I am normally a Casey's Market in Western Springs butcher shop loyalist which has always done a good job. But I went to Carnivore yesterday to buy a steak based on Yelp reviews. The quality of meat was fine but the price was so outragious that it made the whole meal a disappointment. Over 60 dollars for one steak? What do these cows live in a sauna and drink the milk of Venus? I will go back to my favorite butchershop and not return to Carnivore.... read more

Take the time to talk to the people working, ask about the food. They put a tremendous amount of effort towards sourcing the best meat and produce locally. Just finished up a "smokehouse burger". They use smoked beef, short rib and chuck I think. Seasoned, blackened on cast iron, cooked rare on a brioche bun. Words don't do it justice. Fresh fish, smoked salmon (amazing) and various other items such as stocks and sausages. If you want the end game towards quality, this is it. read more

I hopped in here because I forgot my lunch for work today.. decided on the lobster bisque because I needed something quick and OMG, it's delicious. Chunks of lobster, perfectly smooth & creamy. No regrets here. I've been to carnivore once before this to get a bone for my dog (which she loved, by the way) and both times the customer service was excellent. Very friendly employees & super helpful. Would recommend trying this place out! They've got a lil somethin for everyone. read more

Carnivore Oak Park - Butcher Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

See all

This place is an absolute hidden gem in Oak Park. We were out here for an errand and needed to grab lunch so swung by here. There are great sandwiches. Supper hipster place. Great sandwiches. Will come back. read more

Ok yes it's expensive and it's a treat for me to cheat on my regular butcher when it comes to meat and sausages. But what draws me here again and again is my Saturday afternoon Salmon Sandwich. OMG. I saw another reviewer who said it reminded her of eating a fresh caught fish on baguette in the harbor in Istanbul. I had that same experience. And yes this is a very close second to that. Excellent sandwich, best around. Worth the 5 min wait for them to cook it fresh. Others have described it and plenty of pics so I won't go on. My friend loved the fried chicken sandwich so I will mention it. Just try it if you like fish sandwiches, you will love this!. read more

Oh man. I took one bite of the salmon sandwich and pretty much jogged to my computer to start writing this review. Now, as I think about how literally perfect that first bite was, I feel motivated to have one (or three) more bite(s) to verify. [intermission] It's confirmed. Best salmon sandwich I've ever had. Simple - fish, lettuce, tomato, onion, remoulade, bread - just perfectly seasoned, and more importantly, perfectly cooked. I can't believe I've lived in the neighborhood for as long as you've been open and this my first time in. Kudos, guys. read more

The best. I mostly go here for the grilled salmon sandwich, which is a work of art. This is what happens when you start with perfect, simple ingredients and treat them with respect. Every time I have this sandwich it reminds me of eating balik ekmek (fresh caught fish in baguette) on the pier in Istanbul. That is a little bit of an obnoxious place-drop kind of comment, but I mean it only as a positive reflection on this sandwich -- it SO fresh and delicious it truly feels like you could be by the sea. They have one long rustic dining table, so you can have your lunch there or take it away. Also -- they have dry goods! Fresh produce! Sauces, soups, wood for your grill, seafood, fresh fish, chicken, oh, and meat. It is called Carnivore, after all. I don't eat meat, but if you do, this is the place for you. It's all responsibly farmed -- and therefore presumably delicious, plus better for the planet (not to mention the pigs). But mostly -- it's that grilled salmon sammie!! read more

I bought the best porterhouse steak I've ever had from them. It was expensive, but worth it.

Awesome food, great meats, great and made sandwiches. I highly recommend it. I had the special steak sandwich and it was fantastic my friend had a burger and it was great the service is very complementary, they gave us a lot of free samples to read more

Carnivore Oak Park - Butcher Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

The sandwiches are big!! The meat servings are giant. Great sandwiches to go. I usually order some and head to the park with the family!

This place has top quality meats! The service is friendly and knowledgeable. I work in the area and don't hesitate to stop by for a sandwich or meat snack. Everything is as locally sourced and made in house as possible. My favorite to go item is the Scottish lox, it is outstanding! I have become much more varied in my tastes since this place opened up. read more

I recently made the decision to eat halal, kosher, and ethically raised meats. My husband recently bought two New York strips. I can't not rave enough about how amazing these steaks were!!! So tender didn't even have to use a knife. Bravo carnivore!!! I cannot wait to eat the other things he got there!! (Chops,shrimp,chicken,tilapia) I will never go back to supermarket factory farmed meat!! Worth every penny!! I will be in once a week!! Did I mention they have fresh to order sandwiches at lunch time!!! read more

Had a burger patty and a toulouse sausage and oh my, it was fabulous! Will come back again when next in town. Cool neighborhood.

Amazing deli sandwich and wonderful selection of deli items. I had a turkey sandwich with cheddar and all the fixings. Very generous portions! The man working the counter was apathetic and slow moving. read more

Quality food, quality staff. A wonderful selection of fresh meats, fish and specialty items. A great addition to Oak Park. A MUST VISIT.

