A Cut Above Butcher Shop

I was in the area and decided to stop at A Cut Above. It was rainy weather, and I walked in eager for a warm sandwich. Having previously heard about a few of their hot sandwich options, I decided to try the Italian beef side au jus. I was the only one inside and had to wait just a few minutes before my order was ready. In the meantime I took a look at all their cuts of meat they have to offer as well as the breads, snacks like jerky, and other items they have for sale. Everyone working there was super friendly, upbeat and eager to contribute to the workplace. When my sandwich was ready, I took the bag and noticed how warm it was, and without thinking twice about it, I sat down to enjoy my sandwich inside the shop. The au jus was warm and flavorful and acted as a wonderful dip for the sandwich. The sandwich itself was expertly prepared, loaded with beef, a tasty giardiniera, and some of the softest bread you’ll find. I’d like to say that I took my time with this sandwich, but given it was also warming me up from the inside out, it didn’t last longer than a few minutes. It was a great choice for a cold day, and I look forward to returning very soon to try a cut of beef.

I want to start this review off by saying the staff is so amazing and so knowledgeable and it really made the experience that much better! As an East Coast baby, this place has my heart and I definitely will be back. They have an amazing selection of meats as they are a butcher shop but serve food. if you stop and be sure to check out the meat selection as well as the full menu. I ordered the Italian beef with the seasoned broth and let me tell you something like home. It was a rainy day, so it was absolutely perfect. The establishment was clean and well taken care of and had one of the best meat cabinets I’ve seen in a long time. The prices are great considering their location and it’s walking distance away from a lot of other stuff.

Very good. It’s my first time - - I had the turkey with thick cut bacon and some sort of Cole slaw on a baguette. Definitely will return.

This place is great! I got the Cubano! It's special cause the pork they use is smoked! I also came here because they have A5 Wagyu. I bought 1.5 pounds to celebrate a friend's birthday. The staff was knowledgeable, gave good tips for how to cook Wagyu, and gave advice on buying Wagyu in the future. Definitely come here if you want high quality cuts!

The best butcher shop and sandwich spot. Their quality is unmatched and every sandwich they have is the best ever. Everyone here is really friendly and helpful. It feels local in a way that’s hard to cultivate in Los Angeles. 10/10

Finally had the chance to try this spot. I order the lemongrass steak banh mi sandwich which I've had before in vietnamese restaurants and was very good. Now this one was okay, nothing special. The steak was chewy, with not much taste to it. Felt the fish sauce over powered the sandwich it self way too much, and definitely not worth 14 dollars. 4 star due to great service, very clean, and friend staff. The co-workers I went with, really like their food which is a good thing, maybe the particular sandwich I got was just not having it. Would like to try other items on the menu to see it they are up to par with the many positive review online.

Always have really good experience w them. They have really good beef tongues and other fresh meat! 🥩

My absolute favorite butcher shop. If they have house made bacon make sure to pick some up. It’s heads and shoulders better than anything else in town. The sausages are also terrific. It’s not cheap here, but your meat probably shouldn’t be. Remember that a serving is supposed to be up to 5 ounces, try a smaller portion and enjoy the difference in flavor and texture. Trust me! Also on the weekends they sometimes smoke ribs. I’ve been passing these off as my own secret recipe. Don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret after all.

Business has limited hours and I was finally able to get there. Very clean and friendly staff. I ordered the hot pastrami. It didn't disappoint. The rye bread was toasted and it had a good amount of cheese. The pastrami was nice and hot and had very good flavor. The fresh meat case looked to have a very good selection

