D’Angelo Bros

It’s time for an update. Since my first visit, I’ve been back several times. Their sausage selection and quality is the best in the business. Honestly, I have literally stopped getting my sausage anywhere else; everything is bland by comparison to D’Angelo Bros.
Now, I know the frustration with some people’s perception of their customer service. I’ve worked in the industry; I get it. So, I tried to start making small talk with them on subsequent visits. They’re simple guys, in a good way. They aren’t interested in talking about much, but they will sure talk about meat if you tell them what you like/​dislike. They might even slip in a veiled joke or two.
These are a couple of guys who run the whole place themselves and when you see all the products they offer, you can easily see why they’re constantly working every time you go in. If they stopped and chatted with every single person who walked in, they’d probably never get their work done. Take that for what you will, but underneath the tough exterior, they are good guys.
This isn’t the cheapest place around, but you are 100% absolutely paying for quality. If you like something of theirs; TELL THEM! They will usually thank you and recommend something based on what your preferences are. Maybe my experience comes from being a local and understanding them more… but I am willing to bet that I’ll travel the world throughout my life and never find a better meat shop than D’Angelo Bros.
P. S. — BRING CASH!!! Tell them before they ring you up that you’re paying cash. There is a discount (I believe it’s 10%) over using a card (or rather, a 10% markup for card users). If you don’t have cash, there is an ATM at one of the Mexican groceries next door.

Beyond Unbelievable! (I still scratching my head after he hang up on me) just trying to share my experience here. Here is the whole phone conversation:
Phone Ringing…
Unknown subject: D’angelo…
Me: Hello, good morning. Do you carry rabbit?
Unknown subject: yes.
Me: fresh one or frozen?
Unknown subject: we don’t sell frozen one, all fresh.
Me: Good, how much per pound?
Unknown subject: I can’t tell you the price over the phone, you have to come in to the store to get the price.
Me: sir, I am not close to your store, can you tell me the price per pound so I can decide if I want to drive there to buy from you?
Unknown subject: No, this is store policy, I don’t want to waste my time telling you the price over the phone, you must come in for it.
Me: can you…
Unknown subject: (hang up)
This is the whole conversation. You judge.
My problem is, if you can’t tell me the price over the phone and acted like you are selling drug instead of meat, please change your website. YOUR Website said: PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Why should anyone drive half an hour just to find out the price? Guess price at D’angelo is highly confidential.
You have a nice day Mr secret service.

We went to D’Angelos to purchase fresh rabbit for a special dinner. Sonny was so helpful and friendly. I learned a lot about the neighborhood and his business. Thank you Sonny for a great experience and amazingly delicious rabbit!

Totally agree with Jan W.‘s review below. We must have had the same person. Do they actually want customers? The butcher was arrogant, rude, rolling his eyes whenever I asked a simple question like, «Excuse me, how much is a pound of that?» Nothing is marked with prices like at a normal butcher so you have to ask, but then when you ask you get a sarcastic smirk and rolling eyes. I guess he only wants seasoned exotic meat buyers. He glared offended at the people ahead of me who dared to ask a simple sausage question («Is that andouille sausage?»). Extremely condescending prick. Then there’s the shop itself which is dark, dingy, creepy, and hardly screams out sanitary. I wonder how many various cuts of meat get chopped on that same cutting board throughout the day before it gets cleaned; the buzzing flies sure loved it. The meat you order also gets handled bare-​handed by the butcher (as confirmed in one of the pre-​existing Unilocal photos) so be sure to cook your meat thoroughly to avoid putting this man’s fingers in your mouth. Then there are the creepy bones and pelts everywhere for décor that make it look like the bone room in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Throw in the butcher’s ridiculous comb-​over and cheap dye job that you’ll never be able to unsee, and you’ve got yourself a true South Philly CHARACTAH. If you’re willing to put up with all of that just to try out some of their interesting-​sounding sausages then go for it. Otherwise hold out for Reading Terminal or order from Omaha Steaks because this place’ll give you nightmares.

No time to chew the fat, I’ll get to the point. (Sorry, I can’t resist meat humor).
D’Angelo Bros is my meat spot in the Italian Market. My husband and I have been going there for years for our special meat needs. We usually get some sort of hot Italian sausage and it’s been nothing but great. We recently purchased ground beef and veal, and they ground the meat on the spot for us.
Full disclosure, all the meat dangling in the store freaks me out a bit, so I usually avoid going into the shop. However, everything my husband buys that ends up on my plate has been top notch.
Its cash only and I’m not sure how they are from a pricing standpoint, but I’ve never had a bad piece of meat from D’Angelo Bros.

