Big Apple Meat Market

Went here for Christmas food shopping and was very Joyful just like the holidays. First of all I a 65 year Old Italian Grandma love my fresh meat. My grandchildren also came for a trip and had gotten some crisps(Doritos). The workers were very kind and loving and fulfilled all my needs. I must say I am very impressed by this Market if I could give it a 1000000 score I would but that is physically impossible. XOXO Grammy

This place is FANTASTIC!! It was so awesome sauce and I will always go there whenever I need something. The employees were so nice. All of the shelves on each floor were stocked and nicely organized. If I were to rate it I would say that it was awesome sauce.

Attention all shoppers Big Apple located at 42nd and 9th Ave are charging shoppers $1.00 for green bag! They are still charging Snap customers for a bag fee!!! By law SNAP OR EBT customers are not supposed to pay. I told the cashier she was adamant to say EBT pay for bag! This is the 2nd time I’m going thru this bull —! I for one will not step down! Calling my Council men.

They just sold me a moldy pie. I noticed it less than an hour after buying it—unfortunately, after eating most of it. I had to spend $23 on medicine, hoping I don’t get food poisoning.

Was told by someone I could find yerba mate here. When I got there I asked a lady in the register where I could get it and she said they don't sell it there. Sigh. I decided to go downstairs and ask another employee and guess what? They have yerba mate. 2 different kinds as a matter of fact. Thanks to the nice employee downstairs who went in person and showed me where to get it. Very nice latin cashier also. Definitely, always ask the same question to different employees.

UPDATE: UPDATE: Big Apple Meat Market are incredibly ardent supporters of the theatre here in NYC and I want to personally thank them for providing the hospitality they provided for our Legs Diamond Concert event at Lincoln Center. Thank you Big Apple Meat market, as always, your products were delicious! Best Jonathan S. Cerullo I want to give a huge shout out to The Big Apple Meat Market for their generosity to Amas Musical Theatre's Reopening Celebration. The meats, cheeses and cookies were delicious and greatly enjoyed by our guests! As an Artistic Associate w/ Amas & from all of us, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Unless you’re shopping for the most basic ingredients, this place is a toss up. I’ve been here 4 times looking for groceries they did not carry. And good luck asking the staff for help

Overpriced super market but convenient since it’s nearby. However, they have coupons for items but they will not honor them at the checkout. You have to take a picture of the coupon as proof, and even then have to argue for the posted discount price. Not sure why they offer discounts at all then. This has happened multiple times.

Seeing a Broadway or Off Broadway show and looking for relatively cheap eats? So go downstairs at the Big Apple Market, which is a block away from the Port Authority. Downstairs there is a really nice deli counter. There you can get a big ham/cheese or turkey/cheese sub for $6.99 and all sorts of other sandwiches, plus salads, etc. The place is clean and the deli guys are nice. Got your meal? In nice weather, walk a block north over to 43 Street, where there is outdoor seating in the Manhattan Plaza complex. In lousy weather, walk two blocks west on 42nd Street and go upstairs to the second floor lobby of Signature Theater Center where there are tables and chairs. Should you stay at a nearby hotel, the Big Apple offers a wide variety of drinks, foods (prepared/fresh/otherwise), snacks, etc., at relatively inexpensive prices for the neighborhood.

Well this is not good. I bought some raw chicken legs on Monday 4/10/23 bc I was craving chicken to cook. I also bought other items. However, got home prepared (2) chicken legs & cooked it. I did smell a faint smell from package but thought nothing of it. The next day got sick w/diarrhea so bad. All I had was the chicken I bought & a salad. I couldn't leave the house Tuesday bc of the diarrhea, so on Wednesday I returned the remaining chicken in its packages. As soon as I began explaining to the manager what occurred he went into defense mood. He never said oh I'm sorry u got sick. He never smelled the package of chicken nothing a real manager w/concern would do. Right away, he told me I put chicken in the bottom of fridge which is very rude and dismissive to a customer who shop there often. So, basically blaming me for his tainted chicken. You would think he would be nerves about selling bad meat and to worry more about being reported to Dept of Health & Agriculture. Then he was combative w/me bc I would not allow him to tell me what occurred in my home as if he was there. I never put meat on the bottom of my fridge. However, he kept saying as soon as you get home you must put it in the Fridge which indicates to me he's aware of them selling tainted me. Good meat is not supposed to turn as soon as you get home WTH is wrong with him. Everyone is aware that they change the dates on meat etc. I use to be a loyal customer, but now will find another place to shop. He was even hesitant about refunding my money. I've never ever spoke to such an uneducated & disrespected manager. It seems like these days anyone can be a manager. I'll guarantee you he didn't go to College to have that position he just worked there a long time and they promoted him. He lack management skills to talk to customers. He need to be replaced. It took him 25 mins to fix a simple problem, and he was rude & combative w/me the whole time. If this place get inspected the boss should know it's because of this manager's poor communication skills. I do hope they get inspection bc I'm sure I'm not the only one who got sick from tainted meat. Any item bottled I guess is ok , but I'd suggest u buy your meat elsewhere if you're smart.

