Rain Shadow was recommended to me for a special dish which requires ground lamb (not always easy to find). I called ahead to mKe sure they had it which they did and offered to ground it for me. The service was amazing, everything was ready and nicely packaged when I arrived. The best part was the quality of the lamb, absolutely perfect. They have a great selection of the highest quality meats. Can't wait to go back for the filets. Highly recommend this local business. read more

Although Rain Shadow Meats provides quality cuts of meat, their selection is limited with few of each cut to choose from, and their prices are exorbitant. read more

I've come here several times and it's usually great. However today the customer service was very bad. When we walked in and ordered, the three men were whispering and laughing at us. I was there with my partner and I'm assuming I had experienced discrimination. I'm not going to go back. Good meat tho. read more

Here's the deal with Rain Shadow on Melrose. The butcher shop is extraordinary. We purchased a couple of gorgeous rib-eye steaks, as well as some bone-in pork chops - both were outstanding. What completely sucked was the service. If I'm paying over $50 for two meals' worth of meat, I expect to be treated with at least some common courtesy. These guys were rude. We asked a simple question, inquiring if their bacon was made with nitrates. Some guy huffed and and rolled his eyes and answered, "YES", as if the question was stupid. We're going to give the Rain Shadow in Pioneer Square a try since it's close to my office. If they're rude there, too, I don't care how great the products are - I'm taking my business elsewhere. read more

Food connoisseurs or quintessential bachelors/bachelorettes alike should pick up some Rain Shadow meatballs to elevate any home cooked italian meal. These toothsome delights are enormous, made of several types of ground meat, and gently coated with bread crumbs. You could plop them on top of some pasta or put them in a hoagie roll. I'm in love, And, surprisingly, they sell the best pretzel. Big as your fist, chewy on the inside, crackly exterior, and lightly salted. Who would have guessed?? read more

People who've known me for years are frequently surprised to learn that I'm not a vegetarian, but a carnivore. (Well, okay, omnivore....) Why? Because I work very hard to cook and eat sustainably, which usually means meat is off the table, literally and figuratively. Although I eat meat, I have a host of ethical guidelines to follow when doing so. And while Seattle is a fairly easy place to pull this off in local restaurants, the difficulty arises when grocery shopping (even somewhere like Whole Foods or PCC, since labels don't mean a lot and organic meat trucked in from across the country isn't truly sustainable). Enter Rain Shadow Meats....Two full cases of meat, from a host of beef cuts to various pork options to chicken and rabbit and eggs, you won't be short of options! Not to mention the farms and ranches from which they source are truly sustainable, in that they're local and follow important standards of humane treatment in both care and feeding of their animals. Everything is labeled as to origin, so you can even go home and do your own research on exactly what the producer's standards and ethics are. Rain Shadow is in the lovely new spot in the Melrose Building; it feels like an indoor European market (although of course much smaller!) with multiple stands and spaces for other businesses, existent or soon to become so. I've only been in once, but I can promise you I'll return often (and soon); the Cornish hen we shared last night was lovely. And even if you don't eat meat, check out the big pretzels and pretzel rolls stocked by the cash register: yum! read more

Rain Shadow Meats is staffed with some of the most helpful and friendly people around. Whenever I stop in, whether its to grab some steaks, bacon, or just poke around and ask questions about their whole rabbits they are always willing to take a little bit of extra time and make sure that I am leaving confident that I am not going to completely butcher (ha) their meats, and that it's going to be cooked to perfection! The first time that I stopped in I was craving a steak, but I wanted to make it myself. A little weary of my ability to execute, I admitted my novice to the butcher and he was quick to offer advice and I left there more confident than ever. The result? PERFECT medium rare steaks. It wasn't just my newly acquired chef skills either, Rain Shadow Meats doesn't mess around, you're definitely getting the best of the best here. I just wish that they opened a little bit earlier so that when I wake up on Sunday morning and absolutely NEED bacon, I don't have to wait until 10am. read more

