I consider myself a sandwich guy. Today I had easily one of the top 3 I've ever had in my life. Got the cotto at Dark Pines and it was phenomenal. The bread is perfectly soft, airy, sour, and crispy on the outside with sesame seeds and sea salt flakes. All elite sandwiches must have incredible bread and this one more than checked that box. The pork itself has incredible. I actually liked that it was cold/room temperature. Perfectly seasoned. The red pesto spread was also top notch. I'll be coming back here for more sandwiches. read more

Darke Pines - Cotto - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I really wanted to find a good butcher in Jersey City. I was spoiled by Paisanos in Brooklyn for years, and I love to cook with nice meat. One of my favorite things is a roast chicken, and I've had a hard time finding a butcher that carries good poultry in JC. I was so so excited to hear that Darke Pines gets their Giannone chickens from Paisano's! They are my all-time favorite chicken to roast - always moist, perfect, air chilled birds. I also bought some of their bacon and sausages to try. Loved to see the pork dumpling sausage, that is low hanging fruit! I heard their sandwiches are amazing, and they're known for their rice crispy treats, and fresh breads. Such a cool spot to support! read more

See all

I've heard of Darke Pines, had dinner with friends who prepared amazing dishes with meat they bought from Darke Pines and only just recently made my way to this local JC butcher. I stopped in with friends who were getting their brisket for the holidays and while I wasn't in the market for any cuts, I found a few things to try: -A loaf of warm, fresh from the oven sourdough -A massive rice krispies treat Two amazing selections. The loaf made for the most perfect sandwich later that day and was consumed quickly throughout the week. If I lived closer this would be my weekly stop for a fresh loaf of bread. The rice krispies treat was so good!! Sweet and fluffy and delicious. You could taste the quality ingredients and even see real specks of vanilla (I think, at least). It was expensive, but also massive and very good. It was a sweet treat for three gals as we finished our day walking around downtown JC and there was even some left over. Excited to stop back in the next time I am preparing a big dinner/meal and want to get quality, fresh meat. (and more bread AND another sweet treat). read more

Overall, this is a great shop. Lots of great cuts to choose from and love the specialty groceries, like Fishwife. But what I'm here to write about is their sandwiches. What can I say - the heirloom tomato is one of the best sandwiches I've had all summer! Only wish I was in the area on days they served this more often. read more

Darke Pines - Heirloom tomato sandwich - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

Additional thoughts: I needed to come back and edit this and say that the chicken salad (tried today) at this place is one of the best I've ever ... Wow! A friend of mine, another local business owner in Jersey City, who I've known for a decade and shop from religiously (Love Locked JC) referred me to them and I decided to pop in on my way home today! I always trust her recommendations and this one continues to raise the bar. I grabbed a few things and was super impressed. Specifically got to try some of their focaccia and I put some of the pimento dip on it with a fried egg scrambled up and a little bit of Sriracha... That dip is no joke! So flavorful. I also got the chicken salad which I can't wait to try tomorrow but I've heard nothing but good things. Really really nice group of hard working staff in there! I appreciate that they let me chat their ears off for a few minutes that I was in there lol great selection of meat and a variety of other things that really can add to a dish :) They have a new customer in me for sure ! read more

Love love a good piece of meat. And Dark pines delivers! The product is always so fresh and top quality. Once i overcooked my ny strip steak and thought it would be hard to chew, dry,... and it was still so good and tender!!! Prices are reasonable for the quality of the meat. Incredibly good read more

Darke Pines - Bone in rib eye - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Pretty place but haven't bought anything here yet. We might come here for duck in the future though. Service was helpful. read more

Darke Pines - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The meat is nicely prepared and very fresh. Love the steak -- soft and juicy. The service is great as always. The staff is helpful in recommending right meat and making flexible cuts. And despite the long line they keep track of people's order really well! This is my weekend must-go place now read more

Darke Pines - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

I have never bought meat here to prepare at home, but certain days of the week they sell sandwiches. The Roast Beef is top notch. I got it yesterday and can't stop thinking about it. It was heavenly. I need another one immediately. Oh and service was friendly as well. read more

Great quality meats at this local butcher shop, as well as a small variety of other produce and goods. I can't normally find meats like lamb or duck at regular supermarkets, so I was happy to find them both sold here in several different cuts. The meat is truly high quality for cooking. I've also bought their lamb harissa "Merguez" sausage, and that was amazing in shakshuka (as the staff recommended!). Staff is very friendly and helpful. If you're looking for something special/specific, you can also order and reserve meats in advance. read more

Darke Pines - meat on display in a butcher shop - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We bought a fresh turkey for Thankgiving dinner. It was delicious. It was all it should have been. I'm looking forward to making soup.

