As a longtime meat lover with over a decade of experience testing products and interviewing industry leaders, I‘ve ordering from my fair share of butcher shops and meat delivery services. Most have failed to impress. But Porter Road‘s standout commitment to quality, transparency, and culinary craft has made them my go-to online source for phenomenal beef, pork, chicken and more.
An Introduction to Porter Road
Before we dive mouth-first into the literal meat and potatoes, let me give you the lay of the land. Porter Road was started in 2010 by two Nashville chefs on a mission to deliver exceptionally flavorful, humanely-raised meat from small, family-owned farms direct to consumers‘ doors.
After struggling with lackluster quality from large industrial meatpackers, they decided to curate their own supply chain centered around animal welfare, sustainability, and delicousness.
Today, Porter Road partners with farmers within 300 miles of their Nashville headquarters to source everything from pasture-raised Black Angus cattle to heritage breed pigs and free-range chicken. Their in-house butchers then age, trim, cut, cure and package all orders by hand.
I first discovered Porter Road while searching for ethically sourced, grocery store-quality meat subscriptions online. I took a chance on their starter box in 2017 and have been hooked ever since.
Here‘s a preview of what makes them stand out:
- Traceability – Farms within 300 miles provide supply chain transparency
- Animal Welfare – Cattle are 100% grass-fed and finished on pasture, pigs and poultry forage or free range
- Sustainability – Rotational grazing methods regenerate soils and sequester carbon
- No Antibiotics or Hormones – Animals are kept healthy through natural, stress-free living
- Dry Aging – Beef ages 14+ days to enhance flavor and tenderness
- Hand-Cutting – In-house butchers fabricate whole carcasses into retail cuts
- Operating Transparency – Customers can take virtual farm tours and watch butchers working through meat cams
Next, let‘s dive into my experiences and impressions of Porter Road‘s most popular products. I‘ll compare prices along the way too.
Standout Porter Road Meats I‘ve Enjoyed
I‘ve ordered nearly everything Porter Road sells at least once, but these 12 products earn regular reorders in my household.
1. Beef Strip Loin Roast
Hands down one of the most foolproof roast options with the velvety texture of a ribeye steak. Super quick cooking too – just 90 minutes at 500 degrees. The flavor hits perfect notes of beefy, savory and subtly sweet from lush marbling. $16.99 per pound (Compared to $14.99 per pound for choice grade roasts at my local Kroger).
2. Beef Short Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone tender with a powerful punch of meaty richness. These English cut short ribs become sweet and sticky when braised low and slow. Crazy delicious and so affordable too. $8.99 per pound (Vs. $12.99 per pound for Prime grade short ribs from Fresh Market).
3. Boneless Pork Chops
Brine-cured for ideal juiciness and seasoned with just a touch of cherry wood smoke, these hearty 1-inch chops cook lightning fast but deliver a symphony of pork flavors. Easy to dress up with a quick pan sauce too. $11.99 per pound (Compared to $7.99 per pound for enhanced pork chops at Ingles).
4. Thick Cut Pepper Bacon
Smoky and salty with a subtle sweetness and lingering heat, this bacon stands out from the first sizzle in the skillet. The rich bouquet of black, white and pink peppercorns balances beautifully with the pork. No flimsy fatty bits either. $13.99 per pound (Vs. $7.99 per pound for mass market pepper bacon at Harris Teeter).
5. Chicken Leg Quarters
With the skin still on and bone still in, these free-range chicken leg quarters pack a one-two punch of flavor and moisture. The meat pulls clean off the bone after roasting or braising. Big, meaty pieces with lots of cut options for chicken salads, soups, tacos and more. $4.99 per pound (Compared to $2.49 per pound for frozen leg quarters at Publix).
6. Ground Beef
Far exceeding the bland frozen stuff, this 20% fat ground beef blend makes outrageously delicious burgers and meatloaf. Charred crispy on the outside while remaining tender and juicy inside, the flavor really sings. $9.99 per pound Pre-Formed patties cost the same everywhere else but I prefer grilling my own smashed style.