Even if you think you don't care where you buy your meat, you should do so at Rain Shadow Meats. Because it will seriously change the way you think about where your food comes from, how it is prepared, and what on earth makes food taste so good (hint: it's the first two). I dropped by looking for sausage to make my first lentil and sausage soup in the crock pot. Shopping seems intimidating at first, because so much looks unfamiliar. That is 100% okay, because the staff behind the counter will tell you everything you need to know! Just tell them what you're trying to do. I like lamb, so I ended up with some deliciously seasoned lamb sausage and splurged on smoked bacon that made me want to eat bacon all alone and never share even a tiny piece. Not once was I made to feel dumb or that my order wasn't worth their time. In the end I left with bacon and 2 sausages for about $13. Plus I got witty banter and made a cute guy laugh. I WIN ALL THE THINGS. p.s. I always want to call this place "Rain City Meats". That...is not their name. Also, walking here is the best bet, but if you must drive, park over near Pike and schlep down. Pay for a lot or overfeed the meter, because once you're here you'll want to browse around the other shops. read more

I am giving Rain Shadow Meats two stars because the pork tenderloin I cooked last night was very good. Otherwise I would give this shop NO STARS due to it's very poor costumer service. I normally shop at the Central Coop and the farmer's market so I value local organic food. I was very excited to find out that walking distance from my house there was a small butcher shop. First off, the door to the market was locked on a Friday afternoon ( I know Rain Shadow Meats isn't responsible for that). When I was trying to get someones attention to open the door the four guys working the counter at Rain Shadow Meats just stood there staring at me (they are right in front of the door). Some one from Calf and Kid ended up opening the door instead. Thank you Calf and Kid. I went up to the counter at Rain Shadow Meats and ordered, while I was paying I asked if they had any specials during the week. The cashier then said, "specials?" as if I just insulted him. I responded yes I wanted to know if they had any specials because sometimes they have specials at the Madison Coop. The cashier answered, "if they have specials it's because their meat is going bad. " He then paused and said " I guess all our meat is special" with a smug grin. Again the meat was great but as a new mom trying to save money yet feed healthy local food to my family I don't think being an ass to a simple question and acting as if they are doing me a favor by letting me spend my hard earned money at their expensive as hell shop is the way to make people come back. read more

Prices were crazy high, I ended up not buying anything. The guy at the counter really could have cared less...............bookmark removed.... read more

Great meat selection, but poor customer service. I have purchased meat several times at Rain Shadow, and I have always been impressed by their selection and quality. You can absolutely taste the difference. Unfortunately, they disappoint on their service. This past NYE, I called ahead for an order, but they couldn't find it when I arrived. This evening, I went in to purchase a leg of lamb at 6:50 pm, but I was told they were already closed for the night (I hustled to get there before 7 pm). The woman at the counter was happy to quote the prices, but not make the sale. Unbelievable... read more

We bought: -Pate foie de pate pork belly and liver terrine -Chicken mousse -Mortadella -Jamon I think we both enjoyed the chicken mousse, which is I think is the best seller in the pate/mousse category. My fiance really enjoyed t he mortadella as well. However, the jamon didn't stick out for me. Maybe it's because I had jamon at a tapas place the night before that blew my mind, but for some reason I wasn't too impressed with the jamon here. The pate foie de pate pork belly and liver terrine was also disappointing. I think there were too many components in it, so I got kind of lost trying to decipher the different flavors. Overall, I think the variety of meats is great. However, when I think about how much we paid for the food that was okay to good, I think 3 stars is most appropriate. read more

I must really like Seattle but this is my second 5star review ever. both of them are for seattle things. Maybe I'm just happier and more willing to give out 5 star reviews? We stumbled upon this place after walking around the Pioneer Square area. it was a Saturday and we our flight out was later that day, so we were looking for some lunch. Salumi was closed (weekend) so here we were. I had minimal expectations but this place was awesome. It was not busy enough that after we ordered, we got a seat facing their open kitchen. (they have a low bar kinda sitting area, as well as some tallboy tables). We got the porchetta sandwich and the corned beef/rueben. Both were fantastic. the corned beef was described as "best ever". It was also fun watching the butchers/food prep people do their thing, while we were there they were working on breaking down half a pig. A tad pricey but inline with other places. I regret not being able to go to Salumi, but if it is anything like this, Seattle should change their name to sandwich city. no one cares about emeralds anymore anyway. (we did not buy any of their meats, etc so this review is only for the food they serve) read more