Dark Pines is probably my favorite spot in town. All of their meats are high quality and delicious. Their sandwiches are great and they have nice items in their store. The staff is also friendly and helpful. Highly recommend. read more

Darke Pines - Whole chicken legs - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

One word lots of vowels: MEEEEAAAAAAAAAT! Darke Pines is absolutely wonderful. Their curation of finely selected meats and cheeses is hands down what you'd expect from your local butcher if you have a celebrity chef. The cuts are mesmerizing and their meats have the most tenderizing marbleizing look to them. I usually buy all my pork and beef here. The set up is really cute and the staff has a heavy passion for Swansoning (Ron Swanson). Your meat HQ if you're swinging by Jersey City, you have to check this place out! read more

Darke Pines - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I loved my vegetarian sandwich from their sandwich shop! The flavors were perfect and the bread was super moist and fresh too. Their other vegetarian option is appealing, but I'm not huge on brie. I hope they rotate these 2 veggie sandwiches out soon so I can try something else delicious! read more

Darke Pines - sweet potato sandwich vegetarian - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

I didn't realize there's an awesome butcher shop nearby. Everything here was super fresh and high quality. The cold cuts were made in house and not salty. read more

See all

As a butcher, I think the prices are a little steep. But their sandwiches are to die for. The quality of ingredients that go into each sandwich are amazing(most made in house)! Pastrami is my favorite on the list currently I think the only issue I have is that they sometimes sell out to quickly and I don't get the one I want, not a bad issue to have. read more

All around great experience at this local butcher shop in downtown Jersey City. Stopped in during the unfortunate pandemic and had to stand online... My tip would be to get here as early as possible as they are only allowing two customers in at a time. This includes if you are with your partner to keep the line moving it was suggested that one person goes in to complete the order. Was provided with great suggestions, the service was impeccable, very friendly and informative. Fresh produce and meat with great quality. Unfortunately I smashed my bone broth so can't give a full review on that but otherwise the pimento cheese and chicken salad was amazing. Tried the picanha which was DELICIOUS and so easy to make (they even gave some tips to cook). I still have a whole chicken ready for dinner this week but this was definitely worth the wait! Can't wait to be back! read more

Darke Pines - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Amazing sandwich that are constantly changing. The staff seems to really care about the product. Meat is best quality in the area. Unfortunately the prices are too high to make it the go to butcher. read more

The BEST butcher in Jersey City. I have had only amazing experiences shopping at Darke Pines. The quality of their meat is fantastic, but what really sets them apart is the experience they've created. Each time I've stopped here, I've been amazed by how friendly and helpful the butchers are. The last time I was there, I was looking for a specific meat that they did not have that day, and the butcher was kind enough to ask me what recipe I was making & helped me pick out an alternative meat that would work with the dish. They also stock some pretty exquisite snacks (especially cheese!). I feel so grateful to have Darke Pines in my neighborhood. read more

Especially in the summer, I love to have access to great steaks for grilling. Darke Pines steaks have never disappointed and all the people working there are super helpful if you have any questions. Great place to have in the neighborhood! read more

Came in with my heart set for a special bone in rib roast for Christmas dinner. Only problem was that I was cooking for me, my husband and our two sons (5 and 1) and didn't make sense to drop $$$ on a rib roast that we couldn't finish ourselves. The employee there recommended the tri tip given that I wanted a roast cut and IT WAS AMAZING. I was skeptical but he insisted it was one of his favorites. It ended up being perfect for my family as you are able to achieve different levels of cook given the shape. So, me and my husband ate med rare and my sons had med well pieces from the tip. It was also super easy to prepare. So happy I came here and was convinced to try a new cut. Will be coming back for more! Thank you to the employee that helped me! read more