7. Stuffed Pork Chops
Take thick-cut, brined and applewood smoked pork rib chops then stuff them with savory sausage and cornmeal dressing studded with veggies. Yeah, they‘re as delicious as they sound! Like getting Thanksgiving and pork chop night all in one bite. $17.99 per pound (2 10 oz stuffed chops per pack).
8. Beef Brisket
Smoked low and slow over hickory wood, their Certified Angus brisket delivers on the holy trinity of barbecue: smoke, spice and fall-apart meaty perfection. One taste transports me straight to central Texas. Fully cooked too – just reheat and devour! $17.99 per pound (Vs. $14.99 per pound for Prime uncooked brisket flat from The Fresh Market).
9. Uncured Bacon Burgers
I‘ll be honest – I didn‘t know you could make burgers out of bacon. But the flavor profile makes perfect sense. These half-pound patties render out deliciously smoky, pork-scented bacon fat while cooking. They seriously rival Prime beef. $11.99 for four patties (Compared to $6.99 per pound for 85% lean ground beef).
10. Bourbon Brats
Plump and generously stuffed with pork, spices and hints of maple syrup, I swear you can taste the bourbon in every juice-squirting bite of these beauties. Char them over hot coals at your next cookout and wait for the happy dances. $12.99 per pound (Vs. $6.99 per pound for basic pork and beef brats at Ingles).
11. Whole Chicken
If you‘re only buying chicken breasts and tenders, you‘re missing out on amazing flavors throughout the bird. Porter Road‘s pasture-raised 3.5 pounders offer superior quality from the crispy skin right down to the oozy bone marrow. Whole birds roasting make hearty Sunday suppers. $4.99 per pound (Compared to $3.49 per pound for enhanced chicken at Kroger).
12. Tomahawk Steaks
Bring these 30+ day dry aged beauties studded with exceptionally marbled prime ribeye caps to your next special occasion and instantly become the guest of honor. Impressively juicy, decadently buttery and intensely beefy. Worth every penny for life‘s celebrations! $36.99 per pound (Vs. $24.99 per pound for Choice Tomahawk steaks at The Fresh Market).
Beyond these favorites, I regularly order an assortment of Porter Road‘s ever-changing monthly special cuts along with their discounted value and bundle boxes. Everything always exceeds expectations.
Next let‘s see why Porter Road earns such overwhelmingly positive feedback across the boards.
Rave Reviews From Fellow Fans
Porter Road‘s nearly 50,000 Instagram followers definitely aren‘t shy about singing their praises, to say the least! Here‘s a small sample that echoes my experiences:
"Best beef I‘ve ever made at home – this strip loin roast melted in our mouths!" – @Chris S
"You had me at beef bacon! I‘m never going back to pork after tasting the incredibly bold flavors." – @AliciaK
"These boneless pork chops are so juicy I wanted to drink the pan sauce. Worth it for humanely raised meat." – @DanielT
"I can‘t believe how much flavor comes from the bone-in chicken. Family favorite meal now!" – @SamW
Out of 300+ Facebook and Yelp reviews alike, Porter Road earns stellar 4.8 out 5 star overall ratings. The most common compliments highlight their exceptionally fresh meats, standout flavors across cuts, and excellent customer service.
In particular, fans rave about receiving answering from helpful, knowledgeable butchers within minutes on weekends, evenings and holidays too. Porter Road‘s people really stand behind their products.
Beyond deliciousness and service, reviews also spotlight:
- Packaging – Durable chilled boxes with plenty of insulation and ice packs
- Sourcing – Support for smaller family farms and focus on regenerative methods
- Website Experience – Easy ordering, discounts and flexible subscription options
- Recipe Inspiration – Weekly emails with cooking tips and drool-worthy dish ideas
Considering how meticulously they control quality from farm to doorstep, their glowing reviews don‘t surprise me one bit.
How Does Affordability Stack Up?
Given Porter Road‘s strict protocols for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, whole carcass butchery and dry aging procedures, their pricing understandably exceeds budget conventional supermarket meat. However, they remain very reasonably priced compared to boutique butcher shops and high-end steakhouses sourcing Prime beef and heritage pork.
