-5601
(617) 523-5601

Also featured in:

Bronwyn

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Sisky: a Slovakian doughnut served with a seasonal fruit spread. [Photo: Official Site]

255 Washington Street, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 776-9900
(617) 776-9900

Also featured in:

Commonwealth

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Commonwealth ice cream: Before it melts, ice cream that is scooped well is ball-shaped, and when it's sometimes served with a side of doughnut holes, it's three balls in one bowl. While the flavors change regularly, keep an eye out for the peanut butter jelly time and chocolate cheesecake. [Photo: Facebook]

11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 945-7030
(617) 945-7030

Also featured in:

Coppa

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Meatballs al Forno: These wood oven-roasted little meatballs are served in a blanket of tomato "gravy" and dusted with Parmesan cheese. [Photo: Facebook]

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 391-0902
(617) 391-0902

Galleria Umberto

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Arancini: Massive softball-sized balls deep-fried until crackly on the outside, the arancini at Umberto's are just as much of a star as the limited-supply pizza. [Photo: Yelp]

289 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113
(617) 227-5709
(617) 227-5709

Also featured in:

Highland Kitchen

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Ricotta and mozzarella fritters: Cheese shaped into balls and deep-fried until crispy on the outside and melty on the inside. Now how can that be bad? Served with a chile-honey dipping sauce. [Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

150 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 625-1131
(617) 625-1131

Also featured in:

Jacob Wirth Restaurant

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Sausage and sauerkraut balls: At one of the city's oldest restaurants, one can dine on fried sauerkraut and sausage balls, complete with housemade ale honey mustard. [Photo: Yelp]

31-37 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 338-8586
(617) 338-8586

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Lulu's Allston

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Cherrywood smoked olives: To start a meal at Lulu's, diners can select the cherrywood smoked olives, served with a thick slab of baguette. [Photo: Yelp]

421 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 787-1117
(617) 787-1117

Also featured in:

Rami's

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Falafel: Classically prepared with Middle Eastern spices and ground chickpeas and fried until golden brown, these balls are served on fluffy pita bread or on a plate with all the fixings. [Photo: Facebook]

324 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-3577
(617) 738-3577

Also featured in:

Shojo

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Pork meatball banh mi: A new addition to the lunch menu, this banh mi comes adorned with garlic-ginger meatballs, pork pate, and pickled vegetables, and it's served with house-made chips. [Photo: Facebook]

9 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423-7888
(617) 423-7888

Also featured in:

The Gallows

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Scotch eggs: One of the restaurant's signature dishes, a soft-cooked egg is encased with pork sausage and then deep-fried, resulting in true comfort food. [Photo: Facebook]

1395 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 425-0200
(617) 425-0200

Also featured in:

Zaftigs Delicatessen

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Matzo ball soup: This classic Jewish "penicillin" comes chockfull of egg noodles and a single matzo ball. Want two balls? A second can be added to the soup for 75 cents. [Photo: Facebook]

335 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 975-0075
(617) 975-0075

Also featured in:

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Boston Burger Company

1100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215

Fried mac and cheese: Served up in neat little balls, the mac and cheese bites, as one could guess, start with some macaroni and cheese and fry it crispy. They can be ordered on their own or as part of a sampler plate. [Photo: Yelp]

1100 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215
(857) 233-4560
(857) 233-4560

Bova's Bakery

134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Here, balls come in chocolate and in the form of other assorted Italian cookies. And since Bova's is open 24/7, these balls are available all the time. [Photo: Yelp]

134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-5601
(617) 523-5601

Bronwyn

255 Washington Street, Somerville, MA 02143

Sisky: a Slovakian doughnut served with a seasonal fruit spread. [Photo: Official Site]

255 Washington Street, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 776-9900
(617) 776-9900

Commonwealth

11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142

Commonwealth ice cream: Before it melts, ice cream that is scooped well is ball-shaped, and when it's sometimes served with a side of doughnut holes, it's three balls in one bowl. While the flavors change regularly, keep an eye out for the peanut butter jelly time and chocolate cheesecake. [Photo: Facebook]

11 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 945-7030
(617) 945-7030

Coppa

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Meatballs al Forno: These wood oven-roasted little meatballs are served in a blanket of tomato "gravy" and dusted with Parmesan cheese. [Photo: Facebook]

253 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 391-0902
(617) 391-0902

Galleria Umberto

289 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113

Arancini: Massive softball-sized balls deep-fried until crackly on the outside, the arancini at Umberto's are just as much of a star as the limited-supply pizza. [Photo: Yelp]

289 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113
(617) 227-5709
(617) 227-5709

Highland Kitchen

150 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143

Ricotta and mozzarella fritters: Cheese shaped into balls and deep-fried until crispy on the outside and melty on the inside. Now how can that be bad? Served with a chile-honey dipping sauce. [Photo: Rachel Leah Blumenthal]

150 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 625-1131
(617) 625-1131

Jacob Wirth Restaurant

31-37 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116

Sausage and sauerkraut balls: At one of the city's oldest restaurants, one can dine on fried sauerkraut and sausage balls, complete with housemade ale honey mustard. [Photo: Yelp]

31-37 Stuart St, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 338-8586
(617) 338-8586

Lulu's Allston

421 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134

Cherrywood smoked olives: To start a meal at Lulu's, diners can select the cherrywood smoked olives, served with a thick slab of baguette. [Photo: Yelp]

421 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02134
(617) 787-1117
(617) 787-1117

Rami's

324 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Falafel: Classically prepared with Middle Eastern spices and ground chickpeas and fried until golden brown, these balls are served on fluffy pita bread or on a plate with all the fixings. [Photo: Facebook]

324 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-3577
(617) 738-3577

Shojo

9 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111

Pork meatball banh mi: A new addition to the lunch menu, this banh mi comes adorned with garlic-ginger meatballs, pork pate, and pickled vegetables, and it's served with house-made chips. [Photo: Facebook]

9 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423-7888
(617) 423-7888

The Gallows

1395 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118

Scotch eggs: One of the restaurant's signature dishes, a soft-cooked egg is encased with pork sausage and then deep-fried, resulting in true comfort food. [Photo: Facebook]

1395 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 425-0200
(617) 425-0200

Zaftigs Delicatessen

335 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446

Matzo ball soup: This classic Jewish "penicillin" comes chockfull of egg noodles and a single matzo ball. Want two balls? A second can be added to the soup for 75 cents. [Photo: Facebook]

335 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 975-0075
(617) 975-0075

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