Best Butcher in the City

[stamfoodie]

Just moving in and looking for top notch butcher in Manhattan.

[sushiman]

IF can get to Grand Central there is a very good Italian butcher in the food court, Ciriello's.

[rbraham]

For pork, in-house sausages, tripe, and--for that wonderful richness in stews--pork _skin_ (rind), the best I've found (and only one outside Chinatown for rind) is Faicco's, at 260 Bleecker St. In Little Italy/the Village. I gave the guy $5 to cut the package of rind into small strips.

For the best and astoundingly cheap pork products -including two types of ground pork (one fattier) and beautiful pork bellys, I go to one of two butchers in Chinatown. One is on East Broadway between Houston and Confucious Plaza (sorry, no name, but there's only one, so it's easy); the other is Bayard St. Butcher, 57 Bayard St. (West of Broadway off of Mott St).

I like Bayard better because it's more spacious and clean-looking (the other one is clean too, BTW), and it owns a nice grocery store next to it with fresh, cheap vegetables.

Both these places sell beef, chicken, and parts, and whole ducks, at literally half the price of anyplace North of CTown. I've bought some ducks, which were fine, but less meaty than the big ones uptown (but, again, at half the price). Last time I was there I bought a bunch of partridges for $7 each, and quail were going for $1.75 a pop. Next time you're at any other meat market, check out the prices for those....

And of course, if you're dying for pork bungs or pork ovaries, you've found your source. Also good, fresh pork blood.

Rob

[hungrycomposer]

Third Japan Premium Beef. And don't get frightened by the prices, you can spend hundreds or just a few bucks and get something delicious. I often buy a small piece of coullote (sp?) for a wonderful steak tartare.
I haven't had good luck with meat from a lot of butchers at the green market, it's often frozen ahead of time, or goes bad quickly. (But 100 percent of my produce comes from the green market this time of year.)

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Japan Premium Beef
57 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012

[bubbleandsqueak]

Schatzie's - 555 Amsterdam Avenue
www.schatziesthebutcher.com

Moved from East side to West side and delivers. Reminds me a little of Oppenheimer in its prime

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Schatzie's Prime Meats
555 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

[tcy1227]

I will also second, third, fourth Ottomanelli and sons on Bleecker. I went to them for years. They have excellent meat, great service, great prices, and exotic game. However, I must say that I have begun to buy my meat almost exclusively from Grazin' Angus at the Union Sq Greenmarket. They are fully grass-fed which provides for the tastiest and healthiest meat (let the debate begin, but take a taste of their meat!!)! This is 100% grass, no grain finished, pure, sustainable, excellent meat (and eggs and chicken to DIE for). Go talk to Chip and see what he recommends for the week. CONS: It is more expensive than other butchers (although not Citarella, which I think is overpriced and not excellent quality). Also, major con for me is that all meat is frozen. I have dealt with this because the quality is so high, and for a steak, it does not affect the taste (Chix are not frozen). Aside from that, it is what I live on these days!

Also, Whole Foods has excellent reasonably priced, and often organic, or even sustainable, free-range, meats, with a wide selection. I prefer the Union Sq WF (they have more local sources).

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Union Square Greenmarket
Broadway and E 17th St, New York, NY 10003

Ottomanelli and Sons
285 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

[sgordon]

I'm a.grass-fed/grain-finished guy. You just don't get the same marbling with straight grass. Best of both worlds.

[sgordon]

I'm not a fan of Lobel's. The quality is good, but not unparalleled or anything. And the prices are often WAY too high. I've seen steaks there that would have cost more retail than if I just went to a high-end steakhouse and had someone else cook it for me.

Ottomanelli and Sons are dynamite. They're not just for wild game (though they do specialize in it) - their regular beef, pork, duck, etc is all great, too. They're my go-to if I'm doing anything beyond a regular weeknight dinner.

For Wagyu I'd go with Japan Premium Beef in the East Village. New kids in town, top-notch quality.

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Ottomanelli and Sons
285 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Lobel's Prime Meats
1096 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

Japan Premium Beef
57 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012

[RCC]

It's been a while since I've visited Japan Premium Beef for some good Wagyu. You just enabled me to pay them a visit and buy a nice cut of ribeye and a flank for tomorrow's dinner. Great store.

