This place was closing when we came to visit. As in closed forever. The owner said was just no longer affordable to make the business work. Understandable. They had everything for sale, kind of eerie. But they were more than happy to help us out and chat. my husband got a big old sandwich with cold cuts and veggies. He said it was okay. We had some chips too. Cute for a quick grab and go. read more

Fresh Approach - Italian sandwich - Meat Shops Near Me - Portland, Maine

Fresh Approach is a great staple on the neighborhood! People are always kind. Cute little place to eat out front. They have amazing sandwiches. Lots of selections from beer, wine, to sparkling water, and soda. A great store that is community centered, local, and family owned. read more

Fresh Approach - Meat Shops Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Good place to pick up quick grocery items. I've found myself picking up deli meats and cheese for my weekly lunches as well as additional produce during the week. I would recommend their deli specials. They usually have a good quality cheese and meat on special every week, as well as dinner meats. For example, last week I picked up the weekly special pork chops. They were pre seasoned and worked great for dinner. They also make hot burgers and sandwiches in house. Nice to pick up food and drinks here and picnic at the Western Prom for sunset read more

Recently went in to get a package of ground beef and a few other items. There were two young men working, one maybe 16 or 20. He made eye contact at the butcher station but walked past instead of offering to help me while the other person in the meat section sliced 4 + orders for another customer. He went to the register and sat on his cell phone, I stood there for ten minutes. No help. Once he was checking out my food I had to ask him for a bag because there were too many items to carry. He opened the bag up and proceeded to not put any of the items in, once I started bagging my own groceries he got the hint and started to help. Rude demeanor. If you're gonna have a bunch of teens running your store you might want to do some education on how to be polite/ give Decent customer service read more

Nice spot with a small but local selection of meats and produce. It's similar to a corner store and deli rolled into one. I like that sandwiches are made-to-order and the vibe is not pretentious at all. read more

Fresh Approach - Meat counter - Meat Shops Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Fresh Approach is a West End neighborhood staple. Pros: plentiful beer and wine selections, freshly made pastries, tons of cheese, pre-made meals, a bunch of meats (for those who enjoy it), and reasonably priced veggies. Cons: it smells like three week old dead animal in here. It takes a while to get past the smell. One of the guys at the sandwich counter is pretty rude and clearly unhappy helping customers. I got a Veggie Italian here this week ($4.75), and it was just okay. Not super flavorful. My boyfriend got the Thanksgiving sandwich special ($6.99), which was just okay too. Come here in a pinch when you need something for dinner, or if you're like me and NEED a pound or two of cheese and haven't been to Hannaford in a while. It's pretty overpriced, but it's better than Rosemont! The best thing here is the decor. It's pretty grungy and definitely nothing has been scrubbed in a while. But the old beer glasses and Beatles posters make shopping for overpriced items more enjoyable. It's an experience. Stop in sometime. read more

Fresh Approach - Meat Shops Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I love this place. It's an old fashioned neighborhood grocery/deli/butcher shop. They've got everything you need in a pinch and some stuff you really don't expect, like rabbit and alligator (!) meat. The deli counter and baked goods are both terrific. Excellent, fresh sandwiches and cookies. Some of the reviews mention poor service. I've not seen that. The crew here gets the job done, are helpful, and I've never experienced a hint of rudeness. Others have said the place is lacking in the cleanliness and freshness departments. I'm the store is sanitary - and I like the cluttered interior. It isn't a Frito Lay/Coca Cola factory outlet lIke the Cumberland Farms down the street, nor is it a ratified zone of gourmet perfection like nearby Rosemont Market. It's just a good, basic, neighborhood fixture and that's perfect. read more

Best of the best. Cheese Burgers, breakfast sandwiches, or their Italians. Everything you order is going to be perfect. Definitely best fast breakfast/ lunch or getting your meat! Keep up the great work!! read more

Great little place. They have all the basics one needs. I absolutely love The butcher shop in the back. Friendly enough people as well. It has a small town charm. I'm not sure how old this business is but it looks like it's been in the neighborhood for quite sometime. It's a nice relic of what grocery stores used to be. read more

Did someone say bacon? The best bacon in town actually! Melt in your mouth steak? They have that, too! The meat selection and quality is amazing! Check out the meat packages! They have great sales and the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. Need a sandwich? Got it Need dessert? Got it Need beer? They've gut that too. Great local, neighborhood store. Love it! read more

