Bin Wine Cafe

Erik M. and Hammond have mentioned Bin Wine Cafe briefly in other threads -- hammond for the cheese and Erik for the burger.

Beth and I made it through the snow tonight the block from my office to the restaurant. Quite glad we did.

I'm hoping Erik, and Hammond, who have tried far more of the menu than we did, will chime in, but we had:

House-cured olives
Duck Prosciutto

Burger (I added some Cheshire cheese to mine)
Butternut Squash Lasagna with walnuts and blue cheese cream

Three house made sorbets (pina colada, passionfruit, and grapefruit(?))
Three Pots au Creme (chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch).


The olives were great, and it was a big ol' bowl of them. I'm a sucker for olives, especially crisper, less oily ones, which most of these were.

The duck prosciutto was just fine. The pear chips were great, the prosciutto was a little bland.

The burger was, as Erik has said, awesome. The fries were also quite, quite good. It wasn't a pure beef burger, though, I don't think. There was something mixed in. It wasn't bad, and it cut through the richness of the meat, but I'm not sure what it was.

The lasagna was very good, but beth says after the fact that it was mostly walnutty, not very squashy. Which is not to say that she didn't clear her plate.

Her sorbets were quite good. My pots au creme were also quite good, especially the very chocolatey chocolate and the lovely vanilla.

We had glasses of wine with our entrees and desserts, but, to be honest, I can't remember what they were (I do know my first glass was bin 36 itself, a zinfandel). They were all good, but I think beth's whites (especially her moscato d'asti) beat my reds, in general.

Total for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 2 full pours and 2 half pours of wine was $95 after tax and tip.

It was, on the balance, a quite good meal. The place has a great vibe and great service, and we'll be back sooner rather than later.

-Ed

bin wine cafe
1559 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
773-486-2233

edit: I just read the issue of TOC this week and saw that the two entrees mentioned were the same ones we ordered. Total coincidence, but a curious one.

I too recently went to Bin 36 Cafe. I popped in with a friend on a Friday night. The place was quite packed although it seemed to turn over quickly. We couldn't get a seat at the bar so we amused ourselves with food and people watching. I have to say the food did look really good. I had a few glasses of Cava which was also very good.

When we finally got a seat at the bar, I spent a good deal of time studying the cheese list. I was very excited and wishing that I hadn't just eaten dinner. I am planning to go back and "cheese" my heart out.

I think it is clear that this place is borrowing from the Avec concept, but they seem to be doing a good job at it.

I also saw those pots au creme.... Very tempting and the guy eating it (who was sitting next to me) was raving.

Cinny's Mom wrote:When we finally got a seat at the bar, I spent a good deal of time studying the cheese list. I was very excited and wishing that I hadn't just eaten dinner. I am planning to go back and "cheese" my heart out.

The cheese offerings are one of my favorite things about this place. They have a few dozen, American and European, available by the slice for between $2.00 and $4.00. It would be quite fun to go, order a salad, order a bunch of cheese and some wine.

I also liked the tempura green beans, available in a highly ironicized "greasy paper bag."

Snails were also killer.

Hammond

gleam wrote:The olives were great, and it was a big ol' bowl of them. I'm a sucker for olives, especially crisper, less oily ones, which most of these were.

The burger was, as Erik has said, awesome... It wasn't a pure beef burger, though, I don't think. There was something mixed in. It wasn't bad, and it cut through the richness of the meat, but I'm not sure what it was.

My wife has never liked olives, and I tricked her into eating one of Bin 36's house-cured ones that came on our cheese plate by telling her it was a currant. Well- she wasn't fooled for long- but she loved it. They were smaller and more wrinkled than olives I'm used to and had a much more mild flavor.

What do you mean by "something mixed in"? You think they mixed some other meat in their burger, or some sort of filler like bread crumbs, or do you just mean the seasoning?

Greasy Spoon wrote:What do you mean by "something mixed in"? You think they mixed some other meat in their burger, or some sort of filler like bread crumbs, or do you just mean the seasoning?

If I had to guess, I'd say some sort of vegetable matter. The whole thing tasted a bit more like a meatloaf than a burger, since there wasn't nearly as much char as you expect on a burger of that size.

Again, it was a great burger, it just didn't seem to be pure beefy goodness.

