Call me lowbrow, but I find the concept of a nine dollar sandwich a hard one to get on board with. From a food truck? Only if its piled high with bacon, waffle fries, hot sauce...and oh by the way...can I get two fried eggs on top of that thing? Thanks. I'm on board with that. From a place like Ike's? Well, if it'll fill me up for the better part of the day...and you said it came with Jalapeño Poppers? Great! I'm on board with that. From a place like the Local Butcher Shop, and their "Pork Roast, Baked Apple, Walnuts and Greens" sandwich of the day? That's a harder sell. When I forked over my nine dollars for a diminuitively sized bundle of joy, I was honestly worried that I had, in essence spent my money on an appetizer. Well, the sandwich was so Goddamned good, I needn't have worried. Lets start with the ACME sweet deli roll, resplendant with a flavor, dusted with flour and thick enough that every wonderfully textured bite required a little bit of oh-so-worth-it effort. Continue with the pork roast, cooked to mouth-melting perfection, sliced to a thickness of about two millimeters and as lean as any piece of pig I have ever eaten, and with a subtly sweet flavor. To say this wasn't one of the finest pieces of pork I've ever had on a sandwich would be a lie. How about the baked apples with cinnamon and cloves, cooked until they had almost become compote? They provided a little crunch, a little sweetness, and melded perfectly with the vinegary bite of the field greens, and the subtle flavor of the walnuts. Overall: Pretty freaking superb, perfectly filling, and worth the price. A damn fine sandwich from a pretty cool place. Downsides? Eating one of these sandwiches, drinking a Philz Iced Coffee, and through the Gourmet Ghetto, I realized that for an brief and glorious moment I'd become a yuppie. But for a sandwich this good, I'm alright with that. read more

This place should be called "The Loco Butcher Shop". Outrageous prices! Can get the same or better quality meats at many other places in Berkeley at half of the prices charged here. E.g., $33.00/lb for pork tenderloin which had more fat and silver skin than I have ever found on pork tenderloins costing $13 to $15/lb. Since posting my honest review, based on my actual experience with this "butcher shop", they have emailed me "wanting to talk" (I ignored it) and this morning they called "wanting to talk", no apology, no offer to make amends (I hung up on them and blocked any further calls from them). Yelp.com needs to investigate vendors who harass customers, who based on their personal experience, write negative reviews. read more

I've only been here once, but I was disappointed with the high prices and the fact that my New York steaks weren't cut evenly. At least 1/2 inch thicker on one side than the other! Also, for $23/lb those steaks should have been dry aged. On the bright side, the bacon was excellent. I don't thnk I'll be back though. read more

I so wanted to like it - it's close and I am willing to pay more for good meat but... So all day I am thinking "lamb chops." I promise my daughter lamb chops. I check the website - yes, they sell lamb. I stop at the store on the way home, and...drum roll...no lamb of any sort. Apparently they do not have a local source for lamb at the moment. Bummer. I am not happy. The clerk, to his credit, very nice, tried to steer me towards some goat chops. No, that just wasn't going to work. So, steak it was. I would have preferred to buy two smaller steaks but they did not have any small steaks so 2 large T -bones it was. Pricey but I thought they would be better than usual. I cooked them exactly as advised and frankly, they just were not that good. Disappointing. Now, I will go back to try the sausage - which did look good - and also the stocks looked interesting too. read more

I shop here about 3 times a week on average. I read many of the reviews; it seems some folks do have a bad experience on the customer service level. Never had that myself, but I am an all business type, always pay cash and generally don't feel the need for retail chatty, so it works for me. The other negative theme is price. Hey, you get what you pay for, and basically their beef comes from small independent producers. The price you pay reflects the cost of the product. In this case, the product is not subsidized by your tax dollars, but if you are hungry for industrial meat Safeway is right around the corner. If you are price sensitive, just get some ground beef, it is fabulous. If they have ground goat, do a burger 2/3 beef 1/3 goat you can taste the grass! On the sandwich front, just give them a call in advance and they will save you one. My son consistently gives them a "YUM" and two thumbs up for taste, but the reviews vary, so assume there is some day-to-day variation. BTW, the sandwiches are very substantial and we split them so you get a lot for $9. read more

