My fiancée and I came to Bastien's for our anniversary. We have a tradition of going out for steak every year, but this time we were looking for something a little more casual than your typical upscale steakhouse. Bastien's ended up being exactly what we were looking for.
The atmosphere is very old-school and welcoming. We weren't very sure how dressed up we needed to be, so I went with a casual button down and she wore a long skirt which made us over dressed compared to most in the restaurant. We saw everything from button-down shirts to T-shirts, shorts, hats, and flip-flops, so you can feel comfortable showing up however you want. We were seated upstairs, which ended up being a really cool space. With the string lights overhead and the circular room overlooking the dining room below.
We started with a bottle of Oregon Cabernet Sauvignon, which was surprisingly reasonably priced for a steakhouse. It paired perfectly with our meal and was a great way to kick off the evening.
For an appetizer, we ordered the roasted Brussels sprouts. They were prepared with an elote-inspired twist, featuring corn, onion, cotija cheese, and lime crema. I normally love Brussels sprouts, but this was probably the only miss of the evening for me. They weren't bad, just not something I'd order again.
Every table also gets complimentary bread and butter. Nothing fancy, but it's always a welcome steakhouse tradition while you're waiting for your meal.
For our entrées, my fiancée ordered the filet, and it was solid - perfectly cooked, tender, and probably my favorite steak of the night. Since it was my first visit, I wanted to try Bastien's signature 10-ounce New York strip with the famous sugar rub. I'm usually a filet person, but I wanted the full Bastien's experience. The sugar rub was fun to try. That said, if I had to choose between the two, I'd still take the filet next time.
One thing that really sets Bastien's apart is the value. Every steak comes with vegetables (very small portion), your choice of potato, and your choice of soup or salad--all included in the price. That's almost unheard of at steakhouses these days. I had the loaded baked potato, which was excellent, while my fiancée ordered the mashed potatoes, and they were incredibly buttery and delicious. The value here is honestly second to none. Five stars for value alone.
To top off the evening, the staff surprised us with a complimentary cheesecake for our anniversary. It was a really thoughtful gesture. Cheesecake isn't usually my first choice for dessert, and my fiancée isn't much of a cheesecake fan, so I ended up eating most of it--but I certainly wasn't complaining. It was delicious. If cheesecake isn't your thing, they also have other desserts available on the menu, but this one was a complimentary gift from the restaurant.
Overall, Bastien's delivers exactly what it promises: a relaxed, old-school steakhouse serving quality food at prices that are becoming harder and harder to find. While we'll probably continue choosing some of Denver's more upscale steakhouses for milestone celebrations, Bastien's has earned a future visit from us. Between the quality of the steaks, the generous portions, and the unbeatable value, we'll definitely be back.