[sugartoof]

I forgot about Japan Premium Beef. Excellent for any cut of meat, not just the high end stuff, and they take great care to individually prepare each order no matter how small. They also have aged steaks, and daily specials.

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Japan Premium Beef
57 Great Jones St, New York, NY 10012

[KevinMooney]

Manhattan is a very big place, so it's better to specify neighborhoods. For my money, I like to venture out on the 7 train to The Butcher Block in Sunnyside.(http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/nyr...)

[sugartoof]

You're not worried about transporting meat from Queens on the subway in summer?

[KevinMooney]

No; it's a 15 minute trip into Grand Central, so, depending on where you live in Manhattan, it's not necessarily any further than many of the places in Manhattan. Also, subway cars have AC.

[sugartoof]

It's the subway platform, and wait, that I'd be concerned with.

[KevinMooney]

Fortunately, the 7 train station at 40th St is outside. And you have the subway issue with places in Manhattan, too, unless they're in your neighborhood.

[sugartoof]

I'm glad it works for you, but unless you live near one of the 7 stops, it's not the same to commute back into Manhattan, and then transfer to get yourself home. Maybe insulated bags would be a good idea.

[AubWah]

where is the best place to buy lamb and different smoked sausages on the butcher block

[sugartoof]

The Meat Hook in Brooklyn specializes in sausages.
Despana also has spanish style (not smoked, but still good).

A lot of lambs are frozen, even if you're buying them defrosted.
Whole Foods actually has good lamb, and most of our suggestions would cover lamb too.
Mine would still be Dickson's Farmstand in Chelsea Market.

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Despana
408 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

[sugartoof]

Dickson's Farmstand in Chelsea Market.

They break down the cattle on the premises.
Most everything (but the chickens) are direct from small local farms, and chemical free.

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Dickson's Farmstand Meats
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[rae305]

I like Espostitos for pork and sauages - 9th Ave and about 40th or on Bleecker Street a block or two from Ottomanlli's

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Esposito & Sons
354 W 38th Ave, New York, NY 10018

[ChefJune]

Love, love love Pino's -- an old-time Italian butcher at 149 Sullivan Street (just below Houston).

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Pino's Prime Meats
149 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

[RCC]

I'm very happy with the service and the high quality of meats at Ottomanelli & Sons Meat Market in Bleecker Street.

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Ottomanelli and Sons
285 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

[pbjluver]

what neighborhood are you in?

[stamfoodie]

UWS, but have palate and will travel.

[pbjluver]

I like the service and the variety at Fairway on Broadway / 75th St.

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Fairway Market
2127 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

[mayomayomayo]

Same here. I hear the Harlem Fairway's selection is infinite.

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Fairway Market
2350 12th Ave, New York, NY 10027

[gutsofsteel]

The best is Lobel's on the upper east side. Expensive.

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Lobel's Prime Meats
1096 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

[MMRuth]

Yes. Really expensive. Some of my favorites:

Ottomanelli on Bleecker
Florence Meat Market on Jones
One on 9th Avenue around 20th Street - never remember the name.
There's also a good one on 1st Avenue in Sutton Place the name of which I also forget.
Also like the meat at Citarella.

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Citarella
1313 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021

Ottomanelli and Sons
285 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Florence Meat Market
5 Jones St, New York, NY 10014

Simchick Meats
988 1st Ave, New York, NY 10022

Knickerbocker Meat Market
166 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

[loratliff]

Florence is amazing. They cut everything to order.

Ottomanelli's is great too, particularly if you're looking for wild game or exotic meat.

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Ottomanelli and Sons
285 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Florence Meat Market
5 Jones St, New York, NY 10014

[RCC]

"There's also a good one on 1st Avenue in Sutton Place the name of which I also forget."

Simchick Meats.

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Simchick Meats
988 1st Ave, New York, NY 10022

[rluczak]

Agree re Lobel's but also just had the folks at Cannibal / Resto cut me a 28-day porterhouse . . . slightly more expensive than Lobel's (if you can believe that) but was amazing. Looking fwd to their 8-week aged ribeye . . .