Generally, I like this shop. I love the concept, the high quality meats they provide, the care and variety they offer. However, when I went in to buy a pound of chicken livers was charged almost $10! (Not only is that high priced, its highway robbery! I can get organic chicken livers across the street at Andronicos for $4--they were out.) To add insult upon injury, the livers were so poorly wrapped that they leaked blood all over the groceries in my bag! This was not only a bacterial fiasco, but a serious professional faux pas! Unlikely to buy from them in the future. read more

Well, the meats are very high quality and taste amazing, but... $6/lb for a whole chicken! I know the meat is quality, and I know the meat is local, but that is a couple dollars more than I have everspent on chicken. I think that price point is pretentious. Also, the sandwiches are nothing special. Everyone that I have tried has had some weird fruit or vegetable compote that took away from the flavor of the meat. They are premade and beyond the acme bread, are mediocre. A last note, I bought some headcheese that had shards of bone and big pieces of fat with the hair still on there..it was not well cleaned. I know it was made in house but I had to throw it out because the hair was gross. In conclusion, this place is disappointing. From the outfits and hipster hats to the meat that only the wealthy can afford, it's a bust. read more

I love the LBS. I love the way I feel when I support the LBS. Everything about this place makes me happy. I went on the day of their grand opening and am sure I will be there at least once a week for the rest of my life. I shop at Andronico's across the street. First, however, I make a trip to the LBS, and from there I plan my meals according to what I was able to find. I have purchased eggs, stock, sausages, jerky, smoked duck, ribs, dog food, olive oil, chocolate chip cookies, tarrow chips, beans, b-fast sausage, every cut of beef, and dozens of different types of sandwiches...I have NEVER been disappointed. Friendly faces, real butcher's knowledge, and ethically exactly right, I will continue to love the LBS as long as it lives (hopefully forever)... read more

The dream of The Local Butcher Shop is finally a reality! As friends of Monica and Aaron, we've been getting meat from them for some time before the shop formally opened. The quality and care that goes into their meat make it worth every cent. It simply doesn't get any better. We went to the shop tonight for our first visit, and were pleased that the lovely space does justice to the top shelf quality of their product. I could go on and on, but I'll refer you instead to an article in Berkeleyside... http://www.berkeleyside.com/tag/the-local-butcher-shop/ Enjoy! read more

I ordered a smoked ham for Thanksgiving and it was very dry, and grizzly. I had to serve it, but it was an embarrassment. I called the shop to complain and was told to email the owners and they would get back to me. They didn't . And this was the 2nd time I have had meat to tough to chew from this shop. I won't shop there again. read more

So excited to have a butcher shop not terribly far from home. I love the old school aesthetic with the butchers donned in white shirts and ties, just like our parents used to experience when they were kids and went shopping with their parents. Local Butcher Shop is local in the sense that they only source animals from a 150 mile radius and they take delivery of the whole animal, so you can get any cut of meat imaginable. Perusing the meat is an education because they have cleverly set up their pricing structure based on the animal's front, middle or rear section; meaning if you want a cut from the middle of the beef, you'll pay a certain price per pound, versus if you're looking for something from the rear section. This holds true for beef, pork and lamb. So now I know exactly where the skirt steak comes from on the animal, getting us closer to our food source, but not so close that we're killing the animals ourselves. Love the concept and the meat we purchased made a damn fine Burmese red pork stew. read more

