The Organic Butcher in McLean?

[Anonymous]

Try brick house butcher in Falls Church. Great quality.

[Anonymous]

I posted but realized your concern was parking. I am one of those people who avoid places with stressful parking. I still go to the organic butcher in McLean. They have parking in front and back and you can get away with parking on the street next to it. It has a steady crowd but it turns over. The only time it is really bad is when they are doing pick ups for holiday meals (the days before thanksgiving and Christmas).

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks. We went this afternoon and found the rear parking.
We went to Balduccis first and I went to eyeball the beef and prices.
Was a little put off by the food smell in Organic Butcher. I guess it's garlicky sausage or something.
I guess their core clientele know what they want, not browsers. We got a strip steak. Will see if it's better.
I noticed the boneless rib eye looked better trimmed at Balduccis and was $38 a pound, not $46 as at Organic but maybe it tastes better ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much is ground beef for example?

I think it's a good value for what you get - $9.99 a pound. Our favorite for burgers!

[Anonymous]

Sticker shock and a long wait but the best filet and lamb chops we've ever made.

[Anonymous]

OP here, maybe lamb next time. We only eat red meat once a wek or less so price not a problem if not ripoff.
Do they have chateaubriand or can they get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing bad I have to say about it is that it made us realize how crappy the meat was that we were buying from the grocery store. We cannot go back.

Agree! Although it is so pricey.

and as a PP said, the salmon is also fantastic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. We went this afternoon and found the rear parking.
We went to Balduccis first and I went to eyeball the beef and prices.
Was a little put off by the food smell in Organic Butcher. I guess it's garlicky sausage or something.
I guess their core clientele know what they want, not browsers. We got a strip steak. Will see if it's better.
I noticed the boneless rib eye looked better trimmed at Balduccis and was $38 a pound, not $46 as at Organic but maybe it tastes better ?

You really can’t compare to Balduccis…Balduccis is just Safeway with prices marked up. The quality of meat is no better than what you get at your local Safeway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. We went this afternoon and found the rear parking.
We went to Balduccis first and I went to eyeball the beef and prices.
Was a little put off by the food smell in Organic Butcher. I guess it's garlicky sausage or something.
I guess their core clientele know what they want, not browsers. We got a strip steak. Will see if it's better.
I noticed the boneless rib eye looked better trimmed at Balduccis and was $38 a pound, not $46 as at Organic but maybe it tastes better ?

You really can’t compare to Balduccis…Balduccis is just Safeway with prices marked up. The quality of meat is no better than what you get at your local Safeway.

Someone said they had same supplier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sticker shock and a long wait but the best filet and lamb chops we've ever made.

I often see people queuing up outside. Are they picking up special orders or just waiting to be served?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. We went this afternoon and found the rear parking.
We went to Balduccis first and I went to eyeball the beef and prices.
Was a little put off by the food smell in Organic Butcher. I guess it's garlicky sausage or something.
I guess their core clientele know what they want, not browsers. We got a strip steak. Will see if it's better.
I noticed the boneless rib eye looked better trimmed at Balduccis and was $38 a pound, not $46 as at Organic but maybe it tastes better ?

You really can’t compare to Balduccis…Balduccis is just Safeway with prices marked up. The quality of meat is no better than what you get at your local Safeway.

Someone said they had same supplier?

As Organic Butcher??? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sticker shock and a long wait but the best filet and lamb chops we've ever made.

I often see people queuing up outside. Are they picking up special orders or just waiting to be served?

Both.

[Anonymous]

OP back. Had the NY strip we got for dinner. Cooked medium rare. It was, well, ok. Certainly more tender and nicer flavor than WF grass fed. Not sure it was better than Balduccis. It was chewy as that cut is but not tough, nice flavor. But we probably wouldn't get it again soon, given that we don't eat beef often anymore.

I think I will look into lamb and ask about the Argentine beef they had "in back."

Question: do they just bring stuff from the back or do you get to see it and choose the piece you want? Do they show prices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is ground beef for example?

I think it's a good value for what you get - $9.99 a pound. Our favorite for burgers!

Not bad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back. Had the NY strip we got for dinner. Cooked medium rare. It was, well, ok. Certainly more tender and nicer flavor than WF grass fed. Not sure it was better than Balduccis. It was chewy as that cut is but not tough, nice flavor. But we probably wouldn't get it again soon, given that we don't eat beef often anymore.

I think I will look into lamb and ask about the Argentine beef they had "in back."

Question: do they just bring stuff from the back or do you get to see it and choose the piece you want? Do they show prices?

In my experience, you need to ask for anything you want — very little is offered, except maybe “ an inch thick okay?”
I drove by today at noon and 20 people were lined up outside.