Highest quality meats I have ever tried. They have a beautiful display of all of their top notch meats but also side selections such as dry pasta, a few produce items, and a few other items to help you think of a delicious meal with your meat selection. Erica and Will are knowledgeable about their products but they are also very humble! This is truly a hidden gem in JC... read more

Darke Pines - Delmonico steak - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

Where to start with Darke Pines? After dealing with grocery delivery services over the past several months, I have become accustomed to random product substitutions, things that just aren't available, products that... just aren't what you expected. So when it came time to trying to find some really good cuts of beef for a backyard bbq dinner, I knew Darke Pines was my go-to reliable source of quality beef that I can go and see and pick. Will and Erica are fantastic owners who pride themselves in customer service in addition to their product. I emailed in to see if anything was in short supply and if i needed to reserve anything - these steaks that I looked to procure were the centerpieces of our bbq dinner. They were super responsive and told me to swing by so they could show me how the marbling on their NY strip and Ribeyes looked like and advice on portioning. During my time there, I saw their shipment of produce come in from Lancaster farms. The tomatoes they brought in looked super fresh and beautiful. It was really awesome to see that it was a short chain of farm to local store to my table. Anyway, I ended up with 2 x 1.75" thick NY Strips (custom cut and trimmer - about 2.5 lbs) and threw them on the grill. It came out perfect. The meat was tender, flavorful, delicious. I can't wait to come back for more. read more

Darke Pines - Two NY Strip Steaks from Darke Pines sizzling on the grill. - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

See all

DARKE PINES REFUSES SERVICE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Very disappointing and upsetting as I had high hopes for this place. I went in to pick up lunch and was promptly told: "No, we don't do sandwiches" I replied "oh I thought you did... oh there's a menu here on your counter" "No, not today. No sandwiches at all today" It felt odd. I left feeling sad and upset by the vibe. My sister called them 20 minutes later to see if she could pick up a sandwich for lunch- to which they said "Yes, we are serving sandwiches today. Come on by" Discriminatory practices like this are disappointing and disgusting and have no place here. read more

The roast beef sandwich is the best thing I've eaten in months! Please keep making the sandwich!

I had been meaning to check out the meats at Darke Pines for ages, and finally did so right before Thanksgiving: I bought a whole duck and a poussin for a makeshift 'ducken' recipe, which turned out to be delicious! Also purchased some merguez, which were perfectly spiced and delicious. Back to the duck though: the bird was large and seriously tasty. Having bought duck from big ticket supermarkets and grocery stores (and also chinatowns in various cities) previously, I can tell you that this was a quality of meat far superior to anywhere else in JC, and in my view most places I have been to in the tri-State area. The team at Darke Pines are friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about their work. I will definitely be buying my meat from here going forward, and highly recommend that anyone reading this does too! read more

Darke Pines - Thanksgiving Ducken!! Poussin inside a duck; both from Darke Pines - Butcher Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Came here to check out the offering of cuts and also buy a sandwich. The roast beef sandwich was really top notch. Sour bread was delicious. Will definitely come back next time we're planning on firing up the grill! read more

Love to tell you what my new favorite cut is but I can't no way no how do that. Never enough for me to share. Sorry.

I personally do not eat meat but my fiancé loved his steak. Way better quality and great prices to buy from here then key foods etc. god knows where that meat is coming from... I also get my bone broth here that they sell which is great! Highly highly recommend! read more

We all want an easy, congenial relationship with a local business, especially one whose fare is so wonderful, but I concur with other reviewers here that the attitude of the staff is strangely disrespectful and impatient - at no provocation. Their meats are consistently superb and they carry quality condiments and other products. It's a shame that they are unpleasant to deal with because I would have loved to have been a regular. I'm not going to give my business to a place that steps on you for the trouble. read more

I really wanted to like this place. But the first time I got their hot sausage which was just mediocre, so I gave it a second try based on its 5 star yelp comments. I got a 2 pieces of $50 steak the second time but the quality was not as good either. I really don't know what to say. Too bad! read more

