Forbes Meat Company

Just went again and had a great time with our server - Raul!!! 12/22/25 1 month ago - We stumbled on this gem in the “5 points” intersection. Yes, it’s a meat market, but it’s also a semi-upscale restaurant! The bar is small (6 seats) and only about 10 tables. We ate at the bar and chatted with the very friendly off-duty bartender - Raul, and got some great tips. Start with some fresh oysters, try the amazing Brussel sprouts, and then dive into the flavorful cooked to perfection hangar steak, with the sides of Caesar salad and fries, with the spicy dip and the Chimichurri dipping sauces! Our bartender and server, Leslie, was wonderful! What could they do better. The oyster cocktail sauce needed a bit more horseradish for me, and while the steak was delicious, it came out at room temperature vs hot, and I’d like it a bit more juicy/moist - that’s where the dipping sauces really added the punch to knock it our of the park. Also, lots of mixed drink, wine and beer options! Overall, really great. VictorB

We went here for brunch and it was excellent. The hot chicken sandwich was really good, sausage egg biscuit was amazing and the breakfast burrito excellent as well. Nice selection of drinks and the orange juice is fresh squeezed. Service was prompt, friendly and very helpful! The butcher shop side of this place looked amazing!! Definitely a must visit for all!!

Unbelievably great ribeye & tenderloin as well as halibut. Excellent oysters, Brussels & carrots. Server was beyond knowledgeable of the menu, cocktails & wine list. Fantabulous service & ambiance.

This steakhouse was really unique. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, with a nice balance of upscale and relaxed. The service was friendly and attentive, and everything came out just right. The steak was tender, flavorful, and clearly high quality. The sides were just as good, especially the mashed potatoes. It’s not the cheapest place, but the food and experience make it well worth the price. Overall, a great spot for a nice dinner or chill night out.

Our server Raul was outstanding. His expert knowledge of wine and food is amazing. The food was great, amazing and delicious.

We had a fantastic time here. We ordered the Ribeye & the Hanger steak, & both were cooked perfectly. The atmosphere is really cool & chill, especially with it being a meat market as well! Our waiter, Nate, made the evening even better. He was attentive, friendly, & knowledgeable about the menu. He checked in at all the right time & made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, excellent dining experience & highly recommend!

Wonderful experience! The staff are friendly and really seem to like where they work. I also appreciate they know their menu well and the butcher is also a host. Pops at the register, because I can’t remember his name is a hoot! Everyone pitches in. The food was great, portions & taste. The cost matches the portion & quality. We’ll be back!

FLAVOR 👌🏾 Been wanting to try Forbes Meat Company for a while now and finally made it. Stopped in for lunch and it didn’t disappoint! Great decor and a very welcoming atmosphere. Many meat options to buy and take home. They have a bar also with many options. Spoke with one of the staff about some of the products and they were able to give me all the answers to the questions that I had. I chose to go with the burger and fries this time. Fantastic food with tons of flavor!! They also offer the Mexican cokes in the glass bottles which is my go to when eating out when available. I can’t wait to go back and try one of their steak options. All I can say is go and experience Forbes Meat Company asap! Most likely the best burger in Tucson!!! Unbelievable burger 🍔

Forbes is now settled in its new home at the BAffert building in Five Points. They've taken their modest butcher operation that was formerly inside the Thunder Canyon Brewery space and expanded to include a full service eatery. So now you can have the best of both. You can pop in and pick up meat, fresh fish and other seafood and have lunch or dinner too. They also have a nice wine selection and retail space. The restaurant/brasserie dinner menu is meat heavy with dishes such as beef tartar, salads, filet, NY strip, Wagyu beef and more. Additionally they add specials based on what they've sourced that week. You might see Ahi crudo one day and Oysters another. It's just a fun rotating menu. I have not been yet for lunch but they offer various sandwiches and specials as well. We also enjoyed their Valentines dinner which was a pre-fixe menu with optional wine pairings. It was a big. undertaking but they really pulled it well! It shows their potential to continue to great things in their kitchen. My only critique, which comes down to personal taste, is that I found the meats to be overly seasoned, to the point of overpowering. I may just request less seasoning in the future, but the meat is excellent quality and perfectly cooked. The best way to stay updated on their menu specials and butcher/seafood updates is via their Instagram page, as their website does not appear to be updated frequently. Ben is really aiming at sourcing the best quality he can get while being a sustainable butcher.

