Balls & Glory

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of visiting Balls & Glory in Ghent, Belgium, for a late lunch. Upon arrival, we were intrigued by the unique concept of the menu, which focuses on constructing meals around a central feature: a meatball similar to a Scotch egg. It offered various options, including vegetarian choices, allowing for a versatile and inclusive dining experience. Initially, deciphering the menu took a bit of effort. Thankfully, a QR code provided access to an English version, making our selection process much smoother. The concept of pairing your choice of meatball with either a selection of mashed potatoes or a salad created a delightful way to tailor our dishes to our individual tastes. The staff at Balls & Glory were exceptionally friendly, enhancing our dining experience with their welcoming demeanor. We were particularly impressed with the swift service; our meals arrived promptly, allowing us to enjoy our flavorsome feast without delay. While the restaurant is slightly on the pricier side, the unique culinary adventure it offers more than justifies the cost. Balls & Glory stands out as a fun and innovative place to try in Ghent, providing not just a meal, but a memorable experience. We left feeling satisfied and eager to recommend it to fellow travelers and locals alike looking for something different.

This place specializes in meatballs, which is a great concept. I tried the pork with mushroom and truffle, served with their standard mashed potatoes. The meatball itself was tasty, but the dish lacked a bit of depth. The truffle flavor was subtle, and the mashed potatoes didn't add much complexity.

We were having a dinner in this restaurant. I tried chicken ball with masala and as a side dish salad and my partner had pork meatball with cheese and mashed potatoes. In my opinion chicken ball with masala had more interesting taste but pork meatball was also very good. I also liked the atmosphere and music in this restaurant. Also the staff explained us everything we asked and gave us an advice which beer is the best. Thanks a lot 🫶🏼

Disgusting Hygiene.. Went for an evening meal on Saturday night, place wasn’t busy we quite happily people watched as we had our food. Lad clearing the plates was doing a stellar job at washing up and clearing tables. This can’t be said for the man and woman in the kitchen. Both were picking food from the counter and eating it. The lady was dipping food with her fingers into the gravy. We watched for about 20 minutes while she continued eating serving food with her unwashed hands, touching her phone and picking up ice out of the ice machine to put in customers glasses. No ice scoop needed for this lady, she had licked the gravy off her fingers so why does she need to wash them. We had a lovely meal before seeing this which is a shame. You’d like to think that a train professional would know about washing their hands. Makes the company look amateur to say the least. If you’re going to have an open kitchen where customers can watch you work it may be best to do basic hygiene. Hope you can fix this easily, the Department of Food Safety would be horrified with the video.

Balls & Gristle. Food was dry, lukewarm. Meatballs had a lot of gristle. Dining room fairly dusty. Silverware not only unpolished, but unclean. Would consider returning if the prices were three quarters of what they are, as it would suit a grubby hole in the wall stop in due to quick service, but the cleanliness and quality of the food does not match the price.

Extremely excited that we were able to experience the tastiness of this restaurant. Greeted and given a how to order from friendly staff was appreciated. We opted to order two dishes with a salad to share. Wild boar ball was moist and oh so delicious. The green curry with the chicken ball was scrumptious. The potatoes that were underneath each ball were cooked perfectly and had really nice texture and flavor. The salad had a nice peppery heat that added an extra touch. Too bad we don’t live here to visit frequently as we left wondering about all the other choices on the menu.

Constantly changing meatballs menu, including vegetarian options. Everything I had so far was super tasty, and the staff was always super friendly. It's close to the center without being at a super busy spot, it is next to Sunday's book market, always got a seat, the interior is nice as well.

What a neat concept! Different types of meatballs with mashed potatoes or salad.. Tasty, fast service, and filling. What more could one want? Would definitely like to try other options as well- we got the chicken BBQ and lamb with mashed potatoes and a side of veggies

After debating what to eat for our last lunch in Ghent, my friend and I decided to try this place out. When we arrived, there were a few people sitting inside, but wasn't fully packed. It was made known to us that we order first and then grab a seat. The menu was primarily in Dutch, so the staff were helpful enough to explain to us in English and answer any questions that we had. I got the Tomato Paprika Ball with Apple Rhubarb drink. It was one giant meatball with mashed potatoes under it. From the outside, it didn't appear to have tomato sauce at all cause the sauce was brown, but found that it was inside the ball. I personally like anything tomato sauce related, so I really enjoyed it. The meal was full of carb/protein. It was very filling - almost couldn't finish it myself. Flavors were delicious. I enjoyed the meal a lot.

