Looking for Butcher shop or good meat market on East Side? (Seattle: for sale, house)

[Verio]

We just moved in near Snoqualmie this week, and we're looking for a good meat market or butcher shop between Bellevue and Snoqualmie. In Texas, there's a chain called HEB that has specialty stores called Central Market (they compete with Whole Foods, in that respect). Inside Central Market, they have store-made sausage, cut to order meats and all kinds of various types of meats. It was great to be able to order everything we wanted at the store.

We've been to PCC, Safeway, and the local IGA here in Snoqualmie, and all of them seem to have just pre-cut, pre-packaged beef without any USDA grades on them. I even asked PCC if they had bulk sausage and I was told it was in the frozen section. No Thanks.

Just looking for an equivalent store out here.

Yes, I know it's going to be expensive as well, before the penny pinching CD folks jump on the thread. We used to pay between 15.99 and 18.99 for Prime-graded NY Strip, and usually waited for sales on Choice-graded Rib Eye's for 8.99-10.99. Grass fed beef usually ran us 2.99-4.99lb.

Edit - I tend to stay away from Whole Foods for a few reasons, one of them is the smell. I don't really know what it is, but there's a distinctive disgusting smell from every whole foods I've ever been into, and it's nauseating. That, and it makes me feel bad for liking some items that aren't "all natural", including salt. Someone please explain to me how salt can be anything but un-natural when it's rock.

Thanks!!

[Ira500]

Bill The Butcher is a small chain with locations in Bellevue, Redmond, and Woodinville. High end, great stuff, and not cheap.
Golden Steer on Bel Red Rd in Bellevue has been around almost forever and people like them. Not as high end as Bill's , but good.

[Kayela]

I <3 the Golden Steer! Their customer service is excellent and their prices are competative w/QFC Safeway, etc.. (and their quality is better) They aren't grade A (they carry USDA choice), but I've never had anything that wasn't excellent quality. Never been to Bill the Butcher, but they do seem popular. There is also Fischer Meats in Issaquah.

[seattlenextyear]

Fischers Meats in Issaquah. All the meat we've had there has been good.

[texastrigirl]

Originally Posted by seattlenextyear

Fischers Meats in Issaquah. All the meat we've had there has been good.

Ditto. They have been in business 100 years I think. I am from Austin and I know what you are looking for in a Central Market type place. Fischers also partners with a fresh seafood market in the same space so it's your one stop shop.

Try their homeade jerky!

[Verio]

Originally Posted by texastrigirl

Ditto. They have been in business 100 years I think. I am from Austin and I know what you are looking for in a Central Market type place. Fischers also partners with a fresh seafood market in the same space so it's your one stop shop.

Try their homeade jerky!

Thanks a lot Texas (and all the others), we'll check out Fischers first, and then give the others a try if we need to.

Do you have any ideas for other markets as well? PCC was nice, spendy, but nice. Reminded me a lot like Central Market.

[Hemlock140]

There is a Central market in Poulsbo that we stop at when in the area. They had planned a new one at Issaquah Highlands but it was cancelled when the economy tanked. Closer ones are in Shoreline and Mill Creek, but the same people run Ballard Market and Greenwood Market.

[texastrigirl]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

There is a Central market in Poulsbo that we stop at when in the area. They had planned a new one at Issaquah Highlands but it was cancelled when the economy tanked. Closer ones are in Shoreline and Mill Creek, but the same people run Ballard Market and Greenwood Market.

Actually not the same CM as in TX. It is owned by the chain HEB which is only in TX I believe. And too bad, because it's a really fantastic grocery store!

Verio, I love Trader Joes so that's where I go in combination with QFC, which generally has good cuts of meat for everyday cooking. I do go to Fischers when I can and there is also Gemini Seafood Market off of Gilman. Trader Joes is in Issaquah as well, same complex as PCC but back off of the other side past Lowes, by PetSmart. They have great prices on organic produce and wine. Their house brand is terrific.

Just in case you are looking for some good tacos, try La Venadita on Gilman in Issaquah. Very authentic. Other places that we find good (coming from TX that is) are:

Ooba Toobas (in Redmond, worth the drive)
Agave in Issaquah Highlands
Cactus in Kirkland
Pesos in Queen Anne

Welcome to the PNW!

[SaltyDawg]

on Bel/Red.

It is the only business on the Eastside that I will specifically travel to from Seattle to purchase from.

Top-drawer quality and service.