My Mom was a loyal Savenor's customer back in the day, when we lived nearby when my Dad attended Harvard Medical School in Cambridge MA. I always remember the wonderful stories of my Mom running into the famous Julia Child (she's 6 feet tall!!) who was 'French Chef' on WGBH TV to all of the Homemaker cooks de cuisine Française in 1970s America. Thank you and God bless you, Savenor's for lasting so long, and most of all, Chef Julia Child who blessed us mere mortals with the Art of French Cooking! You were a pioneer and role model. My Mom gave me my first cookbook a labor of love co-authored by Julia Child and Simone Beck "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" as a gift. I did at least learn how to prepare a proper omelette, and once, a good Hollandaise! Bon Appétit! read more

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I have in the past shopped only at Savenor's. Since reaching 83 years old everything is more difficult and I am very happy to see Savenor's on Kirkland St has a website! However I am having difficulty viewing photos of Christmas meats. Believe me if you want quality and remember Julia Child shopped here, you are a fan! read more

Great local place with friendly service! Along with great meat, you can pick up produce and treats from other local businesses too

Probably the best butcher in the greater Boston area. If you are looking for some authentic Japanese A-5 Wagyu, this is your spot. Staff is always helpful and friendly. They also have a variety of other great cuts of meat including their own dry aged. Amazing selection of Jenni's ice cream too and lots of other great snacks. read more

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Awesome shop and importantly high quality cuts of meat with great variety. I went for a specific cut of brisket and the staff was awesome and pulled out a whole brisket to let me choose the cut. read more

Savenor's Market - Brisket - flat and point separated at home - Meat Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I have been a faithful customer for years. I am trying to understand what happened. They are known for their quality, service, and freshness, which are now severed. We just received our Thanksgiving turducken, which we have bought for many years, and they sent us a frozen rock. I received an overpriced frozen meatball for the first time in years, which I would have to defrost in about 24 hours. Unbelievable, and upon calling, Grace explained that this is better to preserve the quality of the product. What a scam, nowhere it is mentioned they sell now frozen food, which of course I can get anywhere for a fraction of the price. Not sure how this turducken will come out, and what our invitees will eat, the fact that I am writing this review says it all. Savenor's shame on you. read more

Might not be my first review, pretty sure the last one would have been positive, but as a regular local shopper there, I have to conclude that the new owners are not interested in serving local clientele. Closed on a Saturday to walk-in business, really? Ridiculous. I am guessing this store, just like the one on Beacon Hill, will close soon too and just go straight online. Well, not sure I care anymore. There are other good butchers around and not nearly as expensive even for exact same product. Edit: My main frustration is that I did not even want to use the meat counter. I was looking for yogurt and some fowl from the freezer. All they needed to do was someone to manage the cash, and they could not even be bothered to do that. Oh well, on the plus side, I did not spend $50 read more

I would like to say first and foremost, that this is the best customer service I've ever gotten in my life. These people are amazing, especially Grace, the general manager. They work so hard to ensure we have a a great experience and really care about their work and the joy that it brings to people around them. 10/10 best butcher shop ever. Highly reccomend. read more

I know. There's nothing more hipster than going to your local butcher or local bakery and trying to live some kind of Victorian England kind of lifestyle "oh, things were better without all the factory farms" blah blah blah. Shelling out $20 for a chicken with a name. Ordering artisanal beef cuts with Italian names and discussing the finer points of curing with some bearded dude in a butcher's apron. But even a broken clock is right twice a day and one of those times is with a local butcher. Savenor's is where I go when I want the good version of whatever I get in the supermarket. I work myself up to Savenor's, practice on a few unnamed Star Market chickens and then get the real deal at Savenor's. Meat is so unconscionably good that it makes you look like a good cook. I've gotten serious compliments on my cuisine and literally all I did was apply heat to Savenor's. And those compliments were well-deserved, that was some of the best meat+heat I'd ever had. Go to Savenor's. If an animal has to die for dinner, it might as well be a delicious one. read more

Pulled up to Savenor's on the day before Christmas Eve to get lamb shanks for Christmas dinner. In typical kiddos fashion, as soon as I pulled up to the shop, both my kids were in deep sleep. Feeling stuck, I sat in the car for a long time debating on what to do. I called Savenor's and explained to Chris, the butcher, my situation and he said "I can help!" He enthusiastically took my order and payment over the phone and brought out my order cheerfully saying "Merry Christmas to you!" AHH - I LOVE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! Thank you and you've gained a new lifetime customer! read more

Crown Roast of Lamb was delicious. So tenders and beautifully stitched - more than we could eat but too tender for stew.

