Bad news for fans of Meat The Ball, the Italian restaurant at Biltmore Fashion Park: The casual dining spot, which opened this spring, has closed for updates, according to a spokesperson.

A reopening date was not provided.

But there is hope for the restaurant, which serves a menu of veal, pork and chicken meatballs. A new location in Scottsdale is scheduled to open next month. The new Meat The Ball will be located at the Scottsdale Promenade on the southeast corner of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Scottsdale Road.

According to a press release, the new Scottsdale location of Meat The Ball will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, Nov. 7. The restaurant is located at 16211 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite A5.

What to expect at the Scottsdale restaurant

The full-service restaurant will serve vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options in addition to meatballs made with everything from pork and beef to chicken and fish. Menu items include:

The Flower, a vegan and gluten-free roasted cauliflower ball dish with spiced tomato and curry sauce over curried broccoli rice.

The Flanker, a short rib ball plate with grass fed beef braised overnight with gravy over creamy polenta.

Spaghetti & Meatballs with hand crafted spaghetti using Italian Semolina flour, grass fed beef and pork balls, parmesan and secret tomato sauce.

Covering 1,500-square-feet, the new Meat The Ball also will have "retro theme and touches of pop-art reminiscent of a mid-century diner," according to the release. There will be an open kitchen, a pet-friendly outdoor patio and bar seating.

A new restaurant from Pomo Pizzeria owner

In March, Stefano Fabbri, owner of Pomo Pizzeria, told The Republic he got the idea for Meat The Ball from his customers.

"We are a pizzeria, but everyone eats meatballs. It's the No. 1 seller after pizza," he said.

The restaurant's name is intended as a joke about Fabbri's Italian accent, which sometimes makes it sound as if he's saying "meat-the-ball" instead of "meatball."

Fabbri, who grew up in Italy, described the restaurant's menu as "Italian fare," unlike the more traditional Italian cuisine served at his Pomo Pizzeria restaurants. At Pomo, which has locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, diners can find Neapolitan-style pizza, pasta and other Italian specialties on the menu.

Meat The Ball in Scottsdale is scheduled to be open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Happy hour will run seven days a week from 3 to 6 p.m.

Details: 16211 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. meattheball.com.

Reach the reporter at lauren.saria@azcentral.com. Follow her on Instagram at laurensaria, on Twitter at lhsaria and on Facebook at facebook.com/lsaria.

Support local journalism and subscribe to azcentral.com today.