Rain Shadow Meats

Don't let LB prices scare you away, this shop has the goods; some of the best cured meats I've ever eaten! Their aged Waygu Braesola is truly on another level and their house Copa is simple, pure and perfect. Still have a grass fed hangar steak to cook tonight and Sage breakfast sausage for the AM (full links for about $2 a piece!), but the cured stuff has redefined my standard for charcuterie lol, don't think I can do boars head pre-packs again when I can get a QP of either of these for around $10 and get 10x the flavor and care. Will be back for sure

Pricey, but efficient. I found RSM after searching for a butcher to buy a filet for a beef wellington. Found the staff super knowledgeable and helpful. The location was super fun with lots of other shops in the same building. I will say the price was a bit steep but it was worth it!

The best source of grass fed and finished beef I’ve found in Seattle (without ordering direct from a farm online in larger quantities). Really helpful and friendly staff too :-)

The ONLY place to buy MEATS in Seattle! Service, quality, excellence. We pre-ordered a small pig for Thanksgiving and we're so impressed with every aspect of the experience.

Hands down best butcher in the neighborhood. Whether you are dropping in on a lark or need something for a special meal--they got you covered. Hooked me up with a few pounds of flanken short rib (not easy to find) in less than 24 hour notice. Support this local business!!

BEST butcher around! We get our meat delivered from them every week, and it makes cooking a nice meal every night so easy...all you really need is salt and pepper! The chicken hindquarters are a special favorite of ours...we will not buy chicken anywhere else. And Russ, Robbie, and team are awesome. We enjoy seeing them and appreciate the personalized service.

DEFINITELY NOT LGBTQ friendly. I’ve gone in a few times, usually the meat is good and service is fine. But I went in with my partner and the three men behind the counter laughed and whispered at us while we just stood there. They finally took our order and even while preparing it they were still whispering and laughing. We were shocked by their disregard. Never going here again. Meat is good tho.

When I first moved here I was so excited when I found them. I used to love this place. They used to get meat from Gleason Ranch and other such places that awoke me to what truly fantastic beef is. I know from my initial experiences that the owner knows what amazing meat is but makes little effort to provide it anymore. A little over a year ago there was a change of the guard and many of the butchers I know have left (at least one was fired). At the melrose location there is a chalk board with a list of locations they claim to get beef from. If you ask, you'll find it's been so long that they've gotten a side of beef from those locations that many of the butchers there have never seen a side of beef come in while employed there. Rain Shadow Meats is a bag meat butcher. Smell, it says a lot about the meat. I could have gone to any other bag meat butcher or the supermarket and gotten something similar. If you're going for chicken or pork you might ignore this review. Yesterday was the last time I buy beef from them.

Pricey, but efficient. I found RSM after searching for a butcher to buy a filet for a beef wellington. Found the staff super knowledgeable and helpful. The location was super fun with lots of other shops in the same building. I will say the price was a bit steep but it was worth it!

***Update*** Read my original review for full details, but I was able to try the sausage I purchased and it was not good. It was just an over ground mess pushed into casing. No texture and no real pork or sausage flavor. My recommendation would be Uli's in Pike Place. Better meat, better prices and better selection.

Where do I start? I'm so jazzed to finally find a decent local butcher shop that loves meat and butchery, understands it and works with local farmers to preserve and maintain quality. The flavors from their 3 weeks dry aged ribeye was incredible. They also teach butchery classes, and built a wonderful local community around meat & butchery, including whole animal butchery, which I appreciate and support. Their prices are set accordingly, so expect high quality meat, perfectly cut and handled, in a tiny and friendly local shop. It can't get more Seattle than this. Highly recommend, also order ahead!

