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Excellent lamb downtown? Greektown? W. Randolph? Other?

Excellent lamb downtown? Greektown? W. Randolph? Other?
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  • Excellent lamb downtown? Greektown? W. Randolph? Other?

    Post #1 - November 19th, 2014, 3:45 pm
    Post #1 - November 19th, 2014, 3:45 pm Post #1 - November 19th, 2014, 3:45 pm
    I now work near Mariano's on Halsted and was considering getting some of my meat for holiday meals there, but I haven't tried any of their butcher counter yet, just basic groceries.
    It just occurred to me that I am also near Greektown, where I have never shopped for aught but olives, cheeses, etc. Is there a great butcher down Halsted I should know about?
    Or, now that I think of it, up on Randolph among the various meat emporiums there.
    I'm in the thick of it, but no idea where to go.
    Last edited by mrbarolo on November 19th, 2014, 4:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
    "Strange how potent cheap music is."
  • Post #2 - November 19th, 2014, 3:51 pm
    Post #2 - November 19th, 2014, 3:51 pm Post #2 - November 19th, 2014, 3:51 pm
    Don't know about Mariano's, but you're not too far from Nea Agora on Taylor Street. We've had great lamb from there in the past -- freshly cut after we ordered. It's been a couple of years so it'd be good to have an opinion from someone who's been there more recently.

    Nea Agora Packing Company
    1056 W Taylor St
    Chicago, IL 60607
    (312) 421-5130
    "There’s only one thing I hate more than lying: skim milk, which is water that’s lying about being milk."
    - Ron Swanson
  • Post #3 - November 19th, 2014, 9:38 pm
    Post #3 - November 19th, 2014, 9:38 pm Post #3 - November 19th, 2014, 9:38 pm
    I have bought lamb (and duck and sawed to order bone-in ribeye) at Olympia Meat Packers, and I recommend it. Super nice and helpful staff, and delicious meats.

    Olympia Meat Packers
    810 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
    (312) 666-2222
  • Post #4 - November 19th, 2014, 10:01 pm
    Post #4 - November 19th, 2014, 10:01 pm Post #4 - November 19th, 2014, 10:01 pm
    These are good calls. Grant Park, home of the Uncle John's Hot Link, also has goat and lamb, I believe. I'm sure there are many others in the neighborhood.
  • Post #5 - November 20th, 2014, 9:55 pm
    Post #5 - November 20th, 2014, 9:55 pm Post #5 - November 20th, 2014, 9:55 pm
    The lamb loin chops from Mariano's is actually fastastic.
  • Post #6 - November 20th, 2014, 10:34 pm
    Post #6 - November 20th, 2014, 10:34 pm Post #6 - November 20th, 2014, 10:34 pm
    +1 for Olympia. Love them there and in addition to great lamb, they have great eggs, insane bacon, and Miller Farms Amish chickens.
  • Post #7 - November 23rd, 2014, 10:52 am
    Post #7 - November 23rd, 2014, 10:52 am Post #7 - November 23rd, 2014, 10:52 am
    We eat a lot of lamb.
    So with the departure of the long shopped at Athens grocery (since 1971) I spent some time visiting stores and buying lamb from those that seemed to have cleanliness standards. Those that smelled of rotting flesh made for a quick u-turn.
    I also shopped boutique suppliers.
    I finally settled on Fresh Farms on Toughy after a few years of buying lamb from all over. The manager of the meat department is knowledgable and will cut what you want, the lamb while not Colorado Prime is Choice and very very good. They will properly cut up a baby lamb for you, a skill that is dying and the pricing is excellent.
    At thie time I can only find Prime lamb at Grasch's in Milwaukee and the price is steep!
    We get whole ribs and loins and have them cut in half. That way you can roast and gat a nice rare in the center which is difficult to do with a single chop.
    To me the ship has sailed iwith the passage of the Athnes Grocery and the best selection, quality and price I know of is Fresh Farms for Greek products or Greek style.-Dick
  • Post #8 - November 23rd, 2014, 2:03 pm
    Post #8 - November 23rd, 2014, 2:03 pm Post #8 - November 23rd, 2014, 2:03 pm
    I've gotten some really really good lamb at Butcher and Larder, including specialty cuts and offal. I suggest calling ahead. A bit expensive, but great for special occasions, or all occasions, if you are a rich bastard.

