Dining is at its best when it’s a communal experience. With guests trying unfamiliar flavors, enjoying fresh takes on classic dishes and exploring new recipes
by diving into each other’s plates, a night out enjoying quality food is bound to create memorable moments. That’s why the husband-and-wife team Stephen Rogers and Allison Yoder created a menu meant to be shared.
“We wanted a place where guests could share and try everything,” Yoder says.
The upscale Highland Park Mediterranean eatery first opened its doors in 2017, and over the past two years, the restaurant has become the home for neighborhood regulars as well as guests who want to try an array of dishes while dining out.
Its menu keeps things simple – mezes (starters), salads, appetizers, pastas, entrees and family-style dishes that embrace the flavorful regions they hail from. And instead of just ordering one dish, the staff encourages guests to course out their experience to get a taste of the range of their offerings.
Before diving into the first dish, guests must peruse the wine and cocktail list. Bright libations – like the Sachet Spritzer, persimmon and lemon peel Aperol, cava, lemon and orange wheel; and the Sassy Spaniard, serrano and sweet pepper infused Tito’s, Solerno, lime and basil – await those looking for a refreshingly sippable cocktail. Gin and tonic lovers will love the four different varieties on the menu, each balancing light flavors to create an enjoyable drink.
Sachet also offers one of the most dynamic Mediterranean-focused wine programs in town – displaying in the gorgeous glass-enclosed cellar standing tall in the dining room. And their well-trained staff stand ready to offer recommendations — like a 2015 Turkish Papaskarasi, a single grape varietal wine grown only in Turkey — based on your preferences or your course selections.
After looking over the menu – and enjoying freshly baked bread made in the wood-fired oven, diners can start to map out their meal. Each meze, vegetable-forward dishes that let the individual ingredients shine, brings something new to the table.
The Gordal Olives, served with citrus, herbs and garlic, provide that bite guests crave when enjoying the salty starter. And the Spicy Roasted Eggplant, served with roasted peppers, garlic and tomato, create harmony with their hearty textures and well-developed flavors.
Appetizers – like the Quail Lollipops and Charred Octopus – foreshadow the boldly spiced and zesty dishes that await while still providing interesting takes on unexpected proteins. The housemade pastas, like the Spicy Goat Rigatoni served with Swiss chard and jalapeno pesto, come out delicate and light while still embracing the region’s flavors.
“We wanted to feature flavors from the entire Mediterranean coast from Greece, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, Provence, Southern Italy and Southern Spain,” Allison says. “We love that Mediterranean food is vibrant, flavorful and offers healthier options.”
The owners’ enthusiasm for the region is clear in the entrees. The seafood dishes are treated with care and only enhanced with their added touches while the meat options feature rich flavors. The Moroccan Lamb Chops, accompanied by Rancho Gordo beans, celery leaves and matbucha, are easy to split among the table and bring the spice with each bite. For a dish designed for two, the Crispy Pork Shank, served with porcini farotto and arugula salsa verde, melts as soon as you put a bite in your mouth.
Wrap up the night with one of the region’s tastiest sweets. The Pressed Greek Yogurt, topped with an Asian pear compote, pomegranate and brown butter crumble, and the Chocolate Mosaic, tahini mousse layered with toffee caramel and rye tuile, each provide a delicious bite but bring something distinct to the menu. It’s just another reason to order an extra dish and spend the night trying out as much as you can from their menu.
“The best way to experience Sachet is to share everything family style,” Yoder says.
Diners are welcome to bounce around the menu, but Sachet does offer a four-course prix fixe menu for the pre- and post-theater crowd. For $35 per person, guests can choose from a selection of the mezes, pastas, entrees and desserts. It’s truly the best deal for those who want to enjoy the biggest bang for their buck – between the hours of 5 to 6 p.m. or 10 to 11 p.m.