The arrival of the Local Butcher Shop is clearly an important event in this neighborhood. My butchers have been scattered all over the place (the Cafe Rouge butcher shop on Fourth Street, Marin Sun Farms in Market Hall, the Fatted Calf,...). I can come here instead! It's obvious at a glance that the Local Butcher team are serious professionals who know their business and have taken pains to stock only the local and sustainable items that are the holy grail of many shoppers in Berkeley. In fact, when I walked in yesterday, I almost had to ask myself whether I was in a butcher shop or a meat museum. (Yes, I'm thinking of "Butley: a play," by Simon Gray.) It seemed almost out of place to speak other than in hushed tones. I came by mainly to case the joint, but I ended up buying the sandwich of the day, which was a carnitas sandwich on an Acme torpedo roll. It was delicious, and I'm certain that it was made with ingredients of the highest order. It was also kinda small -- bunh mi size. And expensive, to boot: $8! I don't exactly feel ripped off, but I'm unlikely to return here for my midday meal. It's a better idea to shop here for a rack of lamb or a veal roast. read more

I'd like to try their meat. I came for the sandwich. I'm sorry to say it didn't 'meat' my expectations. It was $9. It was smallish. It was premade. The service was okay but the cashier acted a little offended that we didn't know we were supposed to grab the sandwich ourselves. The best part of the sandwich The Jam. It had some delicious jam. The spinach was also tasty in the sandwich The okay part of the sandwich Was the meat. I could barely taste it. It was very plain, sparingly seasoned with salt and pepper. The worst part Was the bread. It was hard on the initial bite. It was such a let down I can safely say I will not be coming back here for a sandwich again. I'd like to come back and try their meat cuts, but don't come for the expensive sandwich. There are many other places to spend $9 and get an out of the world sandwich and they are less than a block away. read more

The meats are great. Quality cuts, locally sourced, talented butchers. Now for the bad news. It's an upscale/artisanal place, so the prices are high and the selection is limited. You'll wait a very long time--give yourself a half hour or more if there are any other customers when you arrive. There's no parking, and it's a very busy neighborhood, so street parking is scarce. If you can handle long wait times, hipsters, and high prices, the product itself is great. Whether it's worth it is up to you. read more

Great idea for a new shop! I made a special order on their first day (soft opening). Was excited when they called the day before to get details on the custom nature of my order. Then I picked up everything (a gorgeous tri tip with the proper fat layer, and the meatiest rack of country ribs I've ever seen!), and set it in dry rubs overnight. I barbecued it for our work picnic on Saturday, and.... WOW, that was the best tri-tip I've had since I was a kid (and being from LA with a grandfather for a butcher, we had a lot). I used the same dry rub I usually do, so the only difference would be the meats, and what a difference. The flavors were incredible. The cut of the tip tip and the ribs were professional in every way. My grandfather always said a good butcher will elevate meat to the next level, and a bad one can ruin it to the point that no one can save it. He was so very right! It may be more expensive, but in the end, I think quality over quantity wins, especially when it comes to meat. read more

First and foremost: Meat should not be as cheap as it usually is! Meat is so often cheap b/c of the inhumane and unhygienic manner in which the animals are raised and slaughtered. The humans (often immigrants) who work in this industry are abused as well. In addition much of grocery store meat has been rinsed with chemical disinfectant. Sadly most people also don't know that enough all about the untrue marketing gimmicks around meat. LBS is the real deal and they understand what grass FINISHED beef is all about not to mention the details of how all the other meat is raised at the small number of farms from which they source. I've been here several times--the meat is wonderful and the employees are helpful. I will pay more and eat less meat in exchange for knowing its origins. read more

The staff here are awesome. Supremely helpful with selecting and recommending meats. The "sando of the day" always either looks great (i see it on facebook) /tastes great (i have seen it and i have to eat it). Have purchased a pork butt, breakfast sausages, and bacon here. all SO good. their dog treats are devoured by my boyfriend's dog in a matter of seconds she loves them so much. Try the beef jerky-it is THE BEST. read more

