The best. I love coming here. Incredible coffee, great personalized selection of groceries and wine- hand written cards and labels on each item! And an incredible selection for breakfast and lunch. It feels like you're home when you're here. And everything really feels special. Love the team. Thanks Eagle! read more

Meat & Essentials - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

Would give this place 10000/5 stars if I could! Best butcher shop ever! Amazing customer service, and it's always super clean. I love their coffee, Friday specials, and sausage rolls. The butchers are incredibly skilled, and I'm never going anywhere else! read more

Probably the best egg sandwich I've ever had. It hits all the right spots for me. Exactly what I'm looking for! Always so hospitable and nice every time we step into this shop. Love the feel of it. Ambiance is unique and homey. The food is delicious. The selection of goodies is eclectic and just different from any other store around. They treat their customers with respect. Plus, the owner caught me looking at a book he had on display of his English Bulldog on the cover and then we proceeded to have a great chat about road tripping with our dogs across the country. This place is a gem! read more

My Lady & I were in Pasadena on Saturday and thought we would try this place. The food was okay, but the high price and the very small portions were a total turnoff. We actually went and got a sandwich at another restaurant as the portions we received would not satisfy a toddler. Also, my lady asked if there was a restroom and was told unnecessarily rudely that "No, for employees only!" Ok, this is not an unusual situation for small establishments, but no need to be so rude about it. This was a one and done experience for us. read more

Right off of Huntington and I drove by it twice and had to circle back, park and walk. I was able to find it and it's a cute little spot. Once you walk in you can smell the sausage roll and meat pies being made fresh! They have a general menu of what flavors they have for the day or week not sure. I got the cha gio sausage roll, it's huge and comes with chili oil dipping sauce. So good and goes really well with it. Basically a big eggroll stuffing wrapped in a puff pastry. They do ask if you like them to warm it up for you in case you are eating it on the spot. I said no and took it home to put in the air fryer. I can't wait to go back and try other things they have. Service is really nice and quick. read more

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We were blown away. Excellent breakfast sandwiches, coffee was incredible. Go here, you will not be disappointed!

Owner couple Eagle and his wife are amazing. They have the best cut beef and wonderful pastured and prepared decadent meat pies etc. I even got the frozen beef bones for my dog (shhh don't tell too many ppl I want them to myself! ).. Love this local gem. read more

I love coming here for the best breakfast sandwich ever and organic coffee. The best in town! It's so nice to be greeted by Eagle and his lovely wife Mel. The quality of food is excellent and the meat and fish they carry is amazing! My husband and I so enjoy the fresh salmon. When I'm not in a rush there are nice tables and chairs inside and out to sit and enjoy. What a great experience! read more

Was recommended to come here to try the meat pies by our neighbors. It's a bit hidden behind some trees between CalOaks Pharmacy and Mathnasium on Huntington Dr. It's a cute little cafe/store that sells meats. Hubby got the Classic Aussie sandwich and the bread pudding, while my son and I got the Beef Pho meat pies and Popcorn Pork meat pie rolls. The beef pho meat pie definitely had the pho flavors and aromatics. This was absolutely delicious! The Popcorn Pork was good, not as aromatic as the pho pie. The flavor was lacking on the Taiwanese popcorn chicken basil flavor that it claimed. It reminded me more of a Vietnamese meat pie (pate chaud), which is peppery with a smoother texture that this one did not have, but it was still flavorful. The bread pudding was good but the texture was more dense reminding me of a banana bread loaf. I didn't care for the dollop of yogurt on top, which took away from the flavor of the bread pudding itself. Hubby said the Classic Aussie was good but was expensive for the size of the sandwich (small burger size). Hubby got the Long Black coffee which was good, but sadly my iced matcha latte was lacking in the matcha flavor. It was very pale in color and tasted mostly of milk. Service was quick and friendly. I will come back for the meats and try the other flavors of the meat pies next time. read more

