Somehow this doesn't compute in my brain. Can you explain what the difference is between "seen at an AA" and "AC food"? Does "AA" refer to something other than American Airlines in this context?

Couldn't agree more. Perhaps for some foodies (or otherwise pampered individuals) the options at the AC are subpar, but I'm happy to have whatever they offer for free vs. paying $10 (or more) for a burger in the terminal. Meatballs are just fine, as is pretty much anything else they serve.

Based on the context of the post I'm guessing it's just a typo and lowfareair meant to say "seen at a CL" as in seen at the Centurion Lounge.

You got it, was typing faster than my brain was thinking. I'll edit for clarity.

Except it isn't free for the majority of people. It costs $600 for the card and more for just a membership. That covers a lot of much better food and booze, IMO.

By comparison, the food and beverage offerings in the FL, CL, Chase lounge are far better. DL SC and UA Club are much better than the AC too.

I love good meatballs at a red gravy Italian restaurant. The problem is that a good meatball at a red gravy Italian restaurant requires, you know, red gravy.

The rant wasn't about meatballs generally (though a premium food the meatball is not) but rather that AA for some reason seems to think that:
A) "chicken" and "caramelized onion" belong in meatballs
B) meatballs belong in an an airport lounge

(To expand on the biggest problem with chicken meatballs - it's not that AA's version of those are salt bombs that come in an unappealing sauce that looks like slop - it's that the very attempt, as with most things AA, reflects cheap cheap cheapness. Rather than the pork/beef mixture (to say nothing of costly optional veal) that should go in a meatball, AA cheaps out and stuffs some sort of chicken like material in its sodium slop trough)

I'm not going to fret about meatballs. If I expected One Flew South quality food, I would eat at One Flew South. The fact of the matter is the AC food is 1) self serve, 2) easy to get to, 3) rarely involves an extended wait that you have at a full service airport restaurant or even a "quick" serve restaurant, and 4) I don't have to shell out a significant amount of capital for it. Five Guys at DCA means a burger and fries (no drink) is nearly $21.00. How much sodium do you think is in that burger and in those boardwalk fries? Probably more than in the meatballs.

"Boy, the food at this Admirals Club is terrible. And such small portions!"

If you don't like the food, don't eat it. If you think it's a trough, why are you standing in front of it? If you're unhappy with the clientele, how do you feel about being part of it? Why not head somewhere else?

Agreed.

Like the OP, I am a critic of the dismal state of the ACs as well. However, I do not have a membership and rarely ever go in one.

If OP hates meatballs that aren't from an Italian restaurant, or they find ACs overcrowded, that's their prerogative and entirely reasonable. But it seems bizarre to rage against their experience as if the ACs typically serve carved chauteaubriand in private suites.

What were you expecting? But aren't you buying the schedule when flying AA?

In London they found both horsemeat and donkey meat in some meatballs which aren�t intended for human
consumption
Generally I avoid them having gotten sick at a Hilton property in london after just a few bites of a meatball and my family member did as well.I get everything is subjective but American sadly majority of the time serves sub par slop with rare exception which almost always prevents them from being premium even with fancier looking lounges

Believe it or not, Sysco/US Food also make mid-level restaurant main courses, possibly being served at other lounges.

What's wrong with horsemeat? Many culture eat horse.

Also, I guess you have not been through SOHO lounge in JFK.

I was to one of the new 2 lounges at jfk
fancy looking space appearance wise forget which one was business class On BA connecting
JFK sfo on AA
Lousy offerings just like the Flagship lounge at LAX
As for horsemeat my understanding when the meat isn�t intended for human consumption they use drugs
that are not acceptable or safe
But still even if it was considered safe I�d probably avoid like I do insects and rabbits that others may consume

Being based on the other side of the Pond, I don't frequent ACs very often but went through the one in CLT last week and thought the meatballs weren't actually that bad (though the "truffle" sauce was a little dubious). One question though, why on earth are all the apples wrapped in plastic? We're trying to reduce single-use plastic, no?