We tried this place thanks to a friend weeks ago and thought the eats weren't too bad. We wanted to try some other selections and arrive after a long day of work from Puyallup only to be told we can come back tomorrow because our arrival at 6:35pm was too late even though anything related to this shows closing time to be 7:00p.m. Thanks for wasting our life!! read more

This place is a real throw back to the old fashioned butcher shops, but has a modern sensibilities. It's also next to: Homegrown, Bar Ferndinand, Sitka and Spruce, a great cheese store and a really terrific floral/gift shop is located in the back. Reminds me of a mini-version of the SF Ferry Building. Every time I come through Seattle I stop in here. I have two small dogs that I feed a raw diet and it is important to their health and to me that the meat is locally and ethically sourced. The first few times I came in and told them I was buying for my dogs they gave me a funny look but by now they are used to me. It's worth developing a relationship with them. The butchers are all very competent and knowledgeable about their product. Last time I came in they brought me the whole tray of cow bones from the back and helped me find the best bones for my purpose. Then they cut them up into the right size. Unless you have a bone saw at home this is a HUGE help. Pick up a dog treat on the way out for a dollar - it's basically a fried pork rind but of the highest caliber. read more

Rude and subpar service. Meat is good quality, sure, but not notable vs whole foods at 1/3 price. Great cured and sausage selection. Will not be going back read more

So, let me preface this with "I consider myself a vegetarian" (though my husband is certainly working on "fixing" that.) However, having never had more than a bite of the sausage from here (yep, he's fixing it, slowly but surely), I would definitely suggest frequenting Rain Shadow. The butchers here are very knowledgeable, kind, nice, helpful, and have even come out to our car before, when I was taking a picture of some random trash (over 50+ German learning CDs that someone had left in the street that we accidentally parked upon) to make sure we hadn't gotten broken into. Now that's attentive! The butchers are patient and attentive, and the meats look very fresh and shiny. The aged cuts look pleasantly aged, the fresher cuts look bright red, and they have interesting cuts - lamb, short ribs, etc. - while nothing is dripping unpleasantness. I highly recommend a trip, even if you're a veggie - the pretzels look AMAZING! (I regret not trying one, but I was SO FULL when we visited this last time!) read more

One word: Bacon. After going weak in the knees over a roasted beet salad with crispy lardon (rectangular chunks of cured pork belly or bacon) from Grand Central Bakery, I beseeched the kitchen staff to reveal their source. They suggested heading to Rain Shadow Meats, located inside Capitol Hill's newest neighbor, Melrose Market. This was news to me. Six months, several glowing recommendations and one New York Times article later, the butcher has arrived. Owner Russell Flint opened up shop with over a decade of butchery experience under his belt. He specializes in whole animal butchery which explains the large sides of meat, and occasional pig brazenly showcased in two walk-in coolers with peek-a-boo windows. With his additional role as sous chef at Boat Street Cafe, Flint possesses the kitchen smarts to impart recipes along with the meat he sells. His affable manner and profound passion for the craft hearken back to a time when butchers knew their customers by name and weren't afraid to get a little sinew under their fingernails. Side-by-side meat cases reveal a mouth watering array of good looking local meat. Tiny sausage patties, called crepinettes, are daintily wrapped in lacy caul fat, while gargantuan top sirloin steaks from Walla Walla, WA, entice with their crimson hue, a common characteristic of grass fed beef. Whole rabbit, duck and squab are par for the course. And don't forget their house made bacon, used to make those irresistible lardon. If instant gratification is in order, choose from a small but thoughtful selection of prosciutto, salami, lardo and pate. Hungry? A ceramic bowl sits atop the meat case, a permanent fixture brimming with soft, glossy pretzels from Columbia City Bakery. Go for the meat. It's reason enough. But stay for the friendly service, warm atmosphere and commitment to local farming. And the bacon. read more

