About Satchmo's
A conversation with Jamie Thousand, owner of Satchmo's barbecue restaurant.
What is Satchmo’s all about and how did it come to be in Flagstaff?
The concept of Satchmo’s goes as far back as my wife and I can remember. Family, friends and great food are ideals that we were both raised with. Hailing from the Midwest, fresh foods and quality BBQ were mainstays. With the bayou just to the south, Cajun & Creole foods commonly found their way into family gatherings & backyard get-togethers. After moving to Flagstaff, we quickly realized we found a place to call home permanently. The next step was making a dream a reality. After a short stint catering out of a rent-by-the hour commercial kitchen, Satchmo’s landed in an old 300-square-foot block building, offering only drive-thru and carry-out service. Another year passed and a second and final move has put us where we now have a dining room, outdoor patio and liquor license.
What has made Satchmo’s so successful in Flagstaff?
Quality vs. Quantity! We don’t just want our customers to like our food; we want them to LOVE it! We’ve always felt that if we can just get people to try our food they will come back for more. Flagstaff’s definitely a “word of mouth” town and with our “homemade” and “good for your soul” approach to food, we just had a good feeling that word would travel well. We live, work and eat in Flagstaff, appreciate this community, and we think that shows in everything we do.
What are a few of your signature dishes and how are they prepared?
I have to say, if you’re in the mood for some BBQ, give the pulled pork and pit smoked beans a try. Looking for Cajun? Don’t even think about passing up the jambalaya. Stocks, soups, gumbo, jambalaya, veggie burgers and many other items are created from scratch in house. The BBQ is slow smoked requiring anywhere from 6-16 hours of cooking and preparation. Meats are smoked over carefully selected blends of both fruit and nut woods, with spice and Cajun seasoning blends made in house and carefully paired with the perfect food.
What is your personal background and how did you get into the BBQ business?
We are a husband and wife team from Missouri with legal and IT backgrounds and no previous commercial kitchen experience. During college, we grew tired of the standard giant corporate eateries and began to get truly serious about creating good food on a budget. Shortly after, dinner parties started to become larger and larger, ultimately manifesting into what Satchmo’s is today… Good food, good times and good people.
What are your favorite things to do in Flagstaff when you’re not at the restaurant?
Everything! Flagstaff’s one of the greatest places that we’ve ever been. Much of our spare time when not working revolves around music, food and nature – sort of Flagstaff’s trinity of goodness. There’s just not much better than live music outdoors in Flagstaff, or the First Friday Artwalks. Not to mention the great indoor music venues. Sunday Farmer’s markets are a pivotal point during the week, followed by a visit to one of our great dog parks. Hikes in the summer and playing in the snow during the winter. And I can’t even begin to touch on all the great places to eat all over town.
We chose this restaurant because it’s highly recommended per dog owners. The restaurant is a little slice of NOLA! You’re greeted by extremely friendly staff who pride themselves in authentic tastes of the South. We ordered the cornbread, burnt ends,mac and cheese, gumbo, and sweet potatoe fries… DELISH!! This is a place we will be returning to!
-LatinaGlobeTrotter
Good BBQ on way to Grand Canyon
Lots of food/big portions. Great service! The bbq sauce is tasty! The cornbread was a family fav. We’d definitely eat here again.
-Leah V
Cute little jazzy bbq place. The waitress was pleasant and upbeat. Jazz music serenaded while waiting for our Beef Brisket that was tender and tasty. We also recommend the potato salad. Great experience!
Wow what a hidden gem! Both BBQ and Cajun food! Excellent food and the place absolutely made me feel like I was in New Orleans. They were super nice, welcoming and enthusiastic about their place and food. Loved it!
-DecoWorldTraveler
BBQ
Pulled Pork
Slow-smoked over pecan, cherry & hickory wood; rubbed for a sweet and savory balance. Juicy, tender, not too smoky. Served with slider buns.
Sliced Chicken Thighs
Hot-smoked over cherry wood and marinated overmight, then charred with our house chicken rub and a hint of sauce. Served with slider buns.
Beef Brisket
Hickory-smoked & seasoned with our house Brisket Rub. Sliced thin and full of flavor! Served with slider buns.
