Red Apron Butchery

Great selections and very friendly. Red Apron is always a favorite stop when we visit union market.

i love everything from the butcher — the cured meats, steaks, et al. they do fantastic work.
I’m also a huge fan of the restaurant. The burger is one of the best deals in the city.
However, the beers are terrible. It’s typical domestic, over-​flavored, over-​hopped, poorly poured micro-​silliness. If they really want to be a beer destination they need better taps/​pressure.

Red Apron’s meatball sandwich is nothing short of a revelation.
Instead of a couple of large, sandwich-​unfriendly meat spheres squished between uneven patches of cheese and sauce, you get a beautiful, perfectly balanced mixture.
The pork meatballs, tomato sauce and cheese are all slightly intermingled into something that’s halfway between a traditional meatball sub and a pasta ragu. Each bite has a little of everything. It. Is. Glorious.
Need a kicker? They top it off with salsa verde, which you’d think would be batshit insane but instead just acts as the cherry on top of a delicious savory creation.
Best $ 8 you can spend in Union Market.

Though the beer selection is great, the ordering system is nonsensical, starting with the «4oz» or «Full» options. Some full beers are pints, others are 8oz pours, and there’s no indication as to what you’re getting when you order. When I asked about what a full size was after being given a tiny beer, I was told I had the largest size as a larger glass was handed to the person next to me. I did not order a specialty beer typically served in small pours, but it was clear the staff were not going to give me an answer. Beers are described in simple categories that do not provide adequate info as to what kind of beer is being offered — «hop» and «roast» as labels do not provide enough description when describing a beer. Is it an imperial stout? Is it an Oktoberfest? It is an English ale of some variety? This system would function if the people taking orders were able to provide more info themselves, rather than acting self righteous when asked a question about just how intense a beer labeled «hop» is.
The only redeeming quality was the burger itself, which passed in that it was cooked to specifications and tasted like a burger. I would not recommend ordering more than meat between bread here, though, since the beer is clearly only to be ordered by those privileged enough to work here.

One of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I have ever had, hands down! We decided to hit up Union Market one weekend to check out what all the fuss was about. We couldn’t decide what to eat since there are so many options but finally landed on Red Apron since the grilled cheese caught my eye. It is made with pimento cheese which I love, so I ordered that and my husband got a burger. They also serve beer so we ordered a couple of those and sat down to wait. We were actually lucky enough to snag a seat at the tables. The only downside to this place, and the reason I didn’t give 5 stars, is because the lady calling the food orders out was so incredibly loud and obnoxious that it was actually really starting to bother us and made us rush through our lunch and drinks to get the heck out of there. If it wasn’t for her, we probably would have ordered another round. But definitely go and try the grilled cheese… but take it to go.

Really great service… Great knowledge of the local brews. Took the time to give us a lot of information about the area. This place is inside the Union Market, and apparently, is also a butcher… They had more than 20 brews, I think.
It’s well worth the travel on the metro!

The beef and cheddar sandwich was a bit smaller than I thought but that’s the only negative from here.
They are located in Union market and have a nice selection of 12 craft beers on tap. The fries were delicious too! Would come back for sure and best food/​hangout place in the Union Market facility.

We finally checked out Union Market today, and I think it’s definitely the winner over Eastern Market these days. Much better food, cleaner, more fresh, love it.
We started to get hungry after shopping for a bit while waiting for our knives to get sharpened, so we stopped at Red Apron for sandwiches. We both picked the burger — the Red Apron Original (ordered medium) added bacon, and also ordered a side of the arugula salad to go with it. We sat and drank our wine and beer while waiting at the casual high tops for our food. About ten minutes later, the food was ready and looked good! The buns looked especially different and delicious, there was shredded cabbage, mandoline sliced red onions, pickles, tomatoes, and a type of thousand island dressing on the burger. After two bites, my bf and I were like «holy sh*t», this burger is GOOD! The bun tasted like it was made with a bit of cheddar cheese, which added the perfect flavor. All in all, the burger was phenomenal and honestly one of the best I’ve had in my life. I’m still thinking about it hours later with a smile. The arugula salad was good as well, with a nice tangy dressing, and the perfect light ending after our burgers.
So we didn’t get any of the stuff at the deli, but i highly recommend the place for burgers. YUM!

