Choice City Butcher: The People’s Choice for Ten Years

by MALINI BARTELS
Russ Robinson loves Fort Collins and never wants to leave.
Ten years ago, he saw a need for a unique, local butcher, deli, tap house and restaurant. He opened Choice City Butcher & Deli on Olive and College and hasn’t looked back.
Robinson’s right hand, Anyssa Watkins, agrees that the tremendous success of the business is due to the fact that the customers have evolved the business over time.
“We listen to our customers and they tell us what they want,” Watkins said.
The staff aims to go above and beyond what is expected.
“When Anyssa came on board five years ago, she turned the business around,” Robinson said. “I have the passion for beer and food, and Anyssa has the business savvy needed to run the place.”
The deli will celebrate its 10 Year Anniversary on Feb. 14. There will be various specials on the menu for the celebration and a private party on Feb. 9.
Over the years, Choice City has morphed into a landmark business and destination restaurant for out-of-towners. Locals love the tremendous quantity and unparallel consistency that keeps them coming back for the best local breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dining room has expanded through the years and a south facing patio was added to enjoy the wonderful Colorado weather.
Robinson saw a need for a butcher shop in Fort Collins that really “put the butcher back” into buying quality meats. Wanting to open a place where someone can pick out their dinner from the case and have it cooked up for them, he hired Ben Romero, head butcher, from day one.
“We are lucky to have someone with so much skill handling the meats and maintaining the haunted butcher block and the ghosts that come with it,” Robinson said, mentioning that according to the book Ghosts of Fort Collins, written by Lori Juszak, the deli is located in the haunted part of Fort Collins.
Romero knows his meats, and cuts quality product exactly the way customers want it. The catering part of the business was a natural evolution from the deli, which serves East Coast style sandwiches created with big, fresh, quality ingredients.
The sides you have to choose from are very unique and tasty. Where else can you get lemon-dill coleslaw or a balsamic potato salad made to such perfection? The food is done right. Meats are cut and cooked properly, not a single item is ever frozen, and everything is made from scratch whenever possible.
It’s the place with the best New York style Kosher hot dog; but don’t let that fool you, they even have a wonderful selection of vegetarian and gluten free options to choose from.
For three consecutive years, RateBeer has recognized Choice City Butcher & Deli as one of the best beer restaurants in the world.  RateBeer is an independent world site for craft beer enthusiasts and is widely recognized as the most accurate and most-visited sources for beer information.
Once a month, the restaurant hosts beer dinners where craft beer is paired with house creations. They are proud to be one of the first taprooms and restaurants to host beer dinners in town. With 37 rotating taps of only the best beers, Choice City is craft beer central for this thriving brew town.
Taking breakfast, lunch and dinner to the max with its very unique quality, friendly service and knowledgeable staff, this well-deserved success story continues to feed the soul of The Fort. Every Valentine’s Day, Russ and Anyssa think about their edible act of love; the successful business that serves food and pours beer exactly the way people want it. Even the logo says it all. It’s Horsetooth Rock, indicating that Fort Collins IS the Choice City.