Really good butcher shop with great sandwiches. My gf and I really enjoyed our sandos. Only gripe is it was a bit weird that my gf asked if she could pay for extra salami to put on her burger and he said "no", and if she wanted salami she would have to buy a 1/4 and put it on herself - I'm a bit confused by this logic. You're already making the sandwich. If she wants you to just put it on her burger why don't you just take it when you slice it and save the butcher paper and just place it on the burger when it's done cooking?? Really strange behavior. I also asked to add a fried egg to one of my sandwiches and he said it wasn't possible - yet it's on a couple other sandwiches of theirs already, so why can't he just charge me for the egg and put it on the sandwich? He told me because it would break in my sandwich and make a mess - I don't understand. It's my sandwich. If I want the egg yolk to run in my sandwich and I'm willing to pay for it, then what is the issue??? Also, my gf just wanted a pickle spear for her sandwich and they made her buy an entire pickle... again, very odd behavior... The lack of logic is the reason this place is getting a 4 instead of a 5 because these antics are a bit extra. Overall though we enjoyed our sandwiches and would come back, just beware of the kinda idiotic logic with some people that work there.

Absolutely love this place! Service is always fast and friendly. I've had three different sandwiches from here and they're all amazing and flavorful. My favorite is the cubano. This is probably the best cubano sandwich I've ever had! The pastrami did not disappoint either and definitely recommend. The banh mi was really good but not sure if I'll get it again. Can't wait to come back and try the hot wings and other sandwiches. This place is a MUST!

Butcher shop located in Santa Monica with a pretty great sandwich menu that often features new specials each day. The space itself and vibe is pretty chill. At least it was when I came in during the late afternoon on a weekday. I was greeted by some friendly people that were eager to help me right when I came in. Honestly, I'm sad. I've never heard of this place but apparently it's been open since 2013. I found this place because I was getting a haircut in the area and was looking for a place to eat. I asked my friends about it afterwards and one of my friends told me that their dad swears by this place in terms of meat. For lunch, I ordered the Italian beef, which comes with a side of extra beef broth. The sandwich with the giardiniera had wonderful flavor already, but adding a little bit more broth over each bite, took to another level. The bread is soft, but firm and crunchy enough to hold it all together. This was a very tasty sandwich. I had extra broth left over which I brought home and used it as a dip for a grilled cheese sandwich I made at home. There's street parking and there's a main lot located behind the store or next to it (strip mall with a CVS).

You get quite a bit a wings for the price! The wings are pretty flavorful. I like spicy foods and these were a 7.5 on spice and an overall flavor! They're not fatty wings with extra skin. They are baked or broiled.Not bartered and tossed in their buffalo sauce. I also had their house made ranch too. Which was really good!

Have gotten a beef tenderloin for two christmases in the past 5 years from here, and both were incredible. I'm not a meat expert so I'm not sure how it stacks up against alternate option, but each time it was so perfect, can't imagine it being better. Kudos to the friendly, responsive team as well!

So with Bay Cities temporarily closed, I am trying out some other sandwich shops. There were about a dozen or so sandwich choices at A CUT ABOVE. I got the turkey and added avocado (not worth the extra $3 for how much they give you). The hero roll was soft and fine but not very memorable (no comparison to Bay Cities). The sliced breast of turkey was ok (not carved from a fresh turkey like Bristol Farms). The Cole slaw spread was slightly spicy which is fine if that was what I was expecting. Bottom line - is that for the nearly $20 I paid, I would have rather spent half at Ralph's deli or Jersey Mikes, or a Bristol Farms.

This place is a must try either you live in the area or visiting. Customer service is great, once you walk in someone is there to help with what you're looking for or any questions . They have a great selection of chicken, pork, beef. USDA premium to waygu A5 steaks and dry aged meat, they got it all here. Looking for a bite must try there specialty sandwiches. I tried the Cubano which was amazing and filling. Smoked kurobota pork that just melts topped with sliced ham, onions, jalapeño pickles, dijon mustard, and all in a baguette toasted bread

This is a best kept secret on the West Side. It is labeled as a butcher shop but it is secretly the best sandwich shop on the West Side. They make all their ingredients from scratch and use quality ingredients. I like everything on their menu. Their fried chicken sando and Italian sandwich are elite level. The butcher shop is also among the best in the area. They have a great selection of cuts with meats sourced from the best farms.

Their pastrami sandwich was pretty killer. I think next time I'll buy the pastrami meat and make Sammy's all week at home. Overall this place rocks.

