Shields Meat Market

I was looking for a meal for 10 on a budget, but nice. After exhausting my efforts into the local restaurants, I walked in here. Diamond, I believe he's the owner, helped me with creating a meal perfect for our group, mostly women. Serving portion was large. Everything was packaged for easy pickup. He even had a large organic salad that he probably bought at Publix with other veggies to go in it. I told him we would have our own salad bowl so this was perfect. Totally met our budget needs and we were all happy. Can't believe I never knew this place could create a catered meal (for pickup). Wish I had known this when the kids were young and time was even more precious.

I came here and bought a chicken for dinner and when I got home and started to prepare it it had an awful oder even after washing it serval times. It was definitely bad. They had hardly any meat in the store which should have been a red flag. We also got pickles here and they tasted like chemicals. Definitely don’t go here the meat is not fresh.

Ok, so the butcher can seem a little surly when you first walk in... I think he gets a bunch of Emory students in there who are "just looking" or asking for vegan sausage. But he has an incredible selection of frozen deliciousness as well as mouth watering fresh options.. I spent 16 minutes digging around in his freezer and came out with some delicious andouille, Italian sausage, stew meat and stuffed crabs. Prices were reasonable (I spent just over 20$) and the guy became quite friendly after talking to him for a few moments. I recommend you give it a try. Ill be back.

I ordered a beef tenderloin for Christmas dinner. Did I have to wait? Yes. Was it worth the wait? Absolutely! Delicious, fresh & perfectly trimmed. Thank you, Shields Meat Market for helping to make our Holiday FANTASTIC!!

Asked my partner to go out and get short ribs for a Sunday night dinner. What he brought back where huge pieces unsuitable for serving and not even trimmed of fat even though he told the butcher what he needed them for. The Butcher gave them back to my partner all neatly wrapped and the mess wasn't discovered until he brought them home. By the time he got home they were closed and there was no way we could cut through the bones, trim the fat and prepare these for Sunday night dinner. This is the last time we will go there for anything, the staff is rude indifferent and incompetent. Beware.

I dedicate my services to people all about an around visiting Shields from other states looking for the best cuts and products and the best service. I've been with Shields for thirty years I've worked other places like Buck head beef putting all the techniques together, to become the master bucther an meat cutter. I am Diamond looking to serve you for another 28 years. That's my dedication to the people that want excellent.

One of the employees of the market was very rude condescending to me when I informed him that their delivery truck was blocking traffic in the parking lot. The truck could have parked in other areas of the parking lot and not blocked traffic. I was very surprised at his rudeness and his lack of concern that some of his customers were being put in possible dangerous positions trying to maneuver their cars in the small parking lot. I told him he was being rude and that I would never patronize his business and he said he didn't care about my money or me. There are quite a few meat markets in the city that are much better than Shield’s and I recommend you shop those instead.

I love good sandwiches, that aren't subs. Star provisions has just what you need, they even have vegan options, hello. I got the shrimp po boy sandwich and omg, the shrimp were so big and so flavorful. They put a dab of the spicy mayo on the bread, and it has so much flavor. Also, the bread is super super soft and so good.

I know some people have "beef" with Shields for not carrying a huge supply of organic/everything-free meats, but what they do have is very good. Honestly, I would probably shop here no matter what because the staff is just so friendly. They are very knowledgeable and always seem super excited to see you. Love it! Also, just found out they carry farm raised eggs behind the counter :)

Full disclosure, I drafted this review 3 years ago and forgot to post, but I felt it was important to share. This was the 2nd time we have bought from Shields, and it will be the last. My husband went in to buy a pork butt to smoke. He, admittedly, doesn't know how to select the best cuts of meat, so he wanted to go to a proper butcher to ensure he got a good cut. He came home with the meat in a paper bag and immediately put it in the refrigerator. I came into the kitchen shortly after and the whole room smelled like something rotten. We couldn't pinpoint where the smell was coming from immediately, but when I opened the refrigerator it almost knocked me over. We opened the paper bag (the same day of the purchase) and the meat was GREEN and had a smell of death. It took me days to get that smell out of my nose. My husband immediately took the meat back to Shields and the owner told him he knew the meat was close to being bad, but he didn't think it was "that far". No apology, no offer to refund the money. He was nasty to my husband and made some kind of comment like he might choose not to sell to him again since he returned a cut of meat. Never again!

