The Crested Duck-Your Local Butcher

The Urbanist Pittsburgh Guide has proven to be a useful resource for Michelle and me. We regularly read the Pittsburgh Magazine, the Pittsburgh City Paper, and other local publications to stay current on new restaurant and bar openings and local upcoming events. When reviewing the guide, we were very surprised to learn that there is a butcher just a few miles from our house that has been open for over a year. The Crested Duck Deli and Butcher Shop is an artisan meat market and deli where foodies can appreciate the art and skill of charcuterie. One Saturday afternoon Michelle and I stopped by for lunch and to pick up meats for our upcoming dinners.

The Crested Duck is located on Broadway Ave in Beechview. The location isn’t ideal as Broadway is a busy street with frequent rail travel and limited parking. The store is hidden by the protruding Moose Lodge sign, so it is very easy to overlook. Store hours are Monday through Friday 11:00am to 6:00pm and Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm. The Crested Duck also has a location at the Pittsburgh Public Market and is open Friday through Sunday during market hours.

Upon entering you are welcomed by the aromatic smell of aged meats and cheeses. There is a rustic warmth in the deli with wooden tables and chairs and yellow and green walls. Though the meat hooks near the window are intended to be decorative, they reminded Michelle and me more of a bad slasher movie. On a wall there are shelves filled with a selection of spreads, crackers, and spices and in a nook there are baskets filled with a variety of different grains.

Behind the counter the meat and deli menus are written on large chalkboards. The Crested Duck has a large selection of meats such as elk, quail, beef, and lamb. The website is very helpful and provides detail about the meats, the different cuts, and the various ways it can be prepared. Try the charcuterie plate with a sample of meats and cheeses if you can't make up your mind for what to have.

After a busy morning, we decided to have a late lunch before ordering some meats for our meals. The deli menu is limited but includes signature and more traditional sandwiches. I ordered the caprese sandwich with mozzarella, basil, balsamic, tomato, and duck presciutto. Michelle asked the butcher what he recommended and he suggested the grilled cheese with smoked gouda and applewood bacon which he had also just made for himself. The sandwiches were freshly made and were light and clean yet flavorful. The crusty French baguettes added texture to the sandwiches but were not too hard.

Michelle and I really like the Crested Duck because of the array of foods and services that are available. It is important to know where your meat comes from but it is equally important to know how it is prepared. The Crested Duck offers monthly hands on butchery classes for rabbit, duck, lamb, pork, and chicken. The butcher also has a passion for cooking and hosts a monthly BYOB dinner with seating at 6:30pm and 8:30pm on the second Friday of every month.

Though parking can be troublesome, the location is convenient for us to pick-up meat for dinner or for a weekend lunch. The quality and price of the meats are competitive with other grocery stores in the city which is another incentive for us to shop there. We highly recommend shopping or dining at the Crested Duck to anyone in the South Hills area or is willing to make the trip. 

-Mark