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That Meetball Place opened in Patchogue in 2014. It was billed as a place to “meet and have a ball.”
That delicious double entendre stuck as That Meetball Place’s tagline. And boy did people have a ball, especially into the wee hours. Now, a reassembled ownership group at 54 West Main Street — a familiar address to many an Uber driver — has rebranded as Amsterdam.
It’ll still be a place to meet and have a ball, the owners say.
Except now, you can mix in a burger from Millie’s Smash Bar, which occupies the back.
Welcome to Amsterdam
Prolific restaurateur and Amsterdam co-owner Scottie Campbell came back from the Netherlands inspired by the cafés (what the Dutch call a bar or tavern), and the blend of chic and traditional — the brick, the wood, the iron.
“It was so much fun,” he said.
Style wise, it all reminded Campbell of what he already had in That Meetball Place.
It took only tweaks to transform the space into Amsterdam.
The work got underway on weekdays in September.
The owners, which includes TMP holdover Joseph Reale, replaced the floors, expanded and renovated the bathrooms, installed an elevated platform for live music and swapped out the old chairs, tables and bar stools for gleaming new ones — to match the European-inspired vibe.
Unlike the old Meetball Place, the focus at Amsterdam will be less on sit-down dining for lunch and dinner and more on nighttime fun, music and small bites such as hot and cold sandwiches.
Picture more of a weekend-driven venue where you can enjoy bands, DJ’s, cocktails and grub — Thursdays through Sundays, starting at 4 p.m.
“There will always be a place in my heart for Meetball,” Reale said, “but it’s definitely exciting to be part of a new concept. When we first started Meetball we were doing live bands, then we stopped that a bit and went to the DJs. So it’s fun for me to be bringing back the live bands.”
They’re also planning a happy hour they hope will put Amsterdam, Patchogue, immediately on the map.
“It will be Long Island’s biggest Friday happy hour,” Campbell vowed. “Maybe we’ll even bring back the old-school happy hour buffet.”
Millie’s Smash Bar
The old back room at That Meetball Place has been completely transformed into what looks like a 1960s-era Main Street luncheonette.
Millie’s Smash Bar, which Campbell had originally envisioned for a space next door to Amsterdam, now blends seamlessly into the larger venue.
But it has its own back door, patio, takeout window and full kitchen.
So if you’re not feeling the Amsterdam small bites for any reason, just step in the back for smash burgers, chicken sandwiches or fries.
“It’s certainly a great option that’s more economical, versus the sit-down dining at Meetball Place,” Reale said. “And it’s great for young families not really looking to go out.”
They’re also looking to keep the takeout window open up to 4 a.m. Click here for the full menu.
“We’re just really trying to bring fun and experiential things to Patchogue,” Campbell said.
And all under one roof.
