(773) 486-2233
1559 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago,
IL
60622
41.903
-87.6658
Neighborhoods: West Side, Wicker Park
What People Are Saying About Bin Wine Caf??
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
A seasonal new-American menu offers flexible meals composed of small plates, thin-crust pizzas or full-sized entrees. Most diners pick a cheese flight and wine flight to start, which come with handy tasting notes. Tangy citrus aioli contrasts with the light crispness of a tempura green bean appetizer, while simple gorgonzola butter boosts the flavor of organic hanger steak. Abstract art brightens exposed brick walls, while metal racks near the front of the restaurant display a 36-bottle retail wine selection. Rustic wooden tables with yellow and sage chairs add to the relaxed feel. Chefs in…
07/20/08
Green Beans, Wine and a Great Server
by outofowner at Citysearch
I've never done this before, so bear with me please. We were visiting from out of town and came across bin wine cafe from City Search and thought we'd give it a try. We wanted to get out of the Downtown area and try other neighborhoods in Chicago, bin wine cafe is in Bucktown, which is super easy to get to by train from Downtown. We made a reservation by phone for a Friday night at 7pm, they had a table, which I thought was strange for a prime time on a Friday, but maybe we were just lucky. We're glad we did, the place was packed. The server was terrific, she explained the specials, the menu and the food and wine pairings (they make this easy with a numbered system) She made it sound so good, we wanted to try everything, so we did. We started with cheese, they have a lot, we chose the Globetrotter Cheese Flight, 4 cheese from around the globe, then the Tempura Green Beans, our server suggested, oh my god, they were so good. We figured a salad would be a nice healthy touch so we tried the Spinach Salad, it had cherries and almonds and crispy ham. Then we ordered dinner (yes we were eating a lot) I had the Trout, my husband always orders chicken so naturally he went with the 1/2 Chicken, they were both excellent, my trout was crispy and light and fresh, the chicken was the perfect summer dish served with a green bean salad. Now the wine, they have over 30 by the glass and we had 2 flights each, (four 3oz tastings) thety did not disappoint and the descriptions were fun and informative. It was getting late when we finally left, but we didn't feel rushed at all, in fact the server chatted with us for a long time and was very friendly, offering tips on places to visit while in Chicago, she had a great sense of humor. This is getting long, so I'll finish up with this - Go to Bin Wine Cafe Now!
- Pros: service, location, food, wine
- Cons: a little loud
05/21/08
good food, great wine
by ddot1977 at Citysearch
This is my favorite restaurant in Wicker/Bucktown! The food is always really good and the wine flights are top notch. My wife and I went there for brunch for the first time and had a lot of fun trying their mimosa and bloody mary flights. I particularly liked the mexican bloody mary with tequila, but my wife thought it was a little weird. At dinner, I would suggest getting the Hanger steak or the ravioli cooked in brown butter. Yum!! It does get a little busy on weekends, so we make it our early in the week treat. It's definitely a different feel than their ultra-modern downtown establishment, Bin 36. Although I like bin 36 a lot, the Bin Wine Cafe is a bit more casual and hip. Kudos!!
- Pros: food, wine, bloody marys, service
- Cons: none
04/28/08
Rude Staff; Poor Management
by kshiff at Citysearch
I'm a huge fan of local, smaller establishments and was really excited to try this place out. The food was fairly good, nothing incredible to note but was completely overshadowed by the the disrespectful staff. The self-proclaimed manager was incredibly insensitive and it was one of the rudest displays I've ever experienced at a supposedly lovable spot. I would never go here again and would recommend any restaurant-goer to avoid it.
- Pros: Good array of inexpensive wine.
- Cons: Worst service in town.
The Details on Bin Wine Caf??
What to Drink:
Enjoy the wine you just tasted? All bottles all available at the cafe for take-home purchase.
Where to Sit:
Grab a seat by the rollback garage door during the summer for prime people-watching on Damen Avenue.
Save Money:
Starters such as tempura green beans can be ordered in portions fit for two or four people; order a few if you want to skip a full entree.
Save Money:
Starters can be ordered in portions fit for two or four people; order a few if you want to skip a full entree.
When to Go:
On Sunday nights, the restaurant hosts a rousing bingo game, complete with wine-focused prizes. There is a $20 food and beverage minimum to play.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Late Night Dining, Romantic Dining, Quiet, Brunch, People Watching, Date Spot, Group Dining
Cuisine:
Tapas / Small Plates, Pizza, New American, Traditional American
Smoking Permitted:
No