Rack o' ribs
St. Louls-style pork spare ribs, smoked low and slow. House-rubbed for a sweet, savory bite with a smoke-kissed flavor. Fall-off-the-bone delicious!
Burnt Ends
Cubed brisket ends tossed in our Spicy BBQ Sauce and caramelized on the grill.
Cajun
Kings Gumbo 🌶️🌶️
Deep, bold flavors with a spice kick! Roux-based with andouille sausage, holy trinity veggies, and shrimp. Served over rice, made with our house seafood seasoning.
Creole Jambalaya 🌶️
A bold, flavor-packed take on a classic. Andouille sausage, pit ham, roasted tomatoes, and holy trinity veggies- all simmered with rice and house spices and charred.
Blackened Fish Filet 🌶️🌶️
Blackened swai filet with a bald, smoky crust. Coated in our house catfish style seasoning & charred on the plancha. Moist, flaky, and spicy! On seasoned rice with remoulade.
SmoFried Catfish Bites
Thin-sliced catfish, soaked in buttermilk, then fried crisp in a cornmeal crust with a hint of house-smoked flavor. Served over seasoned tots with house remoulade for a smoky, crunchy bite.
PoBoys
Served on hoagie roll, topped with remoulade, slaw, and tomatoes.
Blackened Fish Filet 🌶️🌶️
SmoFried Catfish
Blackened Shrimp 🌶️🌶️
SmoFried Shrimp
Andouille Sausage 🌶️
Sliced Chicken Thighs
Scratch Vegetarian Patty
sides
Red Beans & Rice
Creamy slow-cooked beans with andouille sausage & fresh garlic. Stewed with smoked pork drippings, onion, and bay leaf.
Southwest Coleslaw
Tangy & sweet vinegar slaw with house pickled veggies & seasoning (no mayo).
Dirty Rice 🌶️
Arich, savory Cajun classic! Chicken and pork sausage slow-cooked with house spices, onion, and jalapeño.
Tater Salad
Zesty, creamy red potato salad with paprika, mustard, & green onions.
Tot Basket
Flagstaff famous! Deep fried tots with our house smoked seasoning.
Sweet Fry Basket
Sweet potato fries! Fried up light and crunchy.
Mac n' Cheese
Creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor! Made with Tillamook aged cheddar, house seasoning, and a crispy tater tot crumble.
Cast-Iron Cornbread
Buttermilk jalapeño combread with a sweet, savory & crunchy bite!
Pitmaster's Beans
Sweet & smoky baked beans with smoked beef and pork
Kid's Menu
(Under 12 Years Old)
Kid's Plate
Chicken tenders with tots (includes ranch)
sweets
Bread Pudding
Custard-soaked cinnamon brioche, deep fried to perfection and drizzled with lemon glaze.
Beignets
Light, airy, and fried to order – dusted with powdered sugar & served with rich chocolate sauce.
Lunch Menu
(Served Weekdays 11am-4pm)
BBQ Lunch Plates
Your choice of in-house smoked meat piled on a creme-ale bun with pickle chips on the side.
*served with a side of our Cajun-seasoned Tots
Smoked Chicken Sandwich
Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich
Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich
Burnt End Sandwich
PoBoy Lunch Plates
A classic Louisiana sandwich served with your choice of protein on a hoagie roll. Topped with our scratch southwest slaw, tomatoes, & house remoulade sauce.
*Served with a side of our cajun-seasoned Tots
Andouille Sausage 🌶️
Smoked Chicken
SmoFried Catfish
SmoFried Shrimp
Blackened Catfish Style (Swai) 🌶️
Blackened Shrimp 🌶️
Scratch Vegetarian Patty
Burnt End PoBoy
Upgrades
Side of Mac n' Cheese
Add Andoullie Sausage
Side of Ranch
🌶️ = Spicy Item
A 5% service charge is added to all checks to help support our team and operations in Flagstaff.
My wife and I had last dined here about 9 years ago, and it was good then. We hoped that it would be as good or better now as we brought family from back East to have some authentic BBQ, and it totally exceeded our expectations! Our family members that joined us felt the same way. My wife and I had the St Louis style ribs – they are simply amazing and quite flavorful. I rank it No. 1 or No. 2 amongst all the rib meals I’ve had in my life. Their smoked beans and potato salad – both made from scratch, are great, too. My daughter really liked her pulled pork as well, and my granddaughter liked her entree, too. Even the lemonade was amazing – made on the premises and tasted great! Service was great and the food came out to us promptly. The Louis Armstrong-flavored jazz that plays in the background as you dine is a nice touch, too.
