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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Category: Tapas Bars [Edit]
941 Davie St
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I had just come from an amazing wedding reception, but my stomach couldn't keep itself from Bin 941's tapas.We were a group of three and shared 3 amazing dishes.
The risotto was very creamy and although I couldn't really taste the prawns, I didn't want to argue with such a delicious dish. So I didn't.
The duck breast was served with fingerling potato hash and truffle oil. If I learned anything from my pallet is that I love duck and truffles anytime and anywhere.
The Ahi tuna was served with shitake chow mein which made me wish that every Japanese restaurant would offer this
The music was great, very upbeat and hipster. Definitely a place to visit if your party consists of ~4. It's quite pricey, but you won't regret it. They say they're Serious About Food and Serious About Fun...so am I and I believe they've done a great job on both subjects!
Stopped in for a bite to find a small, narrow venue that is very moody and dark, with a weird layout where the waiting area is in the back by the restrooms (washrooms).
Navajo bread sounds weird but was sooo good! It's basically a fried bread with a little spice...I could've skipped the optional salsa. Beef wellington was very good but the sauce was salty. The halibit was awfully dry on a bed of way salty vegetable...
Good time, good wait staff, but there is better.
I love coming here to unwind....and Friday at 5pm is my favorite. The music is always chill, the service friendly, and the wine resonably priced. Get there when it opens so you can select the best table (when facing the entrance door, the window booth on your left) for people watching, and enjoying the changing colors outside as the sunsets (preferrably with a date). This is a cozy restaurant, so even though the music is pumping, this booth seat doesn't sacrifice your ability to hear your companion since you're sitting right next to him/her. *wink, wink*
I always get one of their variations on mussels ($15--which is a great deal), and choose one or a few items off their $5 special list. Again, this is a tapas bar, so I don't tend to overload on food. Although, I've tried entrees there, I really just come here for a bottle of wine and to eat with foods that I can pick up with my fingers. Once in awhile, it's healthy to get in tune with the food I enjoy....such as tearing through their navajo bread and watching it stretch, or dipping foccacia in the mussel broth...num num num...
Bin will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was the first real "foodie" restaurant I started frequenting, back when I was in my late teens. My mum and her gay Davie St pals made this their Friday night hangout, and I would end up popping by when in the neighbourhood.
I still love it.
Interesting, innovative fusion tapas fills the menu, and I like that they change it up while keeping the old favourites on board. When I used to eat meat, the Wellington style beef tenderloin (with a slightly smoky, fruity sauce I could drink by the bottle) and the duck breast were my go-to dishes (and I will admit I still do dream about them...) For fish-only peeps like me, the prawn and scallop tapas dish (with big luscious roe on top) and the Thai-flavoured halibut are perfectly cooked, interesting - and delicious!
I find 3 plates plus some maybe some frites or navajo fry bread are enough to share between 2 people - along with a great bottle of red, of course!
The space itself is a shoebox, and you may have to wait - but it is worth it! A great spot for a date, double date or hangout with a few pals. Or your mum and her gay friends... :)
Listed in: My Very Favourites
the vibe pulled us in
fry bread and hummus is gold
wine is expensive
The food here is absolutely divine!
Having said that this is not a restaurant to go to with people you don't like or if you have personal space issues because you will be sitting on each other and other patrons because this place is so tiny and cramped. If you are modelesque you should have no problems maneuvering or sitting comfortably, if on the other hand you are a full bodied person you will find it a tight squeeze but trust me the food is worth it!
Expect to wait for a seat, we got lucky and were seated relatively quickly but we saw others that waited for close to an hour.
Our waitress was wonderful and sweet, the hostess was the complete opposite unless you knew her then she appeared to be a lot nicer.
The food is definitely why you should come here. Just know all this other stuff first so you aren't pissed when you arrive and then you don't enjoy the food.
We had the Navjo fry bread and Hummus, very delicious, the duck, fantastic, the Ahi Tuna, perfect, the Beef Wellington, beautifully cooked and the potato tart served with it was excellent. We followed our dinner up with the Cheesecake, which was insanely delicious and the Chocolate & Bailey's Creme Brulee, also fantastic but paled in comparison to the cheesecake.
Cozy, casual, yet hip little wine bar. Nice wine list and "Tapatisers" - crab cakes and homous were tasty.
