The Underground Butcher

This place is kind of disappointing. They have a very limited selection of items. Though most of the cured meats and cheeses we’ve bought have been tasty, the sandwiches I’ve gotten here have been consistently terrible. Whatever they’re calling as muffuletta has virtually nothing in common with a muffuletta. The «olive salad» is far too heavy on cauliflower and the whole thing just tastes greasy and generally kind of gross.
The big issue here, though, is price. Everything is ludicrously, ludicrously overpriced. Yes, it’s high quality. No, it’s not THAT high quality.

–Weekend Breakfast sandwiches (served until 11am)
–All the cured meats
Don’t come here expecting Woodmans prices, but it’s because you get what you pay for. I see meat as a special occasion food, and when you’re looking for special occasion food, Underground is what’s up.

After my dentist appointment I was on my way to do some errands when I found myself getting hungry. Lucky for me I was turning onto Willy St. mecca for delicious eats. I was passing by Underground Butcher and thought to myself maybe it was finally time to give it another chance after my first experience being soured by a not so great sandwich. I went in and noticed some new additions to the menu. Two caught my eye but I decided on the Bahn Mi. Which was… amazing. This place is redeemed for me. The pork belly came sizzling off the grill and into my sandwich. The radish and jalapeño added a great cool crunch. The sandwich was a medley of all the flavors you would want in a sandwich, sweet and salty, crunchy, warm pork belly, nicely dressed bread. Yum. I can’t wait to come back and try the other sandwich I was interested in.
For 9 dollars the price of a sandwich is a little steep. But I believe it is good quality meat and the meat they use you can see in their display case. This is a great place to go if you are interested in different/​not some common cuts of meat. Though their case is small it has a good diversity and everything was nicely labeled. I haven’t personally asked the staff questions about certain cuts of meat and how to best cook them but I will make it a point to come back one day and do so since they seem knowledgable and willing to help.

First time at the Underground Butcher-I’ve heard great things for years and finally decided to go. My mom and I ordered 2 sandwiches off the menu and spilt each. 1 meatloaf and 1 exit or fire exit (can’t remember :/​) the atmosphere was amazing-I’m talking one of a kind! Whoever designed this place wins my heart! I gotta say this and it almost pains me too because the service was so great but my sandwich was okay: the meatloaf needed more sauce as it was a little dry at times and the «Exit» sand which needed lettuce or something crunchy. The bread was excellent! And they do not lack on meat. Next time I go: I’m going to stick to meat. They had stock, meatballs, cheese, even head cheese! I would definitely recommend you try it! Great time exploring The Underground Butcher!

A true gem. Found it online and was landing in MSN and swung by before driving to my work city. Amazing. Great sandwich friendly staff. I could only dream of having this in my town. How could there be no line at such a culinary gem? Madison residents are blessed to have such an amazing place. Anytime I am near I will be there. I can still taste the deliciousness.

Whoa amazingness. This place has got it going on. I wanted to buy one of nearly everything in the store and that was even before making it to the meat counter. They have all kinds of yummy looking treats. Pickles, peppers, beets, the list goes on and on. There are also crackers, breads and very fancy chocolate bars. Would you like your chocolate bar made with goat’s milk or perhaps sheep’s? Cow’s milk variety also available.
I tried the homemade Cheez-​It type crackers and holy crap. Gone in nearly one sitting. They have excellent cheddar flavor with a subtle hint of heat. YUM. Delicious little cookie sandwiches (think mini Oreos without all the chemicals). Decent selection of wine and a HUGE supply of Founder’s Breakfast Stout :) Small (for WI standards) but impressive cheese selection. I squealed with joy over seeing some goat cheese from Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor. Yes, I’m a little biased regarding most things coming out of Ann Arbor but this goat cheese is AWESOME. I asked the staff if there was an Ann Arbor connection and the answer was «nope, our cheese buyer just really knows his stuff.» Sold.
We also took home a pound of brisket which was excellent. It was a little heavily spiced for my liking but absolutely smoked to perfection. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. This was my first visit and I can’t wait to come back.