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I would give ten stars for their sausage rolls and meat pie if I could. Wow. Fantastic. I've tried the regular and the kids version of the sausage roll (el niño) which is without pepper or other stronger tasting seasonings or toppings/chutney or what have you. Both are spectacular. They're the same size. Super juicy and delicious with a beautiful pastry around it. Sauce is also good and has a kick to it. Doesn't need the sauce. It's amazing all on its own. We also tried the lamb sandwich which was tasty but when comparing to the Aussie items I mean it's no contest. You gotta go with the meat pie and the sausage roll. No question. They also sell a beautiful variety of quality meats and a pretty diverse selection of drinks which includes modern looking Taiwanese beers and non alcoholic options as well. My friend purchased some cool artisan sauces to bring home as well as a lamb baguette sandwich I think? and a ham and cheese sandwich. Everything was delicious. For sure coming back. The food takes a little while to prepare so keep that in mind when ordering. If you're thinking about getting something to-go in addition to dining in you should just go ahead and order it at the same time because they might sell out while you're waiting. Love the chill butcher shop vibes and the fact that you can do some pantry shopping whiskey here. I am definitely a fan of Meat & Essentials and if you aren't, it's because you just haven't tried it yet. What are you waiting for? Get yourself some now! read more

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The best flat white I've had outside of Australia. The banger sausage sandwich is homemade and delicious. Love the selection of high quality meats and home style feel of the place. read more

Meat & Essentials - Home made sausage paddy on a soft bun. - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

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Meat & Essentials is a boutique butcher shop, grocery store, and cafe in San Marino. You must get their sausage roll, which is amazing. It is juicy flavorful house-made sausage surrounded by a flaky pastry. I also adore that they sell Martin's potato buns for burgers/hot dogs, because those are elite buns and really hard to find locally. They carry a lot of artisanal pantry items like this if you are a gourmand. I've purchased things out of their meat case before, like Eagle Wings (fancy deboned chicken wings). These are specialty items so they are pricey but great for occasion meals or needs. I would definitely consider coming here to buy ready-made frozen stock or other cool things I would not make myself. Props to the team for doing things the way they want to, churning out good products, and succeeding. read more

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We arrived around 11am, not realizing the lunch menu doesn't start until noon. Since we live nearby, we went home to wait and by the time we returned, we were absolutely starving! Here's what we ordered: Roast Beef Sandwich - Roast beef isn't usually my thing, but my husband loved it, especially with the toasted sourdough. French Brekkie - Our favorite! A warm, buttery croissant filled with ham and cheese. Simple but incredibly delicious. Brekkie Banger - Egg and sausage on a soft potato bun, comfort food done right. Pumpkin Baguette - Pumpkin purée with cream cheese on a toasted baguette. such a unique combination. Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs, but we didn't mind having leftovers. I also had a matcha latte sweetened with honey, which was perfectly balanced and comforting. Meat and Essentials is more than just a café, it's also a charming little grocery shop stocked with unique items you won't find at regular stores. Can't wait to come back on the weekend to try their Australian meat pies and sausage rolls! read more

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Came in late on a Sunday and was able to get the last of the meat pies and sausage rolls. Both items had thin flaky crusts and were stuffed with tender meat. I will definitely be back to try their other items. read more

Meat & Essentials - Sausage roll - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

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Great find!! who knew? Amazing staff of skilled workers with professional butcher on board. In house butchering to make house burger blends , sausages and tons of other high quality meat items. So please to see artists sandwiches available, I had the lamb and I enjoyed it so much! Offer some retail items as well , I grab Imported Italian fine sea salt. You have to stop in! Support this independent butcher! read more

Meat & Essentials - Lamb -Amazing - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

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Top notch - food, drink, service. The sausage rolls are delicious, the lattes too. We love coming here. Such a friendly place and great for little kids (hot chocolate for the toddler!). Highly recommend making this a regular stop for lunch or coffee. read more

