As a local it's the best,until Dave arrived it was super market for meat but with this opening it…read morewas the best for getting just the amount you required so no waste,so if you want 2 sausage you can and not have to buy a pack of 6 plus there house made.

Every time I come to the Torbay Butcher I can't help but get a massive smile on my face. They guys…read morewho work there are always so cherry, it really is like being in a sitcom where everyone knows everyone. I've only just moved to Torbay but already I feel like I can call this butcher 'my local' as they have that vibe going on. They aren't just nice people but they also stock amazing cuts of meat. There's corn fed chicken, beautiful lamb roasts, steak, great saussies and loads more. I usually go in after work and it's packed with people buying their dinner. I love that it's right next to the fruit and vege shop so I can really have the whole fresh and local thing going on with my food. These kinds of places make me want to support local businesses because they are so good at what they do. And for me, a smile and some good banter wins me over every time.

New addition to Brown Bay in a new strip of shops beside Countdown. You'll recognise the owner from…read morehis previous job, managing the butchery at Nosh. This shop is really cute inside and full of the best cuts, a big range of gourmet sausages, boerewors and biltong (made to an old family recipe). Nice to see shops of this quality in Browns Bay, I'll be heading to The Meat Room from now on.

About a month ago I decided to experiment by bypassing the supermarkets, and returning to do my…read moreshopping at specialist stores. This included buying my fruit and veggies at the vegetable store, meat at the butcher and salt at the spice trader. Okay, I made up the last one, but you get the drift. I was amazed what you can get if you buy your meat from the butchery; the local butcher was able to cut my chops to man sized chunks and my steak to include a generous helping of fat. I know, heart attack city, but damn it's good. Sam's Butchery is also a good place to try out new cuts and sausages, so the experiment worked well in the process of trying new foods, unfortunately it failed miserably in the attempt to save money.

I was unfortunate enough to purchase a Sams butchery ham couple of days before Christmas. I glazed…read moreand cooked it on Christmas Day, it tasted simply awful. I've cooked hams using the same glaze and cooking method before and they always come out delicious and so I'm pretty sure it wasn't my cooking. The ham had an odd smell when it came out of the packet, it is dry and tastes terrible. I wouldn't buy another one, $70 totally wasted!

I had some of my Kiwi friends over for a traditional South African braai, or what they only know as…read morea barbeque. While it doesn't differ much from any other barbeque, there is more meat involved and it must be over hot coals. No self respecting South African will be seen braaiing on gas. Next you will need a few cold ones, and a dozen or so of their friends. I got us some Black Labels, 2 packs of boerewors and the key ingredient, pap. Pap is like American grits, and we usually eat it with a tomato and onion mix. The SA shop was a one stop shop. From the braai, charcoal, fire lighters, SA beer and meat. I got it all there, and I was in and out in less than ten minutes. Now where do you get better than that?

As a South African immigrant I cannot go without my biltong and other South African products. It is…read morewell known that Fred's is the best in the business when it comes to making this delicacy. Whether you like it dry, wet, in slivers or in stick form, the biltong is made to an authentic South African recipe. You won't be disappointed. Normally my shopping list will include Pro Nutro, a Nosh bar and some boerewors. If you're new to Fred's, then I would recommend you stop during lunchtime on a Saturday, when they're selling the best "Boeries" in the world.

From the owner: Specialising in top quality South African Styled meats and baking. Everything from Biltong,…read moreDroewors, Koeksisters, Rusks, Boerewors and much more including Skilpadjies

If you're after gourmet bangers for the barbie - look no further! Greek lamb & feta, wild boar,…read moreToulouse pork....the list goes on! I'm already a loyal customer of another, equally as good Milford butcher but even I've got to admit when it comes to snarlers these guys pretty hard to beat. Of course, they also have all the other cuts and specialize in free range. They even stock Bostocks Organic Chicken - BIG tick!

My young one loves Spaghetti Bolognese and the mince you get at Pinehill Butchery is awesome. Not…read morefull of filler or soy. They also make the burgers out of the mince. Also, better prices than the supermarkets. The staff are friendly and awesome too. Great choice of meat on the shelf, place is always immaculately clean.

If you're like me and you've been watching one too many cooking show on TV, then you would have…read morenoticed that the contestants or chefs always purchase their meat from specialist butcheries or delicatessens. One place where I always get my specialist beef and marinades is the Pinehill Butchery on the North Shore of Auckland. The staff members are young and informed. They can provide preparation advice, cooking tips and inspiration for dishes. But more importantly, they can provide you with the best cut. Don't be fooled by the small façade of the store, it is what's happening behind the scenes that allow you to get the best meat on your plate. They are yet to disappoint, and they are conveniently located on East Coast Road.

I have been a customer of the Browns Bay store since it opened in the new location , we have…read moremanaged to get most of the items we needed to feed a family of 5 , but on the most recent shop my 25 yr old step daughter armend with her ID was refused a bottle of wine , when I spoke to the supervisor she stated that because my 22 yr old step son who was with his sister and had no ID that was the reason for the refusal , as my daughter was doing the shopping for herself and also paying for it with her own card she is the purchaser not her brother . we have shopped at other supermarkets previously and they have only used her ID Card and been approved . according to the law the legal age is 19 to be able to purchase alcohol showing your ID card if requested or with an Adult . based on New World Browns Bay interpretation of the law who ever is with the purchaser must also have ID . if her Niece was with her who is not 19 yrs old and no ID we assume they would not serve her as well . I am sad of the outcome as we are now shopping elsewhere .

This isn't exactly a new New World. This dated supermarket is right in the heart of Brown's Bay,…read morewhere the Brown's Bay flea market is held in Sundays. This place is well lit, modern on the interior, with a good selection of seafood. There's an area where you can grab your own clams! They had all kinds of different Kiwi products (2 kinds of kiwi too!) They had Golden kiwis, which I'd never seen before! The meat department looked fresh, with reasonably priced cuts of chicken, beef, but no possum. I browsed the candy department, and they had shelf after shelf of disgusting licorice. That stuff is awful, but kiwis seem to go gaga for it. They offered a dizzying array of licorice. They also offered a few different options for Vegemite. I don't quite get the difference between Marmite and Vegemite, but they have the choice between the two. I used the self checker and had no problems. They take a bit getting used to- I prefer a smiling checkout clerk, but you gotta get with the times, I guess. There's a nice floral area at the front, and they sell bread!

Butcher Jacks has been in operation in Glenfield since 1995…read more They have a long relationship with the neighborhood and are well known by the locals of the North Shore. I popped in recently on a trip to the doctors and pharmacy only right next door and decided to buy some delicious NZ Scotch fillet steak for dinner. The set up inside the big red store is similar to that of a supermarket; they have packed meats in fridges and freezers. The difference between Butcher Jacks and say the franchise butcher down the street is that they pride themselves on serving 100% NZ owned meat, and they even produce on site their own bacon, sausages and legs of ham at anytime of the year. I really enjoyed my dinner that evening; the meat was top quality and just a perfect few cuts. Weekly specials change every week so check out what they have to offer, and you will walk off with a freezer full of meat and a great bargain! They are moving to a new location just down the road in a few weeks, so be sure not to miss them next time your near Wairau Road.

Good customer service and so many options available to choose fruit, vegetables, meats and…read moregroceries.

I regret that this store does not pay its suppliers. We have been owed $43.75 for one carton of…read moreproduct since 31st October last year, despite several phone calls.