It didn't go so well at the beginning of the visit. Forbes Meat Company is challenging to find, but I am glad I did. I first met the charming Mr. Forbes senior at the restaurant and meat store, which were bustling with people eating and shopping. All kinds of meats and poultry were displayed in tall freezers with glass doors. As a verifiable foodie, I was like a kid in a candy store. A young man asked me if I wanted to eat here or take out. I asked him if the meat was pre-seasoned. He said yes, though he thought they could make it without salt. I wanted an unseasoned rare burger to eat in my car and some steaks to take home. Well, for most folks, the first burger was terrific; it tasted great. However, I am salt-sensitive and shouldn't eat it. Once I got my bearings, I realized The restaurant was flanked by freezers with glass doors. I had fun window shopping, but the bustle had not yet started. By the time I left, it was an exciting place. The second had less seasoning and was medium to medium rare. Again, not what I asked for. This third one was just about perfect. I had already chosen my steaks and password d for them. I saw a dinner menu, and the staff was shucking oysters for a shellfish platter. I will order it the next time I am there. I had a mixed experience with steaks. The tenderloin filet was excellent, and I could cut it with a fork. The other flat steak had some sinew; even rare, it was not something I would order again.

We came here for dinner on Saturday night and absolutely loved the festive holiday décor. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, and since it's walk-in only, we were happy to find seats without any issue. The portions are quite small, so keep in mind that it's more of a higher-end dining experience with matching prices. The Malpeque and Kumamoto oysters weren't to my taste due to their aftertaste, but the accompaniments were enjoyable. The fish of the day special--tuna rolls--was absolutely amazing, fresh, and perfectly sauced. A solid 10/10! The mussels (without chorizo) were also very good, with a flavorful sauce and no fishy taste, though the portion was quite small, and the bread served with it was overly burned. The tartare coins were fantastic--probably the best tartare I've had this year--though, unfortunately, two of the four bread pieces were burnt. The shrimp in the Aji Verde shrimp dish were far too salty, and both the steak and frites were also overly salted. That said, I did enjoy the Dijon sauce and ranch served alongside. As for drinks, I really liked the Aperol Spritz, and while the Daiquiri wasn't bad, it was too sweet for my liking. He enjoyed their twist on a whiskey sour, the "Egg Drank." Overall, a mixed experience with some standout dishes and a few disappointments, but the ambiance and cocktails were highlights!

Fantastic restaurant! Dined for lunch and had the shrimp cocktail and steak frites with aji verde. The steak was so tender and flavorful, cooked to perfection. I've never had fries fried in beef tallow, and they are a new favorite, so crispy and great flavor. The aji verde was good enough to drink. The shrimp were also cooked to perfection, but the cocktail sauce had too much horseradish for my taste and made my eyes water. Service was fabulous and we got to sit right by the kitchen so I chatted with the chef. I HIGHLY recommend this place and can't wait to come back for dinner.

A true Tucson gem. It's not just a great butcher shop, it's also a great restaurant serving some of the best grass fed beef in Southern Arizona. Loved the fresh oysters, and the Hangar Steak was tender, juicy, and perfectly prepared. Solid wine list to boot.

Came here on a Saturday evening to pick up a tomahawk steak for Sunday dinner and grab a cocktail at the bar. This placed was PACKED at 5:00 pm. So definitely expect a wait if you want to grab dinner... we lucked out and grabbed the last two empty seats at the bar (not sure if they take reservations as we had no plans to eat there that night). Though, their patio was pretty empty at the time.. Next time, I will definitely be checking it out. Great selection of meat and great cocktails. I cannot wait to come back to try this place for dinner one day!

