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Posted on Thu, May 12, 2011 : 5:50 a.m.

Satchel's BBQ a welcome addition to area's barbecue options

By Susan Isaacs Nisbett

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The interior of Satchel's.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Sure, there’s a sign outside that points the way to Satchel’s BBQ; its flames leap up, yellow-orange on black, to say you’ve reached your destination. But it’s your nose, taking an olfactory cue from the wood-smoker fired up out front, that really leads you to Satchel’s, tucked away behind a Verizon store just west of Whole Foods on Washtenaw Avenue.

Open since early mid-February, Satchel’s is the smoky love child of Hugh Morgan, a Michigander via Alabama who took up mitt and cleaver to fill a near-void in the city’s culinary scene with honest-to-goodness Southern barbecue. It’s a casual, pine-table sort of place, spare but comfortable and not un-handsome, with seating for about 30 and a counter at which to place orders to go or to stay.

Its menu sticks to a simple list of meats — pulled pork and chicken, brisket and ribs — served up with house-made Southern fixings like greens and cornbread, baked beans and mac ‘n’ cheese.

Who needs more (except for napkins) when it’s good, which most of the offerings at Satchel’s are? There’s even sweet tea to wash down the spice, and though it’s served in a plastic cup and not a Mason jar, it still makes your mouth smile.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Satchel's BBQ
3035 Washtenaw Ave.
734-971-5100
Satchel's BBQ in AnnArbor.com restaurant guide

  • Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8 p.m.
  • Plastic: Yes.
  • Liquor: No.
  • Prices: Modest: Sandwiches, $6-$7; Plates (pulled pork, chicken or brisket; or combo of two, plus two sides and a drink), $10-$11; Ribs, $12 for a ½-slab ($15 for a plate); $20 for a full slab ($23 for a plate). Individual sides, $1.50 each, or up to two for $1 each when accompanying a sandwich.
  • Value: Excellent.
  • Noise level: Totally possible to hold a conversation between bites of brisket.
  • Wheelchair access: Yes.

I’ve made two trips now to Satchel’s — named, incidentally, for the owner’s dog — and it’s been neat to watch it evolve, all for the better.

On trip one, for example, sandwiches were served on “Texas Toast,” which also accompanied the plates — one or two meats, plus two sides and a drink. The thick slabs of butter-yellow bread looked great, but they were dry and tasteless (and not grilled or toasted).

Second time around, they were nowhere in evidence, replaced by really good shiny-glazed rolls, tasty and just dense enough to absorb some of the barbecue sauces — I counted four, ranging from Carolina vinegar to thicker slatherings of varying heat and sweetness — without becoming total mush.

On our first visit, it was the ribs and the sides that got our favorable attention. The ribs, coated with a dry rub, were lean and flavorful; the texture of the meat was firm-tender — perfect in my book — with a good smoke flavor.

The greens were sweet, a little smoky with bacon and not too salty — the pot-likker was divine. The mac ‘n’ cheese was gooey-good, the fine-minced cole slaw tangy without being biting. We liked the baked beans, but the sauce had cooked down so much the beans were pretty much glued together.

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A half slab of ribs.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The beans had come unstuck by our second visit, and the brisket, which we had enjoyed only moderately on our first go-round, was on the ascent. It had that telltale pink smoke ring and great flavor, and it was trimmed well. The flaw? It was not as tender as it should have been: Brisket, unlike ribs, should sort of melt, yielding easily to tooth and fork.

No such problem with the pulled pork, but it definitely wanted one of the barbecue sauces proferred to perk up its flavor.

Surprisingly, the pulled chicken, often a bland sop for those who eschew red meat, had it all. Piled generously on a sandwich roll, it was moist and very smoky; little bits of wood-bronzed skin in the mix of white and dark meat just added to the complexity of flavors and textures. I had a ball experimenting with different barbecues sauces to complement it.

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Pulled pork plate with roll, cornbread, and mac and cheese.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

I was hoping for great things from the cornbread, which Satchel’s had sold out of on my first trip, but on my second trip, when I opened the warm foil packet containing a square of it, I found it dense and tough.

I had far better luck with dessert: a brownie, dense (as it should be) and moist, big enough to share. It provided the perfect down-home finish to my barbecue meal.

