Sparrow Meat Market

Great meat, friendly employees.

I came here because I was waiting for my food at Monahan. I was just looking around, not planning to buy anything or any meat.
So this review is NOT for meat. Rather, for all the other things they sell. I actually got a stickyfinger all-​natural coconut and chocolate chip scone mix. I saw the good reviews on amazon.
They have a variety of bob’s mills and stonewall kitchen products.

I think that one of the coolest things about Sparrow Meat Market is the sheer number of female butchers that work there. Where else can you walk in, as I did this evening, to find FIVE skilled women working the meat counter?! Very bad ass!
Aside from my awe for these knife-​wielding women, Sparrow offers a respectable number of hard to find, gourmet items in addition to the diverse spread of the meat counter. One of my favorite new finds is duck bacon! Try it, trust me.
The market is also convenient in its proximity to the neighboring fish market, wine store, and specialty oil vendor to complete your «Master Chef”-worthy meal.

Bob Sparrow and Mariam Maksutova provided some of the best customer service I’ve ever experienced. Sparrow Meats helped my event production company to feed 750 people at a key client’s corporate event. The order was large, highly detailed, and ever-​changing! Bob and Mariam adapted with ease, and impermeable smiles.
As Bob mentioned, his integrity and reputation are far more important than any one event or client. His actions match his words. The staff’s ongoing attentiveness and proactive problem-​solving made possible a successful event that could have failed in countless ways. Mariam is a true all-​star. At first I wondered if she indeed cared that much about her work, but soon discovered it’s all genuine!
And the meat… amazing! Bob made the sausage himself, and it was so so good. Don’t hesitate to use Sparrow Meat Market for anything, from lunch to giant events. You will be happy you did.

This place is legit. Things I have gotten there this summer include
–a whole packer brisket
–delmonicos
–flank steak
–more flank steak
It was all super delicious. They also had beef rib the first time I went but have not had it the last few times :(.
The people who work there really know their way around meat. Be it cutting things to order or just the initial slicing/​portioning of the meat they seem very skillful– a rarity in this day and age.
Sparrow is situated amongst other stores that also have delicious foods like fresh seafood and lobster bisque, as well as pretty good produce.
The big complaint is price, and yes it is very pricey– so if 3 dollar steaks are your thing by all means go to Meijer and stay away from my BBQ.

This review is for the deli in Sparrow. OMG duck salad! It is perfectly cooked and tender slices of duck over greens, with walnuts and dried cherries… such a perfect combination, and a portion that will fill you up. At just $ 8 I can afford to actually grab lunch here on the regular! I also tried the Turkey sandwich and it comes with brie and avocado and thick cut crunchy bacon with the perfect tangy-​sweet mustard dressing. This is a great place to grab quality fast food lunch! Love it :)

This place is trying to kill me. Standing in front of that thirty yard long meat case makes me want to eat red meat three times a day, every day.
I don’t think there’s a butcher shop in Ann Arbor that sells a larger variety of high quality meats. Besides the common steaks, roasts, chops, and standard ground meats, they offer some unique creations and items that aren’t often sold fresh (e.g., duck, wild boar; beef, pork, duck, or venison burgers mixed with cheeses, vegetables, or fruit). Over the glass case is a sign listing items not on display but available by request. Want chicken feet for making stock? Beef tongue for a memorable salad? Tripe? Just ask. It’s worth noting that they carry some USDA prime grade beef, something rarely seen in stores. They have some great housemade sausages too.
If you’re looking for a steak, be warned – theirs tend to be very large. One NY strip or ribeye usually suffices for my wife and I.
Some people find their prices prohibitive, but I’ve always thought they were quite reasonable, and I am not by any means wealthy. True, their stuff costs more than Kroger’s or Meijer’s, but less than similar meats at Whole Foods or Plum Market. Plus, at Sparrow you’re generally buying something of superior quality. And there is no one who will be selling prime grade steak at $ 6.99 a pound.
Some great deals can be found in the rest of the store. A lot of their fruits, vegetables and cheeses cost less than at my local supermarket.
My one complaint about Sparrow is that they don’t carry grass finished beef or lamb, which I usually buy when I can. True that would raise the price the meat some, but that’s an investment I usually don’t mind making.
As I write this, we’re smack in the middle of grilling season. Time for another visit.

One of the best local butchers I have ever been to. They have an amazing section of all sorts of meat and chicken. They have amazing thick cut bacon that is cheaper than store bought, not to mention they have duck bacon! Got 2 of the aged ribeyes for V Day and it was definitely the best steak I have ever had at home and probably dining out for that matter. (Chop House does rival it but this was a fraction of the price).

Interesting little market with the best butcher in town. Beautiful cuts of meat and thick local bacon OMG so good.
Like a trip back in time!
They don’t have everything but Everything is good.
Its like going to the market around Paris.

Best butcher ever. Great variety and cuts of meat, decent prices. Ordered a bone-​in, skin on ham shoulder for Christmas, it was fresh and exactly what I requested. Go there often for their prosciutto & duck bacon. Places like this makes me love Ann Arbor.

Fantastic market in Kerrytown! I am especially fond of the meat counter and drive from Northville just for that reason. Quality and hard to find products like heritage breed pork. They’ve made a beautiful crown roast for me for the holidays! Well worth the trip and slightly higher prices.

We miss you Bob! Friendly, knowledgeable staff, and absolutely quality meat! A butcher that even vegetarian can get behind. My wife and I always enjoy chatting with the owner, Bob, and figuring out what to try making. This is the only place we will buy meat from. Everything is fresh, local, and very reasonably priced (way cheaper than whole foods and plum market). Even before moving to SF, we knew this would be the place we miss the most.

