Stacco House by Mammamia's masterful meatball sandwich

The 'burb: Carmel.

My take: Before we even get to the meatballs, we've got to talk about this baguette.

• It's toasted to perfection with a crispy exterior and fluffy interior that blends beautifully with layers of tomato sauce and melted mozzarella.
• The tender, all-beef meatballs packed inside are the real deal. They're too big for the bun in the best way.
• It's also extremely well-balanced. It's hard to find a meatball sandwich that is saucy and cheesy without also being greasy and heavy, but Stacco House nailed it. I actually felt like I was losing weight with each bite.

Reality check: I know that's not true. So does my scale. But a guy can dream.

The vibe: Nestled next to Fat Dan's Deli on Main Street, walking into Stacco House feels like walking into a family member's kitchen while they're in the middle of preparing for company.

• It's a smaller space that encourages grabbing and going, but you'll want to loiter inside just to drool over the cakes, cookies and cannoli in the bakery case.
• The welcoming vibes were reinforced when chef Lucio Romani walked out of the kitchen to hand deliver me my sandwiches the moment they were done and bid me farewell with a warm "see you soon."

Fun fact: The restaurant is named in honor of Romani's father who was called "Stacco" by all his friends.

• According to the owners, Stacco directly translates to "a horse that is young, strong, and healthy" in his late father's dialect. When talking about a person, it means they are very beautiful or handsome.

If you go: 834 W. Main St., Suite 130, 11am-9pm Tuesday-Sunday.

Other bites from the 'burbs:

🍗 bb.q Chicken's Korean fried wings

🍅 Grindstone Public House's fried green tomatoes

🤠 Salty Cowboy Tequileria's "Lone Ranger" quesadilla