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Categories: Meat Shops, Delis
Neighborhood: ClaremontMon-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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a tad bit on the "pricier" side for sandwhiches, but
IT WAS SO DAMN GOOD
Or maybe anything w/salami taste better??? We had The Classic and The Godfather.
We got there at around 3:30 PM ons Sunday and got the last 4 slices of bread for our 2 sandwhiches. The lady after us got rejected because they ran out of bread. If I were her, I would have gone to the grocery side and bought a loaf of bread for them to use!! You can always use bread at the house why not get one sandwhich premade for you :)
Mmm Mmm delicious!
it's a little pricey, but in this case you really do get what you pay for!
all the sausages are made in-house, and are amazingly delicious!
I've been hearing about the incredible sandwiches, and I've just tried the Classic. OMFG. $8 is a little pricey for a sandwich, but see above! And you really only need to eat half the sandwich, so really it's a $4 p/person sandwich.
You will not regret spending $ here at all!
These sandwiches are ridiculous, they are THAT good. Every one of them... We've ordered them for parties and people are blown away every time.
These guys know their meat (it's top quality) and they don't mind sharing their knowledge with you.
Suggestion - get there early on Sunday, they get their bread delivered fresh from La Farine, so you could be out of luck if they run out! You couldn't be mad, it would be your loss! So, so, so good.
Great place to buy fresh meat! It's always fresh, yaaammmyyyy and their pastrami as K P said is just astonishing! A month ago they let me watch how they are cutting one big piece of meat from dead pork. It was disgustin but it was interesting to watch. And after all the meat was delicious, so no problem! :) Great service I have to say!
I went here following the rave by another guy named Aaron B. I was looking to taste the pastrami, as I am a fan of , and was seeking a alternative to the expensive Saul's Deli.
The nice guy behind the counter didn't have any pastrami. He made it clear that it's a slow process and he just wasn't ready to do it again. That told me this is a guy who takes his product seriously.
He suggested roast beef, and as a matter of fact said something to the effect of "I'll fix you up a roast beef I know you will love". He was right! The roast beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender with just a hint of basic seasoning, served on a superb baguette with just a touch of hot mustard, cheese and lettuce and tomato. This was a sandwich truly worth the 8 bucks, and I can't wait to get back and try some of the homemade sausages!
The BEST sando (sandwich) in the East Bay! Period!
Couple that with and excellent butcher making their own sausages and using quality sources and you get Star Meats.
Know a better sanwich place?
Message me please, because I would like to know.
It's been a while since I've felt strongly enough to yelp someone, but I gotta say Star Meats is the best. We've weathered several other butchers in that location (in the back of Star Grocery on Claremont) and this one not only blows away every other vendor who's been in there, but the local competition as well. Sorry Market Hall guys - it's been nice and I know I've been a loyal customer for 5 years, but I've found a company who has unique cuts, great service, and wicked good pastrami sandwiches. Sorry Ver Brugge - I know I always used to call you up for the random stuff (venison, etc) but I have yet to call up Star Meats and have them tell me they don't have (or can't get) what I'm looking for. Plus, when I get there, they usually have it wrapped up with my name on it and hand it to me with a smile. Oh, and I love that while I'm picking up my flat iron steak, I can also grab some fresh local organic arugula, a loaf of acme bread, a box of instant butterscotch pudding, a box of dish detergent, and a bottle of amazing French wine WHILE I'm supporting a local business and family. Super rad goodness.
I love Star Meats. Love. They are the friendliest, most knowledgeable, most creative (check out their amazing array of sausage!) butchers around. No meat (or fish) request that you might have goes unanswered and they are absolutely all about customer service. Super! (Stars).
Fantastic!!
I called Jesse last week and ordered a meat platter and a cheese platter for a holiday brunch after being at two small office meetings he set up food for. Oh YUMMMMMMY! The cheeses are always fantastic and the meats are tasty and finely sliced, just perfect. Add in that super walnut bread his colleague was nice enough to sell me a loaf of because I was too short on time and shit, you've got the happiest little meal ever!
Never will I order a party platter from anywhere else again.
I love Star Meats. Jesse and staff know their meat and cheese, so if you are looking for something less styro and cling wrap packagy and something more resembling the butcher shop your grandparents probably grew up with, this is the place.
Aside from meats and cheeses, they also make a mean sammich, and I have a special fondness for their chicken pies...the chicken and mushroom one in particular.
All this and it's in the back of a cute as a button-for-real-retro grocery with neon and cool signs. Can't go wrong at Star.
I've known Jesse S for over five years, when he went out of his way to teach me a thing or seven about cheese care and presentation prior to opening my shop, Farmstead Cheeses and Wines, in Alameda.
His generosity of spirit and deed has stuck with me throughout the years, and I have always been in awe of his deep and pervasive knowledge of food and culture.
Since that time, Jesse and I have maintained a very friendly relationship while he was working at my main cheese supplier, and he stopped by Farmstead to pick up a case of wine at least once a quarter.
I was overjoyed when I heard that he was taking over the counter at Star, and Mrs Cheesemonger and I have promised ourselves to buy meat from him whenever possible.
He has populated the cases with a well-curated (albeit small) cheese counter (this is a meat shop and not a cheese shop, so it's about the size and selection that you'd expect), top flight artisan cured meats, prepared foods and the usual humanely raised, artisan meats and poultry items that we expect in the east bay.
His staff is exemplary - foodies with communication skills. In fact if I didn't love Jesse so much, I'd try to woo them from his employ.
All in all, a great place to buy meats.
Welcome to retail, Jesse. I won't wish you luck, because you're doing all of the right things already, and success will rain undoubtedly upon you like... like hot dogs....
