637304 Fri Jul 17 07:30:58 -0700 2009 30 12 Boston Area 0 4866968 cant find anything with search or on their website...would someone please advise re if they offer and the quality of their meat (as in for grilling , steaks , chops) I am going for the first time today and need to know if I need to make a Savenors run first....Thanks very much Fri Jul 17 07:30:58 -0700 2009 11784 capeanne 1 4866980 no meat.... Fri Jul 17 07:35:10 -0700 2009 4866968 11108 galleygirl 2 4866982 Thanks ... Fri Jul 17 07:36:28 -0700 2009 4866980 11784 capeanne 2 4866988 Sorry but Russo's does have a limited selection of meat, to the left of the dairy section. Mostly cryovac'd steaks, a somewhat random assortment of other things, some chicken, Bell & Evans I think. Some sausages, mostly D'Artagnan brand but also DePasquale Italian ones. I have had mixed results with the steaks, you really have to hunt through them to find ones with marbling, but they can be good and the price is right, like most everything else at Russo's. Also, over in the deli section their rotisserie chicken is very good -- as in, put it in the trunk or you'll find yourself sneaking some on the drive home. Fri Jul 17 07:39:59 -0700 2009 4866980 13756 GretchenS 3 4867277 The chicken varies between Bell & Evans and Coleman. The Bell & Evans is great, but we have gotten some bad Coleman breasts there. As far as any other meat needs, definitely stop at Savenors (or elsewhere). Fri Jul 17 08:59:55 -0700 2009 4866988 13687 Gabatta 4 4869030 Okay, sorry, I don't consider salumi when I think meat, and the OP didn't ask for chicken.... Fri Jul 17 19:59:05 -0700 2009 4867277 11108 galleygirl 5 4870054 chicken is meat! : ) Sat Jul 18 10:42:10 -0700 2009 4869030 22725 AHan 6 4870878 Yes, by definition it is, but I used my amazing skills of devination (and the OP's notations) to figure out that's not what they meant... Sat Jul 18 19:26:57 -0700 2009 4870054 11108 galleygirl 3 4870275 I got two strip steaks there a few weeks back and found them to be real good, also check out the thin cut chicken cuttlets they are fab, for breading and frying with a lemon cream sauce, or even put two together with chese and ham in the middle for cordon Blue, I dont think you can cut them that thin by hand and the price is good Sat Jul 18 12:47:44 -0700 2009 4866988 160146 djr222 4 4873707 Second those chicken cutlets. They are VERY thinly cut - awesome. Pricey of course, when you realize you can get them in larger uncut quantities for much lower, but if time = $$, then it's worth it. Mon Jul 20 08:10:57 -0700 2009 4870275 11172 Bob Dobalina 2 4867018 They certainly don't have a comprehensive meat department, but they do have a limited selection of packaged meats: - Sausages - Steak - Whole chickens - Pork tenderloin Most of the offerings are brand names like Niman Ranch, Bell & Evans, etc. I have gotten some very good stuff there, but if you need something specific it's best to go elsewhere. Fri Jul 17 07:46:42 -0700 2009 4866980 11116 Ruprecht 1 4866984 Last I was there they had a VERY limited selection- some sausages, some chicken- I dont think Ive ever seen steak there...Id go Savenors for sure- I picked up a delicious strip steak there last night :-) Fri Jul 17 07:36:40 -0700 2009 4866968 180029 fmcoxe6188 1 4867076 Unless you'd be making two separate trips out and home, I would make the Savenors run last, or bring a cooler...it's going to be hot today! Enjoy Russo's :) Fri Jul 17 08:06:10 -0700 2009 4866968 122833 katrinkala 2 4867268 To tag onto this thread... I used to get a nice Amish butter at Russos - roll shape, wrapped in paper - but haven't seen it lately. Has anyone else, or any alternate sources? Thanks! Fri Jul 17 08:57:20 -0700 2009 4867076 51849 okra 3 4871770 They don't carry that brand anymore, but they have another roll style butter in a yellow wrapper that is very good. I think the brand is Vermont Butter, but I am too lazy to go to my frig and confirm. Sun Jul 19 10:47:24 -0700 2009 4867268 240397 phillyfrog 1 4869050 I've found some decent pork chops in the meat cooler (to the left of the dairy as someone pointed out). They are in cryovac packages and usually cut about 1.5" -2" thick. They don't always have them, but worth a look if you are there. I brine them first since they take a while to grill due to the thickness. The DePasquale's sausages are worth a pick up if you don't want to drive over to the actual shop. Although I love the Chinese sausages and I've never seen Russo's carry those. Fri Jul 17 20:08:10 -0700 2009 4866968 12116 Ali G 2 4871392 Happy to report that they are in fact carrying the Chinese sausages now. Saw them on my last few trips. Sun Jul 