I was looking for somewhere to eat during lunch and I had a large craving for a sandwich. The locals told me this was the best butcher in Santa Monica. From that alone, I had to try it. When I got there, I had to take a number and wait until it was called like everyone else, similar to when you go to a deli. They had a huge menu on the wall that outlined each of the sandwiches and what was in them. I was really drawn to the pastrami sandwich as I've tried that kind of sandwich at many other famous delis so I wanted to see how it compared. The Italian beef looked delicious too so I'll have that next time and update this review. The pastrami was phenomenal and the sandwich triggered a flavor explosion in my mouth. I still remember my coworker asking how the food was as my eyes were rolling back taking my 3rd bite. The locals did NOT lie. I've had many sandwiches but not many come close to the one I had here. I'll make sure this is my first stop when I come back.

Heard a lot of great reviews about this butcher shop for their gourmet sandwiches so I decided to give it a try. First of all the quality of meat this butcher offers is top notch! I was like a kid in a candy store marveling at the cuts of steaks whole chicken and duck, and sausages they offered. I ordered the Italian Beef sandwich that was made fresh to order. I did not have to wait long to get my sandwich either, plus the chef threw in some rich beef broth to dip my sandwich in just to show love. The butcher shop also has different spreads such at Duck Rillete as well. I will become a regular at the butcher for both premium cuts of meat and sandwiches.

Tripling down on my review. The pastrami sandwich and Italian beef sandwich are some of the top 5 in LA and I've had them all. The pastrami is like what Canters used to serve 15 years ago.

Went here back in 2019 and got a cubano. Absolutely delicious, definitely coming back again next time I visit.

Amazing first time eating here. I was told that I should've ordered something else like pastrami or roast beef but the salumi sub was incredible. I can't wait to go back to try different sandwich options.

Highly recommend the steak banh mi! The steak was so good loved the addition of the egg. Also go a cup of the beef broth. All their sandwiches looked delicious and cuts of meat they had.

I was in the area and decided to stop at A Cut Above. It was rainy weather, and I walked in eager for a warm sandwich. Having previously heard about a few of their hot sandwich options, I decided to try the Italian beef side au jus. I was the only one inside and had to wait just a few minutes before my order was ready. In the meantime I took a look at all their cuts of meat they have to offer as well as the breads, snacks like jerky, and other items they have for sale. Everyone working there was super friendly, upbeat and eager to contribute to the workplace. When my sandwich was ready, I took the bag and noticed how warm it was, and without thinking twice about it, I sat down to enjoy my sandwich inside the shop. The au jus was warm and flavorful and acted as a wonderful dip for the sandwich. The sandwich itself was expertly prepared, loaded with beef, a tasty giardiniera, and some of the softest bread you'll find. I'd like to say that I took my time with this sandwich, but given it was also warming me up from the inside out, it didn't last longer than a few minutes. It was a great choice for a cold day, and I look forward to returning very soon to try a cut of beef.

Worth the 45min drive from our home! My husband loved their lamb sausage. I'll be coming back soon to really stock up. Oh and everyone is so friendly there!

This place is amazing, the fired chicken in the sandwich was the size of my face!! Called in to place an order with no issue. Service took a minute when I went to pick up because everyone was busting their hump, but when I was acknowledged the service was amazing. Really want to try all their sandwiches.

Watch out when you order a hot dog here... I ate half of it in the car to realize it was raw. When I got home, I cut it in half and the whole sausage is pink. I ordered the Italian sweet sausage. Feeling sick to my stomach and probably going to be getting food poisoning very soon.

Great place. Top notch meat and service. The Cuban sandwich is our favorite the chicken sandwich available starting Friday through Sunday is great.

A while back I bought a steak from them and loved it. Couple of weeks ago I got an email from to preorder the thanksgiving turkey. I figured I'd give a shot. Preordering took a couple of minutes and the pick up was easy as well. The staff were very friendly and helpful in answering all my questions. I'd never made a turkey before and I was super nervous about making it. Specially since it was a giant one (27.5lbs). I opted for the brined one. Long story short, it came out perfect! The best Thanksgiving turkey we ever had! Almost picture perfect!

