Sabatos Prime Meats: Same As it Ever Was
Since 1978, the last butcher left in Campbell's Junction has been serving up homemade sausage, ground beef to order and a greeting at the door.
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The third generation of butchers is running Sabatos Prime Meats in their store in Belford. The meat is fresh every day, but the mission never changes.
Sabatos prides itself on sausage made from a family recipe so old that it's committed to memory and no longer on paper. They grind meat for customers while they watch. They've worked with the same two wholesalers for decades.
"We're very reluctant to change," said Andy Sabatos, standing near one of the old butcher blocks, shaped by years of work with knives. "We don't advertise. We still don't take credit cards. Maybe we should, but all our customers know."
Sabatos is a carnivore's dream, with a large variety of meats. Best sellers are the Italian sausages and breakfast links ($4.98 lb); hamburger patties (24 in a 6 lb bag for $21.99); and freshly ground beef, an 85% lean sirloin/chuck blend ($4.98 lb.) Chicken cutlets are kept at $3.99 lb. You can buy anything in any quantity. "We'll sell you one hot dog, if that is what you want," said Sabatos.
Organic meat and exotic varieties, like buffalo, can be obtained, but is not really in demand at Sabatos, he said.
Sabatos continues to keep its regular customers and has also attracted a new clientele: people from the city. "When they find us, we're told we're the next best thing to Brooklyn," said Sabatos, who runs the store with his cousin, John Sabatos, who grew up in Holmdel.
Sabatos is located at 113 Leonardville Road, at the intersection with Main Street in the Belford section of Middletown. (See our map). From Route 35, take New Monmouth Road (which becomes Leonardville Road.) From Route 36, take Main Street to the intersection with Leonardville Road. Tell them you saw it on Patch!
To review Sabatos on Patch, go to their listing in our business directory.
debbie
3:52 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Love these guys, always friendly!
Shannon K. Winning
3:58 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
I'm sure my husband, whom I refer to as meat man, will be in shortly. I once tagged along with him on errands shortly after we were engaged and he stopped in at a butcher to pick up ox tail. I thought, "What have I gotten myself into."
Nicole Magnotti
6:03 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Sounds like a great place,......where in Belford is it located?
Christina Johnson
6:38 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Directions to Sabatos Prime Meats in "The Junction" are now posted. Also, see our map. Thanks for asking.
jeannine ensign
6:45 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
We have shopped at Sabatos since they were located on the other side of the Junction. Our son worked there for several years when he was in high school. Can't say enough good things - when we visit NJ we bring a cooler filled with sausage back to FL, leaving some in VA as we come south!! There is no sausage like it, try the Reuben bread and the stuffed pork chops as well! Gentlemen, keep up the good work!!
joseph cooney
8:10 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
great guys, always a pleasure to stop in.
Frank Mauceri
8:54 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
We have shopped there forever. We get their hamburgers and stew meat. Great place.
kevin toomey
9:28 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
great guys love andy and john and lars been going there since i was a kid now im 26
Lynne Thornton
11:13 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Always a smile to welcome you in! These guys are the best!
KS
1:50 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Does anyone know if they make homemade kielbasa?
Greg V
2:31 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Their kielbasa is better than from Linden. Their grandfather made it in Irvington and I always keep one in the freezer just in case We have turned on our som in law to the place and he is a big fan and meat eater
KS
4:24 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Thanks, Greg V, for the info about the kielbasa at Sabatos. I'll be making a trip to buy some for my Polish spouse.
Judy Michalski
4:08 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
We moved to Middletown 41 years ago and I can remember Sabatos Prime Meats on Main St. in Belford. My sister in law Ginny introduced me to their store and I have been buying the best meats you would ever want to taste. You name it, their Flank steak, chickens, burgers (fresh chop meat), pork chops, etc --- I guarantee you once you have been their, you will return again and again, plus you get to meet a great group of young men, John, Andy and Lars! They greet you with a smile and lots of laughs too!!! I highly recommend you stop in and try the freshes meats around!!!
Judy & Bill Michalski
Fr. Gene Vavrick
8:27 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
Best butchers around. My dad and I need to stock up on some fresh kielbasa soon!
Don Schmid
9:11 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Don Schmid
I worked for the grandfather and fathers of Andy and John for over 40 years in the Irvington store. Great memories . Remember when Andy and John were born. Sabatos always was and always will be a cherished memory for me.
Christina Johnson
10:06 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Don, thanks for sharing memories of Sabatos... I bet when it comes to butchers, you're the real deal.
Gary Sabatos
11:15 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Gary Sabatos
Andy and Johnny are my younger cousins. I worked in the store in Irvington when i was 4- 21 years old! Their fathers are my Uncles Andy and Johnny. My father was also an original but passed away in 1969. I love them all- Sabatos Kielbasi made me what I am today!!
The guys at Sabatos Prime Meats
5:37 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
Thanks for sharing everyone! We love our customers!
SummerBreeze
5:04 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Always a pleasure going to sabatos...great meat, and they always make you smile! Don't know what I'd do without my Sabatos!
christine
10:30 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Ahhh Sabatos!! My Mom would send me every weekend to go get chopped meat and kielbasa! And who can forget the Belford teenage rite of passage--Riding the Sabatos Bull!!