It's a meat market, yes, but it's also a grocery store, a fresh fruit bar, a deli, and your destination for coffee and pastries, just to name a few. Upstairs doesn't look like much but downstairs will blow your mind. Here you'll find fresh fruit, veggies, herbs, pasta, rice, juice, snacks, you name it. Shelves are fully stocked with both new and familiar brands. They even have frozen foods for sale. Staying at a hotel in the area? Stock up on snacks, sodas, and individually wrapped croissants, bagels, and muffins, along with bottled juice for a quick breakfast, not to mention fresh coffee, yogurt and fruit bowls. This place is a hidden gem!

Love this market so much. They always are stocked with everything. Customer service is always great as well. They have a huge freezer room with fresh meats in it.

Today, I discovered after 5 years of not returning to this terrible market that they actually expanded from their original site. This place is a food safety hazard. I bought chicken breast from them and made a cooked dish. The chicken tasted like lysol. combined with other reviews that the butcher is full of ****, I believe that. Do not get meat here. I hope the inspector closes this down.

Had my ebt card skimmed here at this store. A Hispanic lady checked out my son on 10/15/23 @8:55pm my son noticed something was off when the card wasn't going through properly on the first swipe and she swiped for him. @10:47pm after the store closes they walked to citi bank across the street and took money out. I have reported this incident. I hope the owner finds out what type of low life worker he has hired. Sincerely a single mother and survivor of DV trying to better my life going to school and trying to make ends meet for a better future.

Last night, I was racially profiled and assaulted by an employee of the Big Apple Meat Market in Hell's Kitchen. I will never shop at the store again, and I'm sharing my experience to warn others and encourage people, especially those who are Black, to shop elsewhere. I've always gotten bad vibes from this store, so I've rarely shopped in it. After hitting Target and Food Emporium, where I picked up other items (including a bag of locally sourced McIntosh apples), I decided to give Big Apple Meat Market another chance. I entered the store with a Target bag on my shoulder that was full of groceries and the sack of apples in my right hand. I also had my AirPods in, with my music blasting, so I was feeling good. I walked down the stairs and immediately to the dairy section, passing an employee (who was later identified as a store manager) stocking merchandise. It didn't take me long to figure out that they didn't even stock the brand of oat creamer that I needed, so I walked back upstairs and toward the exit. Right after walking out, I felt a force moving quickly in my direction, a tap, and then a pull at the bag of apples that were still in my right hand. I then turned fully around and saw that it was one of the cashiers -- a Latine woman wearing glasses (pictured in the attached photo). She ran after me, almost knocking me down. Her mouth was moving, but my music was loud, so I couldn't anything at first. I quickly turned my music off, and then it became apparent that she was accusing me of stealing the apples. She was in my face and wouldn't move. There were two other cashiers, another Latine woman and a younger Latine man. Both of them supported the false claim that I had stolen the bag of applies. I told them that I had the apples when I entered the store, as I had picked them up at Food Emporium. None of them believed me. An older Black man who was checking out questioned them about why they were adamant that I'd stolen from the store without any proof. They continued to speak to one another in Spanish, which I'm only noting because it illustrates their apathetic behavior toward me. I began panicking because I was alone and it was my word against theirs. That was until I found my receipt from Food Emporium. I showed the woman who had assaulted me the receipt. After looking it over, she turned to her colleagues and said that I had a receipt for the apples (in Spanish), and then she returned to her post behind the cash register without an apology. Still shaken by what had just occurred, I asked for a manager. I calmly explained to him what happened and asked for the owner's information. He asked me to wait, and then he went into an office. As I stood there waiting, the woman about me to her colleagues in Spanish (unaware that understood what she was saying). The manager came back out with the owner's name and number written on a Post-it note. I told him what his employee was saying and that she hadn't even offered an apology. He, an older Black man, looked at me and said that it was just a mistake. Then things took a turn. Outraged by the false accusation and the dismissiveness, I asked for the woman's name. The manager refused to provide me with that information, and none of them had any name tags. After exchanging words with both him and the woman, I decided to leave the store before the situation escalated any further. Before writing this, I looked through Big Apple Meat Market's reviews on Google and Yelp (see attached screenshots). I found that there's an unaddressed pattern of racism and discrimination at Big Apple Meat Market that goes back at least a decade. This entire ordeal has been traumatic and dehumanizing. At the very minimum, I deserve an apology, but I know that sometimes there is no justice. I'm still alive...still breathing...and I'll be okay. Still, I'm left wondering how many other Black people have been racially profiled and targeted at Big Apple Meat Market over the years but haven't reported it.