Great Service!!! Great meat products!!! The butcher is super friendly and goes above and beyond to get you what you need!!! I can't say enough good things about this place!!!

Came in here when visiting CVS to try to eliminate an extra stop at the grocery store. Place smells like death. Bad attitude of guy behind the counter. Charged $11 for a pound of asparagus and a little tub of pimento cheese because he wouldn't take a card for less than $10. Got home and asparagus was rotten. To boot, the guy was maskless during Covid. Big mistake I'll never make again, and I'm sharing this story in the hope that is helps someone else!

An Atlanta icon. It like the Krispy Kreme of meats! The Coca-Cola of variety! A proper butcher shop that laughs in the face of the grocery store bought meats. Beef and pork, yea ok they have that and in cuts you cannot imagine. But since you're a carnivore... try the Elk or Wild Hog or Rabbit!

Don't let the crybabies fool you. This is a real old fashioned butcher shop. Bought some beautiful pieces of waygu here. Looking forward to buying here again.

How this place has high reviews... I don't know. I have been there two time over four year. I came here initially because of a friend. He said it was an old school Atlanta butcher shop. It was close to me and I wanted to support local businesses. When I went in it was dirty and the man working was not helpful and rude. I was charged four times what I would pay for prime beef elsewhere. Please beware!

Great selection of meats at reasonable prices. Owner is very friendly can't wait to come back for the aged ribeye and aged filet. They also carry staple pantry items like sauces, dips, and crackers as well as cheese and other refrigerator vegetables making it a super convenient one stop shop for dinner.

Drove all the way from Tucker to try Shields. After arriving before they opened an employee was gracious enough to come out and let me know the owner was on the way. Great guy! Things went down hill as soon as the owner showed up. He was sour, unsmiling, and uncommunicative. When I complemented his employee he just ignored me. Life is too short to give business to a jerk.

Shield's meat market is overpriced and the owner is rude. I paid $18 for a dozen unexceptional eggs, packaged bacon, and butter. This wouldn't be that bad if the management didn't shame you for having to put an item back. I selected a bottle of olive oil that wasn't clearly marked. When it rang up for $18.00, I had to put it back because I'm a law student, living off student loans. The owner proceeded to give me the stink eye and made a remark about how he hoped the rest of the day didn't go like this. He also called after me sarcastically after I left when I shook my head. Business must be pretty bad if you have to harass your customers over a bottle of olive oil. To make it worse, their selection isn't great. I've been to Shield's several times, because they're local and convenient. Now I'm going to stay away. You can get better prices and better service at any of a number of places.

I was mad at the owner just from reading reviews. Close up shop boss! You got an attitude problem.

I have to agree that the customer interaction is very poor. When I don a mask and buy 115.00 worth of meat from a local I would hope that the person working behind the counter would not be short and condescending. He made three irritating comments about me and my purchase. I just stared at him and wondered what was wrong. You don't want me coming to your store Fine I wont

Ribeye? My man had a hankering, so I gets to thinking...plenty of nice places in town to choose- or wait! How about an opportunity to fire up the grill and actually save a few $$?!? Perfect. In shaving some cash out of our Saturday night feed fund, we didn't want to skimp on quality. Luckily, I stumbled across some reviews on Shields right here on Yelp and thought we should give it a try. It really is right inside the door at CVS.Don't be surprised by the modest selection in the case- most of their meat is kept in the back. Just ask for what you need. We ordered two cowboy-cut (that's "bone-in" pardner!) ribeyes. We held up our fingers to indicate the thickness we wanted- my guy loves his steak- two + inches worth. For me, a more modest cut. All together, with a nice roaster chicken, we were out the door for $40. Shield's is small, but they have all you will need for a nice meaty meal, including wine! They will also cook it for you- mighty convenient for a quick stop on a school night. The aroma of roasting chuck hung in the air and wafted along with us for the entire ride home. Yum. We'll be back!

