This is my favorite butcher in Thornbury. Conveniently located across the road from Psarakos, the…read moreorganic meat here is excellent quality and price.

The best butcher in the local area by a fair bit. Their lamb.... is actually lamb, and not cheaper…read moremutton. The organic range is small but not outrageously priced. Best way to test a butcher is their mince. It's the easiest product to cheat on and go very low quality. These guys don't. They also mince on the spot for you if you ask Try the grass fed and aged beef or the free range pork.

I rang Psarakos to enquire about a special on wine & the male who answered was very rude & abrupt…read more He told me to get my facts straight & hung up on me! The worst customer service ever!! I will be going to Dan Murphy's from now on!!

It doesn't look much from outside, but Psarakos Brothers Vege Barn is a little bastion of all…read morethings fruit and vegetable in the inner north. Stretching over a couple of football fields' worth of real estate, the place is chocked full with produce ranging from your run of the mill 'Australian'-style spuds and onions, to a wide range of Asian varieties and further regional obscurities. The stuff here is pretty much non-organic, but is usually in pretty good shape at least for a week after purchase. The big difference here are the price-points. Psarakos provide their veges in bulk, so it pays to sift through the bins, but the prices match and even often better those seen at Preston or Victoria markets. Plus there is very little hassle-factor in shopping here, with ample parking and a very relaxed overall vibe about the place. A downside is the opening hours which are limited and Saturdays can be a little hectic. But if you hate the market rush and chow through a couple of bags of greens a week, you can walk out of here with two bags full of groceries for under forty bucks.

Ok I'll come clean. I did initially come to this store with a wallet full of five dollar notes…read moreexpecting a lap dance and a bit of day time entertainment. But I came away with oh so much more. Breasts, rumps, thighs, bellies and a pretty nice rack of lamb. You see the Gourmet Meat Rack just has everything. And the shiny lights that are scattered throughout the store with specials and suggestions just worked to excite me even more. In fact I was so excited by the time I left the Gourmet Meat Rack that I had to go and sit down for a bit. You see it is not every day that you come across so much meat in one place. And I'm talking good meat too. All kinds of pieces of meat. And the best thing is that it is all for sale!

This incredible Northcote butcher certainly has a nice rack. And breasts, and thighs, and more…read more Silly me had been buying my meat for as long as I can remember from nearby Coles but today, today I struck meat gold in the form of Northcote Plaza's very own butcher, The Gourmet Meat Rack. 30 odd different cuts of beef; chicken portions and cuts that you just can't find at the supermarket; beautifully marinated looking skewers and very friendly and professional service, The Gourmet Meat Rack has it all. I spent around $20 today but for that came away with three ginormous chicken breasts, a handful of beef ribs and a giant piece of sirloin steak. The Gourmet Meat Rack is arguably better value than Coles and the meat looks fresher and is much more prettily displayed. A no brainer really.

The Continental Butcher is not so much continental as just another butcher. Sure, they sell pork…read moreand fennel sausages, but who doesn't these days. They also probably don't marinate their chicken wings in teriyaki sauce. But there is nothing that I can tell that particularly makes this butcher continental. The Continental Butcher doesn't really seem to offer anything other than what you can get at any supermarket or market stall. There is nothing particularly bad about the fact that this particular butcher is nothing too special. It is reasonably priced and I do prefer to buy from these guys rather than from the supermarket. It's just that I sometimes lament the fact that you can't get some more interesting cuts from butchers, as well as maybe some more interesting kinds of meat. When I first saw the sign mostly written in Greek with the only English words written "Continental Butcher" I guess I was expecting something a little bit rustic and old school.

Want meat? Meet Northcote Shopping Centre's Continental Butcher. A does what it says on the awning…read morebutcher that is handily located right next door to Aldi and selling - you guessed it! - a pretty awesome selection of meat. There's obviously nothing wrong with going to nearby Coles to buy meat, but Continental Butcher is arguably cheaper and just as good and if you're after sausages? There really is no question. Continental Butcher is the place to go. Selling a standard range of different cuts of chicken, pork, beef etc, Continental also does a fine line in some pretty gourmet sounding sausages containing things like fennel and sundried tomatoes. The flavour? Pretty good for not-too-expensive sausages. A little gristley but good all the same. Ok, this place might not be glamour incarnate but when you're selling bits of dead animal razzamatazz isn't obligatory now is it?! A great local butcher; if you're a Northcote local you should check it out.

At first glance Bivano and Sons appears to be a high quality and well stocked fruit and vegetable…read moreshop. But anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting this well known grocer knows better! Yes B & S has the best looking and diverse range of fruit and veg I have seen, but it doesn't stop there. There is a beautiful range of flowers to choose from as well as a deli section I could very well live in. Any shop that has a fridge of Ben and Jerry Ice-Cream has my vote. And yes, they do stock a range of sauces and deliciousness from Gourmet Simon Johnson. This grocer is not only filled with beautiful products but friendly staff and a conjoining butcher for all your carnivourous needs. This place is a pleasure to visit and its produce joyous to consume. Yes, it is that good. All other greengrocers take note please.

When the recipe that I was planning to cook called for spicy pork sausages I knew where to buy…read morethem. I buy sausages here because they make a great variety of really excellent sausages of for all kinds of meats with all kinds of flavors. It is great to go to a BBQ with some distinctively flavored sausages, like chicken coconut curry, or some lean kangaroo meat sausages. The butchers have won some prizes for their sausages that they proudly declare on their window display. Aside from their sausages I've also bought some spare ribs for a pirate BBQ party that I had last year. It isn't a big shop and there are always a couple of people ahead of me when I go in but often it takes that time for me to make up my mind on seeing the selection of sausages.

An Italian butcher that knows meat, respects it and offers great service and quality. Try their…read moreItalian snags, great beef, grab a porchetta to roast, so many options including some great value cheap cuts and quality pork and veal mince that's perfect for so many dishes! If you need something a bit unusual just ask, it'll probably be out the back or they'll be able to get it in for you.

Only a small little butcher but they are very high on quality…read more I love the leg ham here and the marinated chicken wings

Its excellent if you want fresh vegetables and fresh meat or fish. There is a some take away food…read moreoptions but its not overly amazing.

I love this place, it's been around since my first year of school and all through my childhood, now…read morewhen I go back I eat a nostalgic jam donut and take some friends. Dinner in the halls and even some wondering. I know 5 stars is a lot. But how often can you time travel and take a literal walk through your child hood.

You'll probably notice the large sign 'Continental Butcher' before you notice the quaint shop front…read morebelow it. However you find it, do because supporting your local butcher is a good thing, and buying your meat here will definitely be a good thing for you. Russo's specialises in aged beef, done on site by their professional butcher. There are of course also fresh quality meats, and their deli section is chock full of cured meats and cheeses. If you see a cheese you like the look of but you're not too sure about making a purchase, ask them to let you have a little taste. Whenever I've been in, they've been only too happy to put on a cheese tasting. Only problem is, once it has been tasted, it is virtually impossible to leave the shop without it. But that is the whole point, isn't it.