We picked up sausages to take on our trip on a whim and we were blown away. We loved the fact that these were 100% hazelnut fed pigs and the proof was in the meat. We bought a variety - the Thai special, Toulouse, spicy Italian and chorizo. Our favs were the Thai and Toulouse. We grilled them and they had the perfect umami flavor and stayed juicy on the grill. They had a ton of items that looked delish - we would love to they their prosciutto and marinated meats next time. They had a small fridge with other local items such as eggs, homemade pasta sauces, fresh pasta, homemade pickles (we bought these and they were great), etc. Cant wait to go back!

I love shopping with Rain Shadow and thought that since I'm always bragging about them to my friends, I may as well brag about them here. Nothing but quality here--the only concern you should have is if you have an adequate pan and the patience to cook the ginormous cut of meet you're going to be bringing home (to combat both issues, follow my guidance and remove the rib from the chop. This allowed me to fit it all in my favorite pan, and the rib provided a snack while I eagerly awaited my meal). Service is fast and to the point, and prices are comparable to the grocer for many products. Of course you're going to pay more if you're looking for the upper echelon cuts, but if you're someone who seeks to source their products responsibly without breaking the bank--they will always have something for you here, too. I walked out with a pound and a half of pork and a pound of Delmonico steak from Painted Hills Farms for around $30, and that's going to last me all week. Keep up the good work!

Best service, great quality. I've never had a bad experience with them. The rack of lamb is always delicious.

The best butcher shop in Seattle. Russ and his crew do an amazing job with everything you could ever need. Beef, lamb, pork and poultry / also house made charcuterie. Do yourself a favor and give them a try.

Great quality meats and probably best pork I've ever had but really bad customer service with snobby, can't be bothered butchers. I'm sure I will find another great butcher to go to in Seattle as there are many. Check your pricing as they have a habit of mislabeling and charging higher prices than what you ordered.

Rain Shadow Meats is my go-to butcher. Russ and his team have an incredible variety of meat cuts, cheeses, and sundries from local purveyors and farms. Anytime I'm looking for a specialty meat option like cornish hens or even hot dogs, I call up Rain Shadow and get the friendliest service and tons of information about availability. The entire team is experienced and you can tell they are treated well as employees. Throughout the year Rain Shadow offers comforting meals as well as corned beef, chicken pot pies, and charcuterie plates. You've gotta give this place a try, you'll notice a huge difference in quality, for not a huge difference in price.

I love this shop! I frequent Homegrown and while I was waiting for my food I struck up conversation with the butcher. He was lovely and very helpful! He was happy to show me what different cuts look like and where they were on the animal without and ounce of condescension. Honestly so nice!! I ended up getting some amazing guanciale (which had been nearly impossible to find), a beautifully prepared boneless lamb leg that was incredibly inexpensive, and some duck fat (trying out the chocolate chip cookie recipe I recently found)! Most of the prices are comparable to other butchers in the area that I've been to. It can get a little bit more expensive depending on the cut, but that's just how meat is. The weekly special is definitely less expensive and that alone is worth checking out.

EXTREMELY RUDE. Supposed "owner" has a HORRIBLE attitude. If the impertinence starts at the top, can you imagine the rest of the staff? Called to buy gift cards and was told I was wasting the company's time among a myriad of negative remarks. If the company has any integrity whatsoever for what they do, they'd value their customers and business opportunities. I do not see them lasting long if they keep it up- especially with those few other people who spoke truthfully about their customer service here. I am not the usual person to leave reviews whatsoever, but after my second attempt to be nice and tell them they should treat their customers better and their repeated insolent behavior, I knew I had to get the message our alternatively. Do not give these guys business. Don't give your money to people that don't care about you nonetheless, don't care to treat you with respect. It's very clear they only care about money. Vote with your dollars. If this is at a social level among human interaction, imagine how badly they treat their livestock. Bad karma. You don't want that meat in your system. THEY DON'T DESERVE YOUR MONEY

Quality meats. I don't shop anywhere else for a good steak. And when the quality is this good, it's honestly better than most restaurants even just with a simple sous vide and cast iron!

Great products at good prices with terrible customer service. Butcher mainly communicated with snobby looks and single syllables, dude is ready to work as a barista.