Got sandwiches and coffee for the team today and everything was fantastic! We got both the lamb and roast beef paninis and the meat was tender and full of flavor and the house made chutney gave the sandwich a delicate balance from the savory meats. My flat white was perfectly made, not overly frothy or full of milk. Next time we'll have to try the meat pies! read more

Swung by the Huntington Library - and it was the first free day of the month. Decided to skip that (mob scene) and drove thru the incredibly beautiful neighborhood. Looked up a place to eat and found Meat & Essentials. It's a tiny neighbor place that has two inside tables. Ordered a sliced roast beef sandwich and charcuterie slices on a baguette with butter. Very yummy. It was the last day of middle school and the kids were coming by for their fix. All in all very charming, neighborly and yummy. They kindly directed me to the pharmacy two doors down for our facilities needs. read more

Meat & Essentials - Butter, cheese, charcuterie on baguette - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

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Even though I live in the area, I had never heard of this place. I was looking for a place to meet some family members that were in town and I really just focused on the coffee. They got good reviews for the coffee. And the coffee was excellent. They carry Torres chips which are my absolute favorite. There are beautifully stocked butcher cases with high quality items and fresh made food in the open kitchen. They have a wonderful selection of sandwiches, Aussie meat pies and sausage rolls. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the sandwich with Olympic Provisions meet and I liked the lamb sandwich with eggplant and tomato chutney, which is to die for. The bread was wonderful as well. They may have other things on the menu but I didn't really look in detail. The ambience was wonderful as was the very warm and personalized service. I definitely plan on being a regular. read more

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This business serves the best iced latte in San Marino. It's seriously a 10/10! They also have delicious, high quality pastries: croissants, cookies, etc. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

Meat & Essentials - Iced latte 3 - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

I really appreciate how accommodating this place is. Though I love the smell and taste of coffee, my body cannot handle caffeine sadly. I told them that I wish I can have a latte with tea instead of coffee. Boom... the wonderful lady said, "I can make that happen- and she did!" She wipped me up some tea latte with mint tea! It was so good. I got to enjoy their delicious croissant bread pudding with my custom made drink. You can only get this at a family owned business. I highly recommend! read more

This place has been on my list for a while and I'm so glad that we finally made our way over to visiting it! Located right on Huntington, with plenty of street side parking out front. It was our first time visiting the shop and the servers were very friendly in introducing us to the must try item. Just a heads up that they do take a minute to prep the food, but it's def worth the wait! It's a combo of a butcher shop and a deli, with some seating inside and outside. We were so bummed out when we saw that the Breekies were out, instead we got the Lamb Panini and a Tom Yum Pork Pie, and they did not disappoint! The panini has the right amount of juice and gaminess that a lamb lover would appreciate, coupled with goat cheese(?) and spinach, sooooooooo good!! The pork pie reminded me of the English meat pies, much bigger in size and definitely meaty and flavorful but not tangy like the English pies that I've had. We also got a flat white and that was very tasty as well, the foam was velvety and smooth and the espresso is fragrant and bright. Will definitely come back again to try the pastries, steaks, and all the fun stuff in the fridge. read more

Meat & Essentials - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

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This is my go-to weekend brunch treat! I'm a big fan of the meat pies - whatever flavors they have on the weekends, I'll grab one and it never fails to impress. The meat is especially high quality and I love the flaky textures! Just a delightfully decadent little pie to have with a cup of tea. I've also purchase their container of Lu Rou Fan in the past and cooked it with some noodles and it was incredible. I'm so grateful to live near this beloved and unique neighborhood staple. The people are always wonderful here and you can tell everyone that comes by is a regular - this place is well loved! read more

Meat & Essentials - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

Stopped by to pick up some breakfast sandwiches. Service was meh. Breakfast sandwiches were blah. Didn't even finish mine. Really wanted to love this place but no one appreciates dropping 80 bucks on some bland sandwiches and unwelcoming attitudes. Oh yeah, bought two pints of the ice cream - Barley Honey and Irish Cookies n Cream - and it was gross. The sausages were good though. May come back for the sausages only. A big maybe. read more

