Bismillah Meat & Grocery

hey julia maybe they dont have pork because pork is prohibited in Islam and considering the place is called «In the name of God (Bismillah)’ perhaps thats why !!! duh

This place is AWFUL! I went there after reading the reviews here and for some reason, my first review doesn’t show up when you search for «Bismillah Meat and Grocery.» The only «fresh meat»: some chicken legs, chicken breasts, a slightly green leg of lamb, and some sorry bits of liver. I don’t think too many Devon regulars go there, and it’s generally unwise to buy meat from places without much foot traffic. When I asked if they had any lamb for a stew, they asked how much I needed. My response, one pound, elicited raised eyebrows and a sneery sigh from the owner/​manager, who said «nobody buys just a pound.» Yeah, right. And then they tried to sell me a greatly shrivelled and leathery piece of lamb neck that looked like it had been around for a week.
And I have no idea where the other reviewer got the idea that they sell «fresh vegetables» and spices… the place is pretty barebones. This is not the place to go if you’re not a couple/​family — urban singles are better off trying meat markets elsewhere. And, frankly, this isn’t the place for much for anyone else either. I’m returning to the amazing little Pakistani store near my place that sells varying amounts of meat that’s really fresh and tender, without an attitude.
I only tried Bismillah because I was going to be up on Devon for groceries, and found the other reviews while checking on the addresses for produce stores, but it’s definitely off my list. I suppose it’s partly my fault — I have many friends, including chefs, who shop on Devon and noone’s ever mentioned Bismillah before. I’m baffled by the glowing reviews here and this makes me leery of Unilocal reviews. I have no idea, for instance, why the other reviewer thinks they sell organic meat. The only thing green about this place is the meat, and I mean that literally. Mode of production, not so much.

I’m kinda hurt to give this place 2 stars. They used to have so many Indian and Pakistani groceries but now you walk in and it looks like they are about to shut down the place in couple of hour.
They still sell Zabiha meat but I’m not sure how fresh it is.

Thank goodness Whole Paycheck is not the only organic chicken option in the city. Justin and I do all our produce shopping on Devon at Fresh Farms, but we were always a bit bummed we had to trek over to Jewel for our meat purchases (and more bummed, not to mention broke, if we bought from Whole Foods). No longer so! We’ve been shopping at Bismillah for awhile now and as a meat market, it is awesome. The meat is organic and inexpensive (yes, it can be done!) and the butcher is very accommodating. You want bone-​in, skin-​on chicken but they only have whole chickens and the boneless, skinless stuff? No worries – the butcher will gladly dismantle a whole chicken to fit your request. Want ground beef but don’t see any in the cooler? Ask for it and they’ll grind some fresh for you. Need a goat head with eyes intact? They’ve got those, too! Lamb, goat, chicken and beef, all very fresh and cut to order.
I’m reviewing Bismillah as a meat market since that’s what I use it for. It doesn’t have pork and that could cost a star, but a Halal market shouldn’t have to fit my unrestricted diet. For a Halal meat market, Bismillah is wonderful. The butcher and cashier are friendly and helpful, the store is small but offers seasonings and packaged foods to help you make a tasty Indian meal AND it is close to my produce heaven, Fresh Farms!