Great place. Meat centric and everything meat wise is top notch. Highlights - Tartare - was a huge portion, and delicious. Porchetta sandwich - This is a must have. Subtle herbs, delicious chopped porchetta crisped just a bit and wrapped in french bread that soaks up all the love. So good. Rainshadow Press - straight forward, thin sliced meats, layered with arugula and a little bread. Nothing wrong with this at all. Great sandwich. Other - Pickled veg on every plate. Always love this and it was really good. Got a romaine salad as well, cause it's January and wanting to feel like we didn't order just meat..... Was okay, nothing special. Bottom line - meat related = F yeah!!!! Veg related (unless pickled) = okay. Overall, really good. Thanks. read more

I have not tried any of their prepared items, but I do get my meats here before I have visitors come into town or for special occasions. I love to cook and I'm pretty good at it, but when I use their meats I feel like the quality takes my food to the next level. It's almost like I can't mess it up. I also found the service to be good. I came by one day to get some short ribs for my birthday dinner, when one of the guys at the counter looked up and asked if i wanted some country pork rib for a great price. He had a little too much and gave me a great deal. I ended up buying twice as much as I needed and the pork was great. I even froze one and cooked it 2 weeks later and it was still spectacular. So, I don't have many complaints. The prices are higher and that's why i wait for special occasions, however, if i could afford it I'd get all my meat from them. The short ribs were nice and meaty with good marbling. The country style pork ribs were thick double cut ribs with lots of flavor. I wanted some pork belly with the skin on but they did not have it, but offered to order it for me. read more

I live next to a (now closed) Bill the Butcher's and decided to start going to Rain Shadow when I was disappointed multiple times by the selection at the other shop. They always have great selection at Rain Shadow - yes the meat is a little pricey, but we can have amazing local grassfed steaks that beat the experience at many steakhouses around here at half the price. Minus one star for parking - make sure you go during off hours during the day, Melrose Market is not the easiest place to find street parking. read more

I had called around to my local grocers for a short notice meat order and they all told me it wouldn't be ready in time and I would have to wait blah blah blah. So I called Rainshadow Meats and I placed an order with them on a Friday for a Saturday pickup. I asked for a specific cut of meat and that I wanted 2 of them at 2 lbs each. The person I talked to said it would be easier to give me one cut at 4 lbs rather than two cuts at 2 lbs. I told him I was only concerned with the meat being even for consistency in cooking time. He promised it would be ok and that he would tie it up and everything would be great. I went in to pick up my order and was pleasantly surprised to find it: cut, wrapped, ready to go, AND two completely separate cuts. Even though the butcher said it would be easier for 1 big one instead of 2 smaller ones they STILL cut it the way I asked. It honestly wouldn't have mattered either way but the fact that they did it for me simply because I asked speaks volumes for them. True customer service. And the best part of my experience was the meat quality. THE MEAT QUALITY!!! It was hands down one of the best pieces of meat I have ever had. I am no beginner in the kitchen but I know where the lines between my skill and the quality of the ingredients lay. No grocery store can touch this kind of quality. Last words: The reviewers who comment that they get "Better customer service at QFC" probably are right in regards to face time, but you will get the same or better service with special requests, advice, and general conversation than any grocery store meat counter. I find grocery store butchers to be rather two faced. Smiling in your face but not really all that happy to be helping you. At Rainshadow they are laid back but truly happy to have your business. In terms of customer service I would choose them over any grocery store. And ANYONE who likes going to a grocery store meat counter over this butcher shop is crazy. The quality of meat from these guys compared to "QFC" is night and day. If you love to cook or are just looking to give your dinner party a boost come here. You will not be sorry. This is my new meat spot. In the future if I need ANYTHING I will be coming here. read more

I have not tried the steak yet but I just wanted to say that this place had one of the worst services I've seen in a long time. I understand that I came in a little late around 6:55 but the worker already had his whole shop closed. I tried to be very polite and ask simple questions where I got some very apathetic and unhelpful responses. One of the worst condescending attitudes ever nonetheless and I will not be coming back here. read more

