Barkly Quality Butchers - Tennant Creek, Northern Territory

MrGreenfisha

After reading all the great reviews ( and one negative review which seems to be the ravings of a lunatic or a disgruntled ex employee) I bought some scotch fillets, marinated lamb chops and thin sausages. Excellent ? meat , sweet , tender and juicy. The negative reviewer is definitely a loose unit, pay them no attention. Excellent butcher ?

JASON WILLIAMS

Currently travelling Australia and we like to support local butchers. We stocked up in Tennant Creek and the meat is exceptional. Marinated chicken, steaks and sausages we can not fault. Kicking ourselves that we didn't buy more. Up there with one of the best butchers we have found

The General

To preface this review, some important concepts need to be explained for the reader. The name of the establishment “Barkly Quality Butchers” is a misleading one. Based on common English structures one would assume that the name of the store is alluding that the establishment is a “Quality Butcher” that is located in the Barkly region. This is fundamentally misleading. The noun structure should be read as ‘Barkly Quality’ Butchers meaning the establishment is actually a Butcher that sells meat that is ‘Barkly Quality’.

In regards to quality of meat, the bottom of the scale would be best be described as ‘road kill’ which would be followed by ‘low quality’ followed by ‘Barkly Quality’. Next in line on that scale would be average quality and so on. Generally “Barkly Quality” meat is free of the characteristics sought after in meat such as tenderness, juiciness and flavour. The meat rarely, if ever contains any intramuscular fats (known in the industry as marbling) within the lean, meaning a ‘Barkly Quality’ Porterhouse beef cut could easily be confused with a cut of beef Rump steak one would find at a Butcher selling average (and above) meats on the quality scale.

With the above in mind one would assume if the product being sold is indeed ‘Barkly Quality’ then the price of said product would be reflective of that fact. You would be wrong in that assumption. The price being offered for product that is ‘Barkly Quality’ is what could best be described colloquially as “Highway Robbery”. For some practical examples which the reader can use to compare to other establishments which they frequent, during my last visit the establishment was retailing beef mince (3-star at best) at $17 a kilogram and Scotch Fillet beef cuts at $47 a kilogram. In my place of employment we would often jest with colleagues that announced they were to attend the establishment with (not undeserved) exaggerations such as “Have you contacted the bank to extend your mortgage to afford that meat” in reference to the exorbitant price to quality ratio the product is being retailed at.

On more than one occasion I, with great trepidation, attended the establishment. The purpose of my attendance was to obtain some contemporary cuts of meat that have, in recent times become popularised in the culinary community as a whole only to be met with brusqueness from the proprietor of the establishment, comments that bordered on mockery, poor business practices and a generally lack of basic customer service. I often found myself leaving the establishment feeling disappointed and incensed by the whole experience.

In conclusion it is the writers opinion that if the reader is seeking meat in the Barkly Region they are better off travelling to Alice Springs or if unable to travel, then the local IGA store sells a selection of meat of equal or above ‘Barkly Quality’ at a price I would consider reasonable for such product.

Kristen Munckton

We love Barkly Butchers, some of my faves include their Chicken Kieve, Sausages, Pork Schnitzel and Steaks. My husband loves the Cowboy T Bone which is a hunk of steak to keep any beef eater satisfied.

Gail Stanley

Best meat I've ever had. Only went there because someone else said it was good and thought I'd give them a chance, beautiful tender steaks.

Kingsley Wang

very fresh meats and good service

Heath Greville

Best bacon ever, do yourself a favour and get some...

David Young

Always good service.