This review is for the butcher counter and meat I've bought there not for the sandwiches they sell. They look delicious but I have not yet had a chance to try one! Local Butcher has a great selection of extremely high quality meats. Every cut I have bought here looked and tasted amazing and I watched them break down whole animals in front of me to yield exactly what I wanted. This is old-school, careful butchery at it's best. The obvious downside to this is the price. Everything you buy here is going to be 2-3X more expensive than supermarket prices, even for"cheap" cuts like pork belly or ham hocks. I would knock them down a star for this but the reality is that good quality, humanely raised meat is inherently more expensive folks. Places like Local Butcher, Cafe Rouge, and 4505 meats charge what they do because they source from farms and ranches where things are done carefully not quickly. This costs more. I recommend this shop as a place to buy meat for special occasions. Unless you are very wealthy it is prohibitively expensive to shop here regularly but if you really want to impress your friends and family with an amazing steak, lamb chop, or pork shoulder buy it here! read more

If I lived closer and was made of one million dollars I would probably only shop here for my meat. I realize the importance of eating organic and fresh, and I don't blame them for their prices, I just can't afford them all the time. My favorite things here are the daily sandwich, and the fresh sausages.Every time we bring the fennel sausage to a bbq they are gobbled up in seconds, and everyone raves about them. It's gotten to the point where we get texts from friends in the north bay begging us to pick some up for them. I also pick up some dog food from the cooler, and they have a frequent buyer program.They have a little doggie area out front with faux grass, and dog treats as well. read more

1. It's so cool that they don't waste good meat! I'm all for sustainable living, and it's very clear when you walk in the door that they share those values too. 2. Delicious sandwiches! 3. Also, great service. They don't take debit/credit under $10, which is reasonable, but my friend's bill was at $9 and she didn't have any cash... we didn't want to trouble the folks there but the kind gentleman at the shop made an exception for my friend and she was able to purchase the sandwich! And they happily provided ample amounts of water (we had just come from a run and were thirsty..) read more

What great quality and service...worth going just before opening to watch their pep-talk staff meeting. They are rightfully proud of the quality of the meat they sell.. read more

Meat should be expensive. Eat it, perhaps rarely, and well. That is the philosophy of this shop. Mark Bittman of the NYT calls on people to rethink the meat-guzzler, as most people contemplating patronizing this spot know. I like how friendly everyone is, that all the butchers are gourmet chefs, that the place really, ironically, is made for vegetarians who're getting [back] into meat. So you can go there and say, I think I want to make a stew. And they'll say, ok, you'll need this cut, chopped up, and would you like some stock too? The helps' outfits make me feel shlumpy in my fleece and chacos. But they remind me of a bike store in Berkeley 'round the corner from Au Coquelet that was trying to sell neato urban bikes, wicker baskets, waxed canvas and leather bags, Japanese this, French that, in the early-aughts, in which the owner and founder dressed similarly... before he went out of bizness. If my $16/lb lamb is going to sustainable local farmers and butchers making a living wage and more, that's one thing. But if it's paying for an ambience... well you can't eat ambience, my dad always said. We made a beef daube (the lamb was too pricey for a first cooking of meat in my home), and it was great. We'll probably be back, tho' it sure is pricey. read more

Yet another business touting local and sustainable foods in the Berkeley sprawl...I LOVE IT! The Local Butcher Shop knows their stuff, and they have quite the extensive menu for those looking to get their cooking on. They have your common meats (and eggs) and others like squab (seriously, who knows how to cook these?). They're quite expensive, however. Monica, the person helping me out (since I know nothing about butchering), explained that the higher prices are due to labor and having to haul their meats from local farms (within 150 miles). This is nice to note since I know I'm getting fresh meat. I bought some fresh sausages, ready to cook some jambalaya or an etouffee. They have a sandwich of the day for $8, which I thought would be wonderful, but I wish they would've made it in front of me. It almost looked like it was prepared from the day before. The sandwiches were kept in the fridge, and the greens looked a bit wilted. Aside from that, and soggy bread, the pork shoulder sandwich had awesome flavor. I don't know what they marinade the red onions and tomatoes in, but KEEP DOING IT! The pork had a bit too much fat for me, but it probably added to the flavor content. I don't know what kind of cheese they used either, but it was very mild. All in all, a good sandwich (wouldn't say great or spectacular though). A good first trip, and I'm definitely going back for more. read more