Great find. Very tasty and large meatballs. Home cooked meatballs and sauces. Comfortable, bright and attractive environment. Though it's a small chain in Ghent, felt unique.

This place lived up to my expectations. I was referred here by a colleague and look forward to coming back again during my time in Gent. I felt comfortable dining alone on business, and enjoyed the atmosphere quite a bit. There is ample seating for small or larger groups. I had a pork meatball stuffed with truffle and mushrooms over mashed potatoes with carrots, and two different sauces. It was phenomenal and incredibly filling, but I wasn't miserable afterwards. It is a perfect amount of food and reasonably priced, yet so unique. So good. Do yourself a favor and eat here while in Gent.

It's difficult to understand why this place has so many favorable ratings. Let's begin with the food. I had the chicken tikka masala on salad and my husband the pork with 3 cheese on the potatoes. Neither the chicken or masala had any flavor which I found boring but overlooked until I bit down on a piece of gristle. The salad it was served on was grainy in the way soil is, so that's that. My husband said the pork ball had an unappealing fragrance (yes, fragrance) until it cooled. The overall quality ok but did not warrant the high price. The service flat out awful. The owner was rude from the beginning. We should have walked out immediately but instead stayed to be actively insulted a number of times - the volume of my voice was too low, we weren't quick enough to order, I mentioned that it was hot outside...you name it the owner had a nasty comment and a real stick up his bum. The ambiance was odd. The place seems like it might be cool if it was bustling but it wasn't. I get that we were there at 7pm on a Monday evening but other restaurants nearby had plenty of customers. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else.

I came here for dinner one night and had a fantastic experience! This restaurant is super clean, modern and minimalist. They have an inside seating area and some tables outside as well. The staff immediately greeted us and were super friendly. They were very accommodating with my husband's garlic and onion allergy and he was so happy that he could have something here. For dinner, I opted for the classic pork ball served on top of an arugula salad with tomatoes and cheese with a light dressing. I also had the lemonade of the day which was so refreshing! The pork ball was unlike anything I have ever tasted before. The outside was crispy without being greasy and the inside was a delicious, savory, cheesy bundle of joy. A ball and side to eat in was 14.50 Euro, so slightly pricey but not too bad for the city and the quality is great. Overall, great food, decent prices, friendly staff, clean/modern ambiance and great location!

Took long time to get food, and balls weren't fully heated up.

The folks here are super nice, welcoming, & helpful. All our options were described to us and they made ordering easy. The dining room is really bright and clean. Fortunately we arrived at a non-peak time and were seated right away. We had one pork ball with mash and another ball that was described as sweet tasting, with a side salad. Both were very good and the salad was delicious. Water is included in the price as well as fruit, if you choose. Everything tasted really fresh. We were happy with our meal. We left satisfied and not bursting at the seams stuffed. Since it's right around the corner from our apartment, we can easily do take-out next time, and still enjoy our food warm.

This place was a great surprise. Very different and fun. The meatballs were wonderful and the variety of options was impressive! I would definitely go back!

Definitely balls that you want in your mouth.   ...Good, sizeable meatballs (just get one).  They had a chicken, pork and veggie option, and we tried the first two.  Very tasty, and they were filled with gravy!  (Did not expect that. Side  salad and stoemp were good as well, and place was nice and clean, quiet, hipstery/minimalist.  Free lemon water and fruit (apples while we were there) on the table.  What a great place for a quick and reasonably convenient lunch break without being stuck in the heart of tourist epicenter. ...at least while we were there in mid-April.    Bathrooms were clean as well, a bit tight, serviceable.