After having a great experience the first time with a sandwich I went back for another one.
I ordered a Asian style beef sandwich which sounded good from the menu and I wish I could remember the name.
The sandwich felt very light when the bag was handed to me. When I took it out of the bag it was a really small sandwich for $ 9. The sandwich was not bad on very good bread with a great crust. There was very little beef in the sandwich also, see my pictures.
I don’t have a problem paying $ 9 for a sandwich but when it’s a proper size sandwich. I really felt like I was ripped off on this visit.

Got a sausage sandwich, a salami spread, Kimchi and cookies. Everything is delicious. The staff are friendly and the variety and quality generally seems impressive.
Stop in for lunch for a quick sandwich to go and then grab some stuff to make dinner.

One of the Underground Butcher’s butchers sports one of the most luxurious and masculine beards I’ve ever seen. He wields his platinum hacksaw with skill and aplomb like a modern day Viking swordsman. We call him «Beardy».
Let me tell you this: I’ve gone to the Conscious Carnivore on multiple occasions looking for a specific cut. They can get it for you, but it will take a couple days. I then go back to my truck disgruntled and call the Underground Butcher and every single time they say come over now and get your meat! I should probably start at the UB from now on.
Plus, Beardy makes the best sandwiches, kimchi, giardiniera, macarons, and fresh & cured sausages. And he has WINE IN CANS! He’s so awesome.
I’ve never found a stray beard hair in any of my preparations, but I would welcome and celebrate the discovery of one of these silken threads at any time. Beardy forever!

Exceptional quality charcuterie, also just a fun place to browse. An ambitious curing program and of course high quality fresh cuts too. A small but hand-​picked assortment of artisan cheeses, also a small assortment of coffee, wine, beer, and books.
The staff were very friendly and helpful with our questions.
I’ve been seeking out their ‘Nduja whenever I can find it, and it’s always a big hit. Highly recommended place, can’t wait to return on my next Madison visit.

Not too bad. We came for the brisket meal for 4, but they ran out of slaw and cornbread, so we ended up getting the 1 lb of brisket and a pint of beans. The meat had a great taste at first, then after a few bites it felt like the flavor disappeared. The beans were really salty for some reason. Nothing to write home about.
The place itself is intriguing. So next time we go, when we’re not starving, we might take a look around a little more and see what else we could try.

What can I say, other than, «I’m always impressed by the people and products I find here.»
Let’s start with the basics: meat. Sausages from sec to salumi are the perfect go-​to snack for any occasion and you won’t feel bad picking a few up for a gift either. I’ve stopped hitting up my grocery store butcher entirely. I know that any cut of meat I get here will be more flavorful, rasied closer to home, and handled with more care than anywhere else in town. It doesn’t hurt that there’s always a selection of other goodies to taste and take home with you as well.
Oh! What goodies they have! Local beers, craft spirits (so excited to find Leatherbee outside of Chicago), and great wines. I’m never without beverages for guests that drop in. Plus cookies (try the homemade Oreos), crackers, or the occasional cheese knife either means I’m never without a treat for myself either.
Do yourself a favor and make these guys part of your local shopping routine. You’ll be glad you did.

A great selection of cheese and meats with knowledgable staff that’ll let you nibble on a few to see if they tickle your fancy. They’ve also got a nice, decently priced wine selection, as well as a solid selection of gift-​y items if you need something in a pinch.
Update: excellent breakfast sandwiches on the weekend! The only thing in town that comes close to matching (and might even pose a threat to?) 4 & 20 Café in this respect.

Great selection, very friendly service, and fresh meats! Hadn’t been here before yesterday, but I will definitely be back.
Also, they serve sandwiches from 11 – 3, and breakfast sandwiches on Saturday/​Sunday from 9 – 12. Go for the brisket!

