DeWitt, N.Y. — What if I told you one of the better restaurant meatballs in the Syracuse area was served at a small dive bar on Thompson Road in the town of DeWitt? Would you believe me? Probably not, and that’s okay because I’m not sure I would believe me either.
Skeptical as I was when I ordered, the TRT meatballs ($7.95) from Thompson Road Tavern proved me dead wrong. The flavors were balanced with the right amount of herbs and cheese to support the blend of ground meat. They didn’t have a particularly brown or crispy exterior from frying nor were they soft from being steeped in a slow-cooked tomato sauce. Speaking of sauce, the balls — about the size of a billiards ball — were served in a simple but zesty pomodoro that deserved mopping with the side of garlic bread.
I don’t have a ranking or list as I do for French fries, nor have we ever done a comprehensive roundup of this traditional Italian-American item. But, if we did — and I’m officially offering my services for the task — these would be near the top of my list.
Meatballs were one of a couple surprises for us on our recent Saturday evening visit to the 27-year-old bar. It was our first time there, though I have driven by the converted house dozens of times over the years without ever paying attention to the overflowing parking lot or roadside sign.
It was a mostly full house, though we were able to find a table in the smallish area adjacent to the bar. While the Syracuse University men’s basketball game was on all of the televisions, judging by the conversations taking place at the bar, it was mostly a crowd of regular customers…