After taking a class from one of the butcher's here and getting a gift card for the holidays, I was really excited to go HAM (pun intended) here. I got in line and waited as only four people are allowed to go in the store (1 per party, so I sent my husband across the street to get cheese). When I got in the store I asked about their lamb as they had a 'lamb roll' and I hadn't seen one before. The person behind the counter didn't seem to know more about it other than it was fatty. I asked how to cook it and he said 'sauté it?' I really wanted to try a new cut but he really wasn't selling it for me. Instead I got 4 lamb loin chops which were tasty, some venison which was also very good, and some brats and chorizo that I haven't yet cooked. The quality of the meat was good, but I wish the staff were more knowledgable. read more

Preorder for Xmas my a$$ what a s show. Wait in line, wait 39 mins to get said preorder. I'll never come back read more

Once upon a time, I decided to throw a little Oktoberfest in July. Many local establishments were able to provide me with the necessary libations, but finding the right meat was a little more tricky. Even my German roommate wasn't sure the best place to get authentic German meats, and suggested Whole Foods. But, look no further than around the corner from my home to Savenor's, the tastiest meat market around. When I called to get some general info, one of the guys explained that the Boston location likely had a better selection, but when I stressed that I wanted to use this one since I could literally walk over to pick up my meat, he ordered everything I needed. 8 pounds of bratwurst, 4 pounds of knockwurst, 2 pounds of weisswurst, a pound of some sort of mysterywurst, and a cookout with 40 of my closest friends later, the Oktoberfest was born. A raving success, thanks to Savenor's! (and, if you like german sausages, there are still some in my freezer, close to a year later....ew.) read more

After reading an NPR article about a special vietnamese postpartum pigs feet and papaya soup to help with recovery, I had to make it. Savenor's came through with my primary ingredient after calling all over to find it. The butcher's there are super friendly and take their time answering your questions and making sure you leave confident in your choices. The store is welcoming with lots of locally made chocolates, chips, dips, spreads, icecream, you name it. They also make deli sandwiches if you're in the mood for something to eat in the moment. It's super clean and very spacious without that sickening butcher shop smell. Their prices are reasonable bcz you get what you pay for and your paying for quality. read more

Great service. Staff very helpful and. knowledgeable. Great cut of lamb. Definitely pricey for most items. However, the meat and coldcuts are worth it. read more

Please try their burger, only served on Fridays and Saturdays. Toppings depends on each week. They also have fried chicken for Wednesday.. which I can't wait to try. Also bought their handmade sausages, so I will see how they are! Lastly, this was my first time trying their burger, and it is one of the best burgers I have ever had. My friend called ahead for order- it takes some time to prep it. There's no sit down place to eat. Patty was extremely juicy and bun was English muffin. It had yellow pepper, garlicky house mayo and lettuce.. I can eat this everyday! read more

The bluefish at Savenor's is a dollar a pound LESS than Wholefoods. Yes, the prices are higher than Johnny Foodmaster, but would you eat meat from there? Get over it folks. The meat and fish at Savenor's are the best, and you pay for that, but not as much as you are all making it sound like! And while I'm up here on this soap box, Savenor's opened in 1939 in the location it is in right now. If they are an example of the yuppification of anywhere then they must have pioneered it. read more

Savenor's Market - Snake- seriously! How do you suppose you deal with all those teeny tiny bones? - Meat Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Amazing A5 wagyu, but the prime strip was a bit lacking. The marbling just wasn't there and it didn't have that beefy flavor I look for in a strip. Four stars for the selection, 2 for the prime beef. read more

