If you love a good steak, juicy burgers, flavorful chicken, and meats that are already seasoned and ready for the grill, The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery is definitely a name worth knowing. Located at 58 Route 27 in Raymond, New Hampshire, The Tuckaway combines a restaurant, specialty butcher shop, and food market all in one destination.
The Butchery opened in 2012 as a specialty meat market, concentrating on quality beef and homemade marinades. A few months later, The Tavern opened next door, giving customers the opportunity to enjoy many of the same butcher-shop products prepared by the kitchen.
Chef Bobby "The Butcher" Marcotte is at the center of the concept. His approach is to start with fresh, quality ingredients and put a creative spin on familiar comfort foods. The result is a menu and butcher counter filled with steaks, burgers, marinated meats, sausages, chicken, pork, and plenty of other specialty foods.
One of the things that makes Tuckaway particularly interesting for home cooks is that you don't have to visit the restaurant to enjoy the meats. Their online shop currently features items such as marinated steak tips, chicken wings, Tavern Burgers, ground Angus beef, pork products, sausages, steaks, and assorted butcher boxes.
A Little About the Tuckaway Marinades
One of Tuckaway's biggest attractions is its marinated meats. Their house marinade is described as an elevated, mild Italian-style blend featuring lemon oil, garlic, onion, paprika, and other seasonings. Their Fat Boy marinade takes things in a sweeter direction with molasses, brown sugar, corn syrup, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, and a hint of soy.
The steak tips have become one of the company's signature products. Tuckaway has offered several varieties, including House, Teriyaki, Maple Bourbon, Fat Boy, and other specialty marinades.
And that variety is what makes the butcher counter so much fun—you can prepare essentially the same cut of meat in completely different ways simply by choosing another marinade.
The Meats I Tried
Now let's get to the fun part—the meats!
The following selection gives you a nice tour through several different flavors, from sweet and savory steak tips to seasoned wings and hearty burgers.
Island Teriyaki Steak Tips
The Island Teriyaki Steak Tips are the kind of meat that can turn an ordinary backyard barbecue into something special.
The flavor profile is sweet, savory, and distinctly teriyaki-inspired. You get that combination of rich beef flavor with a sweet, slightly salty glaze-like seasoning. Teriyaki is particularly good with beef because the sweetness balances the savory richness of the steak.
The texture is one of the biggest attractions with steak tips. When cooked properly over high heat, the outside develops a beautifully browned exterior while the inside stays tender and juicy. Tuckaway's teriyaki steak tips have also received positive comments from customers who describe them as flavorful and tender.
What I'd Pair With Them
For sides, I would go with
- Hawaiian-style rice
- Grilled pineapple
- Teriyaki vegetables
- Sesame green beans
- Asian-inspired coleslaw
- Fried rice
- Grilled zucchini
- Sweet potato fries
My favorite combination: island teriyaki steak tips + pineapple fried rice + grilled pineapple.
The sweetness of the pineapple works beautifully with the savory teriyaki beef.
Chinese Pork
The Chinese pork is a completely different direction from the steak tips and is a great choice when you're looking for something with Asian-inspired flavor.
This is a boneless pork option, and Chinese-style seasoning gives the pork a savory, slightly sweet character that works especially well with rice and vegetables. Tuckaway's butcher offerings have included boneless Chinese pork, and customers have specifically mentioned purchasing it as one of their take-home meats.
The pork has a hearty but tender texture when cooked correctly. Pork can become dry if overcooked, so I recommend keeping an eye on the internal temperature and allowing the meat to rest before slicing.
What I'd Pair With It
Try serving Chinese pork with:
- Vegetable fried rice
- Steamed jasmine rice
- Stir-fried vegetables
- Sesame broccoli
- Asian cucumber salad
- Egg rolls
- Fried rice
- Lo mein noodles
For a complete dinner, I'd choose Chinese pork + vegetable fried rice + steamed broccoli.
And because the pork already has plenty of flavor, the sides don't need to be complicated.
House Steak Tips
If there is one meat that really represents what Tuckaway is known for, it's the house steak tips.
Tuckaway's own materials describe its marinated steak tips as award-winning, and the house marinade is one of the company's most popular.
The house marinade is savory rather than overly sweet. Garlic, onion, paprika, lemon oil, and other seasonings give the beef a bold flavor without completely covering up the taste of the meat.
The texture is exactly what you want from a good steak tip—meaty, juicy, and tender when cooked properly.
In fact, customer reviews have specifically praised the House Tips for being extremely tender, with one reviewer describing them as "melt in your mouth" tender.
What I'd Pair With Them
This is where you can go classic:
- Creamy macaroni and cheese
- Baked beans
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- French fries
- Coleslaw
- Grilled corn
- Roasted vegetables
- Onion rings
Tuckaway's own menu has featured steak tips alongside hearty sides such as mac and cheese, baked beans, fries, coleslaw, and potatoes.
My pick: house steak tips + creamy mac and cheese + baked beans.
That's a serious comfort-food dinner!
House Chicken Wings
The House Chicken Wings are perfect for game day, family gatherings, cookouts, or simply a casual dinner.
Tuckaway offers marinated wings in several varieties, including House, Buffalo, Cajun, BBQ, and Jerk.
The House version is the one I'd reach for when I want the chicken itself to be the star. The seasoning gives the wings savory flavor without the heat of a Buffalo or Cajun preparation.
The texture you want here is juicy chicken with nicely browned, slightly crisp edges.
What I'd Pair With Them
House wings are incredibly versatile. Try:
- French fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Mac and cheese
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- Corn on the cob
- Celery and carrots
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
For a party platter, I'd serve them with crispy fries, creamy coleslaw, celery sticks, and ranch dressing.
