Meatball Kitchen to host pop-up dinner; restaurant coming soon

Need something quick, cheap and yummy for dinner? Stop by the Kitchen Factory in Northside tomorrow for Meatball Kitchen’s pop-up dinner. It’s from 6 to 9 p.m., and will feature a simple menu of meatballs and a special, a bacon cheddar meatball burger.   Meatball Kitchen doesn’t currently have a storefront, but owner Dan Katz says that in about four months, he’ll be opening a location in Clifton on Vine Street. It’s going to be like an upgraded Chipotle, he says, with counter service and an inexpensive menu. The physical restaurant will also serve liquor   “It’s amazing to be part of the foodie scene here,” says Katz. “The food is great, and I really want it to be the future of fast food one day. I feel like eating well isn’t a luxury, and it’s nice to be able to go somewhere and spend less than $10 for a whole meal. We shouldn’t be making a big deal out of wanting to eat well.”   Katz’s meatball recipe is something he’s been working on for a while. His concept is that you can take any recipe and turn it into a meatball. For example, he served a gyro-style meatball sandwich at one of Meatball Kitchen’s pop-up dinners.   Right now, Katz gets all of his ingredients at Jungle Jim’s, but he wants to eventually bake his own bread and get his meat from a butcher at Findlay Market.   “My approach is a bit different, and it’s a little bit of a surprise,” says Katz.   By Caitlin Koenig Follow Caitlin on Twitter