Come on people, what's the hype about these totally Average sandwiches? It's boring and overpriced! Everything is overpriced in this shop! I would not be a regular customer here. Berkeley Bowl is way more affordable even if I only buy Grass Fed. Which I do... Sorry to say but my wallet is like: -Please buy the grass fed from Uruguay because it's half a price... I WISH I could afford the ridiculous "sustainable" local prices, that only sustain other people... As a cave woman I'd go hungry really fast shopping at this venue.... However... They have specialty stuff that I LOVE and IS worth the price for me. I can order brain and blood and pigs feet! This is amazing and this is why they get 4 stars from me! Also the store is really neat and the workers are really helpful! Will I be back! Obviously! Every two to three months... For a 20-30$ special purchase. :) read more

I was definitely surprised when I walked into an immaculate butcher shop in North Berkeley and was greeted by a prominently displayed pig's head. It was a little hard to look the surprisingly-still-cute pig in the eyes and say, "I'm gonna eatchoo," but I figured if I eat meat, I should be comfortable with where it comes from. I watched as the butcher sliced off a piece of a pig's leg to give me my rear shank, which still had little piggy hairs on it. A little shocking at first, but at least I knew it was fresh. The color of the meat reminded me of high quality tuna sashimi - red and pulsating with life. I took my chuck roast and pork shank home and treasured it like a 19th century immigrant would. I stewed the tough pieces of meat (ie. cheaper pieces) for hours in a pot filled with vegetables and potatoes. I'm not a great cook, but both stews were so incredibly tasty that I now believe that happy animals taste better than sad animals. Since it was so expensive, the meat was savored over multiple meals, perhaps as it should be. read more

I took the pate making class at The Local Butcher. Jason and Jason are a great teaching team. We learned to make a variety of pates and terrines. And we went home with chicken mousse pate. We learned how to make head cheese but they spared us the cooking of the whole pig's head and brought out the gelatinous meat that smelled like a delicious carnitas. Highly recommended. read more

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I like how the Local Butcher Shop is all locally-sourced, organic, blah blah without being sanctimonious about it. This place is the cleanest, best-lit and prettiest butcher shop I've ever seen. I came in here to pick up a couple of items for a birthday present, so I didn't get a chance to try out any of the meats. But, they have a nice selection of goods. They offer Rancho Gordo beans, fancy jams, harissa, fennel pollen, expensive polenta ($16 a package), rendered duck fat, schmaltz, bacon fat, homemade stocks, chocolate chip cookies made with lard, quince pulp/candy, duck rillettes, poultry brining mixes. All sorts of cool stuff! You're gonna drop a pretty penny here, though. Just be prepared. The Local Butcher Shop also offers knife sharpening and repair services. I think small/medium knife sharpening was $6, which seems reasonable. Actually I have no idea because I've never gotten my knives sharpened. FYI, their main entrance is off of Cedar Avenue, not Shattuck Ave. It's across the street from the Andronico's parking lot. read more

I can't comment on their butchery services. Today's Sandwich of the Day was roast beef, sliced tomato, roasted garlic aioli, castel vetrano olives, parsley, basil, and greens on a sweet roll. The roast beef was EXCELLENT (juicy!) and the rest of the sandwich was well-balanced. They don't really have seating at the store (it's a butcher shop, after all), so we sat at Ohlone Park and split one sandwich as a quick lunch. I want to say that this isn't a place that I would necessarily go out of my way for, but my dining partner has advised me that this conclusion requires corroboration from a few more Sandwiches of the Day. Will update soon. Bottom line: I had a delicious sandwich from the Local Butcher Shop. Today. read more