Sustainable, organic, grass-fed, local meat? YES please! We stopped in to order a fresh duck and prime rib for Thanksgiving dinner and received awesome informative service on how the meat goes from farm to butcher shop. I was so impressed with their large selection of meats and had to grab some fresh bratwursts for an impromptu german-style dinner. I can't wait to buy more meats from these guys. Thanks for being here for those of us who care about what we eat and also care about the meat we eat. read more

Continues to be one of my few 5 star reviews. I've tried just about everything here now (terrines, crepenettes, whole duck, leg of lamb, cote de bouef, you name it) and it has been nothing short of fantastic. There are very few places I've been where I can ask "what's good today?" and have the butcher walk over to a fresh lamb carcass, cut off a leg and hand it to me. Nothing short of awesome. Even better? I've got 3 yr old and 7 yr old girls who brave a 30 minute drive from suburbia just so they can get fresh pretzels and see all the meat. Then again, my 3 yr old yells "MEATTTTT!" when asked "what do we get from chickens?" so take it for what it's worth. Well done. read more

Gorgeous meat. If you get the special, its a real deal. They have a few old-school items which I know are now hip again. I think there was a giant beef liver in the case, but I may have been wrong. I bought cheap old pork shoulder to make German food, and it was divine. Even raw, thelocally-sourced meat SMELLS different than the stuff trucked in from Iowa or elsewhere. The guy was really nice, even when I discovered I didn't have my wallet, and had to walk home and get it. Because I need a keeper, or at least an assistant. PS, the pretzels totally made my German meal! Keep those, they are awesome! read more

Bomb meat counter... If I could afford to buy all my meats from this vendor I would be stopping by here on a daily. Their case is glowing red with fresh beef and friends. They choose the purveyors carefully to bring the best to the Hill without having to travel across the state to get some of these farmers' pride and joy. read more

Beautiful cuts of meet, house made sausages and friendly informed staff! Croquettes are amazing and the Mexican chorizo nicely spicy! This said, the star of my first experience were the amazing steaks I purchased after being provided the fun and free education around how Rain Shadow Sources and selects the meat they provide. I can honestly say the steaks I made were the best I have ever prepared. This is a great place and one I hope thrives! read more

This is our go to if we are entertaining or feeling like an indulgent meal. Though expensive, the quality and selection of their meat counter is incredible! By now we've sampled a large majority of their cuts, sausages, and other products and I can't say we have been let down once. The service here is fantastic too! They are very helpful in estimating the right amount to buy for a group and sometimes they have extra bones laying around that I grab for my dog. Two notes: we are lucky enough to live by Melrose Market but if you want to drive, you are going to struggle parking. Also, look up the hours as the closing times vary (we always seem to want to go there right at 7pm and realize we can't!) read more

I think it's great that Capitol Hill now has their own butcher offering a variety of meats from some great farms/ranches. They are still in their infancy but it appears to be a real solid operation. I live in Ravenna and have plenty of other places that are closer and offer just as good of a selection so I don't see myself going out of the way to get to Rain Shadow Meats but for the residents of the Hill and downtown this is a good option. read more

This place has the most beautiful fine meats I've ever seen. I recommend getting one of each kind of encased meat, as they are all good. (I haven't tried the breakfast meats, but will). Their ground chuck is even so good, I am considering just eating it raw, because it looks PERFECT. Pretty sure there's nothing wrong with that, after all, it's the cleanest meat in town, probably. There are nice things around the meat, like a Homegrown, a cheese shop, and a fancy Seattle open-kitchen restaurant, that I outright ignore, because the huge case of beautiful meat and rabbits and friendly service. read more

I love this place. The location is great, the prices are reasonable, the staff is tremendously friendly and helpful.