I was really excited to come to this restaurant and headed straight here after arriving in Gent. We were seated at a communal table, which was kinda fun. We tried a Belgian beer that was very good. We also tried two different balls both with mashed potatoes. It was all.good, but maybe a bit too expensive for what you get. Anyway, I was glad we tried it.

Great Food, Great presentation and great waiters! Overall Experience 12/10 yes the food is on the pricier side but I pay the same price at my local salad bar for a regular salad. So I'd say it's a fair price with the location in mind.

I had a meatball. Yes, it's true. To get a meatball at Balls&Glory (more balls than glory?) you have to know what you are ordering. The menu is confusing. To minimize confusion, the best option is to come in a large group, and lay your soul on the line, trusting them to sculpt a great group meatball experience. If, on the other hand, you just want to check out what this meatball thing is all about, without breaking the bank, then you need to have a plan in mind. A meatball plan.

If you are looking for meatballs and wanting good service, this is the place! Came here with a friend and decided to actually dine here (saw many order takeout), the service was awesome. I enjoyed our server, he was extremely friendly. They run down how to order the meatball combos here and also, their house pinot noir is nothing short of delicious!

Ghent is a great small City with a terrific vibe and Balls and Glory is a microcosm of that vibe. The balls we ate(sounds weird) were quite tasty. I had the potato veggie mash and my svelte wife stuck to the salad and we each tried a different sauce with our balls, both very good. The waite staff were fun and competent and helped we first timers make our selection. All in all a solid 4 star experience.

Extremely misleading operating hours. B&G claim they open at 10 AM but arrived just after 11 and was told that I could have a seat if I wanted to but that there would not be any food for AT LEAST another half hour "because we haven't even mashed the potatoes yet." I propose two remedies: either... 1) publish opening times that correspond with the actual availability of food, or 2) get up a little earlier and mash the dang potatoes.

Holy god this place is good. Like really good. The portions are a good size and you can leave there feeling satiated without feeling overly full. I think another reviewer described the meatballs as a scotch egg without the egg, which is a perfect description. Don't skip out on the mashed potatoes - those potatoes are just as good as the meatballs!

Great tasting meatballs and mashed potatoes, with napkins making fun of Trump. What more could you ask for! Good snack, not sure I could make it my whole meal. But definitely hit the spot when walking around the Ghent Christmas market

Alright, I admit that we were interested in this place by the name initially. Once we walked by, the smell was the thing that brought us back for our first meal in Ghent. The menu is simple and straight to the point, and the staff were helpful to us even when the room was chaotically full for dinner. We tried both the chicken and pork meatballs and were pleasantly surprised by how filling the entire meal was. Make sure to get there early (or make a reservation) if you're hoping to eat a specific time but if you don't mind waiting, you can slide in at the long community table for an enjoyable dinner!

I can understand a lot of the appeal of this place. The meatball was tasty and the restaurant concept is cool. It's very casual, and you just pay one price for your meal, then you can enjoy anything on the table - apples, water, little candies, etc. However, I unfortunately was a bit disappointed. The mashed potatoes were bland and boring. The price (€10 for takeaway or €14 for dine-in), while reasonable compared to many sit-down restaurants, still felt quite expensive for just one large meatball and a side. Lastly, I thought the "Balls and Glory" theme was overdone and crass for my tastes - the underwear on the wall is what took it too far for me. If it sounds appealing, feel free to check out this restaurant for yourself. But I personally would've rather eaten somewhere else.

This place is awesome. Totally different, absolutely delicious. Truly unique concept. Serving sizes are huge, tables encouraged meeting new people. Pork and Spinach ball with mashed potato, peas, and carrots. Two gravies, sweet brown, and spicy curry gravy. Chicken and chuncky applesauce filling south mixed veggie and couscous salad. Balls to the walls good!!! Free WiFi

Glorious ball full of flavours of the day. Such a lovely concept - Have it with salad or potatoes and a drink and it's deliciousness on a plate. I had the 3 cheeses chicken one and was not disappointed. Very accommodating with English translations which was nice . Check this place out for lunch or dinner !!!

