Dave H.
Yelp
Though it was our first time, Bastien's is an "old tradition" here in Denver, for better and worse.
The better is that it *feels* like a classic steakhouse -- not trying to be super-snooty fancy or pretentious. And its longevity shows they know what they are doing. The menu has something for everyone (except for the couple who came in and then immediately left because she didn't see a non-beef dish she wanted), but it pretty straightforward. On the steak side you can get NY Strip, Rib-Eye, or Filet Mignon, with a dozen different preparations, including their famous "sugar steak".
The worse is ... well, the place is more than a little worn. There's a lot of dust in the grillwork by the lower floor booths. Wires run through weird places. Antique decor clips still show up where they oughtn't. The place could use a freshening up.
The service was very good -- slow at times (they were apparently slammed with more guests than expected for a Wednesday night), but friendly and helpful in an "old school" comfortable way.
We had multiple cocktails from the menu. All were well done.
Foodwise things were mixed, though overall good. I went for the "sugar steak" -- grilling with sugar to give a sweet crust to the meat. An interesting technique, but, I decided, not my cuppa. But there were plenty of other options for the next time there. My ribeye was a little tough. The twice-baked potato was not as cheesy as expected, but the mashed potatoes were quite good, and the steak fries awesome. The mixed veggies were good, and the french onion soup a smash. Only one dessert was ordered, the chocolate cake, but it was huge (all three of us nibbled off of it and were content).
Overall, I'd give this a 4.5; 4 downplays some great elements here, 5 ignores some flaws. I'll round up, though, for the experience. Dinner wasn't cheap, but we felt we got value for the money. It's not in our part of Denver, but we'll definitely remember Bastien's for another special night out.