Here‘s a breakdown of what to expect:
| Cut | Avg Price Per Pound | Vs Grocery Per Pound | Vs Butcher Shop Per Pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $9.99 | 1.5-2X More | 1.4X Less |
| Bacon | $12.99-$15.99 | 1.5-2X More | Same |
| Pork Chops | $11.99 | 1.5-1.7X More | 1.4X Less |
| Chicken Breasts | $18.99 | 2-3X More | 1.2X Less |
| Steak | $17.99-$36.99 | 1.5-2X More | 1.8X Less |
As you can see, the premium over regular supermarkets makes sense when factoring Porter Road‘s uncompromising standards. And compared to artisanal butcher shops, their costs stay impressively affordable thanks to direct-to-consumer operations.
For quality meat lovers, I firmly believe Porter Road offers reasonable value, especially for special occasions. But if you‘re on a tight budget, take advantage of their promotions, rewards program and bundle boxes to keep costs down. Speaking of savings…
5 Insider Tips to Save on Porter Road
As a long time customer, I‘ve picked up a few tricks for getting high-end meat without blowing the budget. Check out these money-saving hacks:
1. First Order Discount – Use code FIRSTBOX to take 10% off orders over $125
2. Rewards Points – Earn $5 vouchers for every 100 rewards points from reviews, referrals and purchases
3. Subscription Boxes – Scoring 8-10 pounds of mixed meat for around $120-140 saves roughly 5%
4. Share on Social – Posting pics and reviews snags referral points towards free rewards
5. Wait for Promos – Time bonus box offers around the holidays and change of seasons
And those are just a few insider tips! Now let‘s answer some frequently asked questions about this fantastic online butcher.
Answers to 12 Common Porter Road FAQs
Between glowing reviews and tasty unboxings, questions about processes, sourcing, cooking and more still come up often among fans. Here‘s my take on the 12 inquiries I encounter most:
Who owns Porter Road and how did they get started?
Childhood friends James Peisker and Chris Carter founded Porter Road in 2010 after tiring of subpar meat quality for their catering business.
Where are the animals and farms located?
100% of Porter Road‘s pork, beef chicken and lamb come from family farms in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Tennessee located within 300 miles of their Nashville headquarters.
Does Porter Road ship outside the continental US?
Unfortunately no. To ensure freshness and food safety they only ship to the lower 48 states.
Does Porter Road offer single vs subscription ordering?
Yes and yes. All products are available individually or via custom auto-delivery subscriptions.
How long does meat last and how should I store it?
Kept continuously at 0°F or below, most cuts last 4-6 months. Thaw in fridge 24 hours before cooking.
Can I customize my subscription box?
Absolutely! Choose from proteins, cuts, box sizes, weights and delivery frequencies to fit your household.
What is your shipping cost and delivery method?
Free 2-day UPS Ground shipping over $125. Under costs $12-18 based on order total. Chilled, insulated boxes with ice packs.
How do I know my meat won‘t spoil in transit?
Multiple cold chain validations ensure meat stays below 40°F for days. GPS trackers and temp monitors prevent issues.
What is your cancellation and return policy?
Cancel subscriptions anytime. Customized individual boxes can‘t be returned or refunded as a food safety policy.
Do you sell bones for broths, organ meats or tallow?
Yes! Shop specialty items like bones, heart, liver, kidneys, lard and tallow under Butcher‘s Cuts.
What are Porter Road‘s animal welfare standards?
Cattle are grass-fed and grass-finished. Pigs and poultry forage and free range. All animals stay hormone and antibiotic-free.
Who do I contact about questions, assistance or issues?
Chat live weekdays 10 am – 7 pm CT, email [email protected], DM @porter.road on social or call 615-829-3333. The incredible customer service team has your back.
So there you have it – the meat and potatoes on the phenomenal meat delivery and butcher shop Porter Road has built. Hopefully this little guide gives you plenty to chew on while considering whether their boxes might suit your household! If you‘re still craving more, go check out their Instagram for drool-worthy cooking videos, behind the scenes footage and more.
Happy meat adventures friends! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Mike