Obsessed! I need moreeeee! My friend and I popped in for some carry out over the weekend. We were warmly greeted and they got to work on our order right away. We both had the breakfast sandwich, one with ham and one with bacon. I fancied the bacon breakfast sandwich a bit more but both were stacked full of meat with no room for disappontment. The brioche bun was superb! The sandwich comes with an egg, cheddar cheese, sriracha aioli and a hashbrown! The hashbrown brings the sammy to another level. At $11, this breakfast is a steal. I will absolutely be back to get it again...but I am going to be so torn because I want to try EVERYTHING on their menu~!!!

This place rules! All the meat cuts I have had were amazing and priced well. Sandwiches are probably some of the best I have had in my life. The clientele though - beyond entitled. Been here about 4 times for meat and/or sandwiches and I kid you not, every time there has been some customer BS going on - best one was, man and woman in, she puts together a huge order and makes a big production about leaving her wallet in the car. Another worker comes and asks if I need help and entitled Laird Hamilton clone freaks out and tells me he is next? Employee has to tell him they have multiple registers. WTF? Every other visit has been deviations on this theme. It sucks because the place rules. I think ordering ahead might fix this if they posted what the day's cuts are.

Was in the area for work and wanted to grab something to eat. Found A Cut Above and stopped in. GREAT sandwich for the price. And quick service Freshly cut meat for the sandwich and if you need to grab something for dinner being a butcher shop there are lost of meats and cuts to choose from. Remember - it is a butcher shop so don't expect to go in and sit down to eat. They have counters to stand and eat but it is not like a chain sandwich shop. They are on my list when I am in the area at lunch time.

No doubt the best spot around. Sausage of the day Cubano all day. Really a cut above the rest.

Amazing! Only word to describe this place. I haven't had the cuts of meat but the sandwiches are exceptional. Well curated, affordable prices, super fresh ingredients. My favorites are the breakfast sandwich and the Italian. Italian blows bay cities out of the water if you think you've had the best Italian around. Breakfast sandwich is huge, especially if you get it with the sausage patty, and absolutely delicious.

Super nice people and very professional. Great food- Italian beef was fantastic. I have been a pinhead in staying away so long.

Grass fed grass finished ribeye in thin slices (Korean bulgogi style) MIND BLOWN. I can never eat bulgogi from anywhere else ever again. I was planning on marinating it but it was sooo delicious just plain that I ended up devouring the meat right off my pan all 6 ounces by myself! Lucas gave great recommendations over the phone, these guys know their meat!! And they are crazy nice

Yep! Amazing sandos. Superior to Bay City, imho. Convenient parking in back and meters out front. The entire staff was so friendly and helpful. Current ranking 1. Italian 2. Pastrami 3. Pulled pork 4. Cuban Will be back to try the others.

Old school, and worth it. They carry nicely aged cuts of beef and things not usually seen, including organ, meats, quail and rabbit.

The food was amazing and the service was even better. A mix up on the order that they still promptly resolved after I arrived even though they were closing up. They stayed open to accommodate our order. 5 stars for food quality, price and service.

Was binging The Bear and wanted an Italian Beef. Only a handful of places serve it in my area. Decided on A Cut Above based on the pictures. I made the right choice. Sandwich was juicy and flavorful with a steaming cup of aus jus. Bread held up fairly well and still had a nice crunch. The giardiniera was vinegary and provided the much needed foil to the rich beef. Top notch execution! Seemed like a sandwich Carmy would serve.

Absolutely delicious food! So many options and such high quality meat. Not the best place to eat at since it's more of a to-go shop, but they have great meats to go as well! Thick cut bacon, pulled pork etc.

There's parking behind, if you access from Chelsea. I usually just park at CVS since it's much more convenient and I am in and out quickly since I call ahead. They are known for their meats, which is definitely high quality and delicious. You can tell from the roast beef sandwich that their house made roast beef is fresh and top notch. Not cheap though. My roast beef sandwich was $17 after tax. Yet the sandwich felt like it lacked something. It was good but not omg, I need to go back for more stat. It was very easy to eat and satisfying though. Will be trying other items on the menu for more chances to wow me.

