St. Louis Meat
Baumann’s Fine
Meats
A Brentwood staple since 1988 (and a St. Louis staple for four decades before
that), Baumann’s is the quintessential classic butcher shop, known as much for
its beef jerky and andouille as its hand-cut steaks and chop. If you have to
narrow it down to its most beloved offering, however, the winner might be the
crowd-pleasing smoked wings. 8829 Manchester, Brentwood.
The
Block
Although well–known for its outstanding restaurant, The Block is also a
full-service butcher shop, which offers locally sourced meat, including
house-made sausages and a cornucopia of steak and chop compliments. The fact
that such meat is good enough for co-owners and Culinary Institute of America
grads Marc Del Pietro and Brian Doherty is worth consideration. 146 W. Lockwood,
Webster Groves.
Bolyard’s
Meat and Provisions
Owner Chris Boylard, a Culinary Institute of America grad, got his start in fine
dining. The chef’s touch is apparent in everything he does at this Maplewood
gem. One of the city’s gourmet butcher locations, Boylard’s has an assortment of
whole animal butchery products, though it’s the delicious cut-to-order pork
chops that make this place legendary. 2733 Sutton, Maplewood.
Citizen Kane’s Market Place
For three decades, Citizen
Kane’s Steakhouse has been an essential part of
the Kirkwood dining scene and a must-visit for metro area steak lovers who love
the elegance of an upscale experience with the comfort of a baked potato and
salad. In 2019, the restaurant leveraged its success into Citizen Kane’s Market
Place, a concept that's ideal for those who want to bring the steakhouse
experience to the comfort of their own homes. The butcher counter has all of the
cuts available in the restaurant and more, including its signature rub, which
you’ll want to shake on everything. 127 W. Clinton Place, Kirkwood.
G&W Sausage and
Meats
The city’s unequivocal place for traditional Bavarian sausages, G&W is more than
just a butcher shop—it’s a St. Louis institution. Part of the reason is the
product itself: G&W still does things exactly the same way that founders Helmut
and Henry Wanniger did back in the 1960s, which is exactly the way their German
sausage meister father did back in Bavaria. The other part is the experience—the
hospitality, served up in the form of a free Busch beer while you’re waiting—is
unparalleled. 4828 Parker, South City.
Iriskic Brothers
A vital part of the St. Louis
Bosnian community, Irskic Brothers is the Bevo Mill neighborhood’s go-to for
fresh lamb and veal for both daily cooking and larger celebrations. Its small
grocery store also gives those from the old country a taste of home in the form
of snacks, sides and treats. 5411 Gravois, South City.
Kenrick’s
Meats & Catering
You may know Kenrick’s for its catering—it's the place that made roast beef,
green beans, and mostaccioli a post-nuptials must for any respectable South
Sider. But its outstanding meat counter is where it all began. Founded by Herb
Kenrick, who began by selling cuts of meat from a small truck throughout the
south part of town, the butcher shop has grown into an essential mom-and-pop
meat butcher counter that's been serving quality meat for generations. 4324
Weber, South County.
Kern Meat Company
There are butcher shops, and then there is Kern Meat Company, a meat purveyor
that's so singularly focused on providing high-quality meats and rare cuts that
many of the region’s top chefs consider it their only butchery source. Although
Kern has been a wholesale company since its founding, in 1948, the company began
offering its wares directly to customers in 2020
through an online ordering system and pickup, which continues at its
state-of-the-art processing facility in Bridgeton. Kern also distinguishes
itself through its philanthropy (the company has worked with the Gateway
Resilience Fund) and environmental stewardship
(its Bridgeton plant is 90 percent solar-powered). 140 Boulder Industrial Drive,
Bridgeton.
Le Grand’s
Market & Catering
The vintage "Tom Boy" grocery chain sign that still hangs on the front of the
building is one reminder that Le Grand’s does things the old-school way. Its
meat counter, in general, is an excellent source for great steaks and chops, but
the market’s scene-stealer is its bratwurst. Although the shop offers several
varieties, the garlic-forward classic version—created on a whim, when the owners
needed to get rid of some extra spice packets—is the stuff of legends. 4414
Donovan, South City.
Paul’s Market
Potosi native Paul Crump left behind a career at Boeing to get into the
wholesale milk business—a move that would prove to be short-lived once he came
across the building on Elizabeth Avenue in Ferguson. Since opening its doors in
1959, that shop has become North County’s destination for high-quality meats and
customer service, something his son, Gary, is now proud to carry forward. 1020
N. Elizabeth, Ferguson.
The
Smoke House Market
Granted, the Smokehouse Market—located adjacent to its sister concept, the
legendary Annie
Gunn’s in Chesterfield—is much more than a
butcher shop. It’s one of the metro area’s top gourmet grocers, with incredible
prepared foods, pies, cheeses, spices, sauces, and world-class maple-glazed
smoked shrimp. The meat counter also boasts some of the best cuts you can find
in the region, including pork that's so wonderful, it's known throughout the
country. 16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield.
St. Louis Halal
Meat
A vital resource for the area’s Muslim population, St. Louis Halal Meat offers
full-service halal butchery from its Overland storefront. An outstanding source
for goat and lamb, the shop also boasts a small Middle Eastern market and a
takeout restaurant, Baba’s. 10276 Page, Overland.