A bodega sized meat market with other necessities; e.g. condiments, juices, canned goods, etc. They have a wide selection of meats, including Italian sausages. The aisles are tight and items are packed high so be sure to look up, as many times the seasonings I was searching for were right above my head. The prices are very competitive, if not cheaper here for the same products you'd get at Fairway or Whole Foods. The staff is always nice and accommodating. The store could use some cleanup, but it's kept up as any other bodega in the city. Definitely would recommend and am a repeat customer.

The prices are outrageous, even for NYC. There are better products for cheaper prices nearby. The selection is limited, and the aisles are overcrowded and small. Save your energy walking to the basement and go somewhere else. Terrible customer service and rude management. Not worth the hassle.

We were just visiting New York for the weekend. We were looking for some food to take with us on the train. We found some nice bananas that were reasonably priced at $.89 a pound. And then at the deli we found a beautiful almond, strawberry, blueberry, spinach salad for nine dollars. It was just right for the two of us. The deli worker gave us two little containers of salad dressing. Add in some cookies, yogurt and chips and we were set. The store downstairs had a lot to offer!! It was clean and easy to find the things we wanted. We were glad to find the store!

One of the best market in Manhattan. A lot of options to buy meat with good prices. The place isn't bigger but has all essential kind of food

I have been a loyal customer of Big Apple Market for many years, dating back to when it was just a tent-covered food market 20 years ago. While I understand that times have changed and the neighborhood has evolved, I have noticed some changes in the store that I feel are worth mentioning. The basement location of the market has undergone a renovation, and the prices of goods have increased dramatically significantly. A rotissarie chicken used to be $5.99 before they moved from last location, now it's $12.99. While it is no longer a discounted grocery store, it has become more of a regular overpriced supermarket like the Food Emporium, Whole Food or Gristedes. I fully support the store's commitment to hiring minorities and migrants. However, I have noticed that the checkout staff seems to be a bit too laid back. On most occasions, I have had to bag my own groceries if I brought my reusable bag while the tellers were having a ball engaged in casual and long conversation. I understand that this may have been acceptable when the goods was heavily discounted, but now that prices are on par with other supermarkets, I expect a higher level of customer service.

I visited Big Apple at approx 5pm on January 8 there was a huge line,only one cashier out of 4 wore a mask.Fortunately I didnt have to go downstairs,I had come for a Chicken sandwich and there was only one left.I considered myself lucky it tasted good but several hours later I started to get nauseous...then I realized that the way they were storing their refrigerated foods would not work as there was no door to keep it cold,I'm really disappointed because they dont use preservatives like 7/11,but I can't afford to take the chance...if I see the manager an Italian guy I'll tell him he seems to be there on the weekends,be careful!!

Market was one of the only places in the area open late and had a good variety of selections of all types of food

reasonable priced, good selections of fresh produce and salads. better than 7-11.