Walking into this friendly local market makes me dream of being a gourmet chef. It's a total hot spot for foodies that like to cook, eat and be merry. From their uber impressive selection of fresh meat, to their small but well selected produce--and a ton of other specialty food products galore--this place is full of unique gourmet finds. It's well-edited, not overwhelming and their knowledgeable staff are always on hand for questions, explanation or inspiration. read more

Savenor's Market - Meat Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Bought the best local wagyu ground meat and we turned it into the best burgers we've ever had! The staff was kind and patient even though we rolled up just five minutes before their closing time. We will be back! read more

I have the hardest time to rate this place. We didnt get what we came for but it is a very nice place. Clean and spacious. We are new to the area so we were looking for a butcher shop to buy rare cuts of common meat, such as beef shanks, neck bones, bone marrows, oxtails, pork belly, etc. They didnt have them. They did have oxtails in the freezer section but super pricey. I missed getting them as regular meat section for 1/4th of the price. Instead, they have good selection for exotic meat boar, kangaroo, python, bison. Not something I was looking for though. My husband had kangaroo and bison burger from thiss place before and they are delicious. And good selection of frozen stock/broth. But again, I like to make my own. They have good selection of bacons and ice cream. I got the milkest chocolate ice cream and that's probably the best chocolate ice cream I ever had. I can tell it was made from high quality products due to the creaminess instead of air filled like supermarket ice cream. They also have grass fed cow milk in glass bottle. It was $4.49 and $1.49 if you want to refill it for a 32 oz. They have lower fat milk and half and half. No heavy cream though. I wanted to buy some good heavy cream to make clotted cream. Minor stuffs: Parking is a pain. They also charged 10 c for a bag. Overall, it is a good store if you came and know what you are looking for. We didnt get the stuffs we wanted. And the stuffs are pricey but its cambridge, read more

Savenor's Market - Best chocolate ice cream - Meat Shops Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I was looking for duck breast for a long time and finally I found it here! Surprisingly they also have many kinds of meat that I rarely see on the market. I appreciate we have this store in town. read more

The Mecca for all things Meat.. A Bit Pricy but your getting High End & Quality Meat.. The Staff is very nice & helpful..Their Sandwiches are off the Hook.. Ron Savenor..The Owner..Very Nice..& Personable..Will take the time for you..To Watch him at is Craft of Butchery..Is Amazing... Wherever you need in the Meat world..They have it or are willing to try & accommodate your special Meat Requests. Need Camel, Iguana, Python or even Lion Meat..They got it.. Very interesting place to check out.. They are also Wheelchair Accessible.. read more

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Excellent selection of meats, produce and accoutrements. Efficient online, pickup and delivery service. Consistent quality. Friendly staff. read more

Dear God , baby jesus,and all that is holy. Thank you for guiding me to this place, these afficianados and the masterful Ron Savenor. I have never been so pleased with any market , butcher or restaurant in my life. This place has it all, including kitchen sinks. I'm gushing right now over the heavenly 45 day aged strip I just gnawed on for the last 45 minutes. The only disappointment is I have to wait for another because it's 3 hours away. That's right I drive 3 hours to taste what heaven has to be like. Get there, careful not to empty your wallet but choose wisely, ask for Judy she's wonderful and very knowledgeable. Thank you again for being a part of my life and my choice to love delicious buttery primal fat. Until we see each other again my friends. Matt C. Northern friend. read more

Hey, guess what? Savenor's sells pretty much any dead animal that you might be looking for. How do I know this? I have read most of these reviews and have been buying crazy chopped up stuff there for a few years now and between what I have managed to gross my friends out with and what you nice people say you have had - I conclude that Savenor's sells everything except baby seal eyes and panda brisket. Speaking of bears, I recently had a bear steak from Savenor's. Amazingly, it tasted nothing like picnic baskets or honey - nope, tastes like a really, really, expensive and good steak. I've also recently had some elk, venison, alligator, rattlesnake and rabbit all from Savenor's. Yes it can get a little pricey but just keep in mind that stuff like bear is not going to be in the frozen food aisle at Stop and Shop so you would probably have to pay a bit more for it anyway. read more

