If you are looking for somewhere to eat meatballs in Milan, start with two addresses: The Meatball Family at Via Vigevano 20 in Navigli, and Piazza Cinque Giornate 6. Milanese mondeghili, meatballs in tomato sauce and Spaghetti Meatball sit alongside recipes made with vegetables, pulses and fish. This guide helps you choose a dish and a restaurant for lunch, dinner or a shared meal with friends.
Meatballs in Milan: a story of cooking and shared meals
The first The Meatball Family restaurant opened in Navigli in 2013. The meatball is the starting point: a familiar dish that takes on a different character through its ingredients, cooking method and sauce. Some diners choose tomato sauce to mop up with bread; others prefer a fried version. Order your own dish or put something in the centre of the table to share.
It helps to distinguish traditional mondeghili from the other recipes. They share the meatball shape, but reflect different approaches: Milanese home cooking, tomato-based classics and contemporary menu combinations. Comparing these preparations is part of the pleasure of a meal built around meatballs.
Mondeghili: Milanese tradition on the plate
Mondeghili belong to Milan's tradition of making good use of leftover ingredients. The city's YesMilano guide describes a preparation using cooked meat, bread and other ingredients, shaped into small meatballs, coated in breadcrumbs and fried in butter. Family recipes vary: this dish tells the story of home kitchens as much as restaurants.
At The Meatball Family in Navigli and Cinque Giornate, the menu lists beef and mortadella mondeghili with saffron mayonnaise and salsa verde. Start here to discover our interpretation of the Milanese speciality. Try the two sauces in turn and see how each changes the taste of a mouthful.
Read about the history of mondeghili on YesMilano
The menu: from Spaghetti Meatball to plant-based recipes
Spaghetti Meatball and meatballs in tomato sauce
Spaghetti Meatball combines datterino tomatoes, basil and Parmigiano Reggiano with Black Angus beef and pork meatballs. The menus offer regular and XL sizes: choose an individual dish or consider the larger size for sharing. Ask the team to help with quantities according to the rest of your order.
For a dish centred on meatballs, Le originali combines beef, datterino tomato sauce and basil. Polpette di Benedetta adds mozzarella, while Polpette e patate pairs beef and sausage meatballs with roast potatoes, guanciale and rosemary mayonnaise. Choose between these three versions according to the flavours and accompaniments you enjoy.
Melanzane a Portofino, Le vegane and crispy cod
Melanzane a Portofino is made with aubergine and provola cheese, served with Portofino sauce. Le vegane combines lentils, mushrooms and beetroot with vegan Russian salad. For a fish option, crispy cod comes with pea cream, lemon zest and sweet-and-sour onion. Each recipe has its own ingredients and accompaniments; check the restaurant's menu before choosing.
A mixed selection to start
The mixed fried meatballs bring several recipes together and work well as a starter to share. In Navigli, the menu also includes the Mediterraneo salad with aubergine balls, mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, carrots, Taggiasca olives and feta. Choices can vary between locations: use each restaurant's PDF menu for ingredients and prices, and confirm availability with the team.
Browse the current The Meatball Family menus
Which meatballs to order: a quick guide
Build your meal around a familiar favourite or compare different preparations. Here are a few starting points; your final order will depend on your appetite and how many dishes you plan to share.
| In the mood for | What to choose |
|---|---|
| Milanese tradition | Mondeghili served with two sauces. |
| Pasta and meatballs | Spaghetti Meatball in regular or XL size. |
| A tomato-based classic | Le originali or Polpette di Benedetta. |
| A vegetable-based option | Melanzane a Portofino or Le vegane, depending on your preferences. |
| A fish dish | Crispy cod with pea cream and lemon. |
| A shared starter | Mixed fried meatballs for the middle of the table. |
For allergies or intolerances, ask the team for allergen information before ordering. Mention your requirements when booking too, especially when organising a group with different dietary preferences.
Where to eat meatballs in Milan: Navigli and Cinque Giornate
Navigli, Via Vigevano 20
The original restaurant is at Via Vigevano 20, in the Porta Genova and Navigli area. Its large bottle display and industrial-style dining rooms are part of its identity. Make it a stop during a day in the neighbourhood or a meeting point for dinner. The location page has a map, current opening hours and booking details.
Explore and book the Navigli restaurant
Piazza Cinque Giornate 6
The restaurant at Piazza Cinque Giornate 6 is a convenient stop between the city centre and Corso XXII Marzo. Visit for lunch while spending the day nearby or arrange dinner with friends and colleagues. Lunch and dinner are separate services: check the opening hours and choose a booking time that suits your plans.
Explore and book the Cinque Giornate restaurant
Book your table and choose what to share
A meatball dinner might begin with mondeghili and continue with spaghetti, or feature vegetable-based recipes and a selection of dishes. Choose the most convenient location and book for your full party. For groups, children or particular requirements, contact the restaurant directly to arrange your table. The rest begins when the first dish arrives.