First time going here and they definitely have a lot of meat. Prices seem pretty reasonable and they have other food staples as well. Cooking tips: Definitely recommend investing in a cast iron pan. "Season" it by lightly coating the surface with canola oil (spread with paper towel), bake the pan upside down for 1 hour in a 400F degree oven. Do this the day before you use it. After doing this, it shouldn't need to be seasoned again for a long time, especially if you use it a lot. This helps food glide out better. To clean, scrub with kosher salt and a paper towel, rinse with light dish-soap and water. Invest in a good digital alarm thermometer (it's worth it). Set the temperature to 10 degrees under whatever your desired doneness is. NOTE: thicker cuts tend to work best with probe thermometers, and are ideal if you want a charred outside and red/pink inside. Look for meat with good marbling and a good layer of fat on the edge. Let the meat come up to room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before cooking (best fresh out of the fridge instead of freezer). Season both sides liberally with salt. Make sure everything you need is at your fingertips before cooking. Use the stove to sear (1-2 min both sides high heat), then tilt it to render off the fat. Let cool off heat for a moment. Then use a 350F degree oven to finish, if necessary. (add the thermometer probe before going in the oven). After it comes out, add butter, tilt the pan back and spoon all that melted butter and steak fat over both sides. Doing this will take the steak from ok to amazing. If you like butter more brown, then add it before it goes in the oven. And if you want to be extra fancy, add a clove of garlic and thyme sprigs too. (NOTE: keep in mind additional possible carryover heat from the hot pan. If the steak's final doneness is too much, then consider tweaking some variables, like sear time and/or probe temp, until you perfect it). When plating, drizzle what's left in the pan all over the steak. Finish with pepper. If you like the burnt flavor of pepper, then add it before it cooks. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes, cut against the grain while eating, coat each bite in the fat / juice. Enjoy.

A walk in meat refrigerator filled with all kinds of cuts and meats neatly wrapped! Wow! A convenient location to pick up deli meats and charcuterie before leaving the city!

This store is a lifesaver, and as an update to any review written before October 2020, the store has changed location and MODERNIZED, it is MUCH larger than the older store, has far more selection and has a queue system similar to fairway to reduce the wait at checkout It all starts with management, and Pete, who is also an owner/manager at Western Beef is a hands on guy, who is often at the store, making sure he can always improve. Given the Western Beef connection, the store has a wide selection of meats, with deals that you wont find anywhere within a mile of Times Square Finally, as others have mentioned, the store has every day low pricing, which are phenomenal by NYC standards, and to their credit, they did an excellent job of keeping food costs reasonable during the height of the pandemic when other stores were price gouging their customers Thank you again to Pete, Bigger Pete, Ed, Adrian and the rest of the employees at Big Apple - i am proud to be a loyal customer for over 10 years, for all 3 of your iterations, and its a just a bonus, that your latest store happens to be right on my block!!!!!!

Great. Market! Flowers. Prepared foods, plus a regular market with a special area for meat

I just came back from the BAMM and noticed a sign by the front asking folks to sign a petition. It's not very noticable, but it pretty much wants us to get the PABT to grant them a lease in the old Project Find space a couple doors down: http://signon.org/sign/help-big-apple-meat-market Let's get the word out, because I refuse to shop at Whole paycheck or food emporium, and many of us po folks and people with more common sense than dollars wouldn't either.

Small store with great customer service. My new go-to spot when staying at Pod Times Square and need a bite.

Great grocery store that's in the neighborhood! It can be cramped and busy at times, but definitely worth the prices. The best quality/value is in their fresh produce, meat and canned goods. They also have great discounts that are worth looking out for (in the summer they were selling watermelon for 29 cents a pound and the store next door was priced at 59 cents a pound!). I would only caution buying their dairy products as they usually expire quickly. You also get a free dozen of eggs if you spend more then $50. If you haven't been here before, you should note that there is a small stairwell on the right side of the store that leads to the basement - it's easy to miss! Smells a bit funky down there, but still worth it for the prices.

