Prime Butcher

It’s such a pleasure to have a great source for meat and poultry. I’m fortunate to live close by, so I’m in there often. The quality of products at Prime is superior, the service is excellent, the owners and team behind the counters treat you like one of the family, and both can and will explain the cuts, flavor and texture to expect, and best methods to prepare your purchase if you ask. Added benefit — very tasty prepared foods, and a great beer selection. It’s a one stop shop if you are preparing a meal. There are lots of places to buy meat, chicken, pork, etc. But few if any that deliver on the combination of great product, great price, and great service like Prime Butcher. If you visit during the grilling season, stop by and try the ribs that they barbecue on site. You won’t want to leave.

This is my go-​to butcher shop. Their marinated meats are so tasty and their holiday roasts and cuts are awesome as well. The Prime Butcher offers an amazing selection of craft beers and also Boars Head deli meats. Their prepared foods are wonderful for days and evenings when time for cooking is tough to come by! Love the customer service and advice for how to prepare certain cuts of meat if needed.

Not only does this butcher have the best meat in the area, but they also have the best customer service. I went in some years ago for a couple of filets and asked the butcher if they had any peppercorn sauce to go with it. Billy the butcher gave me a personal recipe (he even wrote it on butcher paper — I still have it!) for the most amazing sauce we’ve ever had! It was easy to make and way more delicious than any canned sauce would be. The filets were also out of this world tender! Just this morning I drove 20 mins out of my way to grab some steak tips at Prime and some coffee at the café next door. As it happens Chris Christie was making an appearance at the café and I couldn’t get in there to get a coffee. I was so bummed, but Billy the butcher saved the day, snuck in the back door and got me the latte I was craving! This above and beyond customer service and the exceptional quality of the meat keep us coming back! Thank you, Billy and Prime!

I’m not reviewing on price: when I am shopping for food for value, I’ll head to giant markets or surplus stores. I acknowledge I am paying a premium for single source, grass fed and grain finished meat. I am paying a premium for not having my food pumped full of chemicals and hormones and knowing what I see in the case isn’t pumped full of water or artificial dyes. I have a food allergy and they never act put out annoyed answering my questions about ingredients of items made in-​store.
When I am buying beef (rib eyes, sirloin, filet, or brisket) I only shop at Prime Butcher. If there isn’t a steak in their case with the marbling I want, I know I can ask for a cut and they’ll cut it. If I need meat cryo-​vacced, they’ll do it. Want them to age the beef? They will gladly do that, too. They’ll order any specialty cut they don’t carry and the ducks they carry are the absolute best quality I’ve ever purchased.
Yes, sometimes service is slow if they’re busy. Again, for the level of service they provide and the quality of care (they will hand cut lamb rather than machine it to prevent bone shards or powder in your chops) there is a financial and time premium to pay) but I believe it is worth it.

I have only been here a few times but I do think it is a great find. They cater to people who eat Paleo to some degree which I’m a fan of because that’s how I try to eat. I spoke with their manager who is really knowledgeable and passionate about the store and their products. Their beer selection appears to be one of the better ones I have seen in the area. Too bad I don’t drink beer anymore… If you are looking for a limited release beer this is definitely a place you can go. Their beef is grass fed and corn finished. It comes from a single source farm in California. The Paleo bacon is really good and you can buy it in bulk frozen.

I like this place way better than Mckinnons. I am a huge fan of the cranberry stuffed chicken breast, stuffed shrooms, and 2x baked potato, and rib roasts. Not so much a fan of their marinades for their chicken, I’ve tried everyone of the chicken marinades and just not a big fan. I do like their steak house marinade. And the meat quality is great, you can definitely tell the difference in texture of cheap supermarket meat and theirs.

This place is awesome! Great meat, can’t go wrong. Lots of Paleo options too! The ribs are amazing.

Went to Prime Butcher in Hampstead NH the other day!!!
As being someone who’s always looking for high quality beef, this place had some really nice looking steaks… They carry some cuts in Brandt all natural beef and had prime strips (which is what we bought). They have a great selection of marinated meats also.
Our strip steaks were deliciously tender and tasty!!!
Another great item they have is ready to bake, twice baked potatoes made in house, which were delicious. What a great idea!
What a switch to that store bought potato salad, yuk!
Steve was very helpful and friendly on our trip to the store, and was HONEST when giving his opinion on the different cuts and brands he carries.
What a switch… Most people behind the counter at some other meat markets are not even accurate when they tell you what cut, grade or brand of meat they have behind the counter… either they don’t know or don’t want to tell you.
We do like McKinnon’s in Salem for many things, but will not buy any of their «Certified Angus» run of the mill sold everywhere you go tasteless steaks!!!
The Brandt Prime Grade Strip Steaks were very reasonably priced at $ 18.99LB
Sandy,

Prices have gone thru the roof. Used to get their own cooked roast beef and was good even at $ 10 /​lb bought some today now $ 11/​lb and it was awful. Over done and dry. Left overs go to the dog. Mckinnons is 15 mins away and worth the drive.

Meat shop that carries a lot of different marinated meats. Great service. The staff here is very friendly and has given some great tips (not just steak tips :)!!
They also have some different gourmet desserts and an decent beer selection where you can buy single beers to try new types.

It can get crowded at the butcher counter, but service is fast. The folks behind the butcher counter know are knowledgeable and very friendly. Most of the marinaded tips are great and the prices are reasonable and in line with McKinnon’s on many meat items.
The older woman who runs the checkout is the one big detractor — she’s always been absolutely miserable whenever I shop there and seems to
not speak to you (even to say «hi» or «thank you») unless are a regular. It’s too bad because I fee it kind of makes one feel like a fool for handing over their money to someone who couldn’t be bothered with the most common of courtesies.
Four stars for the food — minus two for the curmudgeon.

I love the prime butcher. The service is always great, and they have the best marinated steak. My whole family loves the Chubby steak tips!

We purchased marinated chicken wings from here once and they were so salty that we were actually unable to eat them. We haven’t been back since.

I don’t think high prices is a reason for a bad review– just don’t shop there. I love the marinated meat at Prime Butcher, especially the Key West chicken. It is tender and juicy when grilled or cooked in a pan. They have some groceries as well if you need something a little extra for dinner. The buffalo chicken dip is fabulous! Nice shredded chicken with a subtle touch of blue cheese. Heated up– nice for a quick appetizer.

It a nice butcher shop and all but I can get the same items for cheaper or pretty much the same price closer to my home in Salem at McKinnon’s or The Meat House.
They have marinated steak tips, ($ 8.99lb) as well as sausage, Boar’s Head products, and some very nice cheeses, and pre-​made salads and entrees.
If I lived in the neighborhood, I may come here.