Wanted to post a review to confirm to other people who will be googling this topic next year that yes, this is the place to get your haggis for Burns Night! (Remember to reserve one in advance.) This was my first time cooking haggis, and for many of my somewhat apprehensive guests it was their first time eating it, and it was a smashing success. Easy to cook -- I was really nervous about "murdering" the haggis after all the buildup but the casing held together well in the oven while slicing very neatly at the table. And it was delicious enough that even the initially squeamish asked for seconds. Thanks, Local Butcher! read more

The Local Butcher Shop - And then, Oh what a glorious sicht, Warm-reekin, rich! - Butcher Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've ordered from The Local Butcher Shop a couple of times (both meat and sandwich orders), I've come to expect great service, great meat, and fair (read: a bit pricey) prices. The selection of meat covers most of the bases, anything I've ordered has always appeared fresh and tasted delicious. The freezer contains a variety of stocks (and dog food, too!). The staff's numerous and friendly, I've never had to wait more than a few minutes to get served. Regarding prices: I've never come out of here spending less than I thought I would. Turns out awesome-looking meat is pretty expensive. Even the sandwiches are a buck or two more than I'd like to pay. Oh well. I'm still coming back! Props for the little doggie area out front. Now my boxer can watch in envy as I poke my head around various delicious meats. read more

So, I basically brow beat The Local Butcher Shop into making me a haggis for Burns' Night. I started propositioning them months in advance so that I could do it myself if they decided not to. They did decide to and it was tops! Well blended flavours, considered, and thoroughly enjoyed by all involved! All of those in attendance were also completely impressed. I hope that I can convince them to make haggis a regular affair. Apart from my stellar haggis experience, I've also found them to be friendly, knowledgable, and they normally have the things that I go asking on. I cannot recommend The Local Butcher Shop enough! read more

Not much new to say about The Local Butcher Shop that hasn't already been mentioned. I agree, meat should not be cheap and should be treated as a "special" food, not something you eat every night. I buy pretty much all my meat here and find that when I pay a premium price to get a quality product, I am also less wasteful and careful when cooking. Naturally, this leads to a delicious meal. Generally, I find the service to be patient and informative. The trade-off is that it is slow. Sometimes, very slow. Most of the time, there seem to be enough staff there to speed things a long but maybe some have to stay at the cutting table. Either way, there could be some improvements to the flow of service when there are more than 3 people in there. Typically, it's not a problem since I am used to the snail-paced service in lots of Berkeley stores but when I am in a hurry, I am bummed because I usually have to leave because of the wait. Other brief mentions: +Big points for The Local Butcher Shop for being clean. +Varied selection of items for dogs - nice touch. +Ability to ask for very specific cuts is great. -Though I don't think he is truly "mean" or rude but there is one guy who's helped me several times that never smiles and comes across as being very surly and even annoyed to be helping you. -Sandwich made with excellent products but they should take it easy on all the sweet things they pair with the meat. Not everyone likes chutneys and other fruit-based ingredients in a sandwich. Should also be freshly assembled for price. That being said, I feel very lucky to have a shop like this nearby. read more

I started coming here on a semi-regular basis to pick up for my seafood CSA. I like checking out the display cases, even though I don't eat that much meat anymore and certainly can't afford their prices on a regular basis (though I'm thinking that if I cut down on the amount of meat I do eat, then I *could* spring for some of their cuts every now and then...) So while I can't really afford their going rate for lambchops, I'll pay the single-digit price/pound for a bit of lamb offal that will go a long way when raw feeding my dogs. Hey, lamb kidneys and healthy-looking pork livers are hard to find! With secreting organs for larger creatures like ungulates, I actually *do* feel better knowing that the animal has not been fed a lifetime of garbagefood before slaughter, since these are the organs that process all the poisons, after all! They always seem to have a selection of dehydrated pet treats at the counter. Kind of pricey, yes, but comparable to the holistic pet store on the other side of Shattuck... Anyway, the pork skin twists I picked up were a sufficient masticatory workout for my 20-30 pound dogs, and less messy and greasy than your typical crunchy store-bought pigs ears. I plan to check out their broth and soup stock sometime, housed in the same case as their frozen raw dog food, which is a healthy mixture of beef muscle and organs plus veggies. Their store blend is not balanced to AAFCO pet food standards, but if you know what to do with it, you'll find that it's an exciting product at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, my two canines don't do well with beef, but if they ever have other protein blends, we'll happily snap up a couple blocks. Geez, I might as well have written this review in the voice of my dogs. As if the world needs anymore proof that I AM a crazy dog lady... read more