Was making lamb tacos for a party, but i didn’t have a ton of experience with cuts other than leg. Got to talking with Sonny and he made some solid suggestions. Ended up ordering a couple fresh lamb necks– and they were amazing. Def my favorite cut of lamb. This store is one of my favorite places to visit in Philadelphia. And Sonny is one of my favorite people. This man knows meat.

Horrible experience and really questionable product. I was hosting a Wild Game dinner and found out about D’Angelos on the web. Called a few days in advance to ask what kind of game they had and I was told to go to the website. I asked if they had everything on their website in stock and the answer was yes.
Arrived Saturday morning at around 9:15am. The person working in the store was angry and unfriendly. I asked what kind of game they had and was given a dirty look. I followed up by asking if they had any Elk. The response was «you’ll need to wait for Sonny, I don’t know what he has». Same response after another question so we left and did some other shopping until Sonny got there.
Came back around 9:45 and still no Sonny. Finally, after waiting another 10 minutes, Sonny came in and stormed through the shop. The other person (apparently Sonny’s brother) said to him «they’re waiting for you…» So, Sonny looks at me and asks me what I want.
I asked if he had any Elk. «Yes» was his response. So, I said, «anything like a rack?» «If you want anything with bones you have to order it». That would have been nice to know when I called earlier in the week. Anyway, he then said «I have a leg primal». Not knowing what that was I asked if it would be good for steaks. Sony’s response was «yes. That’s what its for.»
If I had been in any other store I would have walked out that minute but since I had committed to a game dinner, I better find some game…
Sonny proceeded to bring our a pan full of meat wrapped in plastic wrap. The pan was also loaded with dripping blood from the meats that were sitting in the pan. I saw a venison cut that was still shrink wrapped so I picked that one figuring that it was not floating in the blood so it would be fine. In the mean time I asked for a rabbit and some other things. While Sonny was adding up the bill, my wife noticed that the label on the venison said that the meat was best if used before «September 9, 2014». But if frozen, until «September 2017″. So when Sonny finished, I asked him if it was frozen. His response was „No. Never“.» So I pointed out to him that the meat was expired. Sonny got pretty upset when I told him that I didn’t want it.
There’s more to the story but I’ll save that for another time… Bottom line, I am willing to take poor service and angry workers when the product is worth it. Here at D’Angelo’s you get bad product, bad attitude and an overall bad experience.
If you are looking for good game meats and a nice experience, skip this place! They should really close up shop and retire because it gives the entire Italian market a bad name…

I was here years ago and had purchased some exquisite seafood sausage. Visited this past weekend and got some of the Lugano. Delicious, pork, spinach and pine nuts. The sausages here are just so well crafted and fresh tasting. I also do like the owner. He is no nonsense and is not unfriendly. I asked a few questions about his ancient cash register and he opened right up. I also like the handwritten signs he has posted on the meat case. «NO EBT CARDS» «NO SAMPLES»… lol. If you want some game, fresh, delicious sausages (lamb, duck, pork, chicken, etc) this is your place.

Sonny is now selling his incredible duck prosciutto in quantities less than half a pound, and I highly recommend you try some along with his wild boar salami. Nothing in here is cheap, but for the bargain hunters out there, get the frozen sausage sampler: four one pound packs of sausage for $ 3.98lb. Can’t beat that, and his spicy lamb sausage is as good as you’ll ever have.

Ive been wanting to try a recipe that calls for Venison from quite some time now. I googled where to get it, and D’Angelo Bros came up. I live near the art museum, and decided to take a trip to the Italian Market to check out this shop. I read the reviews on here and was a little nervous about interacting with the owner, so I brought my boyfriend who has no problem being chatty.
We arrive at the market on a beautiful Sunday morning, and ask a nice woman who works at Cardena’s olive oil shop down the street (amazing little place). She pointed us in the right direction, but warned us that the owner was terrible and wished us good luck. Scary.
We arrived at the shop, exotic meat list in hand. I was more nervous than ever. Upon walking in, Sonny the shop owner didn’t greet us with a smile, but was friendly. He was very dry and to the point, but more than willing to answer any questions I had. I didnt sense any negativity to him at all. I told him I had heard great things about his shop — he replied «really? I hear great things about my shop, but not about me». I told him, as long as the meat is good, who cares! He said exactly. Im not going to act overly friendly to people, if they want that they can go to Starbucks. We shared a laugh. I continued to ask him questions about the pricing and cooking techniques — he knows his stuff.
I bought: duck fat, CAMEL (ground), venison, and boneless duck breast. So excited that I found everything I wanted! Overall, great experience — LOVE the italian market and will definitely go back to Sonny.