I had lunch at the Union Market location for the first time earlier today. It was ok but not as good as their packed little section of the market would have you believe.
I probably wouldn’t get the Red Apron Original (their signature burger) again. I appreciate that they cooked it nice and rare for me but I thought the flavor was lacking in the patty. For $ 12 (with bacon), it was a pretty small slab of meat. Also, the $ 2 add-​on for the bacon was a complete joke. It gets you no more than half of a thin bacon strip that you definitely won’t be able taste against all the other ingredients.
One thing I (surprisingly) liked was the Island Sauce. I usually don’t like ketchup or any other condiments on my burger but this sauce complemented the other ingredients nicely — It wasn’t overpowering and they didn’t overdo the amount that they used.
I also got a side of the «Nate’s Fries,» which are topped with some garlic and rosemary. These were absolutely delicious. They’re cooked in aged beef fat, which you can definitely taste. I could have used a few more pieces of garlic but that’s my one, minor complaint here.
Some of the other sandwiches I saw coming out of the kitchen looked amazing. They also have a great selection of draft beers so I’ll definitely come back and look forward to trying something other than their burger.

Red Apron is an extremely high quality butcher and serves delicious food to boot. I work near their location at Union Market and have tried a number of their dishes over and over. I highly recommend the Meatball sandwich. It is seriously to die for– pork meatballs with tomato sauce and salsa verde served with fresh grated cheese on an amazing baguette. I have had this sandwich a number of times and have never been disappointed. My husband is a huge fan of the Beef & Cheddar– which they did not used to have all of the time but seems to have become a menu staple at the UM location. It is rare beef with a cheese whiz sauce– not for those that are afraid of some pink in their meat. Their burgers and fries are also something to try out– fries are fried in duck fat so that is obviously a win.
I have bought a few cuts of meat at Red Apron and they have always been amazing. I wish they had a few more happy hour specials on both food and drinks and this would be a standard go-​to for me and my colleagues after work.

Was excited to try the burger here since I read great reviews. Ordered the basic beef burger, and it was totally bland. The beef was preformed and seemed like it had been frozen. The lettuce was iceberg thinly shredded and flavorless. No taste other than salt really came through. That it cost $ 10 was outrageous for such a plain, bland burger. I was really hungry but threw it away after 4 bites. Disappointing.
I also ordered the fries because I saw the guy ahead of me with these tasty looking fries covered in whole roasted garlic cloves– looked delicious! Turns out, you have to request that version of the fries. Mine came out and they were plain :(To be fair, this was my fault for not noticing that there were two types of fries available.
My friend enjoyed her grilled cheese though.

Great fresh selection!!! Prices are pretty darn good too compared to Whole Food. Keep up the good work Red Apron!

First time here and their deli selection is amazing !
Their Liverwurst is darn tasty as their Pâté.
Shane, who works behind the counter is very knowledgeable about everything behind the deli case and will patiently explain it to you. They get fresh shipment in every Saturday. You can order sandwiches and beer and eat at their little table set up. Their grass-​fed ribeye selection looks amazing and cheaper than WholeFoods! Awesome !! A must stop in. It’ll be worth the trip!

From the times that I’ve been to union market, it’s obvious to see this place is pretty popular. I stopped in for lunch on my snow day and decided to give this place a shot. I got the beef and cheese sandwich and was not disappointed. Simple and delicious– no cheese overload, no extra unnecessary add-​ons. They also have a decent beer menu with a nice variety of options. If you’re in the mood for a great sandwich and are in the area, definitely give is a try! You might have to fight the crowds for a seat though.

Best burger ever. It melts in your mouth. Good beer options. Friendly staff. The fries are excellent as well. Definitely worth checking out. I had the grilled cheese sandwich; that was ok. Nothing special. However, my partner had one of the burgers and we both enjoyed it so much. Wish I could’ve ordered that instead.

