The Ball Joint — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

Have You Ever Had a Meatball Burrito?

Walking into The Ball Joint inside Foodie Labs wasn’t like walking into a restaurant. It was like stepping onto festival grounds where the air is already vibrating with bass, and you just know you’re about to see something unforgettable.

And front and center on this stage? Meatball Chef Bryan. Not your average chef, not your average act. This man has been a minister, a salesman, a world traveler. He’s lived more lives than a festival lineup has bands, and every encore he’s endured shows up in his food. You don’t just eat it. You feel it. He doesn’t just roll homemade meatballs; he rolls headliners—the kind that bring the house down one ball at a time. (And no, not in a creepy way… though when you’re talking about this guy’s balls, the jokes practically roll themselves.)

The Lineup: The Breakfast Balls opened the show, and they hit like an opening act you didn’t expect to blow your mind. Soft, savory, folded in morning light: sweet, salty, rich, comforting. They taste like Sunday after a Saturday you don’t remember, that moment when someone hands you exactly what you need and you swear it’s better than coffee. Each bite lingered like a perfect peppery chorus.

Then the stage lights flared, and out came Bryan’s pride and joy: “It’s Not Easy Being Green” Chili Sauce on a Chorizo Ball. Slow-cooked, smoky, humming with heat like a pyrotechnic blast. He didn’t drizzle it, he drenched it, daring us not to lose our minds. We did. And if you try it, you’ll hear the heavens chanting: BALLS! BALLS! BALLS!

Just when we thought we’d burned out, the Cheesy Bacon Amazing Mac slid onto the stage. Gooey, smoky, unapologetically rich; it tasted like a power ballad that brings a whole crowd swaying together. Meatballs on top turned it into a wall of sound, heavy as a double kick drum yet somehow soothing.

And then… the Smothered Ballrito took the headliner slot. It's the act you came to see but couldn’t fully understand until the first note hit. This monster burrito was stacked, layered, smothered in cheese and green chili until it became something beyond food. The first bite hit like a bass drop, the second like a tsunami of guitars, and by the third you weren’t even in the same place anymore. You were messy, sweaty, alive. This wasn’t dinner. This was the full-body religious experience you get while crowd surfing.

The Frontman: Here’s the secret: it isn’t just the food that makes The Ball Joint unforgettable. It’s Bryan himself. I walked in ready to write a tongue-in-cheek setlist about his balls (teehee), but halfway through I dropped the schtick. Because this wasn’t just fun; it was real. Bryan cooks like a man who’s fought his way through the crowd and still comes out grinning. Every ball is a story. Every sauce is a memory. Every dish feels like part of a tracklist you didn’t know you needed until you heard it live. Handcrafted sauces, hand-packed meat, all branded and served with his tongue-in-cheek style.

The Venue: Foodie Labs is the perfect festival stage—industrial, buzzing with other acts, each dreamer adding to the soundscape. Eating here feels like discovering an underground show before it blows up. It’s raw, authentic, and makes you feel like you’re part of something about to headline a big venue down the road. “Get it now cool kids; before the big dogs find out and start charging a fortune for the entry ticket,” as my middle school band teacher would say.

The Final Encore: By the end, we weren’t just full, we were floored. The Breakfast Balls woke us up, the Green Chili set us on fire, the Cheesy Mac soothed the soul, and the Smothered Ballrito closed with fireworks.

So—have you ever experienced a meatball burrito? If not, you need to. Because Bryan isn’t just cooking, he’s performing. He’s bleeding his story into every bite, and you can taste it. This isn’t just food. It’s therapy. It’s chaos. It’s a festival for your senses.

On a scale of 1 to 5 Meatballs, The Ball Joint is a 9-pound headliner with a backstage pass and fireworks...

Listen, I came in ready to roll my eyes at a place called The Ball Joint… and then the Ballrito showed up and ruined every burrito I’ve ever loved. Messy, meaty, glorious chaos — 10/10, would risk my shirt again. The Cheesy Bacon Amazing Mac? Bold name, but fair. Creamy, smoky, cheesy perfection that had me considering a restraining order just so I wouldn’t keep coming back. Even the Classic Italian balls taste like they flew Nonna in on standby. Drinks are cold, the vibe is fun, and honestly — if you don’t give this place five stars, you might just be allergic to joy.

But the secret sauce here isn’t just the food — it’s Bryan, the owner. The guy’s got passion in spades and it shows in every detail. He’s not phoning this in; he’s pouring his heart (and yes, his balls) into the place. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and that energy spills over into the food and the whole experience. It takes guts — and some serious balls — to dream up a menu this creative, and Bryan somehow makes it all feel both playful and personal. That’s the kind of heart you don’t just taste,...

This wonderful place is at Foodie Labs right on the Pinellas Trail near the multi-intersection of the Pinellas Trail, 5th Ave S, and 22nd St S. I rode my electric bike and ate there for the first time today and had the best bacon and meatball mac and cheese! Yum! My picture doesnt do it justice because I had already cut up the meatball lol! I got to meet the propriator Brian. He is definitely a foodie! I had my dog Happy with me and he was nice enough to bring her out her own meatball which she happily goobled up! We talked some more about food and Hatch Green Chilies came up so he was like "Hold on one sec" and brought my fiend and I a sample of his Colorado Chili made with chorizo and Hatch Green Chilles. OMG! So good! Kuddos Brian! Foodie Labs is a nifty little chill startup-incubator that I would encourage anyone in the area to go try out, especially by bike! The Pinellas Trail is one of St Pete's many gems and this place just adds...