Truffles Butchery
Open next to the famed
Ladue restaurant of the same name, Truffles
Butchery (which quadrupled in size in the spring of 2024) is more than simply an
amenity to its neighborhood; it’s one of the best spots in town for different
cuts of Berkshire pork as well as prime beef, including strip steaks and ribeyes.
To make entertaining at home just a bit easier, a full complement of side dishes
is available as well. 9202 Clayton, Ladue.
METRO EAST:
Behrmann Meats
Along Illinois Route 161 in Albers is bacon heaven. Family-run since 1968, loyal
customers insist that Behrmann’s has the best whole slab cured sliced bacon, now
available in beef, Cajun-style and peppered, and they can back up that claim
with a recent Grand Champion Bacon at the 2023 Illinois State Fair meats
competition. But steaks, ribs, brats, and hot dogs are also a draw in their
expanded retail operation. 303 State Route 161, Albers, Ill.,
Fischer’s Butchering and Deli
Logan Fischer earned his chops working at Behrmann Meats, so when the venerable
86-year-old Hellige’s Market in Breese, Ill., was for sale a year ago, he took
the plunge into family business ownership. His custom cuts are ready for the
grill, including house-made beef, pork, and chicken kabobs, and his own pizza
brats. He wanted to retain the charm of a small-town butcher shop, by knowing
customers’ names, offering monthly meat bundles, and stocking
fresh-from-the-garden produce. He makes sandwiches to order, too. 97 N. Clinton
Street, Breese, Ill.
Korte Meat
Processing
In certain parts of Southern Illinois, particularly ones with German ancestry,
you’ll hear all-natural casing weiners described as “funeral dogs.” That’s
because tradition dictates you serve them at funeral reception potlucks. Korte’s
in Highland sells many of its award-winning hot dogs for those repasts and other
celebrations. Established in 1969 as a family business, they’re known for their
old-style sausages made fresh weekly from German recipes and cured meats, but
also quality cuts of beef and pork, and personal service, slicing meat to
customers’ specifications. Check out the hickory-smoked Hot Stix, a customer
favorite. 810 Deal, Highland, Ill.
Novacich’s Meat Market
Meat Master Pete Novacich recently celebrated his 48th anniversary in business
in Collinsville, a Madison County staple for hearty cuts: whole beef briskets,
tri-tips, T-bone steaks, center cut pork steaks, and fresh-ground beef.
Customers, already fans of the staff’s knowledge and helpfulness, rave about the
21 different kinds of bratwursts, Polish kielbasa and Krakow sausages, and
spice-rubbed kabobs. Pete’s proprietary seasoning blend is also a
best-seller. 8401 Collinsville, Collinsville, Ill.
Schneider’s Quality Meats
Their apple brats are best sellers, and owners Mark and Robin Lengacher offer
more flavors in their long meat case still serviced by butchers in crisp white
aprons. Can’t make up your mind? Sign up for Brat of the Month Club. Originally
opened in Valmeyer in 1966, Schneider’s moved to higher ground in Waterloo after
the Flood of ’93, and the Lengachers, who took over in 2000, sell only USDA
choice beef among their expanded products. Try their bacon-wrapped specialties -
beef filet mignon, pork tenderloin, cheeseburger balls, chicken grillers, and
store made meatloaf. (And their plate-size pork cutlets are a must-have on local
menus). 1323 North Illinois State Route 3, Waterloo, Ill.
Schubert’s Smokehouse
With its strong German heritage, Schubert’s Smokehouse is known for its old
country specialty meats – bockwurst, mettwurst, blood sausage, thuringer,
braunschweiger, and dozens of bratwurst flavors (including Gummy Bears)! Dave
Kossina took over about nine years ago from Larry Schubert, who founded the
company in 1978, and whose handlebar mustache remains the company logo. Larry’s
signature all-natural casing Lil Smokies is the all-time favorite with
customers. As the new Sausage King, Kossina also offers andouille, boudin,
chorizo, Hungarian kolbasz and Italian salamis soppressata and finocchiona. 700
S. Breese, Millstadt, Ill.
Trenton Processing Center
Not to be confused with Sugar Creek Valley, the Trenton Processing Center’s
retail butcher shop has a line of award-winning smoked meats called Sugar Creek
that are second to none. Available throughout the region, country-style summer
sausage tops the list, and their unique cherry pie jerky is popular. Want
different brat choices? How about habanero mango, whiskey peppercorn, pineapple
teriyaki, and sweet potato? Their thick cut pork steaks are legendary, and they
vacuum-pack racks of lamb. Calvin and Loretta Schwend bought Trenton Frozen
Foods in 1964 when it was a part-tractor shop, part butcher shop. They expanded
the slaughterhouse operation, and over the years, added more retail and
catering. In March, their three children who owned the place sold to Cody and
Sheldyn Schneider, who also own the Carlyle Meat Market. 120 W. Broadway,
Trenton, Ill.
Wenneman Meat
Company
Ninety-six years ago, John Wenneman cut and sold meat from a Model T truck,
which symbolizes the family-run business in St. Libory, Ill. (Population
621). After a catastrophic fire in 2011, the third-generation owners built a
22,000 square foot processing facility, and source cattle and pigs raised in a
30-mile area. The quality is apparent in their thriving retail operation, where
homemade hams and sausages, hand-cut steaks, smoked turkeys, and their St. Louis
ribs (known as the “St. Libory” cut) are sold. Wenneman;s produces over 10,000
lbs. of hickory-smoked bacon every week. 7415 Church, St Libory, Ill.