19 07:09:01 -0700 2009 4869050 123281 Spenbald 1 4869151 If you want the farm market with meat experience better to go to Wilson's Farm in Lexington where they have a decent variety of meat (including Niman ranch) along with a great selection of produce. Fri Jul 17 21:25:19 -0700 2009 4866968 145071 pondrat 2 4869195 Wilson Farm has a nice selection of their own produce this time of year, but I don't think I would ever say that they have a broader selection of produce than Russo's. Plus, Russo's prices for the same things that Wilson's sells are generally quite a bit lower. Please understand, this is not a criticism of Wilson's, it is more a matter of praise for Russo's. Fri Jul 17 21:49:13 -0700 2009 4869151 177209 PinchOfSalt 3 4871321 i'd second Pinchofsalt. Wilson's has lovely things but they are no where near as eclectic in their range. I get everything from my canned San Marzano tomatos to my POE pickles at Russos and I haven't found an Asian market with better Asian greens. The deli is excellent in range, price and quality, and I find their cheeses second only to Formaggios. Can't think of a place with greater range. Sun Jul 19 06:21:12 -0700 2009 4869195 14809 teezeetoo 4 4871553 I couldn't agree more with both of you on Wilson's limitations. Russo's is in a class by itself. That said we all agree that the choices for a one stop place with excellent produce AND great meat are pretty slim. Sun Jul 19 08:44:41 -0700 2009 4871321 145071 pondrat 5 4872780 what nobody has mentioned is the added extra of getting to play bumper-carts and dodge-foot in the aisles of Russo's. Shop there on the weekend for this added entertainment feature. Sun Jul 19 19:33:41 -0700 2009 4871553 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 6 4873019 Actually, for me the other customers are one of the attractions at Russo's. Just look around and you will see and hear people who are shopping to cook foods from their parents' or their own "old country". I don't know how many times I have learned something by hearing people discuss how to prepare a particular unusual type of produce or even had someone spontaneously teach me something. One day I was picking out okra and an Indian woman showed me how she snaps the tips to see if they are fresh. It's sort of like the home cooking board here on CH but **live**. Yes, it gets crowded, but in a particular Russo's-community cheerful way. It is really quite civil. Sun Jul 19 21:42:33 -0700 2009 4872780 177209 PinchOfSalt 7 4873486 I enjoy the environment at Russo's too. And the other customers, but I draw the line at "civil' when I'm being pushed and bumped by people who are not so patient. Unfortunately for me I'm only able to get there on the weekends, when it's at its most crowded. Mon Jul 20 06:44:42 -0700 2009 4873019 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 8 4873704 Still friendlier than Whole Foods. Mon Jul 20 08:09:23 -0700 2009 4873486 11172 Bob Dobalina 9 4874320 No argument there ;) Mon Jul 20 11:06:36 -0700 2009 4873704 152667 Ralphie_in_Boston 8 4874414 Even on weekends, get out there early enough (say, before 11 or so) and it's not as insane as its reputation suggests. Allstonian and I have established enough tricks that we can do a full Russo's shop -- including stops at the deli and the floral counter -- and be in and out in under 20 minutes. Mon Jul 20 11:33:10 -0700 2009 4873486 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 9 4874665 I will mildly disagree with everyone on this sub-thread. I have been to Russo's on several occasions when it was a freaking mad house. And I have never noticed any difference in politesse b/w the clientele at WF or Russo's; when it's super crowded, people are super-agitated. I have also never witnessed, much less been the recipient of, spontaneous 3rd-party-vegetable-cooking enlightenment while in the aisles of Russo's. I love Russo's. I just don't go there during peak periods. Once I figured that out, my fondness for the place increased dramatically. Mon Jul 20 12:32:43 -0700 2009 4874414 22634 autopi 10 4877878 Right, and if it's empty, the cheese counter people stuff you so full of free samples you have to roll out the door. Tue Jul 21 12:15:25 -0700 2009 4874665 23376 nsenada 7 4880068 Once while waiting in the checkout line I got a complete recipe for potato salad that the guy in front of me was going to make for a cookout - if the wait had been any longer I expect he would have invited me... Wed Jul 22 06:24:43 -0700 2009 4873019 99551 simonr 7 4880524 Ouch! No more pinching or snapping! And, occasionally you'll spot a local chef in there as well! Wed Jul 22 08:27:16 -0700 2009 4873019 51849 okra