Been going to Sonny for years. I live in North Jersey — but went to school in Philly — so have been a fan of the Italian Market for a long time — and make the drive there every two or three months to stock-​up.
Sonny is the best — an artist. My favorites — are the sausages (of course) — both the «regulars» — and the more infrequent seasonal items. On this particular visit — tried the pheasant sausage, the chorizo verde and a bison with mushrooms version. Also love the regulars: Italian (hot and sweet), the rabbit, and the duck. I always make sure I’ve some of those in the freezer.
Also a must for me is the venison prosciutto and the wild boar salami. Particularly with the prosciutto — you can taste the game meat — really special.
There are many butcher shops in the Italian Market — but D’Angelo’s is the only one where you can get game meats and sausages that you can’t get anywhere else!
Always well worth the trip!

I cannot help but give thanks and feel slightly awed each time I prepare one of the D’Angelo Brothers meats (usually following Sonny’s own handwritten recipe). There is elation and respect, joy and great appreciation. It happens when I first regard a tiny, braised stuffed quail, leaving the oven finished to a delicate glazed gold. I uncontrollably break out in a smile pairing a Gragnano pasta with their Lugano sausage, its dark green splashes of spinach mixing with robust pork and the delicate texture of pignoli. It is the same for their duck prosciutto, their pheasant sausages, their boar prosciutto.
Yes, Sonny is gruff, direct, and with his own opinions; we share this human condition.
Yet that which happens inside this tiny shop with the glass pane walls, within the arc of his knife, cradled in the concave, ancient chopping block is done to human scale: good, bad and otherwise. It is today, what was food was: local, for the community, for companions to share; not industrial butchery to make quotas, packaged ‘on the go’ convenience, nor a ‘business synergy’ to franchise riches.
Savor it, reflect, show surprise, and let a small smile grace your table.

Oh man, I’m not really sure where to start. The D’Angelo Brothers place is basically a meat lovers heaven and a vegetarians nightmare. The meats here are a mix between uncommon animals like rabbits to the exotic such as kangaroo and everything in between.
The shop is an absolute no frills, beat up wooden floor, beat up wood counter, and an original cash register (when I asked, I think the owner said it was from about 1890). Just walking in to the shop makes me feel like I’m heading back to when the Italian market was all Italian immigrants. D’Angelo’s, without a doubt in my opinion carries the highest quality meats in the city.
Some people have complained about the owner being rude or whatnot. I will admit he is a bit standoffish at first. However, just start talking to him about his shop, the Italian market, or what he sells and he warms right up to you. He is a very nice man.
From the last few times I have gone, I have bought rabbit, ground bison, duck sausage, venison, and my new favorite, venison prosciutto. There is really nothing else to say but to stop reading the reviews and just go already!

A meat lovers dream, it would be easier to list the few animals you can’t buy here rather than list what you will find in the case. Excellent service and advice, with an even more intetesting and ever changing array of fresh sausages in the first case (kangaroo with figs, will boar and provalone… plus the staple hot or mild italian).
From simple aged cuts of steak to wagyu and kobe or buffalo to the more interesting duck, venison and boar to the more exotic rattlesnake, kangaroo or rare speciality and special diet breeds of pork and beef, it’s all here. No fancy decorations or gimmicks, I imagine this is the exact same counter my grandfather would have walked up to. Simply put, if you like to eat meat, you should be buying here. And if you love meat, you should be buying here 3x’s a week!

My wife and I tried Camel at a local restaurant and were amazed so we set out on a google journey to find some near us. D’Angelo’s was the closest place we could find at approximately an hour away.
A few weeks ago we decided to make the drive with a list of exotic meats to try. We bought Alligator steaks, Kangaroo sausage, Duck Sausage and Alligator Sausage, as well as 3lbs of camel. I forgot to buy a rabbit and a few other meats.
Other reviewers have said he is «rude». Yes, i guess if you want to walk into a butchers shop and have your hand held and get a shoulder massage and pedicure, then he may come off as rude. I saw nothing rude at all. He answered questions, made some social talk and handled business in a timely manner. He’s the kinda guy I like doing business with. No BS.
We got home and cooked up the alligator steaks which were great. Today we tried some sausages and I can tell you this: The man knows how to make some sausage. Excellent stuff.
The only reason we dont buy 100% of our meats from this place is the hour drive each way. He does offer mail-​order but then UPS requires a cooler, ice, etc.
If he ever wants to move to SE PA I’ll be glad to buy from him weekly.