    http://thebutcherandlarder.com/
    "By the fig, the olive..." Surat Al-Teen, Mecca 95:1"
  • Post #9 - November 28th, 2014, 11:21 am
    Post #9 - November 28th, 2014, 11:21 am Post #9 - November 28th, 2014, 11:21 am
    I stick to Treasure Island for my lamb-buying needs, as they always have any cut I need for the task at hand - nicely Frenched racks, shanks, bone-in or boneless stew meat, chops of any thickness, roasts, even tiny cute t-loins. Generally very reasonably priced, too - I've picked up those labor-intensive Frenched racks for as little at $14.99/lb. Th

    Though I stick to the Wilmette store, there are several Chicago TI locations, three of which are very close to downtown:

    Elm Street
    75 W. Elm Street
    Chicago, Illinois 60610
    Ph: 312.440.1144
    Fx: 312.440.9821
    7am – 10pm Monday to Friday
    7am – 9pm Saturday, Sunday
    elm@tifoods.com

    Lake Shore Drive
    680 N. Lake Shore Drive
    Chicago, Illinois 60611
    Ph: 312.664.0400
    Fx: 312.664.6590
    7am – 9pm Monday to Friday
    7am – 8pm Saturday
    8am – 7pm Sunday
    lakeshore@tifoods.com


    Wells Street
    1639 N. Wells Street
    Chicago, Illinois 60614
    Ph: 312.642.1105
    Fx: 312.642.8736
    7am – 10pm Monday to Friday
    7am – 9pm Saturday, Sunday
    wells@tifoods.com
  • Post #10 - December 10th, 2014, 12:15 pm
    Post #10 - December 10th, 2014, 12:15 pm Post #10 - December 10th, 2014, 12:15 pm
    Best lamb I've purchased in the area was sourced from Mint Creek Farm (Stelle, IL). I know they sell at the Green City Market, including the winter market at Peggy Notebart on Saturday's. You can also order direct and they'll ship to your door.

    http://mintcreekfarm.com/

    I bought a whole lamb a couple years ago, and it was truly excellent. They have a wide variety of cuts available at their market stand, but I'd recommend calling ahead if you want something specific.

    Here's a list of both their winter/fall market participation, and also stores that (i'm guessing) carry their stuff year round:

    Markets:

    61st Street Indoor Market -Every Saturday From 9am-2pm through December, then once per month Jan-April.
    Held inside Experimental Station, 6100 S Blackstone Avenue, Chicago, IL

    Green City Indoor Market -Every Saturday from 8am-1pm through December, then every other week Jan- April.
    Held inside Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL

    Logan Square Indoor Market -Every Sunday from 10-3pm, Nov-April
    Held inside closed Pierre’s Bakery building at 2755 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL

    Glenwood Sunday Indoor Market -1-2 times per month from 9am-2pm, Nov-May
    Held inside the Glenwood Bar 6962 N Glenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL

    Stores:

    Dill Pickle Food Co-op
    3039 W Fullerton
    Chicago, IL 60647

    Green Grocer Chicago
    1402 W Grand Ave
    Chicago, IL 60622

    Heritage Prairie Market
    2N308 Brundige Road
    Elburn, IL 60119
  • Post #11 - December 18th, 2014, 5:18 pm
    Post #11 - December 18th, 2014, 5:18 pm Post #11 - December 18th, 2014, 5:18 pm
    If you are still looking for Lamb in Chicago-
    I'd 2nd Treasure Island's
    ( I usually would shop @ the store on Clybourn Ave.).
    And -
    Pete's Fresh Market's newest store on 2333 W. Madison Avenue-
    they have Lamb Chops, Lamb Burgers, Lamb Breast and even make Lamb Sausage
    in a Hot Links fashion- kinda a neighborhood-centric-fusion thing- I'm guessin'
    :wink:

    Pete's Fresh Market
    2333 W. Madison Ave. (@ Western Ave.)
    Chicago, IL
    312.888.4600

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