Stil reeling a bit from a post-Europe syndrome, I'm all... WHYEEE don't we have butcher shops where you can get excellent cuts of meat and strange and interesting carnivorous dinner options?? Apparently, experts agree Savenor's is the place to get your meat on. So I went. I expected a BUTCHER shop, like bloody counter and cow carcasses and stocky men macheteing off ribeyes in front of me (witnessed live in Spain). But I forgot, this is Boston, and Savenor's wouldn't want meat eaters to be distressed by how the meat is actually done. Plus, it's a SPECIALTY shop - not just meat but also cheese, and imported canned goods. But the sure did fulfill the unusual carnivorous dinner options!! Fresh moulard duck breast, rabbit legs, in house made foie gras, fresh goose, venison (ew, but if it's your thang- i don't judge), buffalo, lamb shanks, kobe beef, and ostrich. Plus, jars of rendered duck fat, flavor gold, heart attack on a plate, for a mere $15? (BTW, when I made roast duck for New Years, I had a full bowl of duck fat, and my conscientious husband dumped it down the drain. He SO owes me $15!!) Plus they have a little shelf of cookbooks, good ones, like The Way To Cook, by Julia Child, so you can check recipes and get what you need. (tear) I purchased lamb shank for stew, duck breast for romantical Magret de Cannard, and some marinated anchovies from Spain. It's pricey. But I'll SO be back for the rabbit legs -um... once I learn what to do with them. read more

This location of Savenor's is great. It's a tiny market but they did a good job with the layout. This store is so clean. It's hard to find a clean market and this one looks sterile. Job well done! The prices are high but everything in the market is unique. It's expected that you will pay more to get unique and better quality products. I wish I knew how to cook. Maybe after my cooking classes I will be able to come back here and know what to do with the products in this store..... I can dream..... read more

How could I forget to review this. Julie Child's favorite place for meats and cooking product. So much so, she would constantly mention it on her cooking show as well as permanently place her name there. Where else could one go to still have a "house account" and at the same time get curbside delivery . I can come to the same store that sells their items to the finest restaurants in Boston?? Why yes.. I can. There are two locations. One on Beacon Street and this one. The Cambridge location (opened in the 30's) burned down in the early 90's and than opened it's Beacon Street location a short while after. Savenors still had their wholesale store running in Cambridge, but not until a few years ago was it open to the public. I will not forget when I read the newspaper article that they were re-opening. I was SIKED! I had only frequented the Beacon Hill Location one visits to my fathers. The meat they carry and fresh product are 2nd to none in terms of quality. They carry a large selection of local goods and also items for those who are culinary inclined. With that quality comes price tag of course. Yet, you are purchasing the best of the best. High-quality fresh meats, including prime beef, lamb, pork, fowl, alligator, kangaroo, boar and duck anyone??? Pre-made meals and side dishes from No. 9 Park, Baked goods from Rosies, Cheese, Bread, Pluots, chicken salad, Seafood, Produce, Wine, Coffee, Spices,Coke in glass bottles, sauce expos, wine tastings, chocolate sauce demos, olive oil techniques and more! Hell they even have a meat of the month club ;) For someone like myself that will not be cooking a gourmet meal anytime soon, I still like to indulge in the products carried here, so I can level off my ghetto cooking and pretend. read more

I reached out to Savenor's because I was interested in taking a butchery class. I had seen some information on their website that implied that was a possibility. So I emailed back and forth with Diana Bramante and confirmed a date, time, place, and price. I show up 10 minutes early, tell the guy at the front counter why I am here. He says they are getting set up, and it should get started shortly. A few minutes later I notice others tricking in, but they were here for the meat share program (not the class). I approach him again and remind him that I am here for the butchery class, NOT the meat share program. He says he understands and that the class will begin soon. 30 minutes later, he comes up to me and says there is no butchery class. I proceed to pull up the email confirming every detail. We get Diana on the phone, and she says "Oh it seems there must have been a miscommunication" (not even taking responsibility for it). She then asked if we could reschedule. Is she serious? It took me a long time to get here, then I wasted 30 minutes standing around. Do I feel like doing that again? No thanks. Also, the store is extremely expensive. You can get similar products elsewhere for much cheaper. read more

