Oliver's Corner Butcher Shop — Local services in Potomac

Should have taken a photo of the cases… alas… it’s a smaller butcher, but they try to focus on local and fresh offerings. They had some really good looking Mahi Mahi filets that I am kicking myself for not getting, but in talking with the two guys behind the counter, it was just brought in that morning.

Instead we got local chicken breast, which at about $7 per lb. Is pretty good for local chicken. Our CSA previously charged $10.99 a lb. And some pork chops to throw on the grill - they were nice thick cuts too!

Their different beef cuts looked good and the one guy was talking about bringing in some A5 in the future (admittedly this was a conversation I was eaves dropping on so I don’t have details — but… something to look forward to???)

They also have different prepared foods - apparently their shepherd pies were very popular this past week and sold out and they have shaved ribeye that we would have liked for cheesesteaks (alas! Also sold out) It was a Sunday so I am sure they were winding down inventory for the week, but if they are selling out - it must be good, right!?!

Bottom line: knowledgeable and helpful staff & good, quality selection - wish they were closer to us, but we will be...

A great source to help you explore different cuts of meat.

After watching many (too many?) videos on different cuts of beef on YouTube and being inundated with ads for ButcherBox or Good Chop, I was on a mission to try different cuts of beef than the traditional filet mignon, NY strip or ribeye. I also didn't want to subscribe to anything that would be shipped to me in huge amounts of packaging.

So happy Google maps led me to Oliver's Corner Butcher Shop - exactly what I expected. I walked in on a Friday afternoon and told them my mission, and the helpful staff immediately pointed out bavette and hanger steaks to try. I've already cooked up the hanger steak and it was delicious. Look forward to the bavette and maybe come back to buy some flat iron.

This is the experience of meat buying you get in Europe that's hard to get here in a big grocery store. Oliver's says their beef is locally sourced (Shenandoah Valley) except for the Wagyu, which is also good to know.

10/10...

the store is really clean, the team is friendly. Meat is amazingly good. Solid recommendations on what you should buy. Here’s my full breakdown if you want to read

The wife and I had some friends come over on July 20th for a cookout. I found out that Oliver’s was the closest butcher to the Reston area. Stopped by and picked up two pounds of local ribeye and two links of the “half smoke” sausage links. I’ll break this down into two parts. The ribeye: best ribeye I have cooked to date. I did a reverse sear ( oven first then grill) with Oliver store bought truffle seasoning. Oven cooked then grilled then after the a bit of rest the steak was unbelievable. Soft, flavorful, no conversation at dinner type of steak because it’s so good.

The sausage was just as good. Big, tons of flavor, the kind of flavor that makes you laugh at grocery store sausages.

Really not sure if I can go back to grocery...