Meatsmith Fitzroy

Andrew McConnell and Troy Wheeler (ex- head butcher at Peter Bouchier) opened this fancy butchery at the end of 2015. Ironically, it’s located in a former vegetarian cafe, Soul Food.

The bright, marble-countered space, with its high ceilings, is more meat emporium than standard snag shop. Pristine display cabinets are stocked with perfectly Frenched Wiltipoll lamb racks and rolled loins of juicy, rare-breed pork. There is chicken, duck and rabbit, house-made salamis and other smallgoods, and a range of accompaniments including mustards, relishes and sauces by the Builders Arms crew.

You can also buy vegetables and wine. There’s a sommelier on hand to help you choose the right bottle (beer or wine) for your protein. Leanne Altmann (ex-Cutler & Co., Supernormal) maintains the collection with meat in mind.

Unlike most butchers, you can take a seat out the front. Take your pick from the charcuterie cabinet, to be sliced, plated and enjoyed in-house with a glass of wine or beer. Favourites such as the house-made mortadella, Wagyu bresaola, foie gras parfait terrine and crunchy homemade pickles are available all day, alongside Reuben sandwiches.

Meatsmith also caters to the hopeless home cook: take-home meals include Cumulus Inc.’s famous eight-hour lamb shoulder (a steal at $45), coq au vin and duck confit. You can also pre-order a whole roasted suckling pig – or a raw one if you prefer to roast it yourself.