The staff here are terrific– knowledgeable about which items are vegetarian, full of helpful tips, and super friendly. Add to this a very nice craft beer list and you have yourself a perfect spot for dinner at Union Market.
My husband had the roast beef and cheddar sandwich, which he loved. The roast beef was excellent and the ranch mayo and spicy cheese sauce put this over the top. He split the beef fat french fries with our fried and they both loved the depth of flavor and savory oomph. These came topped with flaky salt and tender cloves of garlic.
Us gals split the grilled pimento cheese. I’m not sure that I can do this sandwich justice, but will give it a shot. The bread was light, buttery, and crisp, the spicy pimento cheese made this southern girl’s heart swell with delight, and the aioli added even more richness. Just wow.

Really nice beers, unusual flavors, gracious hosts will and zach… Very nice light arugula salad … Me likes

I’ve consumed 5 «porkstrami» sandwiches from here this year; basically one every 2 – 3 months.
The hog meat is premium. A delicate, light-​tasting rub that has been applied in the processing stage is done so deftly. The sauerkraut is exactly to my liking – barely fermented. The grainy mustard aioli dressing is not overwhelming and complements the two pork components of thinly sliced meat and bacon quite nicely.
Porkstrami needs to be eaten immediately. This delicate item does not travel well in my experience; its baguette becomes saturated with the various oils and condiments in a short period of time. I feel that the magic of this sammie is lost if transported. It just tastes better when hot, too.
For the folks who are not a fan of reuben or pastrami sandwiches due to the strong flavors of corn beef, Red Apron’s porkstrami might be the substitute they’re looking for. Actually, one would be hard pressed to find a better pork treatment in the DMV available in sandwich form; it’s that unique.
Some reviewers mentioned that the amount of meat contained within is sparse, but I have to disagree. I think it’s sized appropriately. It’s a pretty rich sandwich and if it were bigger, I think this would be a mistake. And yeah, it’s not inexpensive, but high-​quality ingredients and labor-​intensive cooking methods do carry a price.
I give this original creation a special commendation because the porkstrami has been excellent for me time and time again.
Touchdown, baby!

Went to Union Market for the first time the other weekend and was a bit overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the place. In the back I found Red Apron Butchery and found a safe haven.
They have delicious sandwiches and a solid selection of draft beers. I went with the beef and cheddar while the person who was my guide had the jalapeño grilled cheese. Along with that, went with a bag of chips and also got a White Rascal from the bar, which since it was beer, was delicious.
My sandwich was fantastic, something I’d definitely order again on any visit to Union Market. The bun was soft and complimented the roast beef really well. The cheddar sauce on it was just the right amount, enough to be noticed but not enough to make a mess everywhere. I did have beef with the beef though, as it was cold, and I wished they would have slapped it on the grill to make it hot. Still, it was a really good sandwich.
Had a bite of the jalapeño grilled cheese and it was definitely a winner.
Red Apron is definitely a spot you should check out if you find yourself in Union Market, and possibly a reason for you to go to Union Market all on it’s own. I don’t know for sure though, so I’ll probably have to go back and try something else. You know, for science and all.

Red Apron Butchery is fantastic! We’ve been here several times to get lunch, and we’ve gotten some of their meats once. What’s disappointing about their meat counter is the selection — for example, they have 6 different types of salami, but not a single proscuitto. That’s really my only gripe. The people who work behind the counter are very helpful when asking for descriptions. Even their hotdog selection looks amazing — we haven’t tried it yet, but hope to soon!
They have some really fabulous sandwiches here! My favorite is the grilled pimiento cheese — Oh. My. God. Heaven in your mouth! It’s gooey and spicy, and just perfect! Paired with a bag of Zapps potato chips, it’s almost like being back home in New Orleans. My husband is a huge fan of the Porkstrami. I don’t like pork, but I hear that this is the sandwich to get here, and he loves it! I’ve also tried their muffaletta, which isn’t your typical New Orleans style muffaletta, but we aren’t in New Orleans, and theirs will do.
They don’t have a ton of seating, but I’ve never had an issue finding seating throughout Union Market. Also, their staff sometimes gets confused on whose sandwich belongs to whom, but they do a fair job at handling crowds and lines, so I think they will work all the kinks out soon.