What a hidden gem! When my friend who lives nearby told me that there was a fabulously cheap meat market in Manhattan, I really did not believe him until I finally got to check it out myself. Seriously - it is so, so affordable and the selection of cuts is so vast. Sure, it isn't like the highest quality meat that goes to 5 star restaurants, but for purposes of home-cooking, this stuff is definitely good enough for me (especially being budget-conscious). FYI - the entire store is basically refrigerated, so it is FREEZING inside - dress accordingly.

Finding your new grocery store in a new city/ part of town can be a hassle. It takes a long time to figure out what you like and what you don't. I've been in Hells Kitchen for 6 months now and can say I love Meat Market, especially compared to Food Emporium. Pros: Cheap Great Butcher department Cons: only packaged goods. No fresh food most likely run by the mafia closes at 7pm daily. You can never buy the "it" brand product, take tostitos chips, expect a knock off. All cons are ultimately weighed out by the fact you have a) Stiles Farmers Market next door, b) CHEAP c) the incompetence at Food Emporium makes this mafia run grocer seem like an upright citizen

Very great place to buy meat. Price is super reasonable. However, Vegetables are not so fresh--and all are outside the store.

Pete and Ed thank you for the wonderful donation you made to the NY Musical Theatre Festival Associate Board's NYMF UNDERGROUND event- how great that you supported the theatre community here in NYC! APPLAUSE APPLAUSE!

Your review helps others learn about great local businesses. Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees.i I love this place it's so afortable compared to other places in this area , I used to go as a kid to their other location a few blocks away but no problem it's only a few more min waking ,, people are very nice and helpful .. and everything is fresh

Almost aways crowded but, fastest checkout in town. Like shopping in the outer boroughs as far as prices go. You will see shopping carts loaded with stuff being checked out, very quickly. Friendly staff all over the place. Want fresh meat, its here. Want quick deli, its here. Want low prices, its here. Want fast checkout its here. Want Fancy, it ain't here. Its nice to see everyone smiling most of the time. When they are busy, they are busy!

The new location is outstanding! It's huge, the selection is terrific, and the prices are outstanding. Highly highly highly recommended! Unquestionably the best values in Hell's Kitchen. And, the delivery is terrific - extremely efficient, and such great people!

when I got to the register I noticed that the Juniors cheesecake I picked up was moldy, so I asked the register to throw it out. a few hours after getting home, I noticed a pack of glazed donuts I bought had mold as well. Been a customer for years and always suspect something wrong with their inventory after shopping at wholefoods and seeing that food last longer. From now on I will spend the extra money and shop wholefoods.

The grocery store situation in Hells Kitchen is fraeking DIRE. Big Apple Meat Market is a welcome find and I think especially good for well priced meats. When I went it was pretty crowded which is a great sign for any market. High turnover of food is KEY! The farmers market nearby is probably a better bet for veg. The only complaint I have is that I had to remind the cashier of any marked down products they were selling. I'll be coming back real real soon.

This is not your typical nice, clean, roomy grocery store. You go in, get what you need, and get out. The prices are a great deal-few bucks for meat, fresh bagels for less than $2, a bottle of sangria for $4, etc etc. Of course, some things are pricey and you can get elsewhere, but you pick and choose. Some stuff are cheaper than Costco deals. So if you're thinking that there are no places to get your grocery shopping done, think again. This place is a great location being that it's by the PABT. After this, check out the fruit store next door.

FRESH pack of chicken breast for under $4 and butcher's special pack of ground turkey for under $4... SERIOUSLY?? Okay, it does seem a bit dingy but you really can't beat the prices and the quality of meat here. If you want to pay triple the price for the same quality meat elsewhere in the city, go right ahead, more meat for me! Fortunately, this place is within walking distance from my place. Found my meat market, found my produce market (check out Stiles next door).. baby, I'm good to go.

Big Apple is the best neighborhood market without a doubt. It's clean, has pretty much everything you would need always in stock, and of course, a great butcher area. On top of that, the prices are more than reasonable, and maybe most importantly, the staff is always super friendly and helpful.

BEWARE! Although the new location is a vast improvement from the old one keep your eye on the tally as they ring up your order. I have been here numerous times and there is always at least one discrepancy between the prices posted downstairs (and the price stickers) on the actual items. I even had to go downstairs and take a picture of the sign on the shelf once. Another time there were 2 different stickers on a dozen eggs and when I questioned this the cashier just peeled off the cheaper one and charged me the pricier.