Something different and fun. Choose 1 of four different meatballs (vegetarian option there too), and then they slam the meatballs into a giant mound of potatoes mixed with veggies. Lots of gravy to add to the taste, and the meatballs are stuffed with cheese or mushroom sauce or something else depending on what you choose. Everything on the table is free (still water and apples while I was here). If your in the area, i recommend trying it out. You can take the food to go for a cheaper fare compared to dining in.

Best meatballs ever!!! You order upfront before sitting down. The food comes pretty fast. The ambience is nice and fresh as there are big windows overlooking a lush green yard. There are seatings outside as well that's really cute. Cucumber infused water is already on the table so you don't have to ask for water. Not only the meatballs amazing, the sides are too. We got the beef, truffle and mushroom meat balls with pasta and pesto salad and the tiki masala chicken meatball with mashed potatoes. They were both delicious! The price is alright. Meatball and a side is 15 euros, you can add a drink for an additional 3 euros. We would def come back though, it was delicious!

BEST BALLS I've ever put in my mouth... But seriously. Perfect combination of meat, carbs and flavor. Great staff and friendly environment!

So the food selection is simple. There are usually 2 types of pork meatball, a chicken and a veg. You select a meatball and a side (mashed potato or salad). If you get this for sit-in the price is 15€. If you get it for take away it is 10€. I don't know how normal a 5€ per person charge for sitting in is in Europe but take it or leave it I guess... The food was good and the service was friendly. Everyone was fluent in Dutch and English. Very trendy looking place but still confortable.

They've got big balls. Tasty big balls. It's likely that they've got the biggest balls of them all.

Balls & Glory quickly became a staple in Flemish cities that also got recognized by visiting tourists. The restaurant serves a hipster take on a classical Belgian dish: mashed potatoes with *insert your choice of meat here*. In this restaurant, you guessed it, they serve the mash with meatballs. What's interesting and definitely atypical is that they serve their sauce within the large meatball, so when you cut it the accompanying flavours pour out of it onto the mashed potatoes. The food is quick, easy to please and reasonably priced. Not necessarily a place I'd recommend tourists to go to as a "must visit", but still a fun place to check out.

To be honest, the name wasn't what drew me to this place, as it seemed rather gimmicky. But, once inside, you'll find a trendy and convivial space with a large kitchen counter (the cooking is done behind the scenes: this space is where they keep the meatballs warm and serve the salad) and, to the left, a spacious and well-lit dining area with tall glass windows with a view of an ancient church wall. You first choose your ball (that day they offered pork-and-mushroom and a chicken tikka masala ball, as well as a vegetarian option) and then your accompaniment (stoemp, a homey Belgian potato/root veggie mash, or salad). Then you sit at one of the tables, a long shared one with benches in the middle, or individual tables along the sides of the restaurant, where diners sit side by side. Along with silverware, there are bowls of fruit (clementines, apples, pears) at the tables for a healthy dessert. There were even pitchers of water and glasses, not a given in Belgium, where water doesn't often come for free! The service was fast, the portions large. I was particularly pleased with my dressingless green salad, peppered with wheat berry, carrots and goat cheese, and how it blended well with the chicken tikka sauce that poured out of my chicken ball. The meal went refreshingly well with a glass of their homemade lemonade or apple-rhubarb juice. They also do takeaway!

Visiting from the US and came across this gem while browsing Yelp looking for something local. Came at an off time for a late lunch/early dinner and had the place to ourselves. The gentleman working walked us through the menu and process I ordered the vegetarian option which was a risotto/ricotta/spinach ball. Option of mashed potatoes or salad, I went with my Midwest roots and got the potatoes. Water and fruit are complimentary at the communal tables. The food came out hot and with an excellent presentation. The balls were crispy outside and perfectly cooked inside. Great taste and nicely seasoned. Something gave it the tiniest kick which I loved. Many people came in while we were dining to get to go balls, so they offer take-away as well. Definitely recommended!

My partner and I were in Gent for the day and I'll admit that I chose to eat here because of it's funny name. Service was friendly and the whole restaurant had a very nice vibe. The meatballs were so delicious- we both had the original pork meatball (with the spinach filling inside) and the potato and veggie mash as our sides. We wanted to eat by the river so we actually got take away and we were impressed by how quick our order was ready. I'd love to come back and try some other items on their menu. Balls and glory indeed!