Nice little grocery. Was staying at an AirBnB close by and picked up some essentials. Looks like fresh made sandwiches but didn't experience those. Prices were elevated but not surprising. Essentials were all there. Friendly service. read more

Fresh Approach is wonderful! Living nearby & not having a car, this place is instrumental to me being able to make dinner at home much of the time. Awesome meat counter with house-ground/made meat & sausage. House-made Schlitz sausages, also bison/buffalo hot dogs. Prices on chicken are right on target with local chain groceries; I've been pleasantly surprised. Of course the fresh produce is a smaller selection than at a chain grocer, but how many corner stores carry FRESH cilantro, jalapeño, herbs (yes, fresh), cabbage, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, etc.? FA does, bless 'em! Selection of boxed/canned goods is small, but pretty thorough. They have your Annie's mac & cheese in the purple box (& the mac & cheese in the blue box, if that's your jam). They have both rice-crispy cereal & marshmallows (& butter, of course). They have 2 kinds of soy milk, & even tofu. I've no doubt that if they were open past 7pm, Fresh Approach would be a legendary destination among those who enjoy a bit of herbal relaxation in the evenings. I've been tempted a few times to try their various sandwich/burger options at the deli at lunchtime, but ordering is a bit chaotic.. I've stood at the counter for a few minutes on each occasion, but not ever approached by anyone who wanted to take my order. Mostly due to my own shyness, admittedly, I've ended up walking away each time. I'll keep trying when I feel brave & patient. In the meantime, they have a nice selection of individually packed & refrigerated deli selections.. stuff like spaghetti & meatballs, pasta salad, sauerkraut, Chinese boneless ribs, pieces of fried or roasted chicken, etc. Fortunately, service at the meat counter & at checkout is much more prompt & attentive. Fresh Approach has good prices on beer & wine; cheap wine here is actually 50 cents less than at nearby Cumby's for 1.5 L. Beer prices are about on par w Cumby's, if not cheaper for a few things. They sell (at the moment) Narragansett Summer Ale, which is quite enjoyable. The main things keeping me from giving a 5-star review are the lack of fish & the lack of plain yogurt. Apparently, they do have fish every now & then (I asked, to be sure), but not often. I understand there are practical reasons for not stocking a huge amount/variety of fish, but even just one popularly-used kind of fish in stock at a time (maybe just whitefish? perhaps alternating whitefish & salmon?) would be hugely helpful. Last week, they had tiny, individual-size containers of plain Greek yogurt, for $2 each. This week, no plain yogurt at all.. LOTS of blueberry yogurt, but that's only helpful for snacking, not for cooking. I use plain yogurt (doesn't have to be Greek) a LOT for cooking (snacking, too), & it surprises me that FA doesn't consider this a staple worthy of stocking. Large containers of Stonyfield plain yogurt, preferably low-fat, would be AWESOME & very helpful. Overall, I really do love this place. They're helpful, friendly, & genuinely thankful for your business. read more

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They have true best meat in town! Jalapeño bacon- this is delicious!! I didn't eat pork before coming to portland.. This bacon is delicious. The beef is good too!! The staff will help you decide the best cut of meat based on what your preferences are.. They will also give suggestions on how to cook! They make baked goods fresh quite regularly too!! The sweets are a third of the price of aurora provisions without compromising on taste! read more

Fresh Approach - Outside of store - Meat Shops Near Me - Portland, Maine

Stopped here to grab a bite to eat and checkout what they had. I had the pastrami and Swiss which was excellent! Great portion and great flavor! They have a little bit of everything. There's a butcher shop in the back. The staff is friendly and super helpful! Highly recommend! read more

I lived around the corner from this place for a while and was a regular. They have everything - produce, deli, sandwiches to order, canned goods, wine/beer & all the staples you might need. It flies under the radar, but has a a strong customer base from being reliable & nice staff. Though Rosemont opening up would crush them, and I'm so glad it didn't. No snobbiness or elitist at Fresh Approach! Also, they have really good, basic, no-frill breakfast sandwiches made to order that at CHEAP & TASTY! And some picnic tables outside, and a few tables inside to eat also. Wish I had a place like this in my new neighborhood...! read more