This place ain't cheap but it's worth the penny if you can afford it. Excellent quality meat and helpful staff. Shopping locally should be accessible to all humans not just rich white folks.

Please bring back the porchetta sandwich and all of the sandwiches from the pioneer square location!!!

Rain Shadow was a very pleasant surprise. Excellent customer service and nice selection of quality meats, housemade sausages, and more. Painted Hills Farms & Gleason Ranch Beef. You won't be disappointed

I asked for a custom ground mince and the person on phone started laughing and said my request was ridiculous. I could go to a super market if I wanted to get regular meat, why would I even need to visit a butcher shop if I do not get what I need. I got the same custom ground from them before and they happily accepted my order, I guess this time I spoke to that one person that would drive a business to the ground. Anyways got my meat from Don & Joe's, their service was much better, from now I'll be getting my meats from there.

Love the product, but the service is inconsistent Today I purchased some meat, and tried to pay cash. They "aren't taking cash at this time." but then I asked if they charge for card use of 3% and they said "to cover costs". I just bought 2 pork chops for 24 dollars guys. Good luck staying open when the economy crashes and maybe note that all the other business' around you at Melrose Mkt are closed. won't be back due to price gouging re: payment form.

Best butcher in Seattle! Actions speak louder than words with these guys, they are fast & serve quality produce! I'll be back.

Although Rain Shadow Meats provides quality cuts of meat, their selection is limited with few of each cut to choose from, and their prices are exorbitant.

Cons: Service was meh. Dude had no patience with me until it came time to tip. Tipped 20% (ended up being $10) for someone who grabbed me 2 cuts of NY strip steak, weighed them, and wrapped them up. Not like I had Qs and not like he gave me tips on how to prep it or anything. Only tipped cause I was raised by a waitress. That's a $10 tip for service with an attitude and I only tipped out of guilt. Pros: Cut was good. Conclusion: will only come here for those super, super rare steak occasions cause this place had service with an attitude. Thanks to the service with an attitude, this will be better for the environment and for my arteries

I love Rain Shadow Meats. Russ and team are pros and love their meat. I have to admit, I felt a bit weary about buying from Rain Shadow because I worried that it'd be too pricey for my budget. Over time, I picked up fancy meats for sure like steaks and charcuterie. I also picked up more common ingredients like ground beef and ground pork. Whether high-end or basic, the quality is superior and the costs were much more competitive than I expected. You will pay more for some of the items than you will at regular grocery stores, but it's definitely a better option if you're already shopping for meat at Whole Foods, PCC, or Metropolitan Market. Why? 1- These are legit butchers. They know their craft and can provide you with good information about products. 2- The atmosphere is so pleasant. I love the local and cozy feel of Melrose Market. 3 - So many products. They do special orders all the time, but also create great holiday menus.

Excellent customer service and a truly unique experience. We stopped by for a snack while we waited for a dinner reservation. Parking was easy enough thanks to the inexpensive parking deck across the street. Because it was late afternoon they weren't very busy, so we got the full experience. We essentially asked for a tasting of meats so we could build our own charcuterie board. He loaded us up with a helping of some of his favorite picks which ran us around $12 then we walked down to another merchant in the market and purchased some bread for around $2 more. It was such a lovely experience to taste all these delicious meaty creations while enjoying the market.