What a joy to have found this butcher shop that also is cooking up some wonderful food accompanied by a nice wine and bee selection. The quality meat selection included A5 Wagu, Duroc pork, Black cod just to name a few. There was a half hog hanging int he butcher kitchen. The meat selection will vary upon availability. The beef were perusing was all grass fed. This brings us to lunch. The menu had many items that I am sure was delicious but we choose Cheeseburgers and fries. Beef mix ground in house, had cut fries cooked in beef tallow . 100% winner.

I have bought their meat a few times since a fellow yelp elite told me about this place. I had been eying their dine-in menu and I finally got to try! I had their steak sandwich was it was for sure the best steak sandwich ever! I can't wait to go back and try other items on the menu. I was happy that they took us even though their kitchen was about to close in 10 mins. People working there are sweet and accommodate your request - e.g. how to cut your meat etc.... It has a big parking in the back and nice terrace where you can eat or have some drinks. I like this place a lot!

I've been to Forbes a couple times now, and I'm sure to go back more: they've got super high-quality meats and seafood, as well as a wide variety of beers, wines, and drinks to accompany your meal. The first time we went, we got the Steak Frites special. The steak was lovely, though the plate is relatively light on the protein (but very generous with the fries!). We got the chimichurri and the garlic aioli as our sauces, and really liked both. We also selected beers from the fridge to pair with the meal, and loved the huge array of options. On the second visit, we went with a group and took a tapas approach. We got oysters (AMAZING, a must-get if you like oysters), fries, and a Caesar salad to start. We then moved on to the scallops and shrimp, with asparagus and mushrooms as our side, as well as a steak. All the food was phenomenal, and we paired it with a white wine that went with it all exceptionally well. The servers are great, even when the place is packed. My one note is that the seafood and veggie sides feel quite expensive for the portions. While they were unquestionably delicious, the price might feel hard to justify for some folks, especially when the steaks are significantly more reasonable for the amount you're given.

I've bought meat from Forbes before when they were near Cartel Coffee om Broadway. A friend reached out to catch lunch at their new spot. I'm glad we met up. The space is clean, but the bar was in an odd spot tucked away by the kitchen. Unsure of what this will look like full of customers. The Italian sandwich was excellent. I was hoping for Mortadella sandwiches, Bourdain's favorite sandwiches, were available like I saw in a social media post from a couple of days ago. A close offering was the Italian sandwich with Mortadella. All the different ingredients complemented each other. The fries I requested crispy and they were perfectly fried. The fries are served with a sauce of your choice, so I got the Spicy Ranch. Probably uncouth of me, but I also asked for a side of ketchup. The food is expensive, but the quality is excellent. Our server was attentive and friendly.

Still 10/10 ! Went in for a lobster roll(specifically) and it was the stuff of my dreams. Didn't need any sauce or anything, bread perfect also. Also got the duck poutine.. delish. Charming patio , friendly service, love this new spot!

I really enjoy fresh, tasty oysters. When I heard that Forbes Meat Co was serving fresh oysters, I was ecstatic. I called to ask what day they got oysters and they told me usually Tuesdays. So Tuesday came around I called, and they confirmed that they were in fact getting an oyster delivery later that day. Without me calling back, the owner called me and confirmed the oysters had landed. I booked it here with my husband before lunch service ended and sure enough the oysters were fantastic. Such a delightful treat, especially in the desert. I've since been back a couple more times and I am just so thankful for the owners and this wonderful place. I really hope they keep the oysters coming and maybe do an oyster night once a week. Great place, great service and delicious food!

Lunch today, 1/2 dozen oysters shucked to order, so fresh and clean - you'd think the boat pulled them aboard just out back. Burger split / cooked to absolutely perfection and crispy fries. Nick at the grill crushed it. Evelyn our server made us feel like 'Forbes meat company family.' Everything spotless to include the restrooms; "REDRUM", if you know, you know. Tip of the hat to the ever present & owner Ben on his growth, vision, and execution. Tip: If you rideshare, ensure you use the current location: 747 S. Sixth vice the previous location ....easy to confuse, was also on sixth.