Thanks for payin' it forward those many years ago...
yer pal,
Cheesemonger Jeff
Jessie - today you changed my life...
I strolled into Star Meats today because I had an uncomfortable feeling - HUNGER! I was at the counter getting ready to order, not quite sure what I was going to order, when the gentleman in front of me mentioned Pastrami.
Well, I like pastrami, and it had been a while since I had it - Why not?
"I'll have a Pastrami Sandwich"
Jessie took my order, and all but insisted that the pastrami was hot - of course I didn't argue.
Jessie ran my credit card, passed me my sandwich and said, "Eat this sooner rather than later"
I got back to the office and I set up shop to see just how good this pastrami was...
"oh boy"
Now I've been to New York, the unofficial pastrami capital of the world, I've eaten at Carnegie, and my father is an avid pastrami enthusiast.
However, the Niman Ranch pastrami they serve at Star Meats is out of this world.
Served on a fresh La Farine Baguette with a wonderful provolone cheese, this was truly something special.
On top of the food, Jessie's customer service and more so, pride of work, made the meal so much more enjoyable.
You see, I've worked in the Hospitality Industry, customer service is my passion and today confirmed my theory that your meal starts long before the food, it starts with the service, and the passion behind it.
Thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, I will be back and I'm going to continue the revolution!
-AB
Good thing Jesse took this place over.
Having experienced the previous 3 or 4 operators, from Pagni to present, I can tell you the butcher in the back of Star Grocery has never looked so good or had so much on offer.
Need some brats for your cookout? They've got you covered.
Or maybe some cow already marinated and ready to slap on the grill? Again, covered.
Chicken? Lamb? Lobster? Check. Check. And check (seasonal).
Maybe you bagged a 250# wild pig and need someone to turn it into chops and bacon. This is your place.
Maybe just a quick bite is what you need. Have a sandwich and a side, it's the only place where, in an indecisive moment, you can order a "turkey and brie with stuff" and get something awesome. You can't go wrong, it's all delicious, go there now, or go first thing tomorrow.
In the back of a cute, small town feeling, yet specialty food having market, is this marvelous butcher shop. There is a great selection of fish and meats. They make their own sausages and deli salads and other delicious items.
On principle I thought I hated head cheese. I've been trash talking it for years. But after Big Mike offered me a sample made in the store with flakes (not granuals) of some exotic salt on a cracker I was amazed at the delishiosity (all other words seemed over used, had to make up a new one)
Everyone is ultrahelpful. Fresh cuts of meat. Recipe suggestions. Pleasant gastronomic suprises.
Star Meats is located in the back of Star Grocery. A neighborhood gem!
I stopped in yesterday for the first time in awhile and man o man....This place has always been a 5 star place for me because of the quality service from Mikey. The sandwich menu he has created has been in many of my 'lunchtime dreams'...and the selection of pre-made salads and such is just insane!
And now, Jesse the new owner, has made the actual store match the quality of service!
This is a 6 star place.............Star gets 6 stars!
Really really really good meat, sold by really really really good butchers. They are always up to recommend some good stuff, and tell you how to cook it so that it's perfect. Jesse has gotten my husband and I eating some stuff that we wouldn't have tried before (onglet....om nom nom), and made our last Christmas badass with an AMAZING roast. The sandwiches are killer, too.
These guys are the greatest. The service is friendly and the staff aims to please. Not only that, but the quality of the meat is outstanding. Great cuts and good selection. For the highest quality beef experience, I've been alternating purchasing both whole primal rib and various sections of the tenderloin and having them dry age it for me. Super yum!
British style Back Bacon
These guys have got it! They make it themselves.
If you're looking for a place with delicious high end meats this is your place. Weather it's their many Niman ranch meat cuts, specialty made sausages, or seafood selections I've sometimes never heard of before, I'm always excited to see what's in their display cases. Jesse is a true craftsman and it's apparent in how he runs his meat shop. Stop by for a sandwich...if you aren't in a hurry, it will be obvious that a lot of care and love went into your sandwich creation.
Excellent quality meat, great-big deliciously executed sandwiches, thoroughly knowledgeable personnel who take the time to educate without being preachy snobs....a wonderful resource in a delightful neighborhood. Thankfully everything is not grass fed, and they have the good sense to know that proper marbling and higher fat content are actually desirable in a great steak. If we could only get real USDA prime.....yeah I know, forget it. Anyhow, these guys are running a first class butcher shop. Significantly superior to the last schmoe that occupied that shop. Go there & buy meat!
I am so excited about the recent renovation of this place. Star Meats was previously Barons Meat and Poultry (you can still find Barons in the Alameda Marketplace). What a huge improvement to the Berkeley location! It really needed this revamp. The place is cleaner and updated with simple touches that make this place well worth traveling to. There is an excellent selection of organic free range and natural meats. Jesse the new owner has brought in a selection of cheeses that bring this place up to par with some of the better cheese shops around. Mikey and Brian are still there! They worked for the previous owner, and developed a following for their sandwiches, fresh salads and unsurpassed food knowledge. They even started a catering company based on demand! ("Blend" ) Ask them how you should cook your Cowboy Steak or the Bavette and you can't go wrong.
I grew up with a sicilian great grandmother. The butcher would cringe every time we walked through the door. It's an understatement to say I am "Selective". This is a place I would take my Nana to, head held high and watch her discerning examination of the meat. The staff is knowledgeable, and friendly. The shop is clean. The prices are a bargain. I would go here to support the art of meat. (Jesse could lecture at Cal. about Cheese).
Alameda, CA
Category: Meat Shops
Neighborhood: Claremont
Category: Meat Shops
Berkeley, CA
Category: Meat Shops
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Meat Shops
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Meat Shops