If you want meat and are in Hell's Kitchen, you could do worse. I needed chicken livers on the night before Thanksgiving and Big Apple Meat Market came through for me while Whole Foods did not. The old location was between 42nd & 41st St and this new location is on 9th avenue between 40th & 39th St.

Decent quality grocery store in the area. The produce is not as great quality as Stiles Farmer's Market across the street, and neither is the selection. Prepackaged meat is pretty good quality at a good price.

I've lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. I have been going to Big Apple Meat Market since they were on 41st street. The prices are great and it's a TRUE neighborhood place. I once forgot my wallet and they just let me bring the money back since they know me and I live close. I'll always be loyal to them.

They are closing on Saturday 1-12-2013 BUTTTTTT, they are just moving to 9th avenue between 39th and 40th street. I believe they said they are opening at the new location in 2-3 weeks. Yay!!!!

the store was good at first.. cheap price and lots of grocery sections I think the quality of their product was fine but the people work there are not good as their product. I bought port and some plastic wrapped packed fruits. but when I unpack I noticed that it smell & taste like clorox or cleaning spray. it was from plastic wrap.. the smell of that covered all food.. which was disgusting... so I called to the store but they just saying that I need to come to store and get exchange.. So, I dont go BAMM anymore.. acutally there are more better supermarkets abound there.

I live next to a grocery store, but I prefer Big Apple for their fresh meat, dairy and they provide free delivery as a courtesy to its customers. Store next door is higher for most products, charges for delivery and expects customers to tip.

I often find myself going on recipe-inspired supermarket trips where I'm trying to locate ingredients I can't pronounce or cuts of meat I hadn't realized had a particular purpose. More often than not, the grocery store clerks that help me find my ingredients look convinced I'm going to burn down my kitchen while cooking. One was even so kind as to inquire, "Is someone else going to be cooking this?" (Next time I see him I plan on informing him that my dinner was an overwhelming success.) Anyway, back to the point. I found myself at Big Apple Meat Market after having decided I was going to cook a full pre-Thanksgiving feast for a dozen friends. Never mind that the closet thing I'd ever cooked to a turkey was a chicken breast. I wandered about the giant, chilly meat cooler looking for prepackaged turkey breasts (I thought it'd be the easiest solution) until I gave up and asked someone at the deli counter for assistance. The gentleman came out from behind the counter and explained that while they didn't have turkey breasts, they had small turkeys and he patiently explained how to roast one. After his instruction I think he noticed the panic in my eyes and offered to have his butchers cut and package a turkey breast for me from one of the whole Butterball turkeys. The nice man in the white coat (they're coming to take me away ha, ha) then patiently walked me through the tiny, cramped aisles suggesting products that would be helpful in preparing my turkey (broth, gravy, etc) and answered all the questions I had without making me feel like I was in over my head. I paid for all my purchases (which amounted to only a fraction of what I would have spent elsewhere) and the deli man sent me off with some words of encouragement that my turkey was going to turn out great. In addition to the prices being unbeatable here, the employees are incredibly accommodating and willing to do what they can to help you out- even if you're a blonde looking to play Emeril. Next time when I decide to tackle a turducken stuffed inside a mudfish, I'm coming here.

I went shopping there yesterday. And honestly the lack of work from the staff is horrible. I bought some things to make tacos and the taco seasoning had no price. So the cashier ask for a price besides waiting for a while for a price the girl on the floor goes outside to ask the guy that was smoking there for a price and she tells the cashier 1.99 . Honestly Food Emporium is less expensive on this item is like .89 cents. They are actually overcharging us and stealing our money, and iam complaining to the cashier i was so upset. Her response was we ask for the price and we can't change the price. I understand she works there and she has to listen to the manager . But also the customer is right. I never had a problem with her she is really nice i been shopping there for a while. Just wanted more support. So i cancel my order. And went to Food Emporium.

Come here for the meats and the fact that the Fage yoghurt is only $4 for the big tub instead of $6 or $8 in other grocery stores. Great selection of beef, chicken and pork. Everything else -- not so much. Packaged foods, cans, not things I normally buy anyway, but if you were thinking of buying produce, this is not the place to come. It does close kind of late, but considering the fact that I shop at Whole Foods and other places just because the meat tastes better, I'd rather come here if everything is cheaper. Whole Foods is becoming a HUGE ripoff.