Balls & glory really exceeded my expectations! Everything was so delicious! I ordered the pork meatball, which was huge, filled with spinach and cheese, atop mashed potatoes, each side surrounded by gravy and a coconut curry sauce. I ordered a glass of wine with my meal, and the total was under €20. I was quite happy with my meal. You are sat among other diners at shared tables, which have plenty of carafes of water, silverware and napkins for you to help yourself. We really enjoyed our meal here, and would be happy to visit again next time we are in Gent.

Yum! What's not to love? A massive meatball filled with gooey goodness, on top of deliciously, chunky mashed potatoes? Very friendly staff, happy to explain things in English for us. Cool, stylish space in an old building. Perfect on a dreary rainy day like today.

I really enjoyed this place! You walk in and order at the kitchen. You're sitting in the kitchen and can watch them prep the plates. They have pitchers of water at the table, which I really liked!

Yummy meatballs. Super easy menu, one pork meatball, one beef option, one chicken option, and one vegetarian offered daily. Comes with salad or mashed potato. Portion sizes are perfect. Daughter loved the place and it was very child friendly. Staff speaks multiple languages and is very helpful. Place was very clean as well. No complaints!

Awesome concept. Food was great. Servers very helpful. Simple menu but delicious. For a quick bite in an eclectic atmosphere, you can't miss!

We biked 44km from Bruge to Ghent and this was a splendid way to end our night in Ghent! (The free apples were a pleasant surprise )

So simple, yet so good. My sun dried tomato meat ball (pork) was very good. My wife had the chicken and spinach ball that was equally good. These meatballs are about the size of a grapefruit! Guys running the place were friendly and quick. Only demerit was the dry brownie, but it's really about the meatballs in this place.

Balls! Glorious balls! Having been welcomed by friendly and knowledgable staff and guided through the menu I settled on a Pork and Veal meatball stuffed with champignon and truffle. The ball based part of the meal is sizeable and mine sat on a hearty salad with lentils and feta. Y-U-M! Topped this lunch off with some tasty filter coffee and made use of the wifi which was fast. There are takeaway options to choose from as well. All in all well worth a visit. Balls.

A pretty interesting place! Funky in looks, you get a huge meatball with a side - salad or mashed potatoes. Each meatball has a filling, so that's pretty fancy and visually mesmerising. I ordered the chicken meatball (with a spinach filling) and a side of salad, while my boyfriend ordered a pork meatball (with almost a curry like filling) and a side of mashed potatoes with a gravy like sauce. His was more filling, but at least mine was healthier! With some beer or coffee, you're bound to enjoy your meal. Definitely try it out! It's cheaper to do takeout rather than dine in. They offer free tap water and apples with the meal.

Cantina/Vapiano style restaurant. The staff is very friendly and the food is quite decent, although not a revelation. Good to go when you're in a hurry and want a quick and not too expensive dinner.

balls & glory... if the name doesn't catch your attention, a picture of their balls will surely draw you in! being an east-coaster, the name "meatball shop" from LES of NYC is known to all locals and tri-staters as the acclaimed balls master . so naturally, hearing B&G definitely reminded me of the MS in NYC and i had to find out what It was all about. We stopped by at the early dinner slot around 6pm and man, the line was almost out the door already! The place was packed with not just tourists but locals as well, all going for the gargantuan ball experience. Luckily, the line moved pretty quickly and the staff was accustomed to the organized chaos. I ordered the shroom truffle ball, which is one of their signatures, and my better half ordered the chocolate oxtail, which I think was the rotating seasonal selection. The balls came quick! And the presentation was definitely gram-worthy. Each ball was bigger than the size of my fist! (I do have small fists though) once you cut it open, the gravy stored within the ball just oozes out! Just watching it makes my mouth waters! And the first bite definitely didn't disappoint! But onto the real highlight of the meal in terms of flavor, it was actually the "stoemp", their mashed potatoes with carrots bits and basil? That was the real surprise. paired with the 2 sauces. one was the famous glory sauce which was cranberry jam based (the dark). the other was thai curry flavored (the light). it was the perfect harmony and just the most conventional way to garnish the balls with a fusion twist! i loved it! B&G was a fun dining experience! but imo, the recipe for the balls is still no match for the blends MS is creating in LES. :P B&G still got an awesome thing going though!