My star rating is less than 5 because I've noticed that with the rising prices, the portions have been decreasing. Plus service is variable. Sometimes I get fantastic servers who are on the ball no matter how busy, and other times they just...suck.
HOWEVER...love the food here. It's all tasty, great wine list, great ambiance. It's quite a wait though if you don't get here early since it's quite small. My favorite place to sit is at the chef's bar and watch them cook and plate. It's such an efficient kitchen it's really mind boggling. The duck, beef wellington, frites, and asparagus are my favorite. However, everything I've had here every time I've been here has been fantastic.
Let me start off by saying that the food was phenomenal. We had the flank stake, the tenderloin, the duck, the risotto.. it was all superb.
The reason they only get 3 stars if for 3 pretty important failings.
First was the service from one of the hostesses. Our waitress was lovely, despite having brought us the wrong dessert, but the hostess who told us to wait in the bar was actually just downright rude. Not only did she act like she was doing us a favour by taking our drink orders, but she actually turned and walked away mid conversation. She clearly had a chip on her shoulder or was having a bad day - I just don't think it was appropriate behaviour and had there been a comment card, I certainly would have shared my thoughts.
The restaurant only seats 32. And not comfortably by any means. 4 of us were squished into a booth.. only one side of the booth, so we were all sitting side by side to eachother. No one else in the restaurant looked like they were seated comfortably or had enough room to meet the conventions of personal space.
And lastly, the prices. Tapas are meant to be small little plates that you share.. you order several and share. At $17/plate, you certainly do not want to order several. Yes, they were great. The food was amazing, that's not the point; the point is that if you are billing yourself as a tapas bar, then you should serve tapas, and serve them at tapas prices, not 'mini entrees' at 'fine dining' prices.
I'd go there again if I was feeling particularly pretentious and harbouring an intense desire to be labelled a hipster; but having been there 3 times now, I think it's time to bin it. ((see what I did there?))
I used to come here all the time but i kind of stopped. I have no idea why because it's an awesome tiny little place perfect for a romantic date or catch up with friends.
I think it got to busy and i don't like waiting in lines, so be prepared. I have gone later and sat at the bar and been spoiled by tasting there wines by the glass and i never thought i would say this about any place.. but they have amazing wines by the glass. I think they even win awards for it?!
Be prepared to share, this is a tapas place. All i can remember is the navajo fry bread is to die for! French fries with basilamic. YUM.
After many years of being a self-proclaimed "Foodie", Bin 941 still holds as #1 in my heart and on my palate. Although it's been some time since I've been there, I'm new to Yelp and I must serve the institution that has served me so very well so very many times.
The ambience envelopes you the moment you walk in (whether you like it or not). The excessively loud music, the whir of the kitchen and wait staff and the eclectic art on the walls makes for a unique dining experience indeed. And then there's the food. Oh the food! The best part about it is the sharing. Go to this place with the intent to share! That's what makes tapas so much fun! Never order for yourself, rather talk about it over a cold Yaletown lager. Then order a dish or two, have another drink of choice (I hear the Bingria is "better-than-sex") and wait until you're ready for round two!
My faves (if still on the menu): The Phyllo Beef Wellington with Roast Chive-Garlic Mashed Potatoes (au jus to die for), the BBQ Chicken with Roast Garlic Crust Served with Romesco Sauce, and bar-none, the Cold-Smoked Halibut Brandade with Navajo Fry Bread (It must be this bread, make sure they give you no other). Dang, I wish I lived closer. Knock yourselves out!
I've kept this place as a once a year for special occasions or else I'd be poor :) But gosh, we went here again last weekend and the food, drinks, service was as solid as it was 4 years ago. I love the ambiance, I love where they sit you in the back with a bottle of a wine waiting for a table, I love the table right by the window - nice and cozy where you can take glimpses of people on Davie walking by but know that you're in a completely different world. I love the service too - they really know their menu and wine list inside out.
My favourites on the menu are the fries and the navajo bread with hummus. For our mains we tried the salmon (i LOVED the salmon skin chips - that's very creative), the duck, the lamb and beets. The dessert was deadly with cheesecake and an Adult Hot Chocolate that was heavily spiked. Everytime I leave Bin941 (I think it's 6 times now) it's more than 2 hours later, I'm happily stuffed with wine and a fun food adventure, and I look for every excuse to go back to do it all over again!
Come early to avoid the lineup and to get your pick of the window booth.