Cajun Wings
If you like a little heat, Cajun wings are the way to go.
Cajun seasoning brings a completely different personality to chicken. Instead of the sweeter flavors found in teriyaki, Cajun seasoning brings savory spices, peppery heat, garlic, herbs, and a wonderful smoky-spiced character.
The flavor is bold enough that these wings don't need much else.
The texture should be juicy inside with browned, crispy edges on the outside. That contrast between tender chicken and a flavorful crust is what makes a good wing so addictive.
What I'd Pair With Them
Because Cajun seasoning has some heat, I love pairing it with cooling sides:
- Creamy coleslaw
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
- Mac and cheese
- Cornbread
- Potato salad
- French fries
- Cajun-seasoned fries
Best combination: Cajun Wings + creamy coleslaw + cornbread.
The sweetness and creaminess of the coleslaw help balance the spice.
Tavern Burgers
Then we have the Tavern Burgers, which are exactly what you want when you're craving a classic, substantial burger.
The Tuckaway shop currently offers its OG Tavern Burgers, while the restaurant has long featured its fresh-ground burgers as one of its signature offerings.
The restaurant's burger menu has included the Tuckaway Tavern Burger with a choice of American, cheddar, or blue cheese, along with several more over-the-top burger creations.
What I like about a butcher-shop burger is that it doesn't need to be complicated. A good burger should have a rich beefy flavor, a juicy center, and enough texture to stand up to a toasted bun and toppings.
My Favorite Toppings
I'd keep the classic Tavern Burger simple:
Cheddar + crispy bacon + caramelized onions + lettuce + tomato + pickles.
Then add a little burger sauce.
And don't forget the fries!
🍔 Recipe: Loaded Tuckaway-Style Tavern Burgers
This recipe is inspired by the hearty, butcher-shop style of The Tuckaway Tavern—not a recipe supplied by the company.
Ingredients
For the burgers:
- 4 Tuckaway Tavern Burgers
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Lettuce
- Tomato slices
- Dill pickle slices
- Salt and pepper
Quick Burger Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped pickles
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Directions
- Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels.
- Melt butter in a skillet and add the sliced onions.
- Cook over medium-low heat for about 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized.
- While the onions cook, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickles, pickle juice, and garlic powder.
- Heat a grill or skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the burgers until they reach your preferred doneness and a safe internal temperature for ground beef.
- During the final minute of cooking, place cheddar cheese on top and allow it to melt.
- Toast the hamburger buns.
- Spread burger sauce on the buns.
- Add lettuce, the burger, bacon, caramelized onions, tomato, and pickles.
- Place the top bun on and serve immediately.
The Perfect Sides
Serve these burgers with:
Crispy French fries + creamy coleslaw + a cold glass of lemonade.
You could also turn this into an incredible burger bar and let everyone choose their own toppings.
🥢 Recipe: Sweet & Savory Chinese Pork Rice Bowls
This recipe is designed around the flavor profile of Tuckaway's Chinese Pork and is perfect for turning the meat into a complete family dinner.
Ingredients
- 1½–2 lbs Tuckaway Chinese Pork
- 2 cups cooked jasmine rice
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 carrot, julienned
- ½ cup snap peas
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Simple Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon water
Directions
- Prepare the Chinese pork according to the package directions, cooking it thoroughly.
- Allow the pork to rest for several minutes before slicing.
- While the pork is cooking, prepare the jasmine rice.
- Steam or stir-fry the broccoli, peppers, carrots, and snap peas until tender-crisp.
- Combine the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and water in a small saucepan.
- Warm over low heat for several minutes.
- Slice the pork into thin strips.
- Place rice into four bowls.
- Add the vegetables.
- Arrange the sliced Chinese pork over the rice.
- Drizzle lightly with the sauce.
- Sprinkle with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
A Little Extra
For a spicy version, add a teaspoon of Sriracha or chili-garlic sauce to the sauce.
For a sweeter version, add another teaspoon of honey.
Why I Love the Tuckaway Butchery Concept
What makes The Tuckaway different isn't simply that they sell meat. It's the combination of a butcher shop and a restaurant.
The butchery allows customers to take home many of the same types of specialty meats that make the tavern popular. The restaurant, meanwhile, demonstrates what those products can become when prepared by a professional kitchen. The company describes the Tavern as a place where its butchery products can be showcased.
That makes the Tuckaway especially appealing to people who love cooking at home.
You can pick up marinated steak tips for the grill, burgers for a weekend cookout, wings for game day, or specialty pork and chicken products when you're looking for something different from the usual grocery-store selection.
Their current online shop also offers butcher boxes, steak-tip packages, burger packs, wings, steaks, ground beef, chicken, and other specialty products, making it possible to bring the Tuckaway experience home.
Final Thoughts
The Tuckaway Tavern & Butchery is a fun destination for anyone who appreciates quality meats, bold marinades, big burgers, and hearty comfort food.
The Island Teriyaki Steak Tips bring a sweet and savory flavor that's fantastic with rice and grilled pineapple. The Chinese pork makes a wonderful Asian-inspired dinner with vegetables and fried rice. The House Steak Tips are perfect for a classic steak-and-sides meal, while the House Chicken Wings offer a savory option for families and gatherings. If you're looking for more spice, the Cajun Wings bring the heat. And for burger night, the Tavern Burgers give you that satisfying, juicy butcher-shop burger experience.
What really stands out is the variety. Instead of buying plain meat and figuring out what to do with it, Tuckaway gives home cooks a head start with its specialty cuts and marinades.
For a meat lover, that's a pretty good thing to have in the freezer!
















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