If you're a meat-eater, you've heard it before: You should be getting your hands on the best you can afford. That's why we love whole-animal butchers—not only is it more sustainable to shop at a store that sells every part of the animal from the nose to the tail, it's also better for your health to eat pasture-raised meat that's free of hormones. These ten butcher shops across the country are doing it right.
The lunch menu at this butcher-shop-slash-restaurant features sandwich options like a pork belly bahn mi with house-made chicken liver mousse. Indulgent? Maybe. Must-try? Yes. If you're staying for dinner, go for the larger cuts of meat, like a pork chop or 16-oz. rib eye. Don't forget the beef tallow fries!
[#### Rose’s Meat Market and Sweet Shop
](http://rosesmeatandsweets.com/), Durham, NC
When you're a butcher and your spouse is a pastry chef and you decide to open a business together, you get the magic that is Rose's. Where else can you order both an expertly butchered rack of lamb and a slice of lemon mochi cake?
[#### Red Apron Butcher
](http://redapronbutchery.com/), Washington, DC
Red Apron sources its pork entirely from Animal Welfare Approved farms, which means it's the best of the best. The master butchers also make their own charcuterie and provisions, so you can get your housemade rillettes, mustard, and pickles all in one place.
[#### Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe
](http://www.westerndaughters.com/), Denver, CO
Western Daughters sources its meat almost exclusively within 150 miles of Denver. What really seals the deal for us is the whole section of the menu that's dedicated to rendered fats like beef and lamb tallow. And because the butchers are wizards, they'll suggest you buy some marrow cubes to melt down and fry your steak in.
[#### Salt & Time
](http://www.saltandtime.com/), Austin, TX
Salt & Time is a butcher shop, restaurant, and salumeria that features fresh meats from sustainable Texas ranches. But don't confuse this place with Texas butchers of yore—you won't find ginormous hunks of meat slathered in sauce here (not that that's a bad thing). Instead, you'll find elegant seasonal dishes such as pappardelle with squash and fried chicken skin.
[#### Rain Shadow Meats
](http://www.rainshadowmeats.com/), Seattle, WA
Besides the stunning meat, housemade charcuterie, and harissa-roasted lamb leg sandwich, our favorite thing about Rain Shadow is its online gift box service. Each box comes with a bottle of wine, a wheel of cheese, salami, a jar of their beef demi-glace, and a cut of choice beef. Everything is chosen for you, so all you have to do is pause Netflix and check out.
[#### The Butcher & Larder
](https://www.facebook.com/The-Butcher-Larder-150638594982815/), Chicago, IL,
The Butcher & Larder, located in Local Foods market, is the city's first sustainable whole-animal butcher shop. Watch the expert butchers make their own sausages and charcuterie, either right in the center of the shop, or through the window leading to the aging room.
[#### The Meat Hook
](http://the-meathook.com/), Brooklyn, NY
Our happy place is a cool room with sides of aging beef hanging on hooks against clean, white subway tile. Okay, our happy place is The Meat Hook. This place does it all: butchery, sandwiches, charcuterie, bacon, cold cuts, and sausages like the "Long Dong Bud: The classic. The ultimate. Pork, Pepperjack cheddar cheese, roasted jalapeños, and Texas Pete hot sauce. YOU’RE WELCOME."
[#### Olivier’s Butchery
](http://oliviersbutchery.com/), San Francisco, CA
Want a bacon-wrapped chicken breast, or a fully prepped pork roti (a loin stuffed with bacon, apricot, and prunes)? Olivier's will not only do it for you, but give you directions for how to cook it, too.
Kensington Quarters is a full-service restaurant, butcher shop, and bar that also offers classes and events. The most romantic table in the world might be at its restaurant: A table for two, right up against a window displaying hanging sides of pork.