After looking for something hearty and not too expensive this was definitely the best place! Good was absolutely delicious. There were 3 of us all from Australia, we were greeted in French however once we spoke in English the waiter translated the menu for us and helped us decide (he was extremely helpful). We opted for the 3 cheeses, red cabbage and chicken all with mash potato, we took a seat got a beer and basked in the local ambiance. The food took less than 10 minutes to arrive at our table. The mash was so good and warm on this cold night, the balls itself were filled with liquid goodness. As we got 3 separate foods we shared it around so we all had a taste of each other's. The total bill for 3 balls with mash and 3 beers was €45 which was totally affordable. I would really recommend this place to anyone that wants to eat where the locals eat and be in a relaxed setting. Good work guys

It's simple. Go in, choose one of the specialty meatballs, choose a potato stew as a side and go! Their selections change at least once a week, making the repeat value very high. Always people in there, but never overcrowded.

Had the chicken and spinach meatball with mashed potatoes it was delicious. Loved the two sauces. Very young atmosphere and friendly wait staff! Would recommend when in Ghent!

Our first dinner in Belgium and this place did not disappoint. Wow the Balls are delicious. The service super friendly and we loved every moment. The only downside was finishing my dinner and wanting but not needing another dinner it was delicious

They do takeout! Balls & Glory saved me on a night wandering through Gent trying to find something quick to eat. Close to the touristy areas but not on the main drag, this was a great find. Meatball: Holy Moly. It was one big ball. These are NOT one bite meatballs. Please, for all that is good in the world, do not put the whole ball in your mouth at once. You get one meatball. The meatball is "stuffed" or formed around veggies or a sauce or other concoctions. I got the Chicken meatball with hollandaise sauce in the middle. It was so delicious, easy to eat with a fork and knife. Salad: It was more of a greens with quinoa dish. It was overly salty for me and I really like salt. Only down score was from this. Lemonade: Delicious! If I remember correctly, it was sparkling lemonade and it was very refreshing! I really like lemonade and I would probably pop in here just to get lemonade if I lived in Gent... which I don't, sadly. Service: Service was very friendly and helped me make decisions on what to get. Food was ready for takeout in no time at all! Note: At least on the day I was there, they had two meatball options. You also get your choice of side, salad or pasta. Order at the counter then sit at a table establishment. Moderately priced.

This place is awesome - who knew meat balls and mash could be some dammmmn tasty. The place itself is nice; big ceilings, modern decor with benches running all the way through it. Once in you go straight to the counter and I suppose what makes it so easy is there isn't much choice - 2 meatballs of the day with salad or mash and then one type of beer and house wine. Once you've ordered you take a seat, they cook your meatball and they bring your food to the table. The food is presented very well on a round dish with the meatball (it's big) on top of the mash and 2 sauces around the edge. The meatballs we had were a creamy mustard filling and truffled mushroom both incased in pork and beef mince then breaded and cooked. The fillings were delish as was the meat and the 2 sauces - a that green style sauce and a sweet gravy. The meal itself is great value but the only let down was the beer - they could have some better bottled beer available but I suppose it doesn't offend too many people. I don't think they do pudding but fresh fruit is plentiful in fruit bowls along the tables which you can help yourself to - how cute! We popped in for a quick dinner but be warned this isn't a posh sit down kinda place. I'd definitely recommend for a filling lunch but I think it is busier at lunch times so coming for a casual bite to eat before going to the pub was perfect for us!

First meal of the trip. Suggested n the Rick Steves guide. Great pork and chicken meatballs.

Go here. Welcoming hosts, daily selection of pork, chicken, and other meatballs, each with a special daily filling. Chicken meatball with mashed potatoes/veggies was delicious.