Most butcher shops stop at selling raw meat, but Fat Butcher on Butler Street decided that was only half the story.
This Lawrenceville gem sources pasture-raised cattle from Western Pennsylvania farms, breaks down whole animals in-house, and then smashes that same fresh-ground beef into burgers every single day until 4 PM.
It’s the kind of place where you come for lunch and leave with a sandwich in hand and a bag of specialty cuts for dinner.🥩🍔
How they won local’s hearts
Fat Butcher won over Pittsburgh by bringing back something the city had genuinely missed: a real neighborhood butcher who knows exactly where every cut comes from and isn’t shy about showing you.
Locals fell hard for the smash burgers fresh-ground beef butchered that same morning, smashed on the griddle until the edges crisp up perfectly because you can taste the difference that sourcing and freshness actually make.
When owner Steve opened the Butler Street shop, he wasn’t just opening a lunch spot he was reviving a neighborhood tradition Pittsburgh had quietly lost, and word spread fast among locals who wanted to know their meat’s backstory. 🌟
The whole-animal, nose-to-tail approach meant cuts that Giant Eagle simply doesn’t carry, which turned curious first-timers into regulars who started planning their weekly grocery run around Fat Butcher’s butcher case.
Reviewers started raving about the breakfast sandwich’s Fresno aioli like they wanted it bottled and sold separately, and that kind of specific, passionate feedback is exactly what happens when a dish genuinely earns it.
Add in house-made ragu that locals pick up by the container for weeknight dinners, and Fat Butcher became less of a lunch spot and more of a full-on community food anchor. 🎉
Food Highlights
- Smash Burger: Fresh-ground beef from that morning’s butchering, smashed until the edges crisp perfectly proof that controlling the whole process from farm to griddle makes every difference. 🍔
- Breakfast Sandwich: Thick-cut bacon from their own butcher case with eggs and a Fresno aioli that reviewers have literally asked to buy by the jar. 🥓
- Pork Belly Sandwich: Slow-cooked until it melts on contact, piled onto fresh bread with bright accompaniments that balance every rich, tender bite. 🥩
- Reuben: House-cured corned beef stacked thick with Swiss, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on grilled rye a deli-style classic done with butcher-shop credibility. 🥪
- Beef Torta: Tender beef with fresh vegetables and bold flavors on a toasted roll a Mexican-style sandwich that earns its place on a butcher shop menu with zero apology. 🌮
- House-Made Ragu: Beef, pork, and lamb slow-simmered into a rich, deeply flavored sauce that locals pick up by the container for easy weeknight dinners. 🍝
Atmosphere
Fat Butcher keeps things compact, clean, and completely purposeful gleaming butcher cases line the shop while staff break down primals right in front of you while you wait for your order.
A small window counter with seating for three or four lets you eat on-site, though most people grab their sandwich and browse the case for cuts to take home.
The whole space operates as a working butcher shop and quick-service cafe simultaneously, which gives every visit an energy that feels genuinely alive and purposeful rather than just transactional. 🥩
Bottom Line
Go to Fat Butcher for farm-to-griddle smash burgers, a breakfast sandwich with aioli worth the drive alone, and specialty cuts you simply won’t find anywhere else in Pittsburgh.
Between the fresh-ground beef, the house-cured Reuben, and the house-made ragu, this Lawrenceville butcher shop is one of Pittsburgh’s most exciting and purposeful food destinations.
Get there before 4 PM for hot food, and grab dinner while you’re at it. 🌟
Address:
Fat Butcher
5151 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
📞 (412) 408-3213
🕔 Tue–Fri: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Sat: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Sun: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Mon: Closed