This is a great little market. I hadn't ever been in today thanks to the Yelp event, and was happy I came out.....they've got a wild selection of meats ranging from duck tongues to venison sausage to duck con fit. If I was trying not to eat meat, this place would break me. I ended up buying some bacon, ground Kobe beef, coffee, and some produce, and it wasn't as unreasonably priced as it could have been price-wise. They also carried a good selection of local products, like Capone Foods and the Taza (I think that's the name) of the chocolate made here in Somerville. REPRESENT! I will be back when I need meat. Also, the cheese selection was pretty hot too, but I refrained. read more

Nice place. I have never even heard of half the stuff in there, but I know someday one of my recipes may call for ass-of-duck, and when that day comes, I know where to go. This is the place where organic trans fat lives....Savenor's Market. Unique offerings, fresh top quality meats (the only place I have seen Kobe beef (I know, I shop at stop and shop too much). If you want to impress a chick with a cool meal... stop in here. Oh, and they hosted a great yelp brunch tasting event... read more

I know Julia Child went here....And they do too, because the moment you walk in here you are welcome by a big black and white photo of her from back in the day. But knowing how much she loves food, I would have expected this little gourmet market to be a little bit bigger than it was! We literally walked through here in a few minutes!! First, the produce was a little pricey....$5 a pound for tomatoes is up there....BUT their cheese selection looked mighty tasty! They even have some peppers stuffed with cheese that were extra tempting...mmmm Cheese is always calling my name! I was strong though, and only bought what we came for--fish. We got whole, deboned trout for $7.99 a pound which is actually pretty good, especially for an upscale market like this one. I don't think that the butcher was that happy to see us though...well at least he wasn't the nicest or warmest person in the world ha. Maybe he needed a slice of that cheese to bring his spirits higher! We also got a big thing of dill that was actually very decently priced, so all in all, a good little trip here, but I had just expected a little more variety, especially in the fish and meat section. Although we did see one package of duck bacon, so now I know the next thing on my list I need to try! read more

Savenor's is the real deal. They have been for over 70 years. The precision and quality of these butchers is world class, truly. You cannot find many establishments that still break down whole animals and utilize nose to tail like these guys. Their expertise and honed skills produce cut meats that are impossible to replicate in big box stores today (or really any market). This is an institution of Boston. "They are expensive"- when I read this about Savenor's it makes me chuckle, and then I become infuriated. The ignorance and lack of respect for a lost art is bewildering to me. Very simply, the beef here is all USDA Prime, which makes up less then 2% of all beef. Pork is usually heritage breed coming from local farms throughout New England. Skilled butchers are few and far today. Every piece of meat I've had from Savenor's rivals the best I've had ANYWHERE, and it is extremely difficult to find this level of quality for beef, pork, and poultry under one roof. Steaks- Look at the marbling and pick out your favorites, if you know anything it's clear these are not ordinary. Brisket- Best briskets I can find anywhere for BBQ. Pork- I've smoked shoulders, grilled chops, and cured/smoked a belly. The best. Prepared foods- Phenomenal. The "Big Sandwich" is out of this world, I like to eat a bigger piece every time I go. I think I'm at 1.5# now. Every item on their shelves has been hand selected for a reason, its a foodie wonderland. Cheese- small, excellent selection. Foie Gras- Grade A, what else do I say? And much much more. Like a lot more. I recommend you go in and spend your time looking around, every direction you look there is something delicious and inspiring. Keep it up guys. read more

Wild boar bacon. Alligator sausage. Schmaltz. Pennsylvania scrapple. Ground lamb. Wild game in season. Cuts of beef that look so succulent that you're surprised they're not Playboy centerfolds. Quail. Exotic eggs from birds you hadn't heard of. They have everything worth having, and they are so full-service that if what you want isn't out (and as I tend to cook very specific recipes, it does happen), they will go check the cold storage freezer and prepare it right then. It's not as cheap as many other places, but it brings new meaning to full-service, and you will never walk away without what you need. read more

