Good Butcher in Middlesex County, NJ

[JoanN]

I'm spending a few months in Highland Park (near New Brunswick) and haven't been able to find a decent butcher within reasonable driving distance. I've even joined Costco mainly to be able to buy their prime boneless strip steaks. But that, and rib-eyes, is all they've got. I'd love to find prime beef, decent pork chops, artisanal sausages, orgainic chickens. You know, good stuff. I've been buying whole chickens at the nearby Asian markets, but I find them better for soup than for roasting (no Bobo's, for instance).

[ambrose]

JoanN, there have been several threads on butchers in central Jersey. Here is one that I started a couple of years ago. I was looking for a butcher more to the west of where you are but you may find some of the information useful.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/378298

[JoanN]

Thanks for reminding me of that thread, ambrose. I had found it once before when I first started this quest a few months ago but had forgotten about it (and it wasn't near the top of the list when I searched again this morning). Most of the places mentioned are more than the half hour drive to John's (thanks yellowshirt) and, at the time, Hind and Fore just didn't sound compelling enough to be worth the trip. But it looks like I'm not going to find anything closer.

[ambrose]

Try doing a search using the word "butcher" but go back 5 years rather than the default 12 months. There are lots of references to butchers but they're often buried in threads whose main subject is something else.

[ken259]

Hi Joan. I was wondering if you've had the opportunity to check out Hind and Fore and if so , what your thoughts were.

Thanks.

[JoanN]

No, I haven't. I ended up at John's Meat Market in Scotch Plains simply because it was closer to an errand I had to run. Definitely have it in mind to try, though, since it's basically just as far from me as John's.

[scrappyone]

We live in Middletown and our choice for a local butcher is Citarellas in Red Bank. We order the prime beef there and have always enjoyed it. They also make the best shredded BBQ pork I've found in the area. Here's a link:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=...

[JoanN]

I got excited for a minute. Thought perhaps they were associated with Citarella in NYC (which is where I buy my meat when I'm in NYC), but not listed on the Citarella Web site so I guess not. It's even further for me from my NJ address than Hind and Fore and John's, and in a direction I'm even less likely to travel. But I do appreciate knowing about it. Thanks.

[KathyH]

A lot of people like Joe's Meat Market in South Bound Brook. I have never been there myself. Here is their website. http://www.joes-meatmarket.com/
Used to be totally a butcher shop but looks like more of a deli now. Might be worth checking out.
I go to Hind and Fore in Bridgewater on Route 28 and like them very much. They aren't that close to Highland Park though, and I guess actually Somerset County. http://www.hindandfore.com/

KathyH

[JoanN]

Thanks, KathyH. Joe's does seem to be more of a deli than a market. And their Web site says all their meat is choice. Not what I was looking for.

Although Hind and Fore is further than I had hoped to have to travel, the only other place I've found since first posting my query is Joe's Meat Market in Scotch Plains--just about as far as Hind and Fore. Sheesh! Hard to believe I'm gonna have to drive half an hour to get decent meat.

[Yellowshirt]

JOHN'S Meat MArket is in Scot Plains

They sell prime beef and veal. Excellent pork from a farm in PA. I get a couple pigs from them every year for roasting...either large one's for outside or suckling for inside

They sell a lot of stuff from D'Artagnan as well...or you can purchase directly from D'Artagnan yourself...free range poultry, game birds, rabbit as well as sausages

[bfl13]

If you drive south on Rte 27 out of Highland Park you can find 2 great places for meat and poultry.
Griggstown Quail Farm - quail, pheasant, poussin, chicken, duck etc.
PA Dutch Farmers Mkt - meat butcher, poultry butcher, deli, bakery. (open thurs-sat)

North from highland park off Rte 287 is the Restaurant Depot --kind of like costco for restaurants but it requires membership although they have everything under the sun!

[JoanN]

The Farmers Market looks really interesting and I'm sure I'll be checking it out at some point, but--again--the meat is all choice, no prime. Looks as though it might be good for poultry, though.

Never heard of Restaurant Depot. Sounds fascinating. But I'm only out here for another three or four months so I doubt I'd be interested in another place requiring membership. Do they let you go in and look around without one, do you know?

[bfl13]

Yes you can walk around but you must be member to purchase things.