Great food, this place was recommended to me by ex-Vancouverite who described this establishment as a hidden gem. I would agree with that statement. The food is really nice, one of the dishes we shared was the shoestring potatoes with flank steak in a cinnamon rub. From the dining room, the view of the kitchen is impressive, as the kitchen itself is fully integrated into the dining area. The kitchen is also tiny, and watching the speed and cooperation between the chef and his assistant was very entertaining.
This small however so if you are more than three people, the chances are slim that there will be room during dinner hours, so show up early.
I absolutely love this place. From the unassuming entrance, to the dark and moody interior - it's the perfect spot for a quiet wine with a friend or two.
The staff know their wines and are very happy to offer you a taste before you make your selection.
Since I first tried the potato fries I can't bring myself to order anything else. The thinly cut fries are piled high like a haystack and drizzled with a quality thick rich balsamic. You start politely picking at one or two - but before you know it you've grabbed your fork and shoveling them in.
As a Melbourne girl, I found this place is very north side. Love it.
OK well the Bingria was amazing (sangria) and hit the spot.
Otherwise the constant knocking into my chair, it being 100 degrees in there, and the people hovering over my food just didn't make the experience worthwhile. If you can deal with being a sardine, then it's definitely a great place to be.
Yummy yummy in my...
My girlfriend loves this place. I like it too. Good food, good selection for wine by the glass, good service and nice coozy decor.
Bin is always busy, which is great since it means the food is always good and fresh. We sat at the back bar last week and watched the chef turn simple ingredients into works of art...he makes it look so easy. We were very impressed with the end results.
Taste = great
Food Presentation = great
Bang for the buck = ok
Would I go again = yes
There are two locations but the downtown location is significantly superior to the other location.
Normally we would sit in the back and wait for a table while enjoying a few small bites and wine but today we were starving so we opted for the chefs table and I must say... I don't know why I've never sat here before. It was such a treat watching the chef and sous chef create their magical dishes effortlessly in front of us.
My favorite has got to be the beef Wellington (flavorful cut of meat is stuff inside a pastry shell). Everytime I go I see more items I want to try like their meat and cheese plate. Unfortunately even though everything is suppose to be tapas style and made for sharing a couple of small bites and the Wellington did us over.
They also have a reasonably priced yet tasty wine selection. The waitresses are usually pretty good with pairing them to your meals.
I love this place. My only complaint is that there is always a wait anytime of the day.
Rather than getting annoyed by the cramped atmosphere I'd rather describe it positively as cozy. There isn't' a lot of room but a few wines allows one to bask in the positive energy of their close neighbours. Excellent selection of Reds, could have one or two more syrah's (not shiraz!) though. The food is very rich, but in lovely dainty portions. I bet the rich classless pretentious crowd loves this place, but the truth is it will please the more reasonable patron as well. Good music, pretty genuine waitresses, lovely wine and great food. Put it all together and what do you get?
I'll give it 5 starts despite the painful memories of my ex-girlfriend attached to this place, must be good!
tight (literally) little spot. A limited but tasty menu. I would disagree that its traditional tapas or traditional tapas pricing. It was more expensive, yet it delivered a bigger portion than one expect too.
Intimate atmosphere, sit at the chefs bar and watch the boys rock your dishes out with flare and pronto.
The "picnic" flatbread was a solid choice.
Although I did not try it, the coconut mussels smelled divine!
First of all, don't think that I run all over the place handing 5 star ratings from left to right. My secret is that I got to spend a limited time only in Vancouver and used Yelp a lot to be able to spot the places really worth visiting. Hence, the star distribution in my ratings.
That being said, the Bin 941 was totally worth a visit. I was alone and got seated in the other window booths and even the seat was spot on. Watching the people walking around in the slowly darkening evening was almost as if I was sitting in the street, in the comfort of a couch and warm atmosphere of the restaurant.
I got a bit carried away with my orders and started with the four pinxos portions. When I really enjoyed the taste of all of these, the bison tataki really stood out for me in this selection. The wine recommendation was just perfect so if you're not familiar with the labels, the staff can be trusted for recommendations.
And then I just had to try the mussels, mostly due to the sound of the coconut milk, lemon zest, garam masala broth. The waitress apologised that it wasn't the actual season for the mussels and that they would be smaller this time of year.