Sparrow Market has a lot of variety and friendly, knowledgable staff. The produce is always fresh and good quality and the butcher shop has some of the best stuff money can buy. It is in a prime location near Zingerman’s, the farmer’s market, Sweetwater Coffee, and Monahan’s Seafood. Sparrow is a good spot for staples and unique food gifts. Kerrytown is a funky part of Ann Arbor and the other shops in the area are worth checking out too.

Yet another little A2 gem that I’m glad I didn’t discover earlier because it definitely saved both my waistline and my wallet. I haven’t bought any meat here because I’m trying to cut down on my consumption of animal products, but I can say that some of the non-​meat items they carry are unique and walking through the tiny aisles is a little like treasure hunting. Today I found hibiscus flowers in syrup (meant for cocktails) and an elderflower and rose lemonade. Can you tell I love flower-​flavored edibles?
Anyway, what I really really wanted to comment on is the $ 6 sandwich I just got there today called the «Kourtni» (I think?) It’s a fried egg, spinach, goat cheese, red onions, bacon, avocado, and other goodness I can’t remember right now. Easily the tastiest $ 6 sandwich I’ve had in a long long time!

Shopped around for bucatini and guanciale — but should’ve known better. Sparrow had both, easily accessible and for a very reasonable price, unlike some other larger places in town. Always impressed when I come here!

If you live in or near Kerrytown, you should buy your meat from Sparrow. If you don’t live close to the Kerrytown market, you should get in your car, drive to Kerrytown, park, and THEN buy your meat from Sparrow. The meat is the best you can buy in Ann Arbor (only rivaled by Knights).
Bob Sparrow (owner) is one of the nicest, friendliest guys in town, and he’s always suggests just the right cut or type of meat for whatever dinner you’re attempting to prepare. The whole place makes you feel like you live in a small town where everyone knows your name and the local butcher asks how your family is.
It is a bit on the pricey side, but I feel it’s worth it to support a locally owned store, great service, and quality products.
Bonus: Sparrow’s is attached to Sweetwaters café, Monohan’s seafood (best seafood in Ann Arbor) and Everyday wines, as well as the Saturday farmer’s market.

Ordered a crown roast from them for a family dinner and it was such a breeze. Just called them up a few days before, placed the order, and picked it up on the Friday before the big day. It was pretty quiet at the counter so I walked right up and was able to get some help right away. It took all of 3 minutes to grab my order which was great since I was in a bit of a hurry. They asked me if I needed any help with how to cook it but since we had a recipe at home I declined although I thought it was nice of them to offer though.
The roast came together beautifully and tasted amazing. Fresh, juicy and beautiful to look at. Definitely a wonderful place to visit for all your meat related needs!

I like Sparrow Market, I don’t love Sparrow. I will not likely ever be a Sparrow regular. I do swing by from time to time but only if I’m in the area and looking for something semi specific.
The meat is good. In many cases very good. It’s also overpriced. Unapologetically overpriced. I hate to be über critical because it is quality product and the service is top notch here. Friendly, knowledgable and you will be able to get exactly what you want. As my wise friend Mickie W tells true, if you are a smart shopper you can get anything from here cheaper elsewhere.
Not everyone is savvy though, not everyone wants to hunt around, drive from place to place and hey not everyone is as cheap as I am. It’s cute in here and they bring the charm too. Sometimes I do buy from here and I am never disappointed with the results except it’s usually a special occasion type meal, not a weekly habit.
I have seen things here at decent prices, especially fruits and veg. I’m not saying you can’t get a bargain but overall this is not a reasonably priced place to shop for me. If that will not bother you then you will love Sparrow.

I’ve told my husband I won’t buy our beef anywhere else as long as we live in A2.
The prices are great, the meat is very fresh and cured so it always tastes delicious. The cuts are high-​quality. $ 7.99 NY Strip, $ 2.99 ribs, $ 4.99 T-​bone– great deals.
The staff are incredibly helpful and totally accommodating. They’ll take the chorizo out of the case for you or cut the meat until you’ve got the exact amount you want, they’ll answer any question, no matter how basic or complex, with patience and kindness. I’ll be honest, I’ve never used a butcher before, but I can’t imagine better service.
This place has transformed my meat-​buying experience!

Why can’t I see «meat market» without chuckling a little? REAL MATURE, SAM. But really their selection is no joke.
As others have mentioned, the meats are fresh, high quality, and VERY reasonably priced. A friend of mine got the meat man to craft some custom sausage for him and it was absolutely delicious. I’m wondering if you can do that as an everyday schmoe or if you have to have ins (my friend seems to have ins everywhere).
They also have farm fresh eggs! Yey for happy chickens. Sometimes you have to ask for them, otherwise they’re on the meat case counter.
I’ve seen them carry fresh herbs from Silvio’s indoor garden and that’s not the end of their networking. Word on the streets is that they stock a lot of the higher end restaurants with meats.
Since many of the workers have previous employment in the food industry (e.g. a baker for Gandy Dancer), they know their merch inside out. This is perfect for when you want to find a recipe ingredient you’ve never heard of or, for that matter, how to cook it.
I don’t think I’d ever do all my shopping here. But I DO think that getting everything you need here is very possible. I just don’t need everything to be a specialty item or local or gourmet. When I do need those things though? I find them here.
They grind nut butters so you can pick up a very reasonably priced container of peanut, cashew, or almond butter there. They’re got Michigan maple syrup. So on. And so forth.
I never knew they serve ready-​made food here. That means trouble!
I’ve been in a lot of little gourmet specialty stores for fish, meat, cheese, baking ingredients, and produce. This place is by far up there in quality with the best of them and at half the price.