I went there last night in a group of 6 for dinner. Everyone seemed satisifed with their entrees. I ordered the Sauteed Halibut, which was perfect for a late light meal on a day full of eating. It included a really different and tasty mini spinach flan.

There was only one appetizer, the Seared Foie Gras that my friend ordered as her meal and enjoyed, and she's an expert on this dish.

I didn't partake in any alcohol because I had a tasting lunch, where I already drank many wines. Plus, we went to the bar within the House of Blues hotel prior to our 9pm reservation where I had a martini. Bin 36 takes reservations, which is wonderful, and there are many nearby places to hang out prior to your meal. There are two House of Blues bars and the one within the hotel was a great place to hang out before our dinner, both cool and low key. My friends who drank enjoyed the wines and they were probably all good, but some were more just okay than outstanding.

We shared 4 desserts. The favorite seemed to be the warmed pumpkin pollenta with nuts and maple syrup that I ordered. The other desserts were good. One of them had goat cheese ice cream as part of it that was unusual and tasty. Another one of them just had too many things going on and would have been better if it been pared down to fewer things and flavors. By the way, Sweets and Savories has offered a similar warmed polenta dish with maple syrup minus the pumpkin but with dried fruit as a brunch entree. That's what I had on my last visit to S&S, and it was very different but wonderful. My friends really loved the polenta dessert at Bin 36 and commented how they'd eat something like that for breakfast.

The service was good and helpful. It was a nice space with a great view and it seemed open and not sardine-like. A bit more pricey, but it could be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. You could just go for wine and an appetizer or two. They also seem to have a nice breakfast and lunch menu. Given how centrally located it is and how versatile - appropriate for just about anyone, I expect that we'll be back many times.

kithat wrote:Bin 36 takes reservations, which is wonderful, and there are many nearby places to hang out prior to your meal. There are two House of Blues bars and the one within the hotel was a great place to hang out before our dinner, both cool and low key.

Sounds like you were at the Bin 36 downtown, not the wine cafe in Wicker Park. I haven't been to the Wine Cafe, and frankly, until reading the posts here, I didn't feel any push to visit anytime soon, based on our only visit to the Bin 36 on Dearborn.

It's not that anything was *bad* but there wasn't anything inducing me to return. The space was cavernous -- too much so. And of the 3 different wine flights tried at our table, the clunker:delightful ratio was pretty high. And I honestly don't remember anything about the food (and I don't think I can blame the wine!). Maybe a bad night, poor choices, etc. but with other places to try and limited funds...

For those of you who have been to the wine cafe and the mothership, how did your experiences compare?

--Zee



Bin Wine Cafe
1559 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-486-2233

Bin 36
339 N. Dearborn St.
312-755-9463

Zeeshan wrote:Sounds like you were at the Bin 36 downtown, not the wine cafe in Wicker Park. I haven't been to the Wine Cafe, and frankly, until reading the posts here, I didn't feel any push to visit anytime soon, based on our only visit to the Bin 36 on Dearborn.

I'll have to agree with you on this one Zeeshan. I've been to Bin 36 on multiple occasions, each time being a business meal suggested by a client who's office is across the street. I've never been knocked out by anything I have had there, either. I'm under the impression that the wine cafe might be somewhat better, based upon posts here in this thread. I'd also like to hear from people who have been to both locations as to how they compare.

stevez wrote:

Zeeshan wrote:Sounds like you were at the Bin 36 downtown, not the wine cafe in Wicker Park. I haven't been to the Wine Cafe, and frankly, until reading the posts here, I didn't feel any push to visit anytime soon, based on our only visit to the Bin 36 on Dearborn.

I'll have to agree with you on this one Zeeshan. I've been to Bin 36 on multiple occasions, each time being a business meal suggested by a client who's office is across the street. I've never been knocked out by anything I have had there, either. I'm under the impression that the wine cafe might be somewhat better, based upon posts here in this thread. I'd also like to hear from people who have been to both locations as to how they compare.

I have had similar "ehh" reactions to the food at Bin 36, but I think it may have something to do with the setting at the original location. To wit: The room is scaled and decorated like a Zeppelin hanger on Planet Mongo. I don't know how anyone could feel comfortable doing anything in that space, let alone eating (maybe a laser sword fight or the slaying of minions, but not dining). Further, my perception of the room at the original Bin 36 is that it seems designed to ensure no matter where you are standing or seated, you feel like you are being watched (no ... stared at) by an inchoate malevolence. It's creepy, cold and no fun, and I think it may have influenced my opinions of the food, too. So what am I getting at? No doubt the new, smaller space in Wicker Park resolves the comfort issues encountered at the original, allowing the food to be judged more on its own merits than as a focus point for the diner's existential dilemmas -- i.e., maybe the nicer room is at least part of why people like the food better at the new place. Thoughts?