We decided to give it a go today and try to have lunch at the new location of the highly anticipated Forbes! Let's just say that we were impressed! Awesome parking, great location and beautiful building! Upon arriving, we were properly greeted and sat. As busy as they were, it was all done with a smile! Drink ordered along with a few oysters to start the lunch date. Very pleased with our freshly ground wasabi and traditional mignonette. Auh-MaZINg! Burger for my hubby and summer salad with skirt for me. Fantastic choices, but it can't go wrong! Awesome beer and wine selection along with great food! Freezers full of first class meats and all high quality. Love love love and hopefully it will remain busy at all times!

This place was amazing, the quality of the food (and drink) was 10/10 and the team energy matched. When folks take pride in their work, it shows and these guys were so excited to share their work and highlight Tucson. We'll be back for sure.

Prompt friendly service from the second you walk in. These are professionals who know the business and the product. And the product is great. Immediate trust.

Food was amazing, steak was cooked just right. Glad they had my favorite Moto Sonaran beer too. Definitely be back.

Great food and atmosphere. I also got a steak to grill tomorrow. The Italian sandwich and Frites are spectacular.

Amazing thus far. We've shopped and dined. At Forbes and have no complaints, The meat, the service, the food, all 5 star.

Forbes meat co blew my mind. Starting off with the location, everything is destined for a sense of uniqueness when located near 5 points. While this place is very Tucson-like in its small business feeling such as experiencing it within its first week open it also feels very Chicago. With industrial bright lights for its butcher produce and rustic feeling you are constantly in awe of the fast paced yet crowded feeling of the restaurant

Cool new space for Forbes Meats at 5 points. We stopped by on their 5th day open. We were seated quickly and greeted by our servicer promptly. It was not too busy and our food came out quickly and our oysters were served by Ben Forbes himself! The oysters were very good and fresh. We shared the steak fritas, we ordered it medium rare and it was medium well. It was nice the steak was sliced and placed in top of the fries. It came with your choice of sauces. The steak was good and fries were crispy. We also shared the garlic butter mushrooms. It was a small plate with about 7 mushrooms. They were good but I wished the portion was bigger. Overall service was great.

Great to eat in or to take out meat for home cooking. Loved the food and the location. Service was terrific. My only complaint will be when too many folks catch on to this gem and I have to wait in a long line.

This is a unique experience, from the small, intimate seating to the half carcasses hanging in the meat cooler to the small but well appointed bar. The food is exceptional (don't sleep on the fries) and there is a full cooler of local and regional beer and wine to select from. Add friendly service and this place rocks!

Amazing new business near downtown Tucson. I stopped in to see if i needed reservations for a Friday night dinner, i ended up staying and having the spicy chicken sandwish and frites with a black cherry soda. They have a great lunch menu, and the staff is amazing. I got a bit of a tour and plan to go back for a nice steak dinner this Friday. They have an amazing assortment of freshly butchered meats, including every cut of steak imaginable. This includes chicken and fish as well as a huge selection of sausages all ready to take home and cook up! Also, note that they have a small bar area serving wine and beer as well as coolers full of yummy beers and sodas to enjoy there or take home.

Shrimp cocktail was cooked perfectly, great cocktail sauce. Steak sandwich was divine. Perfectly cooked meat, great sauce, amazing break. Atmosphere is sophisticated but not stuffy. Good wine choices. Service was wonderful.

A very good find. Not only did they have what I was after, being a European, they were happy to accommodate me with cuts of meat that I am used to. I am definitely going back here again. A great selection of more than meats and a well-put-together shop. Great ambience and helpful staff

Bought Jamon Iberico from Forbes. They usually have OK ones. This time it was almost completely fat for some pieces (see picture). The owner said it was "beautiful", but also "somebody has to buy the fat part", and refused to change or refund. I guess if they stand by the product, then one should be aware of the true quality of their product.

