Western Colorado Restaurant Spotlight: The Assembly | Eagle
Every evening, two walls of large picture windows allow soft light to shine into The Assembly. Guests gather at the long bar and hightop tables adjacent to the kitchen while Caleb Mackey stands to expedite food tickets, shuffle plated dishes and pass them to hands heading toward the dining room.
If you ask Eagle County locals, The Assembly stands out as one of the area’s best restaurants. This isn’t because it’s the new kid in town or because some might say Eagle has slim pickings when it comes to culinary gems. It’s because Caleb and his wife Jaimie have created something truly special. The refreshing space, dynamic menu and carefully curated wine list, all paired with the happy and helpful staff, is successfully delighting diners night after night.
“We opened The Assembly because we wanted to create a gathering place for our community,” shares Jaimie, “where people can come together over fresh, seasonal, globally-inspired food, thoughtfully produced wine and hand-crafted cocktails paired with exceptional hospitality.”
Photos by Christine Rice
Now having established this solid foundation and securing a notable reputation, The Assembly has some room to play. Cocktails like “Take Your Medicine” are a nod to the classics (a Penicillin, in this case), and even while testing their innovative mixology methods, bartenders here successfully display an impressive understanding of what makes a damn good drink.
It’s a good thing Jaimie loves Chablis. It’s her refined taste for wine that has inspired a list to raise the eyebrows of any sommelier. A full spectrum of regions and varietals are represented, from the Loire Valley of France to the central coast of California.
Louis de Grenelle Corail Saumur Brut Ros is a perfect way to start any meal, paired with a Colorado Charcuterie board for the table or a Harvest Salad of mixed greens, arugula, roasted chickpeas, delicate squash, crispy red cabbage, vanilla-lime vinaigrette and pomegranate molasses. The menu is small enough to offer approachability while still integrating a dynamic range of ethnic styles.
Photo by Sherri Innis
Entrees keep it fresh, like the Blackened Halibut with dirty rice congee, Cajun holy trinity, okra, caramelized shallot and fried parsley.
“It’s kind of cool that we do some of the classic stuff, but we put our own twist on it,” shares chef Brandon Utley.
Utley says he was getting burnt out on cooking before he started at The Assembly, but he’s back to feeling inspired. Caleb and Jaimie, he adds, have provided the support he needs to thrive. Utley started as a line cook and quickly proved himself into a main chef role.
For The Assembly and everyone who experiences or is a part of it, it’s all about community. If you go, you’ll likely settle in and stay for a while, especially if you finish your meal with the delectable White Chocolate Cashew Cheesecake.
“We are passionate about creating memories and caring for our community above all,” says Jaimie, “and have built this welcoming, inclusive environment to be an extension of our home and our family.”