OK Shields, I am finally done with you. During prior transactions, both hubby and I have endured condescending behavior and a general lack of customer service from the owner. But this time was the kicker. I stopped in to pick up a few non-meat things for dinner (they have local organic lettuce and bread from Alon's). I had already paid for them and the owner asked me if I needed a turkey for Thanksgiving. I commented that we don't like turkey but that I might make a small brisket since it will just be the 3 of us (and I don't eat meat). So he starts trying to sell me a brisket - fair enough, he's just being an opportunistic salesperson. Now I'm not that knowledgeable about brisket (I usually just buy one already cut at the kosher Publix). He tells me he has a "small one" in the back, and when he brings out a $40 12 lb. WHOLE brisket, not surprisingly I balk and jokingly say "That's more brisket than my family would eat in a year". So rather than explaining to me about the different cuts and different pricing of said cuts, he just snaps "You're not a meat connoisseur - why am I even wasting my time" (and there is not another person in the store). So rather than taking the time to: 1) educate me, 2) potentially make a sale, and 3) engender some customer loyalty from me, he makes rude comments. And you may recall, I did not come in to buy a brisket - I had already bought something from the store so he just insulted a PAYING CUSTOMER. Well, that's the last straw - I promise he doesn't have to worry about wasting his time anymore!

Meathead. Went in based on high recommendations from friends. I asked if they had any hormone free, antibiotic free meat. He laughed and said all that was a fad and people were fools for paying extra when the mainstream meat supply was just fine. He carried on for a minute or so giving me that fakey smile that Barney Stinson gives to women that he's trying to pick up. There was a moment where I stood there thinking about the pros and cons of letting this burly 50ish butcher know that I didn't think that contempt was good customer service. It seemed like a big waste of time so I gave him my best fakey smile back and said, 'Thanks!' And then left. For good.

This is such a great butcher shop. Diamond is a treasure, and the meat is great, as well as the prepared foods. Try the meatloaf! It is too die for. Call ahead and you can special order!

Sad sad sad. Nothing like the Shields market when it was in Decatur, enough said. Fresh cases were practically empty, frozen bread really, very disappointing.

I ordered a 4 bone prime rib which was loosened as requested. The price was about what you'd expect to pay and cooked nicely in the oven. The flavor lacked depth and I wondered if it was prime beef at all. Still a decent stop for lesser cut but for the cuts like this I will seek alternatives.

Like many other commenters on this thread, I have had several bad experiences at this shop in terms of customer service. Each time I've gone, the staff have been extremely condescending and rude, but I brushed it off and figured it was not worth causing any trouble or mentioning it. Today, my partner had an extremely aggressive and troubling interaction with the owner in which he, because she mistakenly parked in his preferred (but not at all labeled!!!) parking spot, screamed profanities and fatphobic comments out at her in front of his shop. When confronted for his behavior, he did not offer any sort of sincere apology and rather said that "he could have called her something worse" and then threatened the both of us. This is not a business run by anyone with any semblance of an idea of what it means to be a decent human being during a horrible time. I would encourage anyone to think twice before shopping at a place run by someone so hateful and condescending.

My husband and I stopped in on the hunt for a cut of meat for our anniversary dinner we were going to make that evening. We walked in and began looking at the selection. A man came out of the back room, and I inquired if he had any filets (since there were none out in the case) and if so what is the pricing on them. To which he replied "yes I do, but if you need to ask the price then you clearly can't afford them." I was honestly shocked and offended. I couldn't believe someone would talk to a customer that way. And clearly after seeing all the other negative feedback it seems to be a trend there.

Flarg! Its Shield's Type-o! Flargin crud! If you likka da summertime grillin like I do...Then please do not throw your money away on inferior meat. I will skip railing on about how much I am appalled by most grocery store's options for steak. I will say, Yuck! I'm supposed to eat that and it cost how much???! I am hard pressed to share one of my best kept secrets. But we all must support local businesses. So here it is. Did you know there is a butcher in the CVS entrance in the Emory Village? There is, I swear. If you think yourself a grill master or even if you're the type to cook before the coals turn white. Do yourself a solid and get you steak from Shield's . It's the kinda place where Sam would have glad served Alice up a nice slab. The Filet is to die for. The cuts and quality of their meats as the best to be found. I don't know what they do behind the counter, but you can grill up one of these little crowns, pre wrapped in bacon, without any seasoning or sauce. I'll bet it's the best steak you've ever had. I downed beef slabs everywhere from the Pony to the finest steakhouses in California and Texas. Nothing can touch these gems. The prime rib is bueno muy bueno! This is a butcher, they have meat. They have a few random condiments and frozen veggies. But you should come for the meat. Is good, no?