JimInLoganSquare wrote:The room is scaled and decorated like a Zeppelin hanger on Planet Mongo...Thoughts?

Well, I must say this is a particularly inapposite analogy. As is well-known, the Planet Mongo, realm of Ming the Merciless, is airless and thus unlikely to house Zeppelin.



Hammond

David Hammond wrote:Well, I must say this is a particularly inapposite analogy. As is well-known, the Planet Mongo, realm of Ming the Merciless, is airless and thus unlikely to house Zeppelin.

I completely dissagree with you. The planet Mongo is not airless. If it was, then Vultan, King of the Hawk Men would not have been able to fly.

She calls for Flash! I'll give her a flash! - King Vultan

David Hammond wrote:

JimInLoganSquare wrote:The room is scaled and decorated like a Zeppelin hanger on Planet Mongo...Thoughts?

Well, I must say this is a particularly inapposite analogy. As is well-known, the Planet Mongo, realm of Ming the Merciless, is airless and thus unlikely to house Zeppelin.

I suppose I could spin it by saying I knew this, and that the absurd hubris inherent in the attempt to construct a zeppelin hangar on an airless planet was my metaphor for the futility of constructing a dining room that is inherently incompatible with dining. But then I would be lying. (On the other hand, Mongo definitely had a breathable atmosphere in the 1980 remake.)

stevez wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Well, I must say this is a particularly inapposite analogy. As is well-known, the Planet Mongo, realm of Ming the Merciless, is airless and thus unlikely to house Zeppelin.

I completely dissagree with you. The planet Mongo is not airless. If it was, then Vultan, King of the Hawk Men would not have been able to fly.

She calls for Flash! I'll give her a flash! - King Vultan

Damn, I wish I'd waited a minute before posting ... anyway, just to take this even more off topic, if you subscribe to Rhapsody online music service you can now download the soundtrack to "The Aristocrats" -- which includes a version of the joke involving a Zeppelin race.

My dear SteveZ, I am shocked and appalled by your apparent disregard for facts related to atmospheric conditions on Planet Mongo.

I point specifically to the landmark episode, “Peril on Planet Mongo,” when Flash and Vulcan (NOT Vultan) are trapped in Ming’s palace. Why, pray tell, did Vulcan not simply fly away, alert his fellow Hawkmen, and return to save Flash and Zarkov? Why, indeed! Because he could not fly in Mongo’s airless atmosphere! And this would not be the first time the Hawkmen came to the rescue (recall, if you will be so kind, when Ming and Orax launced their Flaming Death ray, only to be defeated by the minions of Vulcan). But you embarrass both of us by forcing me to explain such obvious facts.

And that a certain someone should even mention the blasphemy that was the 1980 “re-make” of Flash Gordon is beyond belief (the music from Queen was superb, we are in agreement…but Mike Hodges!! Are you mad!!!). You might as well cite the X-rated Flesh Gordon (which had some good parts, but lacked one key ingredient: the incomparable Buster Crabbe!!).

What is most difficult for me to accept is that a person who once accompanied me (as Flash) to SciFiRama’76 dressed as Dale Arden (it was a coin toss…totally fair), should play so cavalierly with the facts of Gordoniana. Is this your commitment? Is this being honest to the great tradition? Are you still peeved at me for insisting that my sister made a better Princess Aura? Let it go.

This conversation belittles us both.

I will thank you to return my Claypeople action figures at your earliest convenience.



"You know Ming's law, Baron: outside of his own kingdom, the hunter becomes the hunted."
Vulcan, King of the Hawkmen

Hammond

Hammond,

A small amount af knowledge can be dangerous. Of course Mongo had an atmosphere (and one of breathable air, at that). Otherwise Flash Gordon and the lovely Dale Arden would have needed space suits to walk around the planet's surface. Also, It IS King Vultan. (King Vulcan invented the tire).