Love going here! I have newly discovered the wonderful world of exotic meats and this is my go to place. I have tried the elk, ostrich, eland antelope, kangaroo and boar and they’re all amazing! The ostrich is my favorite, but the kangaroo is a very close second. The butcher is totally amazing, so helpful and friendly! And I love all the skulls and skins in the shop, just makes it even cooler to go here. Exotic meat is pricier than traditional meats, but the prices here are much better than what you’ll find having it shipped to you online. I’m looking forward to going again and trying something new. Don’t pass this place by and treat yourself to something new and exotic, you’ll be so glad you did!

Did you know boar prosciutto existed? Neither did I, until I stumbled upon it in Sonny’s shop one day while looking for some fancy sausage. Boar prosciutto is the stuff dreams are made out of.
Sonny isn’t the chattiest man, but he will provide you with a photocopy of his mom’s handwritten rabbit marsala recipe if you ask for it. Aww, so cute.

I have to echo the other commenters’: great meat, horrible owner. I have actually only made one purchase from here: duck prosciutto. It was probably the greatest duck prosciutto I ever had. When I went back a few months later to buy more, he refused to sell it to me in anything less than a 1 pound size. I believe I asked for a quarter pound of the prosciutto, and all he said was «No.» After he noticed my confused look, he explained that if he only does a quarter pound, it’s not enough to be worth it for him. Okay then. I really couldn’t afford a pound, so I left. I did not appreciate the attitude and I hadn’t gone back for a while.
Yesterday I went back looking for rack of lamb. This was the conversation between him and my fiancé:
Fiancé: Do you have rack of lamb?
Owner (not looking up): Yes.
Fiancé: Fresh, not frozen?
Owner: Yes.
Fiancé: Okay great.
Owner (after a twenty second pause): You have to order it though.
Me: What?
Owner: I only use Colorado lamb. It’s the best, but I can’t keep it around. You need to order it.
Me: Okay, maybe next time.
What was so frustrating about that was how I had to pry it out of him that he didn’t actually have the meat on hand. Don’t get me wrong. The meats look lovely, and I think he sells great products. But everything with him is some sort of ordeal, and that drives me nuts. Considering the plethora of other butchers in the Italian Market, I do not understand why I need to go to him unless he’s literally the only person selling the product. No one else in the market gives me crap the way this guy does. However, his duck prosciutto is way better than the stuff at DiBruno. So one day, I’ll have to go back for that. But seriously, be prepared to have some sort of ordeal as you try to place a basic request.

I’m torn about this place. There are things they sell that I want and can’t get at other places. That said, the place really has a deeply unsanitary feel and look. I’ve used the Hunter’s Blend several times for chili and it’s really good, but I’m never quite sure how fresh it is. Once I got it and all there was available was frozen and it was of indeterminable age and a little freezer burned. The last time, it was in the display case, but still was mostly frozen.
The proprietor was without a doubt born without a personality. He doesn’t have a bad one, he doesn’t have a good one — he simply doesn’t have one. Period.
It’s the choice, locally, if you want this kind of product. I wish their physical location was as neat and orderly as their online one. I generally enjoy what I buy there and, if it were more appealing, I’d probably go MUCH more often.
I can’t imagine the business he could pull if he cleaned the shop up some and let someone work the counter who actually likes interacting with people.

«How can I help you?»
«I’ll take 9 rabbits.»
«Coming right up.»
It was at this point, I would be watching a very skilled butcher make some quick work of, you guessed it, 9 rabbits. This was not my order, but I got to watch this man (I’m guessing the owner) do his thing on these rabbits while having a good conversation with his customers. Each time he swung down the huge cleaver, his other hand came up (as a safety precaution). His motions were automatic and while I waited and watched I realized this is the place I want to buy my meat.
D’Angelo’s is an old-​school kind of place. Simple glass refrigerated case housing all the stuff that they make on premises. Large knives on the wall that look really sharp and a big wooden butcher block in the center that allows you to watch the masters at their craft. After watching the 9 rabbits make their way into bags (heads separated at the request of the customer) I placed my very pedestrian order for 2lbs of house made kielbasa. This stuff was like a punch in the face of smoke. I had my nose in the bag the whole walk home. If I didn’t live in south philly, people might think of my actions as a bit weird.
30 varieties of sausage made in house and whatever you do, if you want a fresh killed turkey for thanksgiving day, go there early and bring a book because there will be a wait.
Yet another reason to love philly and the italian market. This place is keeps it real.