Want to go old-school with a 50-50 pork-and-beef split like Nonna used to make? Or try a different take on meatballs by going global and adding some cumin or ginger for Turkish and Asian flavors? No matter what style you’re craving, here are 16 sweet places around Boston that put a saucy spin on a comfort-food classic. 

1. Aria Trattoria
It’d be remiss not to include at least one North End stalwart on this list. If you’re looking for an old-school Italian experience, consider this: Chef/owner Massimo Tiberi’s recipe goes back generations. His polpette della Nonna is a 50-50 veal-and-beef blend. Held together by bread crumbs, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic, they are then baked—not fried—for an hour, and then slow-simmered “with love” as Tiberi says, in sauce made with his own mother’s recipe. (253 Hanover St., Boston)