I'm in love with this place! I found out about Rain Shadow Meats through instagram. One of my friends kept posting pics of the place which led me to look up the reviews on Yelp. After reading them, I just had to check it out. Rain Shadow Meats was a lot smaller than what I imagined. It's just a small counter located near the entrance of Melrose Market. At first glance, it might seem a little pricey but hey if it's good quality it should be worth it right? During my first visit, I decided to treat myself to some of their foie gras pate. I really enjoy being able to eat pate in the comfort of my own place or even as a snack at work. It was reasonably priced from what I remember. I also come here to buy their smoked apple bacon for my roasted Brussels sprouts, which totally makes this side dish. I recently brought a whole chicken (from Ephrata, WA) to cook a surprise roast chicken dinner for my boyfriend. I'm not going to lie, my jaw was going to drop when I saw how much I was forking over for this 3 lb sucker. I quickly sucked it up and paid for it since I wanted to do something nice for him. ANYWAYS, how was the end result? He LOVED it! He could have ate that entire bird in one sitting but managed to have some self control. I made roast chicken for Christmas dinner (with a Safeway chicken) and he definitely noticed the difference and preferred the Rain Shadow chicken. Ladies, if you want to do something nice for your man, make him dinner with meat from Rain Shadow Meats! As for service, I had nothing but good service from Rain Shadow. The guys that work here have been very helpful and I have even received cooking tips. It might be pricey but its my go-to shop when I plan to cook a dish that involves meat.

I've come here several times and it's usually great. However today the customer service was very bad. When we walked in and ordered, the three men were whispering and laughing at us. I was there with my partner and I'm assuming I had experienced discrimination. I'm not going to go back. Good meat tho.

We purchased 2 items on Saturday January 27, 2018 here: A slice of pork pate and 3 housemade brats. We tried the pork pate on Saturday evening for dinner. The smell was already weird when unwrapping the item (sour/not fresh). We were debating whether we should even eat it. My husband is a trained chef, so it's not like we don't know what we are looking at. We tried it, it was not good. The taste was better than the smell, but the black pepper was overwhelming. We threw 90% of it away. Tonight my husband cooked the brats (pan seared). I am from Germany, I know my brats. These were barely edible. So much salt! I finished 3/4 of my brat and couldn't do more. I always loved shopping at this place, but this recent experience is so off of what we have bought here before that I wanted to pass on the feedback.

Rain Shadow was recommended to me for a special dish which requires ground lamb (not always easy to find). I called ahead to mKe sure they had it which they did and offered to ground it for me. The service was amazing, everything was ready and nicely packaged when I arrived. The best part was the quality of the lamb, absolutely perfect. They have a great selection of the highest quality meats. Can't wait to go back for the filets. Highly recommend this local business.

We tried this place thanks to a friend weeks ago and thought the eats weren't too bad. We wanted to try some other selections and arrive after a long day of work from Puyallup only to be told we can come back tomorrow because our arrival at 6:35pm was too late even though anything related to this shows closing time to be 7:00p.m. Thanks for wasting our life!!

These guys know their meat and they are eager to share and let you taste a few items which is always appreciated. It has been over a year since I was here, but I distinctively remember them being really nice and the meats tasting great! I went with a country style pork terrine wrapped with bacon to have with some cheeses I got across the way at The Calf and Kid. If I lived in Seattle, I'd most certainly make this a regular stop.

Rude and subpar service. Meat is good quality, sure, but not notable vs whole foods at 1/3 price. Great cured and sausage selection. Will not be going back

Wonderful selection of meat each it's own story and location. You can get just about any cut at any price. That's not to say it's not pricey but it's worth it. The beef is visibly better and it 100% correlated with its taste. I would highly recommend this meat for entertaining, family, friends, or just to treat yourself!

I almost don't want to review this place. Sometimes you don't want the true gems to be known by the general public, while at the same time I want them to have continued success. This is short and sweet. Rain Shadow is some of the best product anywhere. Period. They don't have a large selection as they only get the finest of the finest. Some days your desired cut will be there, sometimes you may have to adjust. No matter what, it will always be amazing. Bring your wallet, it won't be cheap, but it is truly a "get what you pay for" proposition! If they have the Lamb Crepinnete in, make sure to get some....but please save some for me! It is one of the best things I have ever had!