TLDR: OMG best sandwhich I've had in my life. The lamb sandwhich is crazyyyyyy. Nice mom and pop spot. Love the homey vibe. Super nice owners. Came on Sunday for brunch. Little mom and pop shop on Huntington Drive with plenty of street parking. They have outdoor and indoor seating. They butcher some high quality fresh meats as well as make some amazing sandwhiches. It is like a one stop shop for the perfect picnic! Bring your picnic basket, order some sandwhiches, pick up some snacks, buy some wines, condiments, and sauces. They have everything you may need for a picnic or barbecue at home! Need to come back to try some of their butchered meats. Sandwhich Review Roast Lamb: 100000000/10 holy smokes. First off, their bread is amazing. Super fresh crunchy warm sourdough. Great flavor. The roast lamb inside is super juicy, slightly gamey in all the best ways, paired with arugula, feta cheese, balsamic glaze for a little sweetness, and housemade eggplant tomato chutney. These guys are whipping up some magic back there. Super unique as I rarely ever see roast lamb served as deli slices in a sandwhich. Holy smokes. I dream of sandwhiches like this. My mouth is watering as I recall my experience biting through the warm crispy bread and the explosion of juices in my mouth. The contrast of the arugula, feta, sweet glaze, and chutney. Hits every single note on my palate. This is textbook flavor bomb. Must try. Weekly Special: Mortadella Highlight is the sourdough ciabatta. Warm crunchy and perfectly chewy to give you layers of texture as you bite in. I fell in love with bread after visiting Meat and Essentials. I used to be an only Dutch Crunch bread on my sandwhiches guy but maybe it's just cuz other places weren't doin bread right. Pan fried mortadella, lemon vinaigrette arugula Swiss, and pickled fennel. Perfect salty sour sweet bitter. I should wrap this review up cuz I just finished lunch and I'm getting hungry again. THIS PLACE DOES SANDWHICHES. I'm never going anywhere else for sandwhiches ever again. On top of this, the owners are so nice. Every person who walked in the door was treated like family. Sparking conversations and having little catch ups. How do you scale this up. You can't. This is truly a hidden gem and I hope they never change. Come swing by say hi and grab a sandwhich straight from heaven. Half of me wants to gatekeep, but they deserve to go viral. Thank you thank you thank you. This sandwhich is one of my highlights of 2025. read more

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Came here looking for a new soy sauce from Taiwan that only Meat & Essentials is carrying it in the SGV. They have a very eclectic collection of pantry items and well stocked freezer/refrigerator. The staff are all very helpful and friendly. I've ordered hard to find lamb ribs from the shop last time and it's very good quality lamb. They also have fresh coffee, sandwiches and some pastries. Nice shop to have in the neighborhood and SGV! read more

