I hope that my frequent five star ratings of establishments does not diminish the veracity of what…read moreI type in these reviews. Writing reviews for me is more about giving my fellow yelp family the opportunity to visit these locations to sample, taste, buy and own the best of what is available whilst getting exceptional quality for their money and unparalleled service. I'm not about bargains, I prefer quality over quantity. And if it's good enough, large volumes can be consumed...I've been known to eat three meals in one sitting with dessert and the usual accompaniment of vino. Franklin Country Meats (FCM) is an fine example of a butcher that puts out high quality fare. If you're after volume at a cheap price, then I'd recommend you go somewhere else. If you're happy to pay a little bit extra for fantastic meat, then this is definitely one butcher to stop in at. A friend had recommended FCM to me some years ago. He stated that the meat doesn't shrink like other meats purchased at other butchers'. He named one franchise in particular which just happened to be the one that I 'used to buy' my meat from. That and a supermarket chain, both of which shall remain unnamed. I'd always thought of meat as being a means to an end...something that was served up but couldn't really be dressed up much more than what it was...because it was meat. I've always thought that if I wanted to eat an exceptional cut, it would have to be served up at a fine dining restaurant. It annoys me now, that I'd held this misconception for some years because the two best and most memorable steaks that I had ever eaten in the world were not at fine dining establishments. One was at a restaurant in Dahab, Egypt where the beast was slaughtered and prepared to be served the following day. What was surprising was that this restaurant did not purport itself to be anything other than a place for sustenance, nourishment and 'hydrating' after a spectacular day diving in the Red Sea. The other most memorable steak of equal standing was from a cafe that I happened across in Brussels, Belgium. It was a €5 Euro meal which had steak, pomme frites and salate. They didn't even ask me how I wanted it, and it was served rare! What an absolute delight that steak was. And if you've been to Belgium, you'd know that they do food fantastically. Now, coming back to FCM. The reason this review has come about in a roundabout way, is because I wanted to highlight that you don't need t spend top dollar to have the best steak in the world. Hotel Kostes, Paris. Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai. Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park. Le Méridien Etoile, Paris. London Hilton on Park Lane. The Grosvenor, Park Lane. Fantastic meals, I have enjoyed at all of these places, but you could have five star quality meat from Franklin Country Meats. Their pork marinated ribs are divine and they have gold medal, silver medal and bronze medal awarded sausages. Their casarole cuts are top notch and do not shrink when you slow cook them. All in all, the best of the best, except for the bacon and ham, which I go to Pokeno Bacon for. Love, love, love all the same!!!

From the owner: We have a large range of specialty Meat products.read more

Butcher Jacks has been in operation in Glenfield since 1995…read more They have a long relationship with the neighborhood and are well known by the locals of the North Shore. I popped in recently on a trip to the doctors and pharmacy only right next door and decided to buy some delicious NZ Scotch fillet steak for dinner. The set up inside the big red store is similar to that of a supermarket; they have packed meats in fridges and freezers. The difference between Butcher Jacks and say the franchise butcher down the street is that they pride themselves on serving 100% NZ owned meat, and they even produce on site their own bacon, sausages and legs of ham at anytime of the year. I really enjoyed my dinner that evening; the meat was top quality and just a perfect few cuts. Weekly specials change every week so check out what they have to offer, and you will walk off with a freezer full of meat and a great bargain! They are moving to a new location just down the road in a few weeks, so be sure not to miss them next time your near Wairau Road.

If you're after gourmet bangers for the barbie - look no further! Greek lamb & feta, wild boar,…read moreToulouse pork....the list goes on! I'm already a loyal customer of another, equally as good Milford butcher but even I've got to admit when it comes to snarlers these guys pretty hard to beat. Of course, they also have all the other cuts and specialize in free range. They even stock Bostocks Organic Chicken - BIG tick!

New addition to Brown Bay in a new strip of shops beside Countdown. You'll recognise the owner from…read morehis previous job, managing the butchery at Nosh. This shop is really cute inside and full of the best cuts, a big range of gourmet sausages, boerewors and biltong (made to an old family recipe). Nice to see shops of this quality in Browns Bay, I'll be heading to The Meat Room from now on.

Good customer service and so many options available to choose fruit, vegetables, meats and…read moregroceries.

