Sarah C.
Yelp
Vincent's is the most kick ass butcher on Arthur Ave. Not to take anything away from Biancardi's or Peter's Meats in the Retail Market, but Vincent's is definitely my first choice when it comes to fresh meat.
I've long been a Vincent's regular, but they completely won me over last week when they proved to be the only one of the three stores that carried fresh duck, not frozen. Thanks to Vincent's, I was able to bring a vacuum packed duck home for Christmas, complete with the head and feet which Boyfriend cheerfully chopped off for stock. The duck was a beauty and we couldn't have been happier with it. Just one more instance of Vincent's quality products.
I also pick up chicken breasts here, which I use to make dinner and stock in one fell swoop. The friendly staff will even bone the meat for me if I ask. I once mentioned I was planning to use the breast for cutlets and the guy sliced it up beautifully, saving me the trouble! My other two regular purchases are ground beef, which they'll grind up on the spot, and slab bacon, which hangs on a hook on the wall. At $3.99 a pound it is a good two dollars cheaper than the vacuum packed grocery store variety, and you can get it sliced to your desired thick or thinness. Needless to say, it is really really tasty, and makes for some great carbonara, among other things.
They also carry plenty of adventurous cuts of meat, if you want to try brains or tripe, and I once bought a whole rabbit here. If you want something that's already been prepared seasoned, they have stuffed meats and things, as well as a variety of sausages that just need to be cooked to be enjoyed.
Bottom line, this place is great. Every neighborhood deserves a quality butcher like Vincent's.