Here he is showing Dale a little Flash


P.S. Of course, you will recall that the death ray, which was sapping Earth's nitrogen, was actually genreated by Ming's ally the Lovely Queen Azura, who hailed from Mars, not Mongo. Sheesh.

gleam wrote:The burger was, as Erik has said, awesome. The fries were also quite, quite good. It wasn't a pure beef burger, though, I don't think. There was something mixed in. It wasn't bad, and it cut through the richness of the meat, but I'm not sure what it was.

Last night I was saddened to learn that Bin Wine Cafe no longer serves the Hearth Burger. When I asked the manager about it I was told that the cooks were too often disappointed with the way in which the burger performed in the wood-burning oven. Apparently, during high traffic times, and when there were a number of items being fired simultaneously in the wood-burning oven, the burgers would not properly sear and carmelize.

Because there had been some debate here about the Hearth Burger's composition I inquired about that as well. The manager assured me that the burger was 100% house-ground beef, but he then went on to say that the results of the wood-burning oven often had patrons likening the finished product to "meatloaf."

Both times that I had ordered the Hearth Burger it was fantastic, and I made a point of telling the manager this last night.

A fat lot of good that will do, I am sure.

E.M.

last time i was there, the planet mongo had air to breath. i used to be a clay people. now, i'm just a mud man. brings back many fond rermemories of dale, the object of many pre adolescent fantasies.

All beef. Well damn, I stand completely corrected. Thanks for finding out!

It's a shame that they've taken it off the menu, but I'm glad they did that rather than risking a bad product during peak hours.

We went last week for dinner. Space-wise, I find the the bin wine cafe 100x more appealing than bin36 downtown, for reasons stated above.

The cheese selection was quite amazing, and out of sheer sense of being overwhelmed, we chose one of their flights. Very nice. Slice of each of four cheeses, served with toasts, some fruit.

Wife and I shared the skate entree, which was (a) huge and (b) very tasty -- served with toasted almond slivers and what seemed like a potato latke or cake. Friend of ours had a pizza with some type of pesto and cheese. Consensus around the crust was overcooked and the toppings pretty flat-tasting and bland.

We all shared the pots au creme for dessert. Everybody liked the vanilla and I liked the butterscotch, but the chocolate creme tasted as though creme was at front and chocolate was an afterthought.

Somewhat odd, but not a problem. Of the wine flights we tried, we were able to agree on one wine to buy by bottle. Strangely, it wasn't listed on their wine list, but our server told us it was available. When the bill came, it was listed as $per glass x 4. Maybe for space considerations, but why not list the bottle price on the wine list? Do the wine flights get rotated in and out frequently?

All in all, wine, cheese, etc. it was a very enjoyable night out.

Zee

I took a girlfriend to Bin Wine Cafe the other night, where we had yet another very good meal. Together we shared the Roasted Cauliflower/Cauliflower Flan appetizer (a special of the day), the Wood-Fired Shrimp, the Caesar Salad, and the Hangar Steak with Fries. And, for dessert we ordered the trio of Pots de Crème, which, on that night, included chocolate, vanilla bean, and pumpkin.

Everything was well-prepared, and the service was nearly flawless.

For my money, Bin Wine Cafe continues to offer one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in the Bucktown/Wicker/Ukie Corridor.

E.M.

Erik M. wrote:For my money, Bin Wine Cafe continues to offer one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in the Bucktown/Wicker/Ukie Corridor.

as well as brunch.

Had a very nice relaxing dinner here the other night- making this one of my favorite casual restaurants around my neighborhood.

I find that the restaurants I frequent generally have four characteristics in common. One, a well-executed menu that is imaginative but approachable enough for those nights when you just want to "eat." Two, a varied by-the-glass wine list. Three, reasonable prices. And four, a je ne sais quois, something that makes the restaurant comfortable and relaxing.

Bin Wine Cafe achieves all four. I admit that my first visit here was "ehh." But like a pair of jeans that doesn't quite fit right on the first wear, Bin Wine Cafe has softened and improved with several visits.

I was there to watch Game 6 of the NLCS. Do you know how hard it is to find a place with a flat screen TV that is not blaring AND has a good wine list? Not an easy feat. Bin does. I ordered an absolutely delicious parsnip and carrot soup that was confidently and aggressively (but not overly so) seasoned with curry. I indulged and ordered their fries with the garlic aioli. My friend had the hangar steak and fries, which she enjoyed.

