One Italian sub at this roadside butcher shop is reportedly built with about four pounds of meat. Yes, a single sub, and it is clearly meant for sharing with friends.
The meat cases go even further than you would probably expect from a small country store. Alligator and camel sit among the options, and two jerky cases run all the way from camel to mushroom.
I like how this place blends a full butcher counter with a New York-style deli and a packed dessert case. It sits along a quiet rural stretch of Virginia, close to a ferry route that plenty of travelers already use.
With a 4.9-star rating across more than 3,000 Google reviews, it is clearly no fluke. So what keeps people driving out of their way for a giant sandwich and a bag of steaks?
A Former Ham Shop That Grew Into Something Much Bigger
Ham built the reputation here first, and the old name still rides along on the sign. Meats Of Virginia Butcher Shop & DELI goes by the subtitle Formerly Edwards Ham Shop, so longtime area folks know exactly where they are.
Today the shop does a lot more than cure pork. It runs a full butcher counter and a New York-style deli under one roof, which is a fun combo for a small Virginia town.
The business is veteran-owned and locally run, and the team leans into that hometown identity proudly. You get the feel of a country store, just stocked far heavier with meat than most.
Surry sits on the quieter south side of the James River, away from the bigger tourist crowds. That location makes the shop a natural stop for people crossing the river or heading toward nearby campgrounds.
I believe the best part is how the place refuses to pick a single lane. Need steaks for dinner, jerky for the road, and a sub for lunch?
One stop covers the whole list, with dessert sneaking into the bag too.
Steaks, Sausages, and Bacon Worth Planning a Trip Around
Hand-cut USDA Choice steaks anchor the butcher side of the room. Next to them you will find house-made sausages, local Virginia pork, poultry, and fresh seafood.
Then there is the butcher bacon, which the shop itself calls a customer favorite. Some fans make the drive mainly for that bacon, and honestly, that seems like a reasonable life choice.
Grilling folks get special attention here. Steaks, gourmet burgers, and grill sausages are cut daily, so campers staying nearby can grab dinner without settling for plastic-wrapped supermarket packs.
The staff also runs daily meat specials and makes a point of pointing them out. That small habit turns a quick shopping run into a chance to try something new for supper.
Want to stock the freezer? The shop offers custom meat boxes where you pick the meats yourself, which can save a good chunk compared to buying everything separately.
That’s a smart move for families who grill often or simply love a well-stocked freezer full of good options.
Alligator, Camel, and Other Meats You Didn’t Know You Could Buy
Camel is on the menu. So is alligator, and that is just where the adventurous side of the freezer case begins.
Meats Of Virginia Butcher Shop & DELI stocks a wide range of exotic meats alongside its everyday cuts. Plenty of shoppers leave surprised by options they never realized people could cook at home.
The jerky selection deserves its own spotlight. Two full cases hold jerky ranging from camel all the way to mushroom, which covers both the bold eaters and the plant-curious crowd.
I can’t imagine a better road trip snack stop in this corner of Virginia. Grab a few bags, toss them in the car, and suddenly the drive home gets a lot more interesting.
This section of the shop works especially well for gift hunting, too. A pack of alligator or a bag of camel jerky makes a much better story than another coffee mug.
Curious cooks can ask the staff for guidance, and the team comes across as knowledgeable about what they sell.
Subs So Big They Should Come With a Seating Chart
Four pounds of ham on one Italian sub sounds like a dare. At this deli, it is simply how the sandwich gets built.
The New York-style counter turns out Reubens, turkey Reubens, hot pastrami, Philly steak options, and that famous Italian. Sandwiches and subs rank as the most talked-about items connected to the shop.
Local flavor shows up too, with a Virginia pulled pork barbecue sandwich dressed in a vinegar-based sauce. House-made coleslaw and macaroni make solid partners for it.
Combo meals add a drink, chips, and either a side or a dessert. Many people end up carrying half their sandwich home, so a combo can easily stretch into tomorrow’s lunch.
Lettuce wraps are available for anyone skipping bread. Just know they arrive as a generous mound of meat with lettuce around it, not a tidy little roll.
Splitting one sub between two people is a common strategy, and it leaves room for the dessert case waiting nearby.
The Dessert Case Quietly Steals the Show
Sweet tooth, meet your match. A fully stocked dessert case sits right inside a shop that most people visit for steaks.
The lineup has included a large Butterfinger cannoli, triple layer chocolate fudge cake, red velvet cake, and fresh carrot cake. Big slices are the norm, which fits the shop’s whole generous attitude.
Dessert counts as one of the combo choices, so many lunches end with cake instead of a side. Smart trade, if you ask me.
The temptation gets real even for people who swear they never buy treats. Leaving with three desserts after planning on zero apparently happens here, and I completely understand how.
Pairing a vinegar-tangy pulled pork sandwich with carrot cake sounds like a pretty perfect afternoon. A Reuben followed by chocolate fudge cake works nicely too, if you have the stamina.
Either way, save a little room, because skipping the case entirely feels like missing half the point of stopping in at all.
Jams, Honey, Peanuts, and Other Shelf Treasures
Browsing is half the fun at a good country store. Meats Of Virginia Butcher Shop & DELI fills its shelves with homemade sauces, jams, honey, peanuts, and pastries.
Peanuts make particular sense in this part of Virginia, a region long tied to the crop. A bag of them feels like a natural souvenir from a trip across the James.
The shop describes these as unique grocery items you won’t find at a typical market. Waiting on a sandwich gives you the perfect excuse to wander the aisles and poke around.
I like how these shelves turn a quick lunch stop into a small shopping trip. A jar of jam or a bottle of sauce stretches the visit into breakfast or dinner later in the week.
The whole space has that cozy, chock-full country store energy. It is the kind of place where you might walk in for jerky and leave holding honey, peanuts, and a pastry you never planned to buy at all.
Getting There, Plus Hours That Make Planning Easy
Good news for anyone who hates checking schedules: the hours stay the same all week. The shop opens every day from 10 AM to 7 PM, weekends included.
You will find it at 11381 Rolfe Hwy, Surry, VA 23883. That puts it on the main road through Surry, an easy pull-off for people heading to or from the river.
Many visitors pair the trip with Jamestown Settlement and a ride on the Jamestown ferry across the James River. Ending that kind of history-filled day with a massive sub sounds hard to beat.
Campers staying in the area use it as a grocery run for grill night. Steaks, burgers, and sausages travel well in a cooler, so plan accordingly.
Prices on the deli side might look a bit high at first glance at the board. Then the sandwich arrives, and the sheer size usually settles that question fast.
Bringing a friend to split things with is a great way to stretch every bite further.
Why a Supermarket Meat Aisle Feels Sad After This
A 4.9-star rating across more than 3,000 reviews is no small feat for a rural butcher shop. That kind of steady praise rarely happens by accident.
Friendly service comes up again and again, from staff who greet newcomers to the team pointing out specials. It’s a family-feeling stop, the kind you remember on the drive home.
Meats Of Virginia Butcher Shop & DELI works for a lot of different people. Road trippers, campers, grill fans, adventurous eaters, and dessert lovers all get something worth the stop.
I believe the real magic lies in the mix. Hand-cut steaks, camel jerky, an overstuffed Reuben, and carrot cake rarely share one address, yet here they do.
If you find yourself anywhere near Surry, the detour seems more than fair. Bring a cooler, bring a friend, and maybe skip breakfast that morning.
Just don’t be shocked if the grocery store meat case looks a little less exciting once you get back home again.