I am so happy to have a butcher in Capitol Hill! Russ and his crew give the best, most personal service I've experienced in Seattle. All of the meat in their case is locally sourced, sustainably raised, and most importantly, cut and cared for immaculately. You will never find a cut of meat in their case that doesn't make you drool just at the sight. On top of that, they make all their sausages, pate's, terrines, and other savory goods in-house. I grew up on these kinds of things and Rain Shadow has given me a whole new lease on life for liverworst! I see a lot of people commenting on the price, and all I have to say is pay that $20 for a sweet cut of cote de beouf, boneless ribeye, a smattering of lamb shanks; this is what amazing meat costs. Go home, eat it, and then come back for seconds. read more

I made my first purchase here over the weekend. I got some pork belly, chicken thighs, and a hot italian sausage. I've cooked the sausage (to go with some pasta) and did a little Chinese braised dish with the pork belly. So far, so good! I have been pretty satisfied with the meat. The thing that compelled me about trying Rain Shadow out, was the whole knowing where my meat is coming from, organic blah blah, and grass fed this that...you know stuff that makes me feel good about spending a little more on what I put in me. I'm trying to cook a little more at home and it's nice knowing this shop is within walking distance from where I live and they have such a wide variety of things to choose from. The prices weren't outrageous, I don't think. The service was great. I don't expect anyone cutting my meat for me to be over the top jolly to be giving me service. It was just the right amount of helpfulness...the guy helping me even put my meat in my tote bag :P I'll definitely be going back and trying out more stuff. The paté is calling my name.... read more

Love this place! Excellent cuts of meat, their breakfast sausages and steaks are amazing. Little on the pricier side but honestly you are paying for the quality and let's be honest -- these cuts at any steakhouse would cost 5 times as much. read more

I have a hard time buying meat from a grocery store anymore. Not only do most grocery stores have a much worse selection of meat (some will never carry grass-fed beef, most only stock T-bone steaks at certain times of year, etc etc), but I now know that the quality of meat at a grocery store is much worse. Reading The Omnivore's Dilemma has really influenced my buying decisions. Sure, prices may be 20-40% higher at Rain Shadow, but keep in mind that's really an apples to oranges comparison. You're getting a lot more value in a 6-oz grass-fed filet mignon than in an 8oz corn fed mass market USDA steak. With the higher quality meats you'll actually be full and satisfied with a smaller cut of meat. The only thing that could make Rain Shadow better is if they were open later on weekdays - they close at 7pm which is right around when I'm getting home sometimes. I bet if they shifted their hours from 10-7 to 11-8 a lot more people could make it in on the way home. But anyway, I still try to stop by as often as I can. read more

When I could walk to QFC from my house, I choose to get into my car and drive to Rain Shadow Meats. They are nice, locally conscience, and know a lot about bacon. * I wish you had jarred/canned home made stocks! read more

Happy to have a butcher on the hill! It's a bit of a mental shift to village shop after being used to the Costco/Safeway/Trader Joes mentality I have lived in over the years. Really bothered by throwing away polystyrene packaging that pre-packaged meat comes in from the super markets and even gourmet grocery stores and co-ops. Really grossed out by ground chuck that came from 100 different cows from several different countries. Really loathe the notion of paying less = more bang for your buck. Going to your butcher is the greenest way of being a meat eater. You are supporting the local business from farmer to butcher. The guys behind the counter are friendly I guess. I don't care as long as they know what they are selling me and they certainly do. The specials are fantastic. I bought a Pork Confit with lemongrass wrapped in a banana leaf= steam for 20 minutes and you have dinnner. I was delighted to see whole skinned rabbits for sale. The only thing I would pass on is the organic whole chicken. I would never pay 6.49 a pound. For 30 bucks I will find my own live chicken and kill it myself. read more

I stumbled across this shop shortly after they had opened, and I have been an advocate ever since. Russ and staff are great, knowledgable, and more than willing to talk to you about whatever you are trying to make / learn. We have bought nearly every cut of meat from them, as well as the great eggs and other provisions. We have never been disappointed. The most recent purchase (aside from the short ribs I'm cooking today) was a cowboy ribeye. My Texan wife told me it was the best she had ever had, and all I did was salt and pepper it and grill it. The meat was impeccable. I almost hate to say anything about anything at Melrose Market because I don't want it to be overwhelmed, but these guys deserve every praise here. read more

I will never get meat from anywhere else. The display case always looks beautiful. They have many kinds of pate and sausages as well as fresh cuts of meat. These people seem to care a lot about providing a high quality product. They make the best hot dogs, too. You can be sure they are only made out of quality ingredients, not lips and a--holes. Also, the people who work there are all so sweet and nice and all have a lot of integrity. read more