Two years and 200 trips since my first review, it’s time for an update!
(I’m sure I haven’t been 200 times in the last two years, but it sure feels like it.)
As you know from my previous review I think their breakfast sausage is something dreams are made of. It’s a ground pork sausage mixed with whatever they’re feeling at the time, and on my last trip it was tart apple. Awesome.
But in addition to both the butchered items and cured meats, The Underground Butcher has upped their provisions game, now offering a wealth of pickled items, crackers, olives, candied pecans, assorted cookies, a small selection of vegetables, bread, crackers and alcohol. And what’s more, most of the specialty items they sell, like macarons, butter cookies and quince paste to name a few, are prepared in Underground’s kitchen. You can’t do all your shopping here, but if you have five people coming over for some wine time and conversation, it’s the best spot on Madison’s east side to snag some snackables. And when you add the 8 or so varieties of cured meats and endless cheese options, the place is perfect for assembling a charcuterie board that will make people claim your king of light bites. And if you’re not certain what meats to pair with what cheeses and what companions to serve alongside… ask! The fine folks behind the counter are more than willing to give you some guidance, and also have great wine pairing suggestions too.
Also worth mentioning is their fine line-​up of sandwiches although I can’t speak to any of them other than the Breakfast Sandwich, which I’ve scarfed more times than I care to admit. A fried egg, breakfast sausage, arugula, cranberry mustard and an onion & ‘nduja vinaigrette pile high on a slice of focaccia, though I sub in a demi baguette which holds up better and is easier to hold on to. In the summertime they’d benefit from a few seats outside to devour this monster of a sammie, because it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to avoid taking a taste before you get it home.

All about quality
My brother and I came in last month after checking out the last outdoor day of the farmers market. I can’t imagine coming here and not doing serious damage to your wallet because everything looks so good. The employees are awesome too, very knowledgeable and willing to help. We bought 3 kinds of fresh sausage, 2 kinds of hard sausage, their last Denver steak, and split a fresh sandwich which was excellent.
I highly recommend getting some Ghost Peperone, SO good and a little spicy.

The mufaletta I enjoyed was one delicious greasy concoction. The size of the sandwich is not huge but there is a good amount of meat and because of the grease it will fill you up, no prob. Don’t be afraid of it… It was way good with the olive salad immersing the sandwich with its salty goodness. Oh it reminds me of the various tempting food passages described in the food memoir Blood, Bones, and Butter.
I also tried three cured meats: the tuscan (ok but not quite to my liking — pork based), the saucisson sec (better than the tuscan — pork based), and a beef/​pork stick (my favorite) that is perfect to eat as your walking.
The place is fun to walk into though it is a little pricier as one would expect. Give it a go, splurge a little on a special day and try a cured meat or sandwich or a fresh slice of meat to cook up back home.

This place is the bomb! Amazing meats, sandwiches, wine, olives, and sweet treats!
The staff is very helpful, outgoing and more then willing to brainstorm party plans with you:)
Starting to feel nerdy as I’m there just about every other day;)

I love these guys!!!
It wasn’t until I had heartily polished off my sandwich in the park across the street that I realized I lost my bus pass. Freaking out, I helplessly paced up and down Willy Street in search of my lifeline to no avail. I luckily decided to check my phone because I had received a very kind email from Underground Butcher saying they had my bus pass :) I musta dropped it while ordering, but thank goodness my email was on the back, and thank goodnesssss these guys are awesome and emailed me so promptly!
Now as far as food quality. They know their stuff. My sandwich was delicious. From the crusty-​chewy bread to the thinly sliced meat and the cheese o course. All super good.
Great people, great food. Great spot.

If you need a place for fresh meats or sausages, here is the place to go! look no further! The most friendly, knowledgeable and resourceful butchers I know.
This place is a paradise for gourmet and local ingredients. Sandwiches are also amazing, I love their cured meats and cheese special sandwich. Always hits the spot for me!
Also available are rare meats like rabbit, lamb, venison and duck — just call ahead to make sure they have stock. I really enjoyed the burger patty with bacon they made, very juicy and flavorful!!! I’ve also noticed they carry a great selection of wine and liquors. And my favorite? Duck eggs from a local farm. Yay, I haven’t seen any elsewhere yet!
Finally, to top it all off, they have. Started making their own desserts. The. Macaroons look amazinggggggg.
Definitely stop by if you would like to get some good and fresh ingredients!