Donati’s Fine Meats

Amazing beef! A scarlet red colour, succulent, I bought 2kg of beef ribs, best I’ve eaten.
Sausages were next level also, I recreated the brunetti sausage and broccoli pasta dish at home. And the star ingredient was the donati pork sausage!

I don’t go to the butcher often because there isn’t one close to me. Actually, that’s a lie — apparently, there is one on Brunswick Street that I supposedly walk by, but never notice. But when I do go to a butcher, I go to Donati’s Fine Meats. It’s the closest one to me, but the guys here are also quite helpful and the meats are good without being too pricey.
I’ve gone there mostly for beef. When I’m craving a proper steak, none of that stuff you buy at Coles or Safeway, but a proper cut of meat that you can cook 2 minutes on both sides for the perfect medium rare, I go to Donati’s.
Honestly, I don’t recall them being expensive. They are probably a few dollars more than what I would pay at Coles or Safeway for the same size, but better quality. The last time I was there, I paid around $ 27 for two porterhouse cuts.
An indicator of the quality of the meat is that I’ve used their beef recommendations to make steak tartare as well. I’ve eaten their meat raw and had no issues — the beef tastes delicious and fresh.

I had a dinner party planned and I usually go to Safeway to buy meat, but this time they didn’t have much on offer so I had to go to the butcher. I’m always a little reluctant to go to a butcher because I don’t know what to expect. Will it be expensive? Will they try to offload their old stuff? I’m glad I tried it out though.
They were really helpful. I told them I had about 7 people coming over and what would be the best thing to buy. I ended up getting some chicken wings and pork chops. Quality was really good. I’ve since gone back and tried their sausages and chicken breasts. Again, two thumbs up. Also I was very excited to see that they sell rabbit, not many places stock it, so I’ll be going back to grab some of those.

I think it is great that there is still a place for old school butchers in Melbourne. Let’s face it. Coles and Woolworths or wherever you shop don’t really come up to scratch when it comes to getting quality cuts of meat and fresh seafood that isn’t run of the mill. Thankfully the characters at Donati’s Fine Meats have got your back and are also more than willing to offer advice on whatever culinary exploits you are planning. Having got some incredible steaks from there in the past, they were my first port of call in my mission to cook the best Steak Tartare. Not only did they come up with a recommended cut of meat but they also gave advice as to how to cut the meat and what ingredients they would put in there.
Obviously in this part of Lygon Street this butchers isn’t cheap. But I for one think the difference in price is worth it for the massive difference in quality compared with the supermarkets.