We've been waiting for this one for a while. It was so nice to be able to come in and have a high-quality meal from a high-quality business. I will say it is very meat focused so if this isn't your jam, this is at your place. But for the carnivores out there, you will find the freshest selections of meat. You can see, where your meat is coming from quite literally . The menu is simple yet delicious. My family and I enjoyed eating lunch. We got a hamburger cost about $12 simple but the quality of the meat was phenomenal. The spicy chicken sandwich wasn't very spicy but was fresh and tasty. We were able to order the steak frites but this is usually a dinner option. The chef actually came out and asked my partner which steak he would like. You can select your drinks from the fridge as they don't have draft yet, but it's coming soon. They also had a pretty decent selection of wines and you can buy a bottles. I highly recommend this place for awesome food, take home meats, and overall good people and vibes.

The steak (medium rare) and fries were fantastic. Steak was juicy and fries were crispy. I'm not a fan of mussels (date ordered them) but they weren't bad. Service was mediocre but ambiance was nice. Good music too.

This place is great and locally owned which is bonus in my book. I appreciate a buissness that is sustainable with our environment. They have a farm here locally and most of all meat are raised here in Tucson. They do carry some of the more rare meats like A5 from Japan and they also carry the Aussie wagyu which, personally I perfer to the Japanese A5.tl They will cut and trim anything you want and only charge you for what you take. (Exacmple my hubby doesn't like fat cap on the picanha..So, I have them trim is down). The staff is always so kind. I do recommend you stop by and check them out. That's where my husband is exact minute, he is obsessed with the chorizo bratwurst and I'm getting tri tip.

I first discover Ben at his sixth and Tucson BLV location. Since Ben made the move to Forbes it's is great. The selections of meat and fish are by far way better than any place I have ever been to. I love the Scotish Salmon, St. Lois ribs and ME lobster tails. Also, as a bonus y serve excellent meals. Gen Newman

I went there 2 weeks ago looking for fatback and was told that they had already used all they had to make sausages, but if I came back next Tues/Wed they would have more in. I came back the next Wed and the butcher I talked to didn't know what fatback was (which is surprising for a meat shop) and was once again told they didn't have any but if I came back next Mon/Tues they would have some. In order to avoid making another fruitless trip, I asked if they could take my information and call me when they had some in the next week. No news. I contacted them over facebook a few days ago and no response. I really don't want to leave a bad review for a newly open, local, brick and mortar butcher shop in my neighborhood, and I was excited to be able to buy from and wanted to encourage this shop by spending my money there, but it's kind of ridiculous that I have to run around in circles and chase them down in the hopes of maybe giving them my money (especially for something really basic like a little bit of fatback...)

We hated this place. Thumping loud music and tables too big to talk to our friends on the other side of the table made us unhappy even before the food arrived. Our steak was half medium rare and half cooked to death. WAY WAY WAY too much salt on the steak. I thought about dunking the bites of steak in my water to get some of the salt off. The salad was tiny. The scallops were a complete rip-off, three small scallops for $36 with nothing else on the plate but three bites! Only cheesecake for desert. I'm sick of restaurant cheesecake. No effort for them but nothing interesting for us. I will never go back. Ok, the fries were good. But that was the only good thing about the experience.

Bought a pork shoulder and some frozen pork sausages at Forbes before Christmas and everyone at the store was super helpful. They also have an amazing selection. I will definitely be back!

Great meat, nice people and fantastic selection. I will be buying the majority of my meat products from Forbes meat company from this point on.

My brother got married this past weekend and we came here afterwards and Chef Ben cooked the most delicious dinner for our party outside under the warmth of some space heaters. Not only did he have some delicious fish and seafood options (may I particularly recommend the lobster roll!) for me as I am pescatarian, but everyone else at the table raved about the meat from the grill and the wine selections were excellent as well. Ben was very engaging and thoughtful in his food presentations and I can't wait to come back here on our next trip to Tucson. Would 100% recommend this place to all my friends who visit.

Very knowledgeable and accommodating. Ordered a roast for Christmas dinner to be ready for pick up on Monday. Shop also has a restaurant and packaged meats for direct sale. Clean and well lit location with adjacent parking.