Lets not kid ourselves... I hate my crosstown daily commute. At first my commute seemed daunting and tedious... that was until I found the Big Apple Meat Market around the corner from my office. A wonderland of meat at reasonable prices in Manhattan!? A dream come true. You can usually find me around lunch time perusing the meat case just seeing how those filets look.. oh, and rump roast is only 4.99 a pound? Well, hello dinner. Even when it's packed the checkout ladies keep that line moving. If you're wondering where the pantry goods/milk products are hidden - they're in the basement!

Eugh! Now, I love a good, cheap grocery. Don't get me wrong - every time I shop at the Amish Market or at Whole Foods I have to grit my teeth as they ring up my purchases (and I try not to feel horrified at myself for spending $7 on, like, eggs). But at the same time, I enjoy shopping at the pricey places because they tend to keep a great, interesting inventory, and the places themselves are just nice to shop in. This store was like the Salvation Army of grocery stores. While the whole dingy-chic thing is great for consignment stores, I'm just not into it for my food. Maybe I'm a snob. But shopping here was just kind of gross and depressing, and all the food I bought just looked old and sad. The selection was also not great - was I blind or do they only carry Pepsi products in their soda section (which was, at the time I went in, full of a bunch of butchers drinking straight out of 2 liter bottles. Ick.)? I might go back to try the meat section since people seem to be raving about it...but I probably won't.

"Take me on a trip, I'd like to go some day. Take me to the Meat Market, I want filet. I really want to come grill it with you. You'll be my Meat Market boy" This place, despite its creepy facade, is excellent. In fact this place has been here FOR-EV-ER (beware of the clear plastic strips in the doorways to the meat section...suspect). The produce section leaves much to be desired but the meat and staples are perfection. Incredibly fresh, this is a place to frequent on your way home. Had a skirt steak epiphany whilst creating your excel spreadsheet at work?... this is the shop for you. Dinner in minutes. Staff is uber helpful despite their stone-cold facial expressions. Closes early so this is a not a "go for happy hour with co-workers and come here to shop for dinner supplies type of place". Prices can't be beat for the area.

QUICKTIP: get excited! remodeled store opens up this Tuesday. new Loc: 529 9th Ave. ------------------------- Hmm... 4.5 stars, but bumped up to 5 because Yelp doesn't allow that. That is because it is not the same as it was before. Understandably, this was not their fault because they were basically ousted from their historical location in favor of new condo developers. The new spot is cramped, narrow and lacks the rustic feel of walking down the aisles of history. Nevertheless, this is the Big Apple Meat Market, restored to the best of its ability in a new location and it deserves recognition. This market is for regulars in-the-know for meats and groceries that are not as fresh as Whole Foods, but are excellent for the price. If you can get over the fact that you're not getting wagyu steak, a nice ambiguous yet affordable shell steak should suffice for a decent everyday dinner. Note that the cramped does not mean they skimp on the selection. The selection is all there, just as before. It just means that certain products are out of reach on high shelves. It means that the stairs that lead downstairs are almost invisible to the undiscerning eye. It means that products are so close to each other that a brother who doesn't know how to grocery shop will feel completely helpless and lost like a newborn babe in Grand Central. However, this is still my market and I love it. It might have had a makeover, but the heart is still there.

BAMM has RE-OPENED ON 529 9TH AVE between 39th and 40th. Everyone can breathe a nice sigh of relief as the best place to get meat on the west side is open again for business. The prices look to be the same which is great; however it looks like they've lost a lot of space. I spent a good minute or so just waiting to get around other customers, and due to its popularity this looks like it will be an eternal issue. For those people who felt like they were walking into a dungeon, the place is a bit more vibrant and optically clean. Personally, I miss that awesome walk in freezer they used to have in the back. I use to feel like Rocky Balboa walking into to cut up some meat, but now that's all replaced by neatly stacked meat display out front. Sad. Still, BAMM it's packed for a reason, and it'll still be my place to go for cheap meats.