Like Lee, I'm truly reluctant to share the best intown butcher I've found. Whenever, I'm buying meat for a special meal, I choose Shields. Pricing is similar to Whole Foods on the dry aged steaks but it's a truly local business where you will see one of the same 3 guys whenever you go. And they'll remember you. I've gotten wonderful lamb, fresh ground beef, phenomenal dry aged NY strips, and big beautiful bacon wrapped (or not) fillets. They have fresh sausage which I just didn't find spicy enough for my tastes. But I like especially spicy sausage. Don't giggle. They have a small selection of fresh fruits/herbs/veggies, cheeses, bread, and wine. Enough to put a meal together but if you've got time, you will save money by hitting Alon's and the Dekalb Farmer's Market on your shopping trip. Odd to find it under the same roof with CVS. But I suppose that will eventually be a convenient, when I'm taking heart medication for a lifetime of steaks, chops, and loins. It will be soooo worth it.

Shields is great and I've been coming here on a weekly basis since moving to Atlanta. High quality butchering with occasionally lively banter while you wait. They always have a great selection of very fresh meats -- almost all of which are cut to order. Also stock a small selection of reasonably priced and high quality wine, olive oil, and produce. Unfortunately, I will no longer patronize Shields or any other merchant associated with the gestapo parking enforcement currently underway by Emory Village Management. If you go across the street for a cookie while your meat is being cut you will find a boot on your car when you return -- with a $75 fee for removal. Appeals of the fee are categorically denied despite receipts showing you patronized the stores. This is totally contrary to the idea of a walkable 'village' and, as a former daily customer of several Emory Village stores, I now intentionally choose to spend my dollars elsewhere in protest.

I went into Shields looking for veal cutlets & they had exactly what I needed, they even suggested the size and portion for the meal we're making! The customer service here is DEFINITELY something to write home about, the staff is friendly, they're very personable - I was quite impressed. They have a good selection of meats, produce & wine (I LOVE wine). I can officially say that I'm done with Publix now that I've found Shields!

Unsatisfactory experience. I've been meaning to try this place,as I manage the cookie store across the street,and finally had a reason to stop in for a meal I planned to make for the bf and I. The gentleman was very rude and made my whole experience uncomfortable. Like all comments below/above have stated,apparently I was lucky enough to get help from the "condescending" employee. I understand I am not a pro at the butcher market like most people,but I wanted something fairly simple and left pissed off. Gave the review 2 stars because I haven't even tried the pork yet,but I know I will not be returning because of how I was treated.

I've had numerous steaks from all the grocery chains and from the Dekalb Farmers Market...none compare to Shields. I ordered two,1.5 inch thick, dry aged ribeyes. The marbling was unbelievable. Without a doubt the best steaks I've ever had at home.

Great place. First time in- very helpful, great products. If you are looking to grill out this is he place to go

As weird as he other reviewer was, he's absolutely right. If you're looking for meat, and you live in the North Druid Hills area, you're doing yourself a disservice going anywhere else. Supporting local businesses is one thing, but these guys actually make it worth your while; their meats are phenomenally fresh. They also have a small, but very satisfying selection of veggies and cheeses. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

Great place and good service and they definitely have nice meats and treats. I would definitely recommend going to this place if you're looking for finer dining as far as your meats and cheese are concerned and don't forget about those lobster tails. They sell those as well too!

Great selection of wines, custom cut steaks, nice selection of prepared sides and fresh vegetables in the cooler! A great place to buy your dinner and a sassy staff to make it fun!

I spent hours looking where to find hot dogs, I grew up with from NY. I contacted Shields, and I am happy to report that they carry the hot dogs. I placed an order, and found out that the butcher is from my home state. What a wonderful find.