The other night I had my wedding dinner here at Forbes and it was beyond what I could've ever imagined it to be. Going in, I wanted a casual, stress-free dinner with my family and friends and I didn't want it to be TOO fancy or formal. I didn't know that Chef Ben would have the outdoor patio set up and just fancy enough to feel a bit like a King and Queen on our wedding day. It was awesome. He also had a teppanyaki grill set up to cook all of our meats and veggies. It was quite a sight. The service from Virginia, Jaime (i hope I'm spelling it correctly) and Chef and Zane was outstanding. Everyone did a killer job. We had great wine and cocktails. This dinner was the perfect ending to the best day of my life and it wouldn't have been possible without Chef Ben and his excitedness to hit it out of the park, to go above and beyond without request. We had family style Japanese A5 Wagyu, 3 different cuts. We had American Wagyu Kalbi. We had an insanely delicious ribeye. We had this killer trio of grilled local mushrooms. We had a hamachi crudo and fresh Kumamoto oysters. Also, if you didn't know, Forbes makes killer lobster rolls, so we had to have some of those as well. I'm rambling at this point but seriously, Thank you Chef Ben and staff for making our special day that much more special. - Vinny and Hyunjeong

Perhaps the best new restaurant in Tucson (and as always, a great butcher shop) even at this early stage. And likely to continue to build on what Ben and his team have already achieved. Even the somewhat budget-priced steak frites had the most perfectly cooked beef I've ever had, and excellent fries. The mushrooms are delicious. And I hope they bring back (please, please, please!!) the merguez, onions and peppers with goat cheese polenta that I'm still dreaming of. Excellent oysters, especially with the freshly grated wasabi. Of the things we've tried, only the Caesar salad was a slight miss -- not bad, but needed a little more anchovy in the dressing. Can't wait to go back when we're back in town. So happy they are finally open and within walking distance of our place.

After more than one trip, I can tell you this place cares about offering the best quality food AND the best prepared food. If you are interested in food, these are your people. Great hours, cool environment. And it is still the best butcher shop in Tucson.

We love Forbes! We've gotten burger meat, sausages, & ahi tuna from them. The tuna is always high quality, perfect for making your own sushi rolls!

Forbes Meat Company's service and food was amazing. Their meats are great quality. Highly recommend. We will be returning customers!

This is far and away the best butcher shop in Tucson. For the third holiday in three years I have gotten my meat from Forbes. This year I chose a pork loin. They butterflied and tenderized it perfectly. All I needed to do was prepare the stuffing, fill, roll and tie it up when I brought it home. They told me exactly how to roast it. Sliced the stuffed pork was perfect. Thank you Forbes!

I was recommended the fcm sando from their pop up shop and I was really excited to try it out. Unfortunately the sandwich upset my stomach. My bf didn't have any stomach issues so maybe I just got unlucky. The staff were very nice

Experience was amazing! Service was very focused on us during our wait time & throughout dinner service. Food was EXCELLENT-oysters, tartar, mushrooms for starters, ribeye cooked to perfection-dessert was best cheesecake we have had! Cannot say enough god things about our evening-we can't wait to come again!

We went for dinner. Ryan recommended fantastic wines. Steak and salmon were perfection. Mushrooms were great too! We'll be back soon.

First of many dinners tonight at Forbes. Knew there was limited seating so went about 5:30 and was greeted warmly and immediately given one of the few high tops that was available. Very industrial, cool atmosphere with a cooler of frozen meat on one side, fresh meat and seafood on another, an open kitchen, and another cooler of beverages. The ribeye and hanger steaks were perfectly cooked, the salmon delicious, oysters were cold, briny and well shucked. Ben, the owner, was shucking oysters, clearing tables, greeting guests and you could tell was making sure a business with his name on the door was going to be good and successful. Ben has been serving Tucson quality meat for a number of years but the restaurant component is new. A welcome addition to Tucson.

Went to my first how to make your own sausage class today! Mikey and Melissa were great teachers showing us the fundamentals of butchering, grinding, mixing, and eventually casing your own Italian sausage. I met a great group of people and had allot of fun.

Every dish we have eaten here, for lunch or dinner, has been truly excellent. The service is attentive and incredibly welcoming, and the off street parking is just a cherry on top. If I could give 6 stars I would.