Saravale Meat Market & European Deli

Had to stop by here last night — we were walking past & my daughter was insistent that we stop in based upon the delicious smells alone. We picked up some sausage along with some goat cheese & pasta. The sausage was absolutely delicious — I’m not certain what types of spices they use, but it is extremely unique. The woman behind the counter was sweet as can be and extremely helpful.
The selection is limited, however well worth a stop by for a weekend bbq.

I spent two years in the Peace Corps in Romania and I got back a few months ago. I was missing Romania so I decided to do a search for shops here in Chicago with Romanian produce.
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted in Romanian which about made us cry because of how much we missed that hospitality. I purchased some smoked Transylvanian sausages, goat’s cheese, catabosi, zacusca, and slanina, all for right around 20 dollars. We were also given a package of mici which we promptly went home and grilled up later that night.
They were also willing to point us in the direction to where we could buy some Romanian beer and wine. So far, everything I have eaten from there has been great, and a taste of my second home in Romania.

Saravale’s is a Romanian meat market and deli owned by some of the nicest people you can imagine. I stopped in here in hope of finding a quart of milk and I walked out with three tins of pâté and six sausages. How did that happen? Well there wasn’t any milk, but I’m the sort of person who likes to look around a bit once I’m in, and I was intrigued by all the sausages in the case. I was told that they were all made on the premises, which is frequently a very good sign. Unfortunately I had no idea what any of them were, and wasn’t too keen on just taking a wild stab at buying, oh, a pound of this or half a pound of that, and finding that I HATED all of it. But I did find some little tins of pâté on one of the counters, and they were inexpensive and looked like something I might enjoy, so I bought one each of the chicken, pork and tuna. (So far I can say the chicken was a disappointment, but not a huge one.)
While I was paying for them, one of the owners said «Do you have a grill?» «Yes,» I said. «I want you to try something,» she said, and proceeded to bring out a package of sausages which she GAVE me. Seriously, just put them into my bag and said «I think you’ll like these.»
This never happens, right?
Then another customer said «Oh those are great, you’ll love them.» So that night we grilled them up and I have to say that they were really good. I don’t know what they’re called but they were garlicky and spicy, and not greasy. I’m seriously thinking about walking back up there and getting more for this weekend. Or maybe trying something else. Whatever. The point here is that the quality is high, the people are lovely and the prices are very reasonable even when they’re not giving away samples.
Yet another small, local, ethnic food store that really should be better known.