Newcomers to Carlsbad are often given directions based on the location of Tip Top Meats, a longtime North County landmark. I know I was! Quietly sailing along, year after year within strolling distance of either Legoland or Costco, Tip Top is a community goldmine: both an authentic European deli offering everything from rouladen mix and German wines, and one of the nation's sole surviving butcher shops, thanks to the many years of experience and the cutting skills of German butcher/owner “Big John” Haedrich.
Haedrich, a native of Bavaria and a mere stripling at 6 feet, 6 inches, credits his success to old-fashioned service and top quality meats at competitive prices.
Tip Top is not only a full service meat market (they make their own sausage fresh and on site) with an experienced staff of butchers, and offer a wide array of hand cut meats including stuffed pork chops, shish-kabobs, filet mignon, beef standing roast, steaks,
but is also the place to be everyday around meal time. Veterans line up alongside a counter inside the store and place their orders for any one of the day's hearty specials, from breakfast to dinner.
Popular lunchtime favorites include the rib-sticking Swiss-style Chicken Cordon Bleu (chicken stuffed with ham and cheese), served with mashed potatoes, gravy, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and a roll; the Holsteiner Schnitzel, pork tenderloin, filled with imported ham, Swiss cheese, saut?ed in butter and topped with white gravy (and a fried egg upon request) served with mashed potatoes and gravy, red cabbage, sauerkraut and a dinner roll. My favorite (the Sausage Plate) consists of your choice of sausages – Bratwurst, Knackwurst or Smoked Polish – served with German potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, mustard and a dinner roll.
Tip Top also offers an on site catering department (they specialize in corporate picnics) and delivery service.
Tip Top Meats
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
6118 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad CA
Call them at (760) 438-2620; or FAX (760) 438-3184.
Haedrich, a native of Bavaria and a mere stripling at 6 feet, 6 inches, credits his success to old-fashioned service and top quality meats at competitive prices.
Tip Top is not only a full service meat market (they make their own sausage fresh and on site) with an experienced staff of butchers, and offer a wide array of hand cut meats including stuffed pork chops, shish-kabobs, filet mignon, beef standing roast, steaks,
but is also the place to be everyday around meal time. Veterans line up alongside a counter inside the store and place their orders for any one of the day's hearty specials, from breakfast to dinner.
Popular lunchtime favorites include the rib-sticking Swiss-style Chicken Cordon Bleu (chicken stuffed with ham and cheese), served with mashed potatoes, gravy, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and a roll; the Holsteiner Schnitzel, pork tenderloin, filled with imported ham, Swiss cheese, saut?ed in butter and topped with white gravy (and a fried egg upon request) served with mashed potatoes and gravy, red cabbage, sauerkraut and a dinner roll. My favorite (the Sausage Plate) consists of your choice of sausages – Bratwurst, Knackwurst or Smoked Polish – served with German potato salad, red cabbage, sauerkraut, mustard and a dinner roll.
Tip Top also offers an on site catering department (they specialize in corporate picnics) and delivery service.
Tip Top Meats
Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
6118 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad CA
Call them at (760) 438-2620; or FAX (760) 438-3184.