I regret that this store does not pay its suppliers. We have been owed $43.75 for one carton of…read moreproduct since 31st October last year, despite several phone calls.

Great selection of meat. Place looks clean too. Good service…read more They even honored our special request how to pack our meat because we had to transport them on a flight. Professionally done!!

I never gave the Aussie Butcher much thought. It seemed weird and unpatriotic to patronize an…read moreAussie brand in NZ when there were equivalent alternatives. I've heard the cheesy radio ads and just clumped them in with the likes of the Mad Butcher. I was assigned sausage duty for a social club event at work and on recommendation I decided to inquire with the Mt Roskill location. The manager, (I think his name was Paul), was super helpful and gave us a great discount due to the quantity ordered. They had an extensive range of flavours which were all offered at the the same price and gluten free. We ended up going with 100% beef and the Garlic & Smoked Paprika options. The manager advised that they made sausages every Monday and Thursday and since the event was on Friday, we were getting them fresh as! When I went to pick them up all the staff were so incredibly friendly and the manager was so insistent that I soak the sausages in hot water for 10 minutes before grilling them that he gave me a bucket to do so free of charge. I was really surprised at the wide selection of quality yet reasonably priced meat and specialty cuts. At the social club event, the sausages were such a hit and inspired many people to talk about their deliciousness. The Aussie Butcher isn't super boutique but also isn't a cheap meat lot. You can tell they care about the product and are keen on providing reasonable prices. Totally a fan!

My young one loves Spaghetti Bolognese and the mince you get at Pinehill Butchery is awesome. Not…read morefull of filler or soy. They also make the burgers out of the mince. Also, better prices than the supermarkets. The staff are friendly and awesome too. Great choice of meat on the shelf, place is always immaculately clean.

If you're like me and you've been watching one too many cooking show on TV, then you would have…read morenoticed that the contestants or chefs always purchase their meat from specialist butcheries or delicatessens. One place where I always get my specialist beef and marinades is the Pinehill Butchery on the North Shore of Auckland. The staff members are young and informed. They can provide preparation advice, cooking tips and inspiration for dishes. But more importantly, they can provide you with the best cut. Don't be fooled by the small façade of the store, it is what's happening behind the scenes that allow you to get the best meat on your plate. They are yet to disappoint, and they are conveniently located on East Coast Road.

As a local it's the best,until Dave arrived it was super market for meat but with this opening it…read morewas the best for getting just the amount you required so no waste,so if you want 2 sausage you can and not have to buy a pack of 6 plus there house made.

Every time I come to the Torbay Butcher I can't help but get a massive smile on my face. They guys…read morewho work there are always so cherry, it really is like being in a sitcom where everyone knows everyone. I've only just moved to Torbay but already I feel like I can call this butcher 'my local' as they have that vibe going on. They aren't just nice people but they also stock amazing cuts of meat. There's corn fed chicken, beautiful lamb roasts, steak, great saussies and loads more. I usually go in after work and it's packed with people buying their dinner. I love that it's right next to the fruit and vege shop so I can really have the whole fresh and local thing going on with my food. These kinds of places make me want to support local businesses because they are so good at what they do. And for me, a smile and some good banter wins me over every time.

The Whenuapai Meat Centre is known by most West Auckland locals as the best place to go for fresh…read morecuts of meat. Incredibly well priced, you can't find anything else like it! Having grown up in central Auckland, I only recently discovered the Whenuapai Meat Centre. As an enthusiastic chef, my boyfriend's dad swears by it. He refuses to buy his meat anywhere else, and insisted I accompany him on a trip to the butchery. Whenuapai is a pretty small place, and the atmosphere of the Meat Centre was really friendly and community oriented. The two guys working there both knew my boyfriend's dad by name, and he in turn knew them and every other customer in the store. It was really nice - despite being in the biggest city in New Zealand it felt like we were in a tiny town. The lamb chops we bought were some of the biggest I have ever seen and this butchery had a great selection of meats and cuts. Though I'm not an expert, I could tell it was all great quality and that the butchers were really experienced. They also seemed to genuinely enjoy their job - both men wore big smiles and even gave us a discount for being regulars. If you're ever out in West Auckland, don't settle for the shitty overpriced meat you find in the local Pak N Save or Countdown. Head out to Whenuapai and give these guys a go. It's a real Kiwi experience - real meat from real Kiwi blokes, and you can't beat the prices!