Meat & Essentials - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

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Two of my friends and I were in town, attending a historical walking tour of San Gabriel Cemetery. We decided to grab a bite to eat, but, didn't know where. I hopped onto Yelp, and looked up what was good under Restaurants. Meat & Essentials was the second name that came up, and what I decided on. We were still a few doors down when we saw one of the workers outside, exchanging pleasantries and a bit of a conversation with a couple of locals sitting outside. As we approached the door, she ended her conversation, and invited us in, even holding the door open for us! The place is small, with some coolers on one side with cold beverages, and packaged meats, and some stuff to put in dumplings(I think that's what I saw), bags of charcoal for sale on the floor standing upright cleverly form a path for patrons to follow, past some of their wares. They had some music playing, but not too loud. The food menu is somewhat limited, due to them not being a restaurant(they're a Butcher Shop that serves food and drink), which was explained to us later by one of the guys. Seating is also limited, but, there are tables and chairs outside. All their food is made-to-order, from the very meats they have on hand. One of my friends ordered the roast lamb sandwich, as did I. My other friend ordered the Special (Butter Beef Brisket). They shared a bottle of wine(they give you a glass, and pour you some of the wine you ordered, and keep the bottle behind the counter, but will fill your glass upon request). If you don't feel like ordering tea, coffee, espresso, or wine, there's a water dispenser with cups towards the back-left corner of the shop, close to the tables. Our orders reached our table within 10-11 minutes after we ordered. The sourdough was toasted(?) to perfection, the lamb was tender, and delicious. The balsamic glaze, the feta cheese, and the eggplant & tomato chutney all made for an interesting flavor that complemented the meat. My friend that ordered the Special enjoyed it, but my friend who also ordered the Roast Lamb said it was fine, but, apparently wasn't a fan of the eggplant & tomato chutney. I ended up eating half of his sandwich, and took the other half home with me(all the way back to Garden Grove!), where I reheated it in our toaster oven, and ate the rest. All in all, this place is a cozy little place that serves up some delicious sammies, but, that's not all they offer, when you look at the menu, as well as the rest of the goodies they have around the shop. The next time I'm in the area, I'll give this place another go. Did I mention that the people working there are super nice? Very pleasant, and attentive. The locals, I get the feeling, will testify to that. Oh, I have to apologize to the crew for us just leaving our plates and glasses at our table. I didn't see the trash can at the front until we were on our way out the door after thanking the crew for a great lunch, so, I feel I need to apologize. Sorry, guys! read more

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This store is wonderful. The owners are welcoming and accommodating, their meat is very high quality, and their essentials (bread, eggs, condiments, coffee, wine/beer) are all the best. Their lattes are the best in the SGV. And their sausage rolls cannot be beat. This is the perfect place to find everything needed in a pinch, and they make the neighborhood a better place. Whether you are stopping in for a quick purchase or lingering for a relaxing coffee, there is nothing to complain about when it comes to Meat & Essentials. read more

Stop #8 on the Friday Sammy Tour Pretty happy to have found Meat & Essentials. We are always looking for high quality meats to bring home for meals. The aesthetic of Meat & Essentials was extremely pleasing. Brightly lit, minimally decorated, clean open space. I loved that there was a short front counter that was open to viewing the what looked like the owners going over recipes. Picture perfect stainless steel butcher table with food and wine being tasted. Loved it! Service was top notch. Friendly neighborhood feel for sure. After we placed our order, a regular came in asking for dinner suggestions and conversing with staff like they've known each other forever. Tons of unique seasoning and sides on the shelves. Sauces, snacks, ice cream, soups, and freshly butchered meat available in the fridges. The food: - Coppa baguette sandwich on Bub & Grandma's French Baguette. I don't know if it was the French butter or the best cuts of coppa and salami but the flavors exceeded my expectations. Literally melted in my mouth. -Special: Steak sandwich on Bub & Grandma's Ciabbata Roll. Toasty, crunchy, with carmelized onions, steak, and Kewpie Mayo (which I love on anything). The also have a breakfast and coffee menu that I'm interested in trying. Might have to take a morning walk soon. read more

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Second visit was a better experience. Roast Beef Sandwich was good (our favorite). Roast Lamb and Luca were fine/decently good. Limited seating inside. One table and small bar seating with two high chairs I think. However, they do have two little two-top tables outside. Parking in front was well as the back. Market selection is interesting. Kinda like it. FOOD: Roast Beef Sandwich 4.5/5 Roast Lamb 4/5 Luca 4/5 DRINKS: Jun 4.5/5 Cashier (manager/owner?) said it's sister to kombucha, which it does taste like it. Fermented green tea with raw honey. Iced Matcha Latte 3/5 It was quite milky and not that sweet despite getting it with vanilla syrup for slight sweetness. They do use ceremonial grade matcha, so that is a plus. read more

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Great service, good location and good food. Sorry I don't have pictures as the food was devoured before we even thought about taking pictures. We ordered a sausage roll, a brekkie, and the lamb panini. Eagle chatted us up and Mel was grinding out a large to go order but still had time to serve the customers in the front "patio." We often ride our bikes in the area and will be sure to stop by again. read more

