Butcher and/or Fish Monger

Hey folks, long time no see. I've been out of the country for about the last year. I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to all my old acquaintances and friends.

Now, on to the reason for this thread, which I admit, is not about restaurants. Instead, I am looking for a great butcher and/or fish monger in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area where I can find great cuts of meat. Specifically I am looking for a shop that deals in lamb, especially during the Christmas season, prime beef is also a major plus here. As for the fish monger I am hoping to find someplace that has a steady flow of customers, meaning they fly in fresh seafood and other fish on at very minimum a bi-weekly basis, nothing worse than "fresh" fish that is already a week or more old when you buy it. Specifically here I am hoping to find fresh littleneck clams or olympia oysters.

If you have some personal experience buying any of the "specific" items I am looking for, I would appreciate your input in particular. I would love to hear multiple responses here, unless of course the majority says that one place is the absolute best. Thank you in advance for your inputs and suggestions.

Welcome back to Louisville and the Forum! As for fish, we think Seafood Connection in Chenoweth Square has the nicest and freshest seafood--dry scallops, sea bass, etc. If I understand correctly, it is flown in fresh daily. Also, a great little lunch bar for a wonderful fish sandwich or fish taco. For butchers, we use either Frank's on Preston or Butcher's Best in Prospect. Not sure about lamb or prime beef but both have excellent meats. Hope you are enjoying being back in L'ville...

Welcome back to Louisville and the Forum! As for fish, we think Seafood Connection in Chenoweth Square has the nicest and freshest seafood--dry scallops, sea bass, etc. If I understand correctly, it is flown in fresh daily. Also, a great little lunch bar for a wonderful fish sandwich or fish taco. For butchers, we use either Frank's on Preston or Butcher's Best in Prospect. Not sure about lamb or prime beef but both have excellent meats. Hope you are enjoying being back in L'ville...

Thank you for your input Carol, and it is great to be home again! I will have to check out those places, is Seafood Connection a monger or a seafood restaurant or both? Glad to see you again, hope all is well.

[Robin Garr]

... is Seafood Connection a monger or a seafood restaurant or both?

It's basically a monger, but they have a little short-order lunch counter at the back, which turns out seafood goodies that significantly exceed expectations. Here's their Website:
http://www.theseafoodconnection.net/

Highland Fish Market in Middletown is another decent monger, with knowledgeable folks and a small but decent wine shop on the premises. Details and contact info on the Web, http://www.highlandfish.com/

I've been using Kinglsey's on Taylorsville Road for years. The selection is excellent, the prices great, and the service is always helpful.

We would personally recommend Butchers Best and Highland Seafood! Both have excellent foods and will work with you to get something if they don't have it!

[Robin Garr]

If you're looking for local meats, humane and hormone-free, etc., you might want to shop the farmers' markets (Bardstown Road stays open for a few meat producers all winter on Saturdays at 10 a.m.), and Preferred Meats i Sellersburg, which represents a group of local beef producers. The popular butcher shops in Louisville do quality butchering I'm sure, but if you want to avoid "industrial" meat (grain finished on Kansas or Nebraska feedlots), you'll have to look to the smaller sources. Rainbow Blossom also offers a limited selection of these meats, mostly frozen. To be fair, Whole Foods also has a broad selection of natural meats, poultry, seafood and fish including (sometimes) local producers.

Whole Foods. It's expensive but they have the best lamb I've found in the city by far. They have a local source through Four Hills Farm an hour or so from here. Their seafood has a wide and very fresh selection with deliveries 6 days a week. I will also give props to Seafood Connection.

I don't like buying frozen meet so I've never been as happy with most of the farmer's market options and lamb is hard to find. For beef I also use Butcher's best in Prospect.

I've been using Kinglsey's on Taylorsville Road for years. The selection is excellent, the prices great, and the service is always helpful.

I ditto Brad on Kingsley's for beef- particularly love their beef tenderloin for the Holidays.
Also Ashbourne Farms and Harned Ranch if you are able to get it from the Farmer's Market
Both Highland and Seafood Connection are our go-tos for fish. For lamb, hands down it's Dreamcatcher. They are at the Farmer's market and their may be someplace around town that stocks them now.

Deb