Goldbelly hypes their bacon subscription boxes as being the best in the world. We conducted a Goldbelly taste test to put that claim to the test. After both testing and extensive research on details, we’ve got all you need to learn whether this is the real deal and worth the cost.
What is Goldbelly Bacon?
Goldbelly Bacon is an online shop where you can find gourmet food and packaged gifts from around the United States. Their bacon subscription is probably one of their most popular gift options. You can choose from several varieties, including double-smoked, cured, pepper, maple, and candy smoked bacon.
You can get a monthly subscription to have a package delivered right to your door. These can also be purchased separately if you don’t want to go with the bacon subscription boxes per month.
- Many types of bacon
- Monthly subscription boxes and gift options
- Easy-to-use website
- Monthly deliveries cannot be modified
- Cannot cancel subscription
- Pre-paid subscription fees not refundable
- Have to call to cancel subscription
Goldbelly Food Menu
The shop has an extensive choice of artisan bacon and ham subscription. They offer a variety of bacons from some of the top eateries around the United States. Some of these subscription gift options include:
- Butcher Schaller Double Smoked Bacon
- Snake River Kurobuta Thick Cut
- Peter Luger’s Extra Thick Cut
- Bill E’s Small Batch Bacon
- Rocker Brothers Apple Smoked Bacon
These are a few of the many varieties of bacon subscription they sell on their website. As noted already, you can add each one to your cart individually or place a subscription to your cart.
What’s the Food Quality?
As Goldbelly specializes in upmarket foods, it is to be expected that their meats would also be high-quality. Many of the reviews that we read noted that this was indeed the case. But, to make sure for ourselves, we ordered a batch of the Loveless Cafe Bacon sampler with cajun, applewood, peppered, and maple bacons.
The delivery came in a sturdy box surrounded by ice packs to ensure the order stayed fresh. Each style had a healthy fat ratio, and, after cooking the meats, we found that they were quite tasty. Overall, the shipment turned out good.
Goldbelly Price Range
As Goldbelly works with a large selection of eateries, the subscription price can vary from medium to high. Some of the eateries they work with, such as Peter Luger’s, are known for being high-priced establishments.
On the other hand, they have some companies which provide reasonably priced medium level meats. Everything depends on which place you choose to order from and the amount you decide to order.
Something to note is that it’s possible to find a subscription discount that can make your subscriptions cheaper. The site regularly has special discounts and sale items with a new product being swapped out each month.
Are There Any Complaints?
The majority of complaints found from others had to do with the company's customer service. There were a few failed subscription delivery reports, and some that had noted they had trouble with the site browser and added a product to their cart.
Reviews
After pouring through reviews and information on the company, we think that Goldbelly is a decent place to get bacon subscription from. They have clear ordering instructions and have an array of subscription options for pork and ham lovers.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews were evenly split between positive on the one hand and not too good on the other. Most of the positive reviews were on the food’s nature, with negative comments focused more on the subscription platform.
Related Reviews:
BBB Rating
The company has held full accreditation and links with the Better Business Bureau since 2015. They have an A+ rating with over 100 customer reviews and four out of five stars (1).
The lobster rolls were so fresh, delicious, and sweet this time, I forgot I lived in the desert. I wish we had discovered Goldbelly a long time ago.
- Cathay D., Verified BBB Reviewer (3)
Trustpilot
Goldbelly has a total of 98 reviews on their Trustpilot page. They have an average rating of 2.1 out of five stars, with many reviews commenting on the way customer support works (2).
Goldbelly vs ButcherBox
ButcherBox distinguishes itself with a subscription model that delivers free-range, grass-fed, and humanely-raised meat, emphasizing transparent and ethical sourcing from Australian beef farms and small U.S. farms for pork and chicken.
They offer detailed information about the feed and upbringing of their animals, ensuring hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and synthetic-free meat, with a commitment to environmental and animal welfare standards.
In contrast, Goldbelly operates as a marketplace, partnering with a variety of independent companies, resulting in less transparency about meat sourcing.
Goldbelly's model focuses on a la carte options with limited subscription flexibility, offering a smaller selection of meat boxes without the same level of detail regarding farming practices, and requires customers to commit to multi-month subscriptions upfront.
FAQs
How does Goldbelly work?
Goldbelly works by connecting people to gourmet food and food-related gifts from high-end restaurants. Some of these include Peter Lugers Steakhouse in Brooklyn, H&H Bagel, Phil’s Fish Market in California, and many more. You can order specific dishes from each of these places using the online market.
Where is Goldbelly located?
Goldbelly is located in New York City, New York. They have their main headquarters in the city but offer food from places throughout the country. Their website is broken down into each country’s specific area, including the Midwest, West, Southwest, South, and Northeast US.
What should I order from Goldbelly?
Some of the most popular pork and BBQ subscription options that customers order from Goldbelly every now and then include USDA Prime ribeye steaks from Peter Lugers Steakhouse, BBQ buffalo wings from Bar Bill Tavern, and Shake Shack burgers. Many also like the various dessert packages they serve, such as Nancy’s Fancy Italian Gelato.
Where does Goldbelly ship to?
Goldbelly offers free shipping on most of its subscription items throughout the United States. The company will ship to all fifty states but, at the moment, does not ship to Puerto Rico or other US territories. Some products will require paid shipping for their subscription boxes. All orders are shipped to your home through FedEx, UPS, or USPS.
Is Goldbelly Bacon Worth It?
Goldbelly Bacon offers a good option if you want a regular bacon subscription box with free shipping. However, we prefer ButcherBox as a better alternative for our subscription boxes. They have better deals for your fridge, such as ham, chicken, dry-aged beef, etc. ButcherBox is our go-to source for high-quality meats.
ButcherBox also takes care to only source meat from humanely- raised animals, so it's meat you can feel good about eating. Between their easy home delivery and various subscription boxes, learn more about the ButcherBox review and see why it’s one of our favorites.
#1 Meat Delivery Service
ButcherBox
- Grass-fed and grass-finished beef delivered directly to your door
- Without antibiotics or added hormones
- Customizable boxes available
- Select from up to 21 different cuts
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of December
- No organ meat