Joseph Livoti Pork Store

Note: I am not a sausage lover per se or a connoisseur and have to admit that I cannot tell the sausage here from a higher or even mid-​end mass produced product. This place is notable for its independence and ambiance and it is surely fresh, but I don’t consider it worth traveling to for an exceptional product.
Came here today looking for andoiulle sausage for gumbo. Joey instantly brightened and raved about how good the stuff is, but admitted he had none and nothing even like it for a substitute. A shame, but I’d already made up my mind that I was going to give this enticing no frills meat shop a try – I can only walk so many times by a shack-​like storefront adorned only by PORK STORE without trying it out.
The local charm is great here. Joey’s been an independent butcher for 40 years, owning his own shop in Manhattan before «retiring» to this one. Frankie, who stood in the doorway and shot the breeze with me, his father started the place. Both were friendly, took their time with me, and told me, a complete non-​expert about the meats. And I appreciated that Joey was honest in saying he had no meat to approach what I needed for my gumbo, but did suggest where else I could get it.
They had about three kinds of the dried but uncured Italian sausages, sweet, hot, and with cheese. They also had perhaps five cured meats, including prosciutto and hot and sweet sopressatas. These all looked to be top quality. I took home a pound of the hot sausage, which cooked up perfect – juicy and richly flavorful. Not really very hot, but that’s not what Italian sausage is about.
This place has no frills, just promising product, and a lovely décor of handmade meats hanging out to dry.

A throwback to the way things used to be, Joe’s Pork Store is reminiscent of cobblestone streets and The Godfather pt I. The always congenial Paulie runs the house and makes near divine sausage (hot, sweet, dried, cheese, etc) by hand.
Joe’s has been passed down through the family and has survived on the ever-​changing Ditmars Blvd. Die-​hards who have moved travel long distances to get amazing sausages and dried meats made the old fashioned way. You just can’t find it like this anywhere else.
Certainly worth a visit — you may become one of the regulars.

While the awning clearly states ‘Joe’s’ Pork Store the true heart and soul, the guy who can almost ALWAYS be found behind the counter, of this operation is Paulie. Paulie is nothing short of awesome. He always welcomes customers with a smile and a tip of his hat.
This place is a genuine mom and pop shop and has quite a history. If you have a few minutes to hang out you will certainly hear some great stories.
If you know anything about sausage, and believe me I do, it’s terribly hard to argue that this place has THE best homemade sausage, well, ever. Try the cheese sausage if you are looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
Here’s a short list of the tasty findings at Joe’s:
Sweet, Hot and Cheese Sausage Links
Dried Meats including Sopressata
Fresh Mozzerella
Cold Cuts
Occasional cheeses (for cold cuts and otherwise)
Occasional Rack of Ribs and other fresh cuts of meat
All that needs to be said is if you are looking for sausage this is undoubtedly THE place to go.