I was in the Oakpark area today and remembered the piece on Carnivore I saw on Chicago's Best.The burger were GREAT. Great tasting buns, nice fresh lettuce, tomatoes and onions. When I first saw the fries I didn't think they would taste that good. They were GREAT too. I will return. read more

I am always looking for places to purchase truly sustainable products. As far as sustainability goes, Carnivore does not disappoint. When you first walk in you will be greatest by Brad, or Erik,or both! The decor is simple and clean, as a butcher shop/ fish monger should be. All of the items are fresh and Brad and Erik can pretty much tell you the date all of the meat was slaughtered. They offer varying items, but if you call ahead you can usually get an idea of if they have what you need. I usually shop for what's fresh as opposed to a specific item. That being said they pretty much always have the standards: ground Chuck, chicken (all the parts as well as whole birds), beef steaks as well as less standard cuts like beef cheeks and delicious short ribs. Great pork as well and they usually have lamb and sometimes goat (for you adventurous folks). On the seafood side they offer either sustainably farmed or sustainable wild varieties: lake trout, lake salmon, American Atlantic farmed salmon, oysters, mussels, and crab when it's in season. I've seen flounder and halibut as well, again, call ahead to see if they have what you are after. They also offer locally grown seasonal produce as well as my FAVORITE new condiment, black garlic. If you've never tried it, it is similar to soy sauce in flavor, but sweeter, umami basically. I put that s*it in everything! They offer great hours including Sundays which is great for all the people who are scrambling to find that special something for Sunday night dinner. Overall the prices are comparable to Whole Foods, but the knowledge these two guys have is priceless! There is so much more about this place I would love to write, but I'll keep it for another review since I know that I'll be back! read more

Had a super tasty salad, and large! It's nice that they're flexible and will customize things however you like.

Freindly staff, awesome selection, and knowlegadeable. Overall a great experiance and I will be visiting more often.

We LOVE Carnivore. The owners and staff members are fantastic-helpful, pleasant. They even sent me a Facebook message when they had bluefish in, as they remembered that my husband likes it. That is impressive. The meat and fish selections are both excellent. Really unique stuff. Plus, they make an amazing breakfast sandwich, which may be available on the food truck. If you ever have the chance to get it...... ENJOY! read more

My son and I wandered in for a sandwich after reading the reviews on Yelp. Not knowing what to expect, since it is a meat shop. The Sandwiches. OMG. I had the salmon sandwich and it ranks as some of the best salmon I have ever had, including salmon in Seattle. I don't know how they do it but the skin is really crispy while the meat is so tender, almost creamy. My son had the chicken sandwich and his eyes were rolling in the back of his head. When he was finally able to talk, he said that was the best chicken sandwich he has ever had. The sandwiches come with fries but they will let you get something else, like a side salad or grilled veggies. There are a couple of tables to sit and eat, family style and there was a magazine on the table with a cover of Idris Elba, so my visit couldn't have been better : ). The place is really clean and it is the only meat shop I have ever been in that didn't smell of blood. So, of course we had to go back. The second time we went the guys behind the counter had been drinking CBD water (which they sell) and were like a comedy act. Everything was just as good. I had the salmon again, after a botched attempt to recreate it at home that involved a ruined frying pan. My son had the bacon cheeseburger. It is all ground together, from what I could tell. He said it was a really good burger but his heart belongs to the chicken. Their sandwiches are really big and made to order. They are not cheap but you are paying for high quality. We will be back. You need to go. And, you might want to try some of that CBD water. It looks like a good time. read more

Outstanding fish sandwich cooked to perfection on the grill. They begin with a generous portion of salmon that IS NOT overlooked. They have the right bread to protein portion and the remoulade sauce is delicious. I am a fan and will be back to try the chicken one. read more

Picked up some currywurst. Didn't really expect too much, because I've had so many different types over the years. Wow. Absolutely a must try. Great curry flavor with a bold blend that definitely holds its own. read more

Love this place! We eat lunch here often and have never been disappointed. Burger is outstanding! The roast beef deli sandwich is one of the best I've ever had! Salmon sandwich, fantastic! I'm always there during work hours so I've never purchased any butcher cuts to take home but they always look really good. Oh and don't forget to try the potato salad, a skinny Lou or some smoked fish. read more

Dayum! That's southern for Damn! If you fancy yourself as a red-meat loving, American this place will give you chills. It isn't only about beef, they have a full selection of whatever you want and plenty of things you didn't know you wanted. I went in today and Shirley did some business with a burger that was so dayum good I almost felt like I was betraying the beef by adding condiments. I've got the fried chicken sandwich one radar for the next visit. If you're in that area go in and support this shop! Great people and great food! read more