I have yet to visit the flagship Bin 36 for dinner (I'm only there either for a workday lunch or drinks and snacks after work) because the atmosphere begs for food that is spectacular -- and the kitchen never seems to live up that.

But the smaller scale of Bin Wine Cafe seems to be more commesurate with what the kitchen can do well, and not leave you thinking that you just destination dined at a place not worth the "dine."

Edited 1 time to fix typo.

Erik M. wrote:Both times that I had ordered the Hearth Burger it was fantastic, and I made a point of telling the manager this last night.

A fat lot of good that will do, I am sure.

E.M.

Erik-

Your cries apparently were answered because the burger is back on the menu. I haven't tried it yet but I note that the entire cheese menu is no longer available for your cheeseburger. The cheeses are mainly limited to a blue, cheddar, goat and a couple of other choices. Still, they are nice quality for a "mere" burger.

aschie30 wrote:Erik- Your cries apparently were answered because the burger is back on the menu.

Thanks to you, aschie30, tonight's Burger Night festivities have been changed.

We were headed to Jane's, but who the hell wants to eat mashed potatoes with their burger?*

E.M.

* Despite my repeated protests over the years, Jane's continues to serve mashed potatoes with their hamburger. No deep fryer? Fine. But, why not serve some lovely potato salad instead?

Not that they need the extra boost given its recent accolades in Time Out's Burger round-up, but the burger I had here last night was unbelievably delicious. Juicy and really beefy tasting, and cooked perfectly to the requested temperature. I'm not kidding, this burger beat out the burger I had recently at Rosebud. That, along with the garage door open and the breeze streaming through, I could have sworn it was June.

Duck confit sandwich at Bin Wine Cafe in January, but I never found any great reason to post until now. I'd gone in wanting a burger or something robust, it was after brunch but before lunch there or something, I was stuck with kind of the frou-frou menu, but even so, this was very nicely done, and the fries were top notch-- er, first rate.

What does anyone who's eaten at both Bin Wine Cafe and Bin 36 regularly think of them against each other? My one meal at Bin 36, 6 or 7 years ago, was "ennh" enough to make it my one meal at Bin 36, 6 or 7 years ago. I was more impressed by the Cafe-- and it kind of sounds like I'm not the only one.

Let me stand alone in defense of Bin 36 - I also have only been there twice and on business dinners. And I admit to a bias - which I shall reveal later if you do not know already.

But I have found their food pleasant. And the space is quite in keeping with Marina City, which is to say it smacks more than a bit of 60's moderne, so the Flash Gordon analogy is appropriate since they both flow from the same well.

This style is a bit cold and offputting certainly, but I choose to view it more as a decadent homage to Farnsworth House, and as such I find it charming. And the chairs are not uncomfortable - what more could one want?

My bias is that I love wine, and their wine selection is very good: for me this means it is obscure, generally tasty and well-priced. And the food complements it pretty well. So I like Bin 36. Okay, not enough to go on my own, but the experience is quite enjoyable for me.

Anybody been here recently for dinner? Somehow I've never been, but I like the idea of having dinner somewhere relatively sedate (and new to me) before the Die Antwoord show at Double Door tomorrow night.

Happy Stomach,

I live nearby, so I stop in for dinner every couple of months or so -- and I had dinner there last weekend. FYI, the menus on their website are never up to date.

Last weekend I had an excellent crudo app., a basic preparation but very nice fish. I love their cheese selection. Wine list is, of course, very nice as well. While they will not give coalfire a run for their money, I do enjoy their pizzas. They fry very well -- as evidenced by their tempura green beans and french fries. Burger also never fails. It was not last weekend, but I previously had a most excellent veggie stew topped with puff pastry that seriously had me craving a return visit just for that dish -- and veggies pretty much never do that for me.

I always enjoy myself there. I go there when I'm in the mood for wine and I go to Bluebird up the street when I am more in the mood for beer and a slightly more relaxed vibe. Can't go wrong at either place.

inter4alia wrote:I live nearby, so I stop in for dinner every couple of months or so -- and I had dinner there last weekend.

Thank you for the update. It looks like dinner before the show isn't going to work out for us, and Bin will be closed by the time we get out, so we'll likely hipster it up after all and end up at Big Star. However, now I'll make it a point to stop into Bin when I have the chance, sounds like a pleasant place, and I live pretty close.