Come here if quality is paramount. You simply cannot find such ingredients anywhere else. Artisan cured meats from Seattle, Quail Eggs, Yak, and top cuts of Beef are just a sampling from this store that seems to pack so much goodness into such a small space. There's a reason Julia Child put her name in the cement outside the door. The only caveat is the price you will pay for such ingredients of such rare quality. This doesn't seem to apply to the produce, however, which is surprisingly reasonable in price. read more

Beyond having the best meats in New England, they also have amazing customer service. There was a miscommunication and I was sent the wrong product. I sent them an email thinking I might hear something in days and I am sure they'll explain how it was my fault. I walked to my car because I decided to get quick replacement close by. Before starting my car I checked my email since work was still going on. It took minutes for Savenor's Customer Service to get in touch with me and they all already had the perfect solution. Just amazing all around. The communication and problem solve was the best I've ever experienced. Everyone I spoke with was so kind with amazing communication skills. They made this guy with a tiny order, calling me a maybe average cook would be a huge compliment feel like a celebrity chef. The next day was Christmas Eve and the missing ingredient was delivered to my home by Ron the owner and he was just awesome! I will never go anywhere else and encourage you to do the same. Meal came out fantastic and 99% of the credit goes to Savenor's Market! read more

I was so excited when the new Savenor's Market finally (re)opened at 92 Kirkland Street, Cambridge. Those familiar with the Somerville/Cambridge area just outside of Harvard Square might recall this gourmet grocery store which Julia Child made famous (she lived nearby, shopped there often, and frequently mentioned it in her PBS television show). It is run by 48-year-old Ron Savenor, whose immigrant parents started in family business in 1939. Sadly, this culinary institution burned down in 1991, and Savenor relocated the business to 160 Charles Street in Boston, at the foot of Beacon Hill. In fact, the Beacon Hill shop served as my introduction to Savenor's, and I visited it often during my years living in the North End. As for the Kirkland Street location, it was rebuilt and leased out to computer support retailer, while Savenor continued to run a successful wholesale business out of the back of the builiding, selling meats to high-end local restaurants like Radius and No. 9 Park. But now with the reopening of the original retail location, Somerville and Cambridge foodies can enjoy the array of gourmet treats Savenor's has to offer, including: * High-quality fresh meats, including prime beef, lamb, pork, fowl and game (wild boar or Muscovy duck, anyone?!) * Pre-made meals and side dishes from No. 9 Park and The Butcher Shop * Baked goods from local favorites Dancing Deer Co. and Rosie's Bakery * Coffees, teas, herbs and exotic spices * Pates, cheeses, crudites, breads, gift baskets & platters * Produce, seafood, fresh cut flowers...the list goes on! Lastly, the store offers white-glove service, with friendly, knowledgeable staff and offers home delivery or curb-side pickup (for those too busy to park the car and go inside!). Welcome back, Savenor's - this particular foodie prefers to shop in person. And, as Jed Gottlieb pronounced in his humorous review in Boston's Weekly Dig, "to all you Beacon Hill carnivores: relax, you still get to keep your Charles Street store. Everybody wins. Except the Muscovy ducks." read more

It's a real wonder how they can cram so many wonderful edible treasures in such a small space. I found myself perusing the tight aisles and nearly jumped for joy when I found basil-enfused olive oil that reminded me of a recent dinner at Via Matta.... From soda pop (YES, they have Coke in the glass bottles!) and whoopie pies to duck confit and aged cheeses, Savenor's is sure to delight any foodie. This is a great place to stock up on a special holiday gift basket or take up one of their classes on the art of butchering. I'm sure it also doesn't hurt their cachet to have been THE butcher of choice for Julia Child. I must note that the staff was especially friendly and knowledgeable. When I went up to the register to pay for my items, the cashier held up the delectable loaf of cinnamon bread and said, "This won't last you know..." At first, I was taken aback and wondered if I should grab a different loaf if this one was about to expire, but then she continued on, "I should know as I've gone through 2 loaves this week. It's great with some butter and honey. Nope, it's not gonna last..." And it's true--between the two of us, we devoured half of that massive sweet-smelling loaf in just one sitting! read more