Amazing and perfect place--hoping to publicize bc once people try it I'm sure they'll become loyal customers. I grew up only getting meat at a butcher and love the nostalgia-- tho this place is heads and shoulders above my home town "meat store." Stopped in just to see what the place was, and was blown away by the beautiful fish and meats in the cases. Asked for something good to grill for guests and they said their house made sausages were all excellent. Picked up some local relishes to accompany the sausages and giant hot dogs while we were there. Everything was FANTASTIC. Will be going back for all meat moving forward. Def try the chow chow relish! read more

Carnivore will let you schedule a private event dinner inside their shop after retail hours. We just did that for a group of 17 and it was a wonderful success. They can make anything, but I let them plan it just to be surprised. A varied charcuterie tray of meats and cheeses, excellent homemade asparagus soup with morel mushroom, strip roast that was to die for and then a fantastic dessert. It was BYOB. Just a great time and another way to enjoy this gem of a place. read more

This is a great small business which goes out of its way to provide good service and quality food. Although I am a not a meat-eater, I do like their fish, especially the fish sandwich which is made to order. My son loves the bacon burger, and don't forget to pick up a bag of liver treats for your dog. Your dog will love you for them. read more

I ordered the fish sandwich and my husband had the bacon burger with cheese. Delicious!! Those sandwiches were HUGE!!! Well worth the price. We can't wait to return. read more

These guys know their meat and fish. All from local sustainable sources. Best in Chicagoland.

This place is legit. First of all, while I was waiting for my burger to be prepared, they told me how they slaughtered a goat and went to Wrigley Field before game 1 of the NLDS to hand out free goat sausages. They even smeared fake blood all over themselves for enhanced effect, in an attempt to break the curse. Pretty hilarious, and apparently they made enough of an impression that the Chicago Tribune is going to their shop for an interview with the owners. After my first experience with their bacon burger, there is no doubt in my mind that the goat sausages were phenomenal. The burgers are enormous and incredibly flavorful. I'm pretty sure bacon chunks are built into the patty. This is easily a 20 dollar burger, but it was less than 10 bucks. The butcher displays are impressive as well. I will absolutely be back. read more

What an awesome addition to Oak Park! Not only do these guys have the best selection of meat and seafood, but they are knowledgeable and friendly to boot! The owner Brad happily made me a fried chicken thigh sandwich and pulled pork sandwich even after their fryer was off. Both sandwiches are the Bomb. My doctor recommended their homemade sauerkraut as a probiotic boost - it is awesome on top of a pulled pork sandwich! Another employee gave me a sample of his family's country wine while I waited for my sandwiches. Another guy gave me a free small bone for my Chihuahua. I had so much fun while I was there I will continue to go back - make sure to try their bacon hamburgers and porterhouse steaks, they are to die for! read more

If there are more delicious sausages out there, someone tell me where I can find them: somehow I haven't come across any better ones in Chicagoland. The Italian and Portuguese sausages from this butcher shop are incredibly well-made: juicy, meaty, flavorful, and with that great crunch you want when you bite into a link. The hamburgers (made to order) mentioned by others are also outstanding. Great job guys! read more

Where do I begin? Carnivore is such a wonderful addition to Oak Park. We were in serious need of a good butcher, and I think Carnivore just may be as good as it gets. Their selection is great - bacon, sausages, shrimp, fish, crab cakes, steaks, bacon burgers, chicken, duck, pork, ground beef, etc. They also sell lots of fresh produce - concord grapes, pears, apples, nectarines, potatoes, garlic, onions, peppers, corn, etc. They have a small selection of rice and beans. As for the quality of the product -everything we've made so far has been absolutely delicious! The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Check it out!! read more

These guys are great. The owners are local area guys who work in the store and are extremely helpful with explaining their trade, different cuts, ideas for preparation, etc. I've purchased a variety of pork and beef cuts from here as well as fish fillets and house-made sausages and everything has been excellent. read more

I went there for lunch today and got the pulled pork and it was delicious. Probably the best I've had and the pickles are amazing. Friendly service that was focused on making sure you enjoyed your food. Just be mindful that there isn't a lot of seating. read more

I'll probably never buy ground beef from a supermarket counter again. Ground to order. 70-75% lean, ground-to-order, one pass thru grinder. Free-fall from grinder--no compressing. OMG! THAT'S what ground beef is supposed to be! read more

One of my favorite places to get burgers for delivery. If your getting fresh cuts for a meal they are great for tips and advice.

Outstanding fresh fish, great service, and local, small-farm meat. Thrilled to have these guys in Oak Park. And while you may pay a bit more for this good food, the pricing is fair, reasonable and transparent. Highly recommend this small well-stocked shop. read more

Their sandwiches are the bomb. The flavors explode in your mouth . Forget the Chips and enjoy the fish or the beef. We loved it so much took home Salmon and had a feast the next night. The staff is great very friendly and answer all questions. If you don't like seeing them butcher the meat stay outside but have someone place and pick-up your order . You will be so glad you tried some fresh meat or fish. We plan to treat are selves to this store often. read more