-Ironviking
My friend and I stopped at Satchmo’s for lunch and we ordered a brisket and pulled pork sandwich with Cajun tater tot’s. The pulled pork was super moist and delicious with their spicy and sweet bbq sauce options. We really liked their welcoming atmosphere and the yummy food. Shout out to Matty G for highlighting all their popular menu items and for making sure we had everything we needed. I would highly recommend this spot for lunch!
-Jasmine E
If you’re in Flagstaff and looking for authentic Southern comfort food, Satchmo’s is a must. From the moment you walk in, the smell of smoked meats and spices lets you know you’re in for something special. The vibe is laid-back and welcoming—no frills, just great food and friendly service.
I ordered the catfish and gumbo, and both were absolutely outstanding. The catfish was perfectly fried—crispy golden crust on the outside, moist and flaky on the inside. It wasn’t greasy at all, and the seasoning had just the right kick. Easily some of the best I’ve had outside the Deep South.
The gumbo was rich, hearty, and full of flavor. Loaded with sausage, chicken, and just the right amount of spice, it had that homemade taste that’s hard to find. You can tell they put real care and soul into every bite.
Sides were on point too—cornbread was moist with a slight sweetness, and the mac and cheese was creamy and comforting. The portion sizes were generous, and everything came out fresh and hot.
Service was quick and friendly, even with a steady crowd. It’s clear that Satchmo’s is a local favorite, and now I see why. Whether you’re passing through or live nearby, this is a spot worth stopping for. Southern flavor done right in the heart of Arizona.
Highly recommend the catfish and gumbo, but honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu.
-Mr. Chez
The best place we ate on our road trip round America. Super friendly staff, and more importantly fantastic food. So good we planned our trip to then go back the next night. We ate the beef slider (must try), chicken sliders, Mac and cheese, coleslaw and tater tots. All were fantastic
-Jenna C
If you know you know. If you don’t, then by all means come check this place out. The food is so good. Lots of flavor and worth the price. I honestly don’t think you’ll be disappointed at all.
The menu is small and that is part of the appeal for me. What they do make, they make so good.
-Nick J
This place was fantastic. The service was amazing, the front desk worker was more than warm and welcoming and the food was beyond words. I won’t claim myself a Cajun officianado but I can say that po boy, gumbo, and jambalaya kicked ass
-Matt M.
Stachmo BBQ is an absolute standout in Flagstaff. The food is packed with flavor, cooked perfectly, and you can tell there’s real care behind every dish. It’s the kind of spot where everything on the menu feels like a win. Great atmosphere, great service, and a place I’ll definitely be returning to.
Highly recommend for anyone craving quality BBQ in Flagstaff!
-Dustin J.
Trust the reviews
This place is good. I would order the whole menu if I could. Also the service is friendly and the vibe is chill.
Will always stop here if I’m passing through.
-Michael K
This is a little diamond in the rough restaurant! The location is a whole in the wall in an old strip right behind a gas station,so if you are going fancy this isn’t the place. The inside of the restaurant has a cute, warm, Louisiana, jazz atmosphere. Now for the food…Everything we had was fantastic! Just the right amount of heat and they are very clear on their menu what’s hot and what’s not. Their cornbread was very good and each piece came with its own packet of butter.. Not too sweet, which makes it great to eat with the spicy and flavored meals. The Mac N Cheese was phenomenal!
It’s a tiny place and you order at the front before you get your seats, so prepare for the possibility of not getting a table right away if it’s busy. Can’t wait to go again when we visit Flagstaff.
-Charley T
Satchmo’s has always been one of my favorite restaurants in Flagstaff. When I lived there over a decade ago, my friends and I would often go to Satchmos after a long day at snowball or for a quick dinner with friends or family when they were in town. Satchmo’s does have one of my favorite sandwiches, which is the shrimp Poboy! I still think about that sandwich all the time now that I don’t live there. The food came out fast and was fresh and the surface was wonderful. It’s nothing but good memories and good food when eating at Satchmos.
-Katie A