Best Butcher Shop in New Jersey

[RO94]

I was reading a discussion on NY board and started wondering if there was a particular butcher that any of you would recommend.  I recently moved to Union County (on the border with Somerset) and I have found two close to where I live:

The first is New Providence - Barth's Pork Store.  Pretty good selection of pork & beef.  I love to grill and have been pretty happy with their cuts.

The second I found was John's Meat Market in Scotch Plains.  Again, very good cuts of beef.  I will say that the last time I was there I asked for 2 inch thich sh*ll steaks and it was ridiculously priced.

Here is there site:

http://www.johnsmarket.com/

My favorite so far is located in Bergen County.  I love the meat at "The Market Basket" in Franklin Lakes.  The butchers really know there stuff and the meat is always excellent.  Only prime cuts.

Any opinions??

[tommy]

i'm glad you mention the market basket.  i have heard so much about it.  i went in not too long ago, and was surprised at how small the place is.  especially the meat display. i have to assume, however, that they can get you whatever you want with some notice?  

[RO94]

The Market basket recently went through a major renovation.  It is quite large now.  The one I am referring to is located on Franklin Lake Road right by the circle.

I know there is an "original" Market Basket but I believe that one is located in Wyckoff but am not positive.  The "original" one is quite small.

We have never had a problem with any of our orders for meat.  We usually make large meat and fish orders during the holidays.

Definitely worth the trip.

[Rosie]

I don't buy much meat but when I do I buy it at Costco. The veal chops, steaks and ribeye roasts are excellent. Otherwise I will go to Kings or Fresh Fields.

[tommy]

Quote: from RO94 on 2:38 pm on Jan. 14, 2002

The Market basket recently went through a major renovation.  It is quite large now.  ...

I know there is an "original" Market Basket but I believe that one is located in Wyckoff but am not positive.  The "original" one is quite small.

yup, i went to the original.  i'll try to find the other (gotta find franklin lakes first i suppose!)

[jsibley]

First, I think the beef at John's in Scotch Plains merits a few more words. They have prime, dry-aged (yes, dry-aged) beef. At about ผ per pound for a NY Strip Steak, not a bad deal, at all, imo (and delicious).

On a totally different note, I like Fritz's, which is in Union, near Elizabeth at 550 North Avenue (around the corner from Kean). It is German / Austrian. There are some very nice sausages and hams, as well as very good strudel and prune dumplings (sometimes, apricot dumplings, too). I particularly like a sausage called Cabanossi. All in all, a good find.

[Rosie]

Welcome Jsibley. It's great to see you on eGullet. Be sure to let us know where you have been dining. You always have great finds.

(Edited by Rosie at 8:51 pm on Jan. 14, 2002)

[jsibley]

Thanks, Rosie.

This group seems to have a great job of finding the places I like, such as Wondee's (by the way, has anyone mentioned that there is a very good Thai / Indonesian grocery just down the block from Wondees in Hackensack?)

I had to think for a while to come up with a place that is off the beaten track and worthwhile, and I came up with Five Burro Tacos in North Bergen. It's a hole in the wall, with a couple of stools, but they make good, authentic (Mexican, not Tex-Mex) tacos. The owner is actually a CIA grad, who used to work in NYC and opened this place with some Mexican colleagues.

On another note, I met a Portuguese man who has lived here for a while who recommended the following restaurants in Newark (I haven't tried them yet):

Seabra's Marisqueira (this is the only one I had heard of)

Sol Mar Vila Nova

Taste of Portugal

Fernandez Steakhouse

Pulaski BBQ (for grilled chicken and ribs)

Anyone familiar with any of these?

[Jason Perlow]

hey Jonathan! What took you so long?

Great to see you here.

[jsibley]

Hi, Jason. Guilt about posting somewhere other than you-know-where.....

I realize I drifted from the original thread topic in my last post. Should I just repost the restaurant piece as a new thread?

[Jason Perlow]

Nah. Topic Drifting is fashionable here. Our software doesnt crash your system when you do that on this site :)

[tommy]

Quote: from jsibley on 9:19 pm on Jan. 14, 2002

by the way, has anyone mentioned that there is a very good Thai / Indonesian grocery just down the block from Wondees in Hackensack?)

there is one, probably the one you're talking about, about 2 doors down from Wondee's.  it is indeed a great little place, filled with hard-to-find products.

[Oceangroveguy]

I like Seabra's Marisqueira a lot, especially when I can sit at the bar - the locals tend to eat at the bar or at the tables in the bar area, and it's a more lively scene than in the back room. Either way, the fish is very good, they have decent bottles of inexpensive Portugese wine, and the staff are accomodating.