Watch CBS News

NY Food Truck Lunch: Pastrami Balls & More From Marky Ramone's Cruisin' Kitchen

Perry, the voice behind New York Street Food, brings you his latest review on New York City food trucks.

The food truck launched by a rock music legend recently tweeted about a new addition to their menu.  The Cruisin' Kitchen, a truck launched by Marky Ramone, the Ramones' drummer, announced their new Pastrami Balls via the social media tool.

Being lifelong New Yorkers (and regular visitors to Katz's Deli for their pastrami), we had to check out these pastrami balls, which cost $7.

More: NYC's 7 Best Jewish Delis

I also got a taste of another new meatball, but you're going to have to read through to the end to find out about that one.  Hint: It was spicy.

More: NYC's 5 Best Meatball Meals

Meatballs From Cruisin' Kitchen Truck
(credit: New York Street Food)

When I picked up my order, the chef  and co-owner Keith called it Katz's In A Box.  That's a tall order to fill, but I was optimistic based on past Italian and Asian meatballs I've had there. The box contained 3 large, browned meatballs, sauerkraut, mustard, rye toast and two pickle spears.

I cut into the first pastrami ball, and creamy Jarlsberg (Swiss) cheese oozed out slowly.  I took a bite and it tasted just like pastrami and Swiss cheese, but with a grilled, browned exterior.

There was even a schmear of mustard on the ball, which turned out to be dill mustard.  The dill was a nice touch, adding some of that distinct herb's flavor to each bite.

MORE: The 15 Best Lunch Spots In Midtown

While the pastrami balls and dill mustard were really good, the sides left a little to be desired.  The sauerkraut was cold.  It would have been much better warm.  The rye toast was too hard, and the pickle was okay, but nothing special.

The most important part, the pastrami balls, were enjoyable.  Now let's get the sides together for a great lunch.

Since I was at the truck, Keith wanted me to try their new buffalo chicken ball.  I'm not usually a fan of ground chicken, but anything with buffalo sauce immediately gets my full attention.

Buffalo Meatballs From Cruisin' Kitchen Truck
(credit: New York Street Food)

Keith gave me a small dish of two buffalo chicken balls to sample.  First I tasted the chicken ball by itself, and it was well spiced.  No boring chicken balls here.

Then I got some buffalo sauce and bleu cheese on the next bite of chicken and was in heaven!  This buffalo sauce was spicy, and as buffalo chicken fans know, crumbled bleu cheese is the perfect accompaniment.

The only thing missing was celery, but I didn't care.  These were delicious buffalo chicken balls.

The truck has a new vegetarian meatball made with quinoa, but I didn't have room left to try it.  That just gives me a reason to go back!

You can follow Marky Ramone's Cruisin' Kitchen on Twitter here or on our Mobile Munchies Twitter feed.  Since the truck's debut two months ago, they have slowly been adding dishes to the menu.  Most are in the $6-$8 range, making this truck a good lunch deal too.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.