-By Kate Bartlett-
This Sunday, September 25 marks the 6th annual Meatball Street Brawl on Franklin Street in downtown Buffalo. Presented by Nick Pitillo of Osteria 166 and Villaggio, this family friendly festival is an authentic Buffalo Sunday Funday from 11-5pm complete with food, drinks, and football, all to benefit local charities. “The game will be on a large screen. The meatballs will be many. There will be beer and wine and bread and antacid.”
According to Nick, the festival was an idea that he and his friends came up with years ago. “Meatball Street Brawl started with a bunch of my buddies talking smack, and has turned into something so much more. Not only are we nearing $100,000 in donations, but it is one of my favorite events of the year. If you haven’t made it to one yet, now is the time to get on the limo bus!”
This year’s competitors include Ilio DiPaolo’s, Lombardo Ristorante, Savoy, Arriba Tortilla, Bada Bing Sports Bar & Grill, Steelbound, Frankie Primo’s, Amici Ristorante, this little pig, Osteria 166, Hanzlian’s Sausage, EVL Tap + Bottle Taqueria, Jack Rabbit and more. Vendors will have beer and wine a’penty from The Bubble Bar, Community Beer Works, 42 North, EBC, High Noon and Hamburg Brewing Company, among others. Something for every palate awaits! Sip, drink and enjoy the best of fall in the city of good neighbors.
Winners from last year in the Freestyle Meatball category include Finnerty’s Tap Room for 1st place People’s Choice with their Reuben meatball, and Osteria 166 for Judges’ Choice with their Gluten Free Chicken Jambalaya meatball. In the traditional meatball category, Ristroante Lombardo took home 1st place for Judges’ choice, and Amici Ristorante won in 1st Place for People’s Choice.
Proceeds for the 2022 festival will benefit FeedMore WNY, RTLC (Response to Loving Care), PUNT (Pediatric Cancer Collaborative), Little Smiles, Frank Pitillio Memorial Lighting Fund, Buffalo Police Athletic League (Lt. Craig Lehner Scholarship Fund) and NYS Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
Tickets include all you can eat meatballs as well as beverage tastings; $25 presale, $30 at the door (kids under 8 free, VIP available $125) and as mentioned, proceeds benefit local charities. Visit https://meatballstreetbrawl.com/ for more information and to buy tickets; or simply come to the event @ 166 Franklin Street, just outside Osteria 166 restaurant.