Pretentious and rude. Hours and days of operation constantly changing. They don't list a phone number but if you call, the answering machine asks you to go to their Instagram page to see what they have in stock for the day, but when you go to the Instagram account there's nothing about the inventory. If you enjoy rude service and high prices, this is the place for you. read more

There's nothing bad I could say about this place. Incredible variety of EXTREMELY FRESH cuts of meat. A little expensive but the quality shines through and is well worth the cost. I love that I can get anything from osso bucco to cheeseburger sausage to lamb bacon here. Outside of that, there are some fun pantry and fridge staples they offer that go well with their meat selection. Def worth a try if you're in Hudson County. read more

Good meats, BAD ATTITUDE!. Ive been here 4 or 5 times over the past 2 years and just about every time, someone behind the counter has a snarky comment or attitude. This most recent experience, one of the guys was actually helpful but the other who was cutting the meat, was an absolute dick. (younger guy) They just don't get customer service and since they are the only game in downtown, I guess they get away with it for now, I wanted to crack the guy in the face but who wants to get arrested in a meat shop. Its not worth it. Anyway, I go the the Heights now where there is a great meat shop and I feel welcome every time! read more

We love the quality of ingredients that one can find at Darke Pines. We discovered it some weeks ago and have shopped there ever since (Tenderloin Filet, Bone Marrow, Osso Buco); One can also call them or follow them on IG to request specific pieces and cuts and 'order' them. Very recommended! read more

Darke Pines is exactly what downtown needed. There are no butchers, let alone a good grocery store in Jersey City. No more schlepping into the city or the suburbs for high-quality meat. The shop is so clean, welcoming, and unintimidating. As a vegetarian (my bf is a carnivore), I'm not intimidated or taken aback walking in here. While the fresh locally sourced meat selection is set up at the front counter, they also have shelves of accoutrements and meat-free items like spices, kombucha, and eggs. My bf has tried multiple items from Darke Pines and particularly loves their homemade burger blends-all of them! And the beef jerky! We both also love the Southern Flavor spice (not just on meat!), which came recommended to us by the owners, who by the way, are just the absolute loveliest people. Welcome to the neighborhood, Darke Pines! Can't wait to keep m-eating! ;) read more

Been going here for years. The other day I walked in to purchase a potato for a meal I was preparing. I was just in there a few days before, and purchased a bunch of meat, and had plenty of product. I was leaving the country the next morning, so this is all I needed for the time being. The lady at the front counter was incredibly rude and said "a potato, that's it, I mean what, is this maybe $1? Do you have a dollar? Thanks buddy." Laughing, and treating any customer this was is completely unacceptable. I felt very belittled. I will never ever go back to this place and give my business. There's plenty of other good places in jersey city that treat their customers with respect. read more

I've pined after a well-sourced butcher in JC for the 2 years I've lived here, and have been going to Darke Pines since it opened. At this point, I buy virtually all my meats there. I'm usually cooking for a crowd or in bulk, and everything is fresh, local and tasty (special shout-outs to the beef hot dogs, bacon and sausages). Everyone I've served Darke Pines meat to knows the difference. Erica, Will and Aydan bring this shop to life, making recommendations (everything from comparing cuts to how much to buy) and helpful explanations and substitutions. Also, I highly recommend the classes. I took the chicken class, which was accessible for occasional and everyday cooks alike. I can rant and rave all day, but the message is "Go!". read more

I've been hearing great things about this place so decided to stop by for some take-out sandwiches on a rainy Saturday; they're primarily a butcher shop, but their ready-to-go sandwiches are top notch, with minimal, high-quality ingredients. The wife and I split three sandwiches: the Smoked Ham (with pimento cheese and dill pickle on sourdough); the Roast Beef (with horseradish cream, balsamic-braised shallots & basil on sourdough); and Nana's Chicken Salad (with red grapes and romaine on a croissant). The third sandwich was supposed to be for later, but we couldn't resist. I'm thrilled they not only offer locally raised, grass fed meat options, but offer butchering classes too! read more

Absolutely must try the sandwiches, especially the muffaletta and the roast beef! The inside of the shop is very bare bones, somewhat like Fish Stand on Jersey. But the owners are very nice and the meat products are high quality. read more