If you don't know when to buy meat... buy it for Valentine's Day, dammit! Tonight my boyfriend and I had a fantastic home-cooked meal that consisted of filet mignon His was slightly bigger and cooked very rare. Mine, slightly smaller and rare as well. The result? BEST. MEAL. EVER. The cuts of meat were amazing. Deep, dark red with gorgeous marbling. I normally rave about the Painted Hills grass-fed beer burgers at Spur and Tavern Law, but tonight our steaks (from the same farm and also grass-fed) far surpassed that of the famous $30 burgers at those popular Seattle establishments. So what I'm telling you here is that you can have that kind of quality at home. In PJs and on the couch! Worried about overcooking our meat, we decided that there's no such thing as too rare when it comes to good quality meat. In fact, there were hints of grass in the flavor. Tasting lean, clean and delicious it was the best cut of meat I've had in ages. And I eat red meat a lot. Trust me! Can't wait to come back and get some more. Don't save it for just once a year. It's too damn good for that!

The Maternal-Unit First Sent Me Here And Glad She Did! SITREP Mammasita makes some of the best old school Tuscany style and French cuisines and she is very particular about the meats she uses in her dishes. Rain Shadow Meats provides her with the best cuts of meat and the best sausages she could ever hope for to make her dishes hearty at a Continental level of expectation from Old World family members. I am very partial to the delicious meatballs and love making a basic, but hearty & tasting Spaghetti & Meatball dish for my friends. SETUP Rain Shadow Meats caters to a wide array of meat options for a wide array of Capitol Hill (and beyond) denizens. Whether you are looking for steaks, burgers, sausages, meatballs, veal, lamb, various fowls (chicken & quail), this is the place to come. DELECTABLE CUTS REQUIRE TALENT I'm a huge fan of the butchery skills of Maxwell. He is an incredible meat cutter & customer service peep and is always sharing his belief in the "local whole animal butchery movement" that provides more healthy meat and tasty cuts. Nathan makes the best sausages bar none! I think his work product is my mom's favorite since she uses so much in both her Tuscan Sausage Potato & Kale Soup and her Tuscan Sausage & Bean Soup. OTHER ITEMS I have to admit I sometimes gravitate to the more exotic selections and really enjoy their partner Nicky Farms for their quail and lamb that Rain Shadow Meats also stocks. The beef obtained from Saddleback Ranch is also something we focus on in our purchases. THE LOWDOWN Rain Shadow Meats is easily the best butcher shop I have been to in the Greater Seattle Area.

Delicious! I love having a local butcher within walking distance from home. Buying fresh, locally and sustainably raised meat is way better than buying mass-produced protein from a chain grocery store - better for you, better for the environment, better for the animals. And it's just way more delicious. The quality is amazing, and the prices aren't terribly high. I bought some to-die-for prosciutto and juicy pork breakfast sausages last time and it was heaven in every bite. The sales guys are super friendly and will give you samples of the cured meats so you know what you're getting yourself into. Hint: it's good.

This place is da bomb. So far, have tried and loved the blood sausage, the fatty hamburger, and the steaks, and while I paid a pretty penny, I literally got my moneys worth. All items melted in the mouth and were exceptional. Two favorite butchers in Seattle are Rain Shadow Meats (think Melrose Market, super local, hipster vibe, great product) and Don and Joes in Pike Market (think old school vibe, craftsman skill, great product.) Either way, you will be one happy carnivore (or omnivore!)

I have not tried the steak yet but I just wanted to say that this place had one of the worst services I've seen in a long time. I understand that I came in a little late around 6:55 but the worker already had his whole shop closed. I tried to be very polite and ask simple questions where I got some very apathetic and unhelpful responses. One of the worst condescending attitudes ever nonetheless and I will not be coming back here.

Love this place! Excellent cuts of meat, their breakfast sausages and steaks are amazing. Little on the pricier side but honestly you are paying for the quality and let's be honest -- these cuts at any steakhouse would cost 5 times as much.

Wow! Kid in the candy store.... I picked up some cured meat and like it and would like to try more.

Amazing quality at amazing prices in melrose market. Try the bone in rib eye steak from painted hills was spectacular (and just about the price of gold, but worth it). They have farm fresh eggs and the lamb is incredible as well.