Meat & Essentials is hands down one of the best spots around. The quality of the meat is always fresh, clean, and top-notch, and you can tell they really care about what they sell. The selection is great, prices are fair, and the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help. Everything is well organized and the service is fast and professional. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for quality meats and great customer service. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Meat & Essentials - Delis Near Me - San Marino, California

You young bucks won't know this reference, but this is how you feel when you walk through these doors: Sometimes you wanna go Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came Yep, Cheers. The warm and fuzzy feeling you feel like Monica and Rachel's apartment door always open to welcome you, very home-y. Boutique Market? Deli? Butcher? Liquor store? A little bit of everything but not overwhelming what so ever. The quintessential quality over quantity where everything sold here is at the utmost quality in its category. The Crown Jewels Sandwiches here are second to none. It's in the crispiness of the baked croissants, the simplicity of ingredients, the perfectly cooked eggs and the delicious "g sauce"!! I don't know if they sell this "g sauce" but you could put this on ANYTHING and it'll be off the chain! read more

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I wanted to love Meat and Essentials. It has been on my list of must try places for awhile. The best way I can describe my experience is uncomfortable. From the moment I walked in I did not feel welcome. Like I didn't quite belong in such a trendy spot and I was being tolerated. Maybe it's my age and high expectations, I just think the people working here were indifferent and lacked genuine warmth. I ordered the French Brekkie (3/5), meat pie, and a cold brew (4/5). Haven't tried the meat pie yet. The French brekkie looks like it's been sitting and was the last one (which it was). The croissant was pretty good but for $10, I guess I was expecting something slightly better. While prices are average given how high everything costs nowadays, I guess I was expecting something better. All of the rave reviews just don't make sense to me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that the food and my experience was bad per se. it's just that it wasn't good either. The best part about this place is the parking. It's free, plentiful, and right in front of the store. Service, well, it's ok. Again not bad but not great either. It's really too bad because I was really hoping this would be a place I would enjoy and frequent. LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: 3/5 SERVICE: 3/5 VALUE: 3/5 AMBIANCE: 3/5 PET FRIENDLY: probably not CLEANLINESS: 4/5 PARKING: 5/5 read more

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Meat & Essentials in San Marino is our favorite stop in town! From the moment you walk in, the warm and inviting atmosphere sets the stage for an incredible food experience. Hands down, they serve the best coffee and pastries in town--smooth, rich espresso and perfectly flaky, buttery pastries that make every visit a treat. Their meat pies and sausage rolls - delish!! - Flaky, golden, and packed with delicious, savory fillings, they're simply irresistible. Highly recommend!!! read more

Pretentious shop with overpriced food that is really small portioned with below average taste. You can get something better tasting, bigger, and CHEAPER at any supermarket. read more

Delicious sandwich place in the area! Their buns are fresh and soft (make sure you go early if you want the sandwiches because they are limited daily). The coffee was also really good and you can get really creative with how you want it made. Their pastries are also gone fast so be there early, especially weekends. The barista is very nice and friendly. They also serve as a mini market with specialized sauces and home made sauces and meats. If you're in the area, you have to check them out and I'll definitely be back again. read more

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I can't believe I only discovered this place now. An exceptional partnership of excellent, knowledgeable and sustainable butchery with delicious lunches and breakfasts. We tried the meat pie, sausage roll and Aussie breakfast sandwich and we were all so thoroughly happy. As an Aussie myself, it was great tasting food filled with nostalgia. The owners were friendly and clearly passionate and knowledgeable about their work. It was such a joy to chat with them and learn about all they are doing. This is a small business worth visiting again and again. read more

always great pastries, coffees, teas and sandwiches - meat pies are great. Excellent for hand butchered cuts of meat and other items.

They know meat! (and coffee). The sausage rolls and meat pies are a highlight and the menu changes every week with a special. Go early because they sell out quickly read more