Finest butcher shop in santa monica. Best burger in town and other yummy delicacies. A must!

Picked up two sandwiches here to eat on a nice Saturday afternoon picnic. Ordered the cubano and the BLT, cubano was nice and juicy, a little bit on the smaller side but honestly the quality of the ham and pork made up for it, every bite was amazing and I could've honestly killed two on my own. BLT was also nice, no amount of avocado and bacon were spared, a packed sandwich full of flavor and crispy slices of bacon. What I was most amazed with was that both sandwiches were sitting in the bag for an hour before we got to our park to start eating but when we opened it up, there was zero leakage and the buns were still so so crispy and not soggy at all, I was extremely pleasantly surprised and I am definitely coming back here to try the other sandwiches.

amazing service -- the boys in there rock! and great sammy's + meat selection. I would come here for alll my meat needs

Amazing sandwiches, beets "Gjusta" in Venice and it's never crowded! We love the ground beef from the butcher and sandwich for husband and taco for me! Such a good price for quality, flavor packed food!

Went in too pickup a sandwich one hour prior to closing and they had expressed they aren't serving any items due to closing the grill one hour prior. Easy recommendation is to add this information to your yelp or website.

I LOVE a Cut Above. There sandwiches are the BEST. It's a Hidden Gem. I always get Hot Dogs to take home. I couldn't imagine a better Hot Dog. I also always get the Cubano Sandwich and love The Arrugula Salad. I buy the pre-made Sunday Gravy and make Bake Rigatoni at home with it. The meats are top grade and they can be custom cut for you.

My girlfriend loves this place. The half pound burger gives me a massive hard on. They should really name it The Johnson Burger.

Great place. How have I not known this place existed. Friendly staff, clean store, many interesting / tasty options.

I got the chicken sandwich which is only served fri, sat, and sun. The chicken was enormous, crispy, and juicy. Prices are fair, especially for the quality. This place truly is a cut above. Can't wait to try the other sandwiches

Rotating selection of delectable meats. The sausage selection is very good, many grass fed &free range Choices such as Novi Ranch. I find these taste great. Come often and replenish because it's all fresh, doesn't last long, and you can get a great sandwich or tacos from the grill.

Fantastic sandwiches! I ordered the roast beef and the Banh Mi, and both were great, but my favorite was the Banh mi. Both were so good now I want to try all the sandwiches!

I start this review by saying the first two steaks, one a filet and the other a rib eye, were two of the best steaks I've Ever had. This is a brutal standard to meet. So I've been sitting on this review since a rainy day on December 30. I waited outside the rain, thank you Covid, To pick up the filet I ordered. They lost the order but told me they had another filet they could give me. Of course it came wrapped in butcher paper and it was $72 per lb. Of course when charging big bucks one is held to the highest standard. When I unwrapped the steak it had clearly been exposed to oxygen as it had two colors bright beautiful red and a dullish brown. While, I'm not an expert. Figured it would be okay. After all this was "A Cut Above." But it wasn't. My piece was sinewy and tough. I cooked it exactly the same way. But the results were a huge disappointment. I don't know what happened. But something DID happen and it wasn't my preparation and cooking. I'm giving two stars because of the prior five star cuts I received. But this, for the money was not acceptable.

5 stars as they are unique place and has amazing meats. 3 stars for the Italian Beef sandwich. I'm not sure where in Chicago the other reviews ate a Beef sandwich but the bread wasn't a spot on match, the beef is cut thicker then usual and the juice was extremely light on flavor. Such a disappointment for me. I also had the sweet Italian sausage which was a 4.5 and would have been a 5 but it was too salty. The fries were 5/5!

Love a great deli and Cut Above delivered exactly what I was looking for. Place your order on their website to pick up in advance. Quickly prepared and built with love. The Banh Mi had it all and had some of the most tasty pickled carrots I have had. Definitely worth supporting these guys! Stellar