I gotta say, this place has saved my life a few times. For one thing, they usually got the best deli prices around. Not only that, but you can get their own in-house meats at the deli (the fresh turkey made my husband shed a tear) and you get a lot of options back in the meat case. (Prices there are so/so back there, depending on what you get.) They got some quality prepared foods over in a cold case, real good chicken salads and stuff. The kids love the one with cranberries, which is saying something. The wine selection ain't bad, either. Especially when you're on your way home and need to grab something to soothe that work day away. My only complaint is the dairy section. I donno if it's the cooler, whoever stocks the milk, or what but I've bought six jugs of milk that were sour (one goin on SOLID) since I started coming here. They were good about the return, but I just can't buy milk there anymore. Other than that, the deli has become my family's go-to place for day to day shopping. (And no, we can't forget the baked goods for the kids.) read more

Just moved to the West End having two grocery/deli/butcher stores literally less than a block away is amazing. This is our go to store. The other store is a little too pricey for everyday so this is our go to place. It's a very cute, small corner store it's got that homey/little town feeling to it. Where you can get pretty much everything you need (essentials) to make a great meal. My boyfriend is a chef and they carry excellent assortment of meats. A cool thing about this store is that the carry the same brand of duck and lamb that are served at my bf's 5star restaurant he works at. So that right there sold me! Great veggie and fruit selection always fresh. They have great specials too sometimes where you can get food cheap. And let's talk about their fresh baked goods! Since moving here I've gone up a pant size (woops) we absolutely love their pies and desserts. Always fresh, and always good and priced decently. Their deli is on point too and our go to place for deli sandwiches for lunch if you are in the area and hungry they have really good subs for cheap. They also offer prepared foods which I've never tried but they do look great. The staff is always very helpful and I've never had any issues. read more

West Enders unite! How great is it to live in a neighborhood with this local market around the corner? Surprisingly great prices and variety on fresh items--fresh and local meats, fruits and vegetables, baked goods. Inflated prices on processed, typical convenience store items. Funny, helpful staff. It's an old-school neighborhood market, which is pretty cool in this day and age. The meat market's the best in town, at least on peninsula. I was shocked. Fresh Approach has local, natural, even organic meats at bargain basement prices--way less than at any of the local grocery stores. The deals are especially good if you buy in bulk--10 lbs of local, all-natural chicken tenders for less than $2/lb, for instance. The trade-off is that you need to use/freeze them quickly...I think the way Fresh Approach gets such good quality/price is that meats are near their expiration date. The guys behind the counter are saucy and really know their meats. They've given me great advice and help on how to cook things, even special-ordered ground frozen turkey for me. Check the weekly specials online or in person...they're good. The frozen foods section includes some more gourmet or adventuresome meats (I think I saw frog legs there once, for example); I think that's beyond me. Other things with good prices include bulk spices, garlic, some cheeses and produce. They surprise me with having other baking and cooking items (bulk flour, sugar, oats; tomato paste, beans, etc). There are also fresh-baked bakery items, like specialty breads, which are of solid value and quality. Fresh Approach also has convenience-y items (beer, wine, eggs, snacks, ice cream, dairy, chips, etc) with strong variety but inflated prices. But if you're desperate, it'll do the job. read more

Fresh approach confuses me, and every time I think i've got things figured out, they throw a wrench back in and I become confused all over again. Fresh approach is a neighborhood grocer, butcher and take-out deli located on the west end of Portland right across from Reiche school. Here are the things that perplex me: 1. The staff. Some of the people working there are super helpful and focused on the customer and others are downright rude and unfriendly. There seems to be no in-between, they either run really hot or really cold?? Two weeks ago when I went in to order a sandwich, the guy behind the counter said that the usual deli guy just quit and walked off the job. 2. The butcher counter. There seem to be some amazing deals on chicken and sometimes pork chops, yet other meats like ground chuck and beef cuts can run extremely expensive. They can be so high that they compete in price with Whole Foods or the Rosemont butchers, which would be ok if they offered more of a customer experience and shared their meat sources, which they don't. 3. The take-out deli options. I have gotten a quality burger to go for $4 and I have ordered a shaved steak on baguette for $7 which contained, what I would have guessed to be, about 2 oz of meat. My husband has gotten the same breakfast sandwich there on two different occasions, once it was 2.50 and the next time it was $4. When he asked, they said on the first day they were just trying to move the ham???? 4. The bread. Right next to the deli counter is a big table of breads, baguettes, focacias, rolls etc... I have asked if they are all baked in house and gotten a "yes", an "I'm not sure", and a "no". Very confusing. SO...you might be wondering, why do I still shop there? Because, when they DO hit it right, they do a great job! Their food can be fresh and make for great suppers at home, some of their employees are super helpful and suggest new and exciting recipe ideas and they bake amazing fresh fruit pies in house! In all the times I have shopped at Fresh Approach, it has never been clear to me who might be the owner or manager of the shop. I might urge them to work on some consistency with their employees and focus a bit more on customer service. A smile never hurt anyone. read more

