Reader: Satchel's may be a neighborhood joint, but for what neighborhood?

By Patricia Calhoun Fri., Apr. 6 2012 at 6:55 AM

Andrew Casalini at Satchel's on 6th.

Andrew Casalini and his wife, Jen Dactano, opened Satchel's on 6th just over a year ago, but the restaurant at 1710 East Sixth Avenue -- a replacement for Satchel's Market, the Park Hill market-turned-restaurant they closed in the fall of 2010 -- is on its third chef. Jared Brant was the opening chef at Satchel's on 6th, but he was quickly replaced by Kurt Boucher, an Iron Chef challenger who was in the kitchen when Laura Shunk reviewed Satchel's on 6th last fall. And at the end of February, Casalini brought in a third exec to run the line: Matt Marcheselli. Says Cap Hill Cowboy:

For a neighborhood joint, even on the fringe of Cherry Creek, the food was too pricey. We went there and dropped over $100 for the two of us and the food was pretty run-of-the-mill. Why can't anyone put a "neighborhood" spot in that serves great food and has a wonderful atmosphere that won't leave you with ticket shock. Oh wait, they did. They called it Steuben's and it's packed.

What are the best neighborhood spots in town? Post your favorites in the comments section below. Follow @CafeWestword on Twitter and at facebook.com/denvercafesociety

Location Info

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Steuben's Food Service

523 E. 17th Ave., Denver, CO

Category: Restaurant

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Satchel's on 6th

1710 E. 6th Ave., Denver, CO

Category: Restaurant

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Satchel's on 6th, Steuben's

We Recommend

Number Three

Not sure if you all have heard of this little neighborhood gem called Taco Bell? Their happy hour comes after you eat there and your body rejects 10 lbs of food.

XO, #3

WillScott

It is amusing to read how many comments on the recent article were about the owner owing employees and purveyors all over town. Maybe that's why he is trying to charge so much for the food.

Jeff

Yeah, I don't mind spending $125-$150 on dinner for two once or twice per month at Fruition or Bittersweet. Those are "neighborhood" restaurants that earn their pricetags. Restaurants like that are rare though, and those two have amazing talent in the kitchen. I hope that will turn out to be the case for Satchel's.

I think that places looking to become a regular neighborhood joint should follow the lead of places like Encore, Jonesy's, Charcoal, and Lou's Food Bar. The food is consistently good, but the atmosphere is relaxed. There are menu items at all sorts of price points. At any of those places, you could spend $50 bucks on two good simple dinners and a couple of iced teas or two or three times as much and have great three course meals paired with good wines. I can go to the bar at Encore and have some jalapeno poppers and a moscow mule after an afternoon movie, or I can take a date their for a great dinner. That's a solid neighborhood restaurant to me.

Jeff

Add Deluxe to my list of good mid-range neighborhood restaurants.

Uncledave8

This place is priced like Fruition and just isn't.

Andrew Casalini

Satchel's is located in a great neighborhood. What makes a restaurant a neighborhood spot? It's location, price point, value, vibe? They did just start a happy hour? What are you looking for?

MClerkman

The prices have gone up every month since they first opened! They clearly don't have a clue to what type of restaurant they want to be just like the 5280 review said! seems like a mix between ignorance and greed from the owners?

Cap Hill Cowboy

I know it's in a great neighborhood. That's why I live in it.

A neighborhood spot. It's a good question, and I think all of your requirements are valid.

I loved everything about your restaurant except for how expensive it was for the quality of food. Three scallops that were bland and boring but still cost $20-something. Maybe that will change with a new chef who is focused on food and not trying to be on television.

What we're looking for is a restaurant in this city that you can swing by on a Wednesday night at not just plunk down a hundred bucks on so-so food. A place where the average wine by the glass price isn't $10-$12 dollars and plates don't always run over $20+. (Only the butternut squash risotto on your current online menu is under $20...it's $19). Happy Hour makes me feel dirty and I don't always want to rush out right after work to take advantage of limited wines and limited menus.

Restaurants in Denver are just getting too expensive. Period. Not everything has to be farm-to-table nuevo American pureed parsnip Food Network fare (can I get an amen!). Sometimes a guy and a gal just want to go out and not feel taken, relax after the workday, chat about life and feel like they get to enjoy the city.

steveville

Amen!

Andrew Casalini

Yes, I get it! Value and price are important. The current menu at Satchel's does address those things. As for a good glass of wine, value can not be only based on the $.

Readers? What are some other great neighborhood spots?

SAzcuy

I've lived on the Hill for 13 years and I'll say that we are blessed with a wonderful variety of neighborhood spots. I don't think that there is one answer to the question "what makes a neighborhood restaurant". For my wife and I, the range of choices at different price points keeps it interesting. On the high end, we can't get enough of Potager and Table 6 (sorry, haven't made it to Satchel's yet). When we are tightening the purse strings but want homey fare, nothing beats Benny's, Steuben's, or even Charlie Brown's. Lately, Bones has been our go-to place for well priced, creative Asian dishes. What these restaurnats have in common (for us) is their welcoming food, atmosphere, and service. Again, I would say that the beauty of Capitol Hill is the variety of people and the variety of restaurants that make us feel well taken care of.

Bsizzle

Completely agree w/ CapHill Cowboy. I live on 6th, not far from this place at all, & would never consider eating there due to the value for the price paid. Cut the price in half and we'll talk.