Great place. Meat centric and everything meat wise is top notch. Highlights - Tartare - was a huge portion, and delicious. Porchetta sandwich - This is a must have. Subtle herbs, delicious chopped porchetta crisped just a bit and wrapped in french bread that soaks up all the love. So good. Rainshadow Press - straight forward, thin sliced meats, layered with arugula and a little bread. Nothing wrong with this at all. Great sandwich. Other - Pickled veg on every plate. Always love this and it was really good. Got a romaine salad as well, cause it's January and wanting to feel like we didn't order just meat..... Was okay, nothing special. Bottom line - meat related = F yeah!!!! Veg related (unless pickled) = okay. Overall, really good. Thanks.

Here's the deal with Rain Shadow on Melrose. The butcher shop is extraordinary. We purchased a couple of gorgeous rib-eye steaks, as well as some bone-in pork chops - both were outstanding. What completely sucked was the service. If I'm paying over $50 for two meals' worth of meat, I expect to be treated with at least some common courtesy. These guys were rude. We asked a simple question, inquiring if their bacon was made with nitrates. Some guy huffed and and rolled his eyes and answered, "YES", as if the question was stupid. We're going to give the Rain Shadow in Pioneer Square a try since it's close to my office. If they're rude there, too, I don't care how great the products are - I'm taking my business elsewhere.

Melrose Market Place is such a lovely place. I hope that there was a genius behind this place so that I can pay my proper admiration. Boutique, small, friendly, specialized, refined. Ah, also not trying to compete on prices. You take a look of the meats behind the counter, you immediately knew two things: they are good and they are not cheap. So you imagine the nice dish, great flavors, and the tasting experiences that will come with that. So you walked away with an anticipation, not in a small way enflamed by that low-key butcher who chatted up with you with whatever topics you forgot. And you forgot this piece of meat is twice more expensive than the one from QFC next door.

Food connoisseurs or quintessential bachelors/bachelorettes alike should pick up some Rain Shadow meatballs to elevate any home cooked italian meal. These toothsome delights are enormous, made of several types of ground meat, and gently coated with bread crumbs. You could plop them on top of some pasta or put them in a hoagie roll. I'm in love, And, surprisingly, they sell the best pretzel. Big as your fist, chewy on the inside, crackly exterior, and lightly salted. Who would have guessed??

People who've known me for years are frequently surprised to learn that I'm not a vegetarian, but a carnivore. (Well, okay, omnivore....) Why? Because I work very hard to cook and eat sustainably, which usually means meat is off the table, literally and figuratively. Although I eat meat, I have a host of ethical guidelines to follow when doing so. And while Seattle is a fairly easy place to pull this off in local restaurants, the difficulty arises when grocery shopping (even somewhere like Whole Foods or PCC, since labels don't mean a lot and organic meat trucked in from across the country isn't truly sustainable). Enter Rain Shadow Meats....Two full cases of meat, from a host of beef cuts to various pork options to chicken and rabbit and eggs, you won't be short of options! Not to mention the farms and ranches from which they source are truly sustainable, in that they're local and follow important standards of humane treatment in both care and feeding of their animals. Everything is labeled as to origin, so you can even go home and do your own research on exactly what the producer's standards and ethics are. Rain Shadow is in the lovely new spot in the Melrose Building; it feels like an indoor European market (although of course much smaller!) with multiple stands and spaces for other businesses, existent or soon to become so. I've only been in once, but I can promise you I'll return often (and soon); the Cornish hen we shared last night was lovely. And even if you don't eat meat, check out the big pretzels and pretzel rolls stocked by the cash register: yum!