From its name and online presence, I expected this place to be sort of bright, crunchy, organic-type place. Not so, but despite this misperception I had a positive experience there. It is somewhat dimly-lit, with mostly not-at-all-natural products and brands. They did have some produce, but it didn't look any fresher than what you might find at Hannaford. But we were there for the meat. My wife and I had looked online ahead of time at their bulk meat bundles, and we had our eye on the "mini bundle." This is advertised as consisting of: 3 lbs ground chuck, 3 lbs cube steak, 3 lbs split chicken breasts, 3 lbs center cut pork chops, and 3 lbs sliced boiled ham. All for $54. We were hoping the meat was organic or otherwise "happy meat," and while it was not, the butcher assured us that everything the butcher is very high-quality, especially the beef, which is Angus. They were out of cube steak, so he gave us full London broil steaks instead. Two of these steaks weighed in over 3 lbs, but he didn't charge us extra. They did a great job of turning this potential disappointment into a nice little bonus instead. Rawk! The ham was just Hormel junk meat. This was a big let down. However, to the butcher's credit, he proactively notified us about this and offered an alternative. It turns out although the bundle is advertised as I've described above, you can actually get whatever you want as long as comes to an equivalent price, so we decided to get a full pork loin instead. Again, disappointment turned into a pleasant surprise. Rawk! The butcher himself was helpful and enjoyable to chat with. We even ended up getting some sagely child rearing advice out of him. I bought some of the "Fresh Approach" hot sauce from them, and it's watery and without much heat. It turns out they don't actually make it, but source it from somewhere else local. This was a disappointment WITHOUT a pleasant surprise attached to it. We've made our through all the meat we bought, and all of it was delicious. No complaints there. We'll definitely go again for another meat bundle, and I'd like to try one of their sandwiches. I hear good things. read more

I like the idea of having a small, non-commercial type of grocery store close by. Pick up a few odds and ends type of deal to make a quick dinner instead of going to Hannaford. That is why I was excited to go to fresh approach last night with the intention of buying whatever looked good. I usually don't cook meat, but wanted to make some split-chicken breasts for my boyfriend as a treat. Figured I'd also roast up whatever starchy vegetables they had, some potatoes, and maybe a side of couscous. They literally had nothing that satisfied me. I left extremely disappointed. I asked the butcher for the split chicken breasts, he said that he didn't have any but could cut some. If he has taken the time to do so, my impression of Fresh Approach would have sky-rocketed. Nothing like a hard-working employee. Instead, about 30 seconds later he basically said "never mind." I'm guessing he just didn't want to go in the back and pull out another chicken. Potatoes were mushy, eggplants were mushy, didn't have asparagus or anything that looked worth-while to roast . The only thing that looked decent were some white mushrooms. Couldn't find couscous either. The store was also dirty, dusty and I'm betting a lot of boxed goods were out of date. If I wanted another specific cut of meat, I would give fresh approach another shot, but I'm not holding my breath. read more

Outstanding meat quality and service. This is a place where people seem to enjoy what they are doing. I bought the best lamb shanks I've ever had at a measly 5.99 a pound to make a large yet un-traditional easter osso-bucco dish for all to share. The market itself is straight-forward...canned and boxed goods, good local biscuits and rolls, small produce section, surprising beer choices (Founders, etc.) that are underpriced. As you walk to the back of the market you get to see the meat case and a chalkboard advertising specials and sandwiches. There is no comparison in terms of quality. Pat's Meat Market and Whole Foods might look better in terms of aesthetic but they charge close to 20-30% more for that and that alone. The meat, knowledge, story, and wholesale relationship with some of the better local restaurants and shops is enough to make me a loyal customer forever. Well done fresh approach. Well done. read more

