America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant Makes The Best Meatballs In Philly | Legendary Eats

Paulie did the prep work. He was doing a year for contempt and had this wonderful system for doing the garlic. He used a razor, and he used to slice it so thin that it used to liquefy in the pan with just a little oil. It was a very good system. Vinnie was in charge of the tomato sauce. I felt he used too many onions, but it was still a very good sauce.

I'M ITALIAN AND, I have absolutely no problem with this famous spaghetti-meatball recipe. I see too many of my fellow citizens complaining for some of our traditional recipies being adapted. C'mon guys just accept it, spaghetti-meatball has become a classic meal for an entire nation, and half of it it's from our tradition! We should be happy of that kind of exportation!!

I just love this kind of restaurants that owned by a family and been in the business for such a long time. I think this place is still standing for more than a century because the food is good and has a good relationship with their patrons. Truly an institution.

I LOVE the bit of detail about serving wine in a coffee cup to the old patrons that remember prohibition. Now I want spaghetti and meatballs.

I'm Italian. My dad, his brothers and sisters (5 total), and his parents were all born in Italy. They brought their recipes with them. They had to adapt because some food they had there was not available here. So they changed their recipes to what was available. I'm talking about the 1920s and 1930s, into the 40s. The bottom line is. They adapted. As far as they were concerned it was still Italian food. They were Italians making homemade Italian dishes in America. What's not to like. I never see other ethnic groups whine and cry about their food like Italians.

Used to go with my dad as a kid and pig out so much here. Lots of nostalgia watching this.

I'm happy to say I ate there and enjoyed it. It was like a trip back in time. Hope to eventually come back.

Nothing better with simple food cooked to perfection and amazing taste 🇮🇹

I love my moms meatballs. Unfortunately I’ll never be able to have them again 😔 I miss my mom so much. Ugh. She passed away from cancer a little bit over a year ago, I have some videos about my mom on my channel. Please don’t ever take your parents for granted... who knew that meatballs would make me cry this afternoon lol

Truly unique style and decades of experience. Good food and fine wine its the secret to keeping their loyal customers happy and contented. 😊

I do half Italian sausage and half ground sirloin in mine, except I add a couple cracked eggs and use panko breadcrumbs. I bake them though. They come out perfect every time. 350 degrees for 45 min.

Thank you for sharing this, one of my favorites 😋.. Stay inspired 😊

Wow, my Mother and family came here from Salerno. Our recipe is almost exact but we dice up fresh garlic rather than the carmelized. I mean.... that looks likes us cooking at home. Thanks for saving the traditions. Sundays at 2:30 are awesome!

A friend of mine’s mom was Sicilian. She made her meatballs and just dropped them in her spaghetti sauce. She never covered her sauce with a lid which resulted in no greasy film on top. Bellissimo! ❤

Amazing ! Yummy. I will never forget my grandma's holiday meals. She was from Abruzzse. My mother made dynamite Italian food too! She wasn't even Italian.

RALPHS IS THE BEST Italian restaurant in Philly I've been going there for 40 years

Italy’s official national motto should be “You’re doing it WRONG!!”

I've eaten here ..I'm from Philly and now live in central Florida...I miss South Philly and the food sooooo much...the bread, the gravy, hoagies, soft pretzels and the great Italian Restaurants...

Pure comfort food.....my grandmother made the most delicious spaghetti and meatballs, in addition to home made raviolis......magnificent.

Love , love , love your recipes