Rain Shadow Meats is staffed with some of the most helpful and friendly people around. Whenever I stop in, whether its to grab some steaks, bacon, or just poke around and ask questions about their whole rabbits they are always willing to take a little bit of extra time and make sure that I am leaving confident that I am not going to completely butcher (ha) their meats, and that it's going to be cooked to perfection! The first time that I stopped in I was craving a steak, but I wanted to make it myself. A little weary of my ability to execute, I admitted my novice to the butcher and he was quick to offer advice and I left there more confident than ever. The result? PERFECT medium rare steaks. It wasn't just my newly acquired chef skills either, Rain Shadow Meats doesn't mess around, you're definitely getting the best of the best here. I just wish that they opened a little bit earlier so that when I wake up on Sunday morning and absolutely NEED bacon, I don't have to wait until 10am.

Even if you think you don't care where you buy your meat, you should do so at Rain Shadow Meats. Because it will seriously change the way you think about where your food comes from, how it is prepared, and what on earth makes food taste so good (hint: it's the first two). I dropped by looking for sausage to make my first lentil and sausage soup in the crock pot. Shopping seems intimidating at first, because so much looks unfamiliar. That is 100% okay, because the staff behind the counter will tell you everything you need to know! Just tell them what you're trying to do. I like lamb, so I ended up with some deliciously seasoned lamb sausage and splurged on smoked bacon that made me want to eat bacon all alone and never share even a tiny piece. Not once was I made to feel dumb or that my order wasn't worth their time. In the end I left with bacon and 2 sausages for about $13. Plus I got witty banter and made a cute guy laugh. I WIN ALL THE THINGS. p.s. I always want to call this place "Rain City Meats". That...is not their name. Also, walking here is the best bet, but if you must drive, park over near Pike and schlep down. Pay for a lot or overfeed the meter, because once you're here you'll want to browse around the other shops.

I am giving Rain Shadow Meats two stars because the pork tenderloin I cooked last night was very good. Otherwise I would give this shop NO STARS due to it's very poor costumer service. I normally shop at the Central Coop and the farmer's market so I value local organic food. I was very excited to find out that walking distance from my house there was a small butcher shop. First off, the door to the market was locked on a Friday afternoon ( I know Rain Shadow Meats isn't responsible for that). When I was trying to get someones attention to open the door the four guys working the counter at Rain Shadow Meats just stood there staring at me (they are right in front of the door). Some one from Calf and Kid ended up opening the door instead. Thank you Calf and Kid. I went up to the counter at Rain Shadow Meats and ordered, while I was paying I asked if they had any specials during the week. The cashier then said, "specials?" as if I just insulted him. I responded yes I wanted to know if they had any specials because sometimes they have specials at the Madison Coop. The cashier answered, "if they have specials it's because their meat is going bad. " He then paused and said " I guess all our meat is special" with a smug grin. Again the meat was great but as a new mom trying to save money yet feed healthy local food to my family I don't think being an ass to a simple question and acting as if they are doing me a favor by letting me spend my hard earned money at their expensive as hell shop is the way to make people come back.

Great meat selection, but poor customer service. I have purchased meat several times at Rain Shadow, and I have always been impressed by their selection and quality. You can absolutely taste the difference. Unfortunately, they disappoint on their service. This past NYE, I called ahead for an order, but they couldn't find it when I arrived. This evening, I went in to purchase a leg of lamb at 6:50 pm, but I was told they were already closed for the night (I hustled to get there before 7 pm). The woman at the counter was happy to quote the prices, but not make the sale. Unbelievable...

We bought: -Pate foie de pate pork belly and liver terrine -Chicken mousse -Mortadella -Jamon I think we both enjoyed the chicken mousse, which is I think is the best seller in the pate/mousse category. My fiance really enjoyed t he mortadella as well. However, the jamon didn't stick out for me. Maybe it's because I had jamon at a tapas place the night before that blew my mind, but for some reason I wasn't too impressed with the jamon here. The pate foie de pate pork belly and liver terrine was also disappointing. I think there were too many components in it, so I got kind of lost trying to decipher the different flavors. Overall, I think the variety of meats is great. However, when I think about how much we paid for the food that was okay to good, I think 3 stars is most appropriate.