If you eat in at Satchel’s, you’ll find that your order comes up quickly once you’ve placed it at the counter. (They’ll call your name to come and get it.) I was also happy to see how carefully they packed a to-go order: foil around the meat — tight enough to keep it warm but not so tight it steamed; roll placed out of harm’s way; sides and sauces in little plastic containers to keep them discrete.

It’s that kind of stuff, and the improvements they’ve made in a short time, that let you know someone really cares here.

And there’s good news for those who visited in the early days, when business was so brisk Satchel’s ran out of some meats: A second smoker to perfume the air with wood smoke, ensuring no one will have to go hungry for chicken, ribs, pork or brisket.

Susan Isaacs Nisbett writes about music and food for AnnArbor.com.

Comments

Sandra

Sat, May 21, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.

This place is not very good! My husband and I went - he had the pulled pork - I had the pulled chicken! They both had grizzle and fat mixed in the meat! Slow's is so worth the drive and it is awesome! This place does not compare!

brian

Thu, May 19, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.

My wife and I tried this a few weeks ago. I thought the brisket was fantastic and the pork was decent. But we tried the mac and cheese, baked beans, and the rice and beans, and though all 3 were pretty horrible. Next time I'll just grab a brisket sandwich and that's it. The parking situation was obnoxious as well. Not sure who technically owns the lot but it was completely full even though there were only a couple people in the restaurant and Verizon looked empty. It was a Saturday afternoon and it appeared that the majority of the lot was occupied by Whole Foods shoppers. I had to wait for someone to unload their groceries into their car to get a spot. I'm guessing this won't be a problem outside of busy weekends.

free form

Tue, May 17, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.

The BF and I have stopped in a few times and I was pleasantly surprised but not overwhelmingly impressed. I think it's a good start and far better than I had expected from a "strip mall" establishment. I hope the business grows and the food keeps progressing. I am a die hard fan of Slow's, but you have to give Satchel's a chance to grow into itself. It could it's own version of great BBQ in time. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was Slow's. Now, for the decor... I wish I could get ahold of the place. There are tons of inexpensive rustic elements that could add a more authentic feeling to the interior. It's a bit too country craft fair right now.

Shannon

Sun, May 15, 2011 : 4:34 a.m.

As an Alabama native and BBQ enthusiast, I am SO INCREDIBLY HAPPY to find this place. Everything I had was DIVINE! The guys at the counter were super nice and the sweet tea - absolute heaven!! Here's the thing about BBQ places: each has it's own accent, and this one is most definitely speaking my (food) language. Keep up the good work!

Ignatz

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.

I made a point of stopping in there once i found where it was. Like others, I wasn't overly impressed. What you get for the price is good, but standing on its BBQ cred, I've had better at Slow's, Lockhart's and Rub BBQ. Also, I deduct points for dipsoable plates, flatware and cups.

treetowncartel

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.

The burnt ends at Lockhart's are to die for!

nuseph

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.

I'll be making a trip to give it a shot. And thanks to the writer for providing some constructive criticism of the food; unfortunately most of the restaurant reviews on here are too rah-rah to take seriously.

racerx

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 1:42 p.m.

First. The Ann Arbor Observer did a wonderful story about Sacthel's a month ago. Second, even the owner will acknowledge that Slow's Bar-B-Que on Michigan Ave. in Detroit in the Corktown neighborhood is worlds above. Sacthel's is good, since it's the only decent place in Washtenaw county, but, not the metro Detroit area. I've been to both and Slow's is a designation place. Check out the NY Times travel section, "36hrs. in Detroit" and you'll begin to see what the fuss is about Slow's.

jgold47

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.

I ate here. I wasnt impressed at all. Had promise but was lacking overall. I would be glad to come back and try it again in 6 months to a year once they have had a chance to mature.

Lionel Hutz

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 12:18 p.m.

This place is head and shoulders above any BBQ place in Washtenaw County - maybe even the entire Detroit metro area. The cornbread could use some work, but everything there is excellent. As bedrog said, make sure you take advantage of the regional sauces. The hot bbq sauce is my favorite.

bedrog

Thu, May 12, 2011 : 10:23 a.m.

This place is GREAT. I've had barbecue at some of it 's meccas...esp in Texas...and this place is better, especially it's brisket which is easy to make over-dry, and isnt here. The array of regional sauces on the tables ( which can be taken free for take- out) should be taken advantage of. A welcome addition to local fare.