This is a great local market to go to. Produce looks like they just got it from farms and a great variety of different foods. Looks like they have great sandwiches as well. We got a homemade strawberry rhubarb pie there that was the best I have ever purchased. Really tasted like it was made by my grandmother. I highly recommend you get the pie!! read more

We was super excited to be moving to the west end with all the great parks and shops around, mostly fresh approach is a minute walk from us! I really like going there but the past few times going I've been helped by a guy in the meat department who is VERY rude (short skinny guy with a buzz cut always out back smoking cigs) the other guy tall dark hair is always super nice and helpful! But I rather not go if I'm gonna feel unwanted there. Oh and the little old lady in the deli is always super sweet especially to my little girl, puts a smile on her face! Definitely won't be going back until I know the douche bag is gone. The worst thing they ever done was hiring that guy. read more

I love this place! Such a convenient deli for grabbing dinner ingredients, beer/wine, or even a delicious egg sandwich on a weekend morning. Their groceries are very reasonably priced, and a breakfast sandwich is less than $4. Fresh Approach is a West End gem. read more

Excellent sandwiches at excellent prices. Italian are good! Cuban was also good. You can also get sliced meats/cheeses & fresh meats & veggies. Great local market. There's a place to sit and eat. read more

Owner and the staff are all friendly and helpful great shop to come for sandwiches. Very clean and organized store would definitely recommend coming here for a quick bite! read more

I love this market. For everyday, fresh food, it's more reasonable than other local competitors, and the meat selections are outstanding.

I love Fresh Approach! I'm so glad to have this gem in the neighborhood. The meat counter and service is such a surprise for a small, local spot! The right amount of fresh produce to have what you need on the spot but a small enough amount that I trust that it turns over and is fresh. I LOVE that they have some bulk items and a sandwich counter. read more

I would not recommend Fresh Approach. Went there today, bought scallions that when I got home I discovered were rotten inside. I asked for some sharp cheese sliced crossways across the block and the woman said they could only slice it lengthwise. I didn't want it that way, so tough on me. Go buy it in the cooler she said, where it was more than twice as expensive in its packaged form. Bought some meat and the butcher was surly and blunt. Same with the checkout lady. Not a customer friendly place. Lettuce was wilting in the display. Peanuts were stale (those by the bag). I don't think these people refresh their stock but perhaps once a week or even less. It's a longer trip to Hannafords or Trader Joes but the quality there will far exceed Fresh Approach, and the service is tons better. It's really too bad, because a store like Fresh Approach with good product and good service would be great to have in the West End, if they would put their employees through customer service training and pay attention to their produce stocks so they remain fresh, they might be a better deal. I have found their prices on standard stock (canned, boxed, etc) to be much higher than H or TJ's. Take your chances! read more

i love this store, coming from a very small town and moving to portland was culture shock. fresh approach has everything that general stores had back home and i love having them a short walk away. read more

not beautiful to look at does not mean not AMAZING! F APPROACH has old skool beer things everywhere and dusty but there are also amazing sandwiches to order, really quality meat butcher cuts of every kind, local produce sand some rubs and things they make there,all the basic beverages you could be looking for (even some craft beer! ) wine milk HOT COFFEE (same as omiS brand on bracket) and good prices, always open at the times they say they will be..... probably the only thing that would make this better would be if it were open late!!! read more

lived in this neighborhood for 20 years!! always fresh always good, homemade sausage is off the charts!!! thank you guys,

If you want quality meat at a fair price, knowledgeable butchers and Schlitz beer, then you have found nirvana. Family owned and operated with longtime employees tells you everything you need to know. read more

Great Ground Beef! Meat is fresh, juicy, delish!! Bread and baked goods are great!

I go to Fresh Approach for all my meats, they are very fresh as is their produce. I always end up buying one of their fresh cooked meals & desert is a must have. I am 65 yrs old & I walk up with my cart & a very nice young man helps me out the door. I would recommed this store to friends & family & I have. The stuff is very nice as is the butcher. I would give them10 stars if I could. Thank You & God Bless Fresh Approach read more