Jersey Meatball Company, North Bergen

Homestyle Italian cooking comes as naturally to the current chefs at Jersey Meatball Company as it did to Vincent Centrella, who opened up a pizza and sub shop in 1958. Those were the nascent days of Jersey Meatball Company. Centrella's son, John, grew up in his Italian-born parents' kitchen. So when John came of age, he decided to continue the family tradition, and honed in on the family's culinary specialty: hand-rolled meatballs. Jersey Meatball Company was born.

Today, the meatballs still serve as the cornerstone of the eatery's menu, with chefs incorporating them into hero sandwiches, sliders, pasta dishes, or just serving them à la carte. The meatballs themselves vary widely, created from pork, beef, chicken, or vegetables. Chefs drizzle meatballs with the restaurant's signature sauces, ranging from classic marinara to spicy pink vodka sauce and pesto.