I seldom eat meat, but when I feel the need for an extra boost, I drop in at The Local Butcher Shop on Cedar where I can be sure to get the very best chicken or beef. Oh, and don't let me forget the wonderful sausage selection. Excellent. read more

Best sandwiches! I'm not a big eater so half a sando is enough to fill me up. Doesn't matter what they put in between the bun, it's always so good. Sometimes they run out fast but you can call and reserve one for yourself. Thank goodness for this place. This is top quality stuff Berkeley deserves. The broths, the meats, the sandos, the service, "The Local Butcher Shop" is too low-keyed, too humble a name to really describe this place; as far as I'm concerned, it should've been called, "The Best Place on Earth"!!! read more

Mustard in the sammies, please.... I've long been tempted to carry my own pepper mill when dining out, but haven't managed to find a proper pocket model that won't leave gravel in my jacket. I will start packing German mustard in a travel squeeze tube for daytime grazing, however. The meat, bread, et al sammies are superb at the Local Butcher Shop, but just a bit of grainy mustard would elevate them to perfection. (Is mustard just too scary for the general populace? Did it fall from hipster grace?) Sorry, that was a digression. The raw cuts are gems of tasty beauty. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The shop is pristine, so unlikely the meat lockers I frequented as a child with my Dad. (I grazed on complimentary cold hot dogs, kicked around the sawdust, and stared in wonder at the icy blades.) read more

I love that these guys carry lardo, which I had a hard time finding elsewhere in Berkeley (Café Rouge hasn't carried it for years). The slices I got were perfectly cut--delicate, thin, and layered between parchment for easy peeling. That said, the lardo did taste a bit old and could have been more aromatic--more rosemary, maybe? The coppa di testa is solid. They were also selling a rustic, chunky paté rolled in bacon a while back that was pretty stellar, but I haven't seen it the past few times I've been. Also, headcheese? Yes, please. It's not entirely fair to review their charcuterie, since that doesn't seem to be the focus. I had (pricey) marrow bones from them a while back, which were delicious, but really, how can you go wrong with marrow? Their sandwiches--despite the numerous condiments & toppings--taste surprisingly minimal; the focus is really on the quality of the meat, and it's really fresh. I'll have to go back for the meat itself. Service can be uneven. The owners are really friendly, informative but not pedantic, and happy to talk about their stock. The counter service last time was perfunctory. No greeting, no small talk (fair enough); the counter guy just kind of stared at me in this kind of tired way and asked what I wanted. I'm not expecting glowing service, but the ups and downs can be a little jarring. read more

This is the only butcher shop I will go to in the East Bay. Not only is everything local, but it's a butcher shop that is CLEAN. The place was packed and even though we waiting about 15 minutes and paid $10/lb for ground beef, it was definitely worth it. I wish I lived in Berkeley and could make this a regular stop for me. I'm definitely looking forward to come back around lunch time one day to try their sandwiches! read more

Delicious meats, spotlessly clean, pricey but worth it. The Toulouse sausage is one of the best things I've eaten ever. Service has been good to excellent, though it usually hasn't been too busy when I've gone in there. For those of us who don't live in the neighborhood, parking is spotty. I usually park at the Andronico's across the street, and the parking attendant's never called me out on it since I usually buy some food there too. (They must be getting a lot of spillover business.) I have not yet tried the "sando of the day," because "sando." read more

This is a local gem in San Diego...With exceptional prices, varieties & cuts of meats.