The WORST, nastiest experience I have had in a butcher shop. These guys have screwed up every order I have placed there. The last time the owner was incredibly nasty and unpleasant both on the phone and in person at the shop. Do not pay a premium to support these arrogant and unfriendly men. Never again will they get my business

One of the employees of the market was very rude condescending to me when I informed him that their delivery truck was blocking traffic in the parking lot. The truck could have parked in other areas of the parking lot and not blocked traffic. I was very surprised at his rudeness and his lack of concern that some of his customers were being put in possible dangerous positions trying to maneuver their cars in the small parking lot. I told him he was being rude and that I would never patronize his business and he said he didn't care about my money or me. There are quite a few meat markets in the city that are much better than Shield's and I recommend you shop those instead.

Wow. I came on here to see if the owner was an a-hole or if it was just me. No. He's clearly an a-hole. Lots of types of beef ribs. Clarify before opening a package and even then don't treat a customer like they've ruined your day. (And it's only loosely a butcher shop given that they are selling pre-butchered packaged beef.) I likely would've bought a brisket if he hadn't reacted that way. Too bad they didn't have the cut I was after.

The owner called me and cussed me out for canceling 4 steaks. He will never get my business again. Been wanting to try out The Spotted Trotter in Decatur anyways. Do not support a total a-hole. Not the way to treat a customer who's been shopping there for 4 years now. Can't believe that's how you treat someone who try's to support a small business.

all I can say is that you really have to have something he has to go there. To say the least, the owner is well - different - that being said, if you can put up with the antics and mouth, the meat is above average but has been known to hit or miss. if it is hit day, you will get one of the best dry-aged cuts around.

Its okay in a pinch but.... You can also go to Costco and buy the same product they're selling to you, at half the price. I I like to shop locally but not for 2x the price. The New York Butcher has more selection and more friendly service at better prices.

We love their meat, chicken, bacon. Great quality products, also their meatloaf and meatballs are fabulous. I highly recommend Shields.

A while back, I had a conversation with a woman that I worked with who grew up in the Decatur neighborhood that I now own a house in. She knew the neighborhood when it was farmland! We were talking about family owned businesses that had been in the area for a very long time, that were not being supported anymore. Shields Meat Market came up in the conversation. Since it was close to a holiday, and my partner and I believed very much in supporting local businesses, I decided to buy the meat for our celebration there. Well, I went in to order the cut, and was quoted a price that I, quite frankly thought was astronomical! I told the gentleman that I wanted to look around, and he told me I should order so that the best cuts didn't get away. So I told him I would get back with him. In the meantime, I found the SAME cut of meat for roughly 1/3 of the price that he was quoting me. I went ahead and purchased the piece somewhere else. I admit, that in the rush of the holiday preparation I forgot to call the guy back. Well, the holiday came around, and the night before I was at home and my phone rang. I answered and it was the manager of Shields. He asked me when I intended to pick up my cut. I apologized profusely and told him that I was sorry that I hadn't gotten back with him, but I no longer needed it. The man was so rude and nasty to me that I decided to just be honest with him and let him know that I had found the same cut at a fraction of the price, and that he was a criminal for trying to rip people off! It's the first AND last time I set foot in the place. If they've treated people like this over the years, it's small wonder they no longer cover the whole block! It's a wonder they're still there at all! Do yourself a favor, and STAY AWAY!!!!!

I cannot imagine anyone giving less than five stars to Shields. I have been buying from them for 35 - 40 years. That is before Geoff even came into the picture. It is simply the BEST meat available in the metro Atlanta area and one of the friendliest shops around. To say I travel 35 miles to get there should explain it all and it's worth every cent of gas.

I've been going to Shield's Meat Market for over 5 years now. It's the only place you'll find fruits and vegetables in Emory Village. Their chicken salad and baked potato salad is really good. After I kept getting suspicious-smelling sandwich meat at Publix, I started to get my sandwich meat exclusively from Shield's. Those guys are running a great business!

we have had meat from Geoff's store, the aged cuts we had were extremely delicious, even though a mutual friend tried scorch the best meat he would ever taste. Will Geoff ever drive another red 60's mustang? I had a dream that grass fed aged beef would return to Geoff's hometown, hey you can hope for anything!