Central Meats & Almost Catered — Local services in Chesapeake

Not quite full service. Growing up with a Mother that raised cattle I know what full service butchers are. You tell the butcher what you want and they cut it of the cow. It's pretty simple. Central Meats can do this to a certain extent. But I found their limitation.

They get a certain number of cows but also boxed meats. Granted their quality is beyond reproach but you can't always get what you want.

I made the mistake of thinking full service was just that. I found out they carried Tri Tip. It's very hard to find on the east coast. So over the past two weeks I bought four. They were exceptional. So when I planned my barbecue for the weekend I took for granted that they would have some.

One would think if they aren't in the fridges you could go to the butcher counter and have them cut. I was sorely mistaken. I asked the teenager at the counter about getting one cut. She said I am sorry we are out and we don't know when we are getting more in.

So naturally I was beyond confused. So I asked aren't you a full service butcher? She responded that they were. So then I asked are you out of cows? She then sent the butcher my way. He was polite (they have great customer service) and told me they couldn't find someone to source them TriTip of the quality they would sell (I totally respect that). He then offered me a similar Brazilian cut from the top loin rather than the bottom sirloin. I took it and went on my way.

But it bothered me. They are billed as full service. And they had the meat. So I called them and asked again are you full service? The answer was yes. Then I explained my situation. They then put the owner on the phone. This guy had Great customer service. He told me that I could come back down and he would make it happen for me. Even though they didn't have the choice or prime grade. He understood where I was coming from.

Had it not been for thier quality and great customer service they would have gotten 2 stars from me. They are a great business that does care. But they are not quite...

Yesterday, 03/19/25, I came to Central Meats to buy 2 ribeye steaks to grill since it was such a nice day out. This was my first time ever buying any kind of meat from your store. I usually buy my steaks when they’re on sale at places like Kroger and Harris Teeter but I decided to come to Central Meats because I’ve always been curious as to how they are different from grocery store meat and have heard good things.

I ended up buying 2 Delmonico Ribeyes that were each just over 1lb and was very excited to go home and grill them on our Blackstone especially after the worker behind the meat counter said that it would be “eye opening” and “mind blowing” and I’d never go back to buying them from a grocery store.

My boyfriend who grills quite frequently cooked these steaks to a Medium Rare and when we took the first bite, I just have to say that we were very disappointed. These steaks weren’t “mind blowing” or anything. I honestly have gotten steaks from Kroger for a lesser price and they have left me wanting more when I finished eating it. Your Delmonico Ribeye on the other hand had me not even wanting to finish it. These steaks almost had a “hamburger” kind of taste which was really weird.

I’m just super disappointed because I thought going to a butcher shop to get steaks would have been way better than a grocery store but I guess not. It’s just upsetting paying almost $47 for 2 steaks and feeling like I got ripped off especially when your workers say it’ll be “mind blowing.” I’m sorry but my mind was blown because of the...

Review for Central Meats & Almost Catered

I cannot say enough great things about Central Meats & Almost Catered for making my mom’s surprise birthday party in late December 2024 an absolute success! From start to finish, everything was seamless and exceeded expectations.

We chose the “30 to 40 People Barbeque Throwdown” package, which included perfectly cooked BBQ, corn on the cob, hush puppies, baked beans, buns, coleslaw, potato salad, and a beverage. Utensils, plates, and napkins were also provided, which made hosting completely stress-free. The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and plentiful. Every guest raved about it!

The reservation process was simple, the preparation was flawless, and the pricing was very reasonable for the amount and quality of food provided. All we had to do was pick up the order and return the tea jug afterward. Central Meats truly made everything so easy, allowing us to focus on celebrating the special occasion.

I highly recommend Central Meats & Almost Catered to anyone looking for outstanding catering services. They made our event unforgettable, and I will definitely be using them again...