First of all, the broth was absolutely amazing. The citrucy kick from lemon zest, the earthiness of the garam masala and the sweetness and aroma of the coconut milk is really a combination to write home about. I was amased. Being a food enthusiast and enjoying cooking myself, I have missed that feelind when eating in a restaurant. I mean, the "I'd make as good or better at home" feeling never came to me in this place.
I don't know if it's according to the local etiquette to dip your bread in the broth and drink the rest from the rim of the bowl, but I really didn't care at that point. Pleace accept my apologies if this sight didn't improve your evening.
Secondly, the mussels were about three times the size we get to enjoy in Finland during the season, so there really wasn't anything to complain related to that matter either...
As for the dessert I was a little hesitated to order the cheesecake as I consider myself a little picky related to that particular dish. But I admit this concern had no grounds - the final element of the dinner was totally in par with everything else in this place.
For the completeness of this review, I must comment that I loved the interior of the place. I've noticed that the places I tend to like most are small, rather dark, show brick walls, dark wood, contemporary art or photographies, and rugged plastered elements. This place has them all.
The staff was friendly, helpful, fun and made me feel like home. A big plus when travelling alone away from your family for a month.
obscenely good.
mascarpone cheesecake is the standout.
great vibe.
This place is wonderful. Sure it's loud but go for the food and the atmosphere.
I've eaten quite often here and I have to say this venue has been more consistent in the quality and presentation of their food than their sister restaurant Bin 942. I will say Bin 942 is a slight bit bigger.
Now you must try their Navajo fry bread, It is absolutely delicious and come to your table piping hot! I've even had 2 orders of this because I can't get enough. I have no problem with carbs. I would suggest ordering the Goat cheese house dried tomato salsa with navajo fry bread. An unbeatable original.
I also recommend their East west Crab Cakes, burnt orange chipotle sauce, charred baby bok choy, cucumber salsa, tobiko
Another staple in their menu is the Angus Beef Tenderloin phyllo wellington, Pecorino romano, portabello, chive roast garlic whipped potato, grainy mustard marsala pan jus. The chef recommends it be cooked at medium rare. This is my favourite main.
This isn't the place to go with a large entourage. If you try that move you won't get it but you would have luck if you come when they just open. I've rarely gone in and not had to wait.
It's hard to have a meaningful conversation or a romantic date here so keep that in mind. Come to enjoy some food, alcohol and general merriment.
I wanted a dinner where we could sit back, relax, and take our time eating. We arrived early enough to snag a table with a window providing a Northwest view, not soon after our arrival did the place quickly fill to capacity.
The menu is suitable for vegetarians, but why anyone would order the portobello mushroom dish for $16 is beyond me. Keep your eyes toward the bottom of the menu and order several tapas to share. Two days later and the taste of Gorgonzola with pear lingers in my mind. And the Navajo fry bread with kalamata olive hummus with a balsamic reduction? Heaven.
Not being from Canada, I was all about trying the wines from BC. The Quails Gate Old Vines Foch was velvet in a glass. I heartily recommend a glass of this red with the flourless chocolate torte.
After trawling through internet for good eats shortly after arriving in Vancouver, one place that immediately sparked my interest was Bin 941. Owner/chef and former punk vocalist Gord Martin opened Bin 941 eleven years ago and has since opened two further successful venues with 'Bin 942' and more recently 'Go Fish'. Having live in Mexico for five years and after shooting a TV pilot in 2008 based around Moroccan cuisine, I was expecting some fusion at it's finest.
With a 'no reservations' policy and rave reviews I was ready for a wait. We arrived and were greeted by a small, but loud, dining room packed with tables of diners full conversation, and no doubt a few glasses of wine. Others were lined up at the bar seeming unperturbed by the closeness of perfect strangers and the cacophony of diners' laughter, and the clash of pots and pans. We were told there would be a forty minute wait and hesitated a little at the thought of lining up outside, like some young trendy kids waiting in line to get into the latest club sensation, however this was not the case. We were escorted through the restaurant past a gargoyle overlooking the entrance, strange paintings hung upside down and large mirrors to a tiny cramped bar area at the rear of the restaurant that made you feel like that is perhaps where they kept the resident hunchback who was only released after close to clean and swing from the belltower. However, a drink was quickly in hand and the enthusiasm of the diners already at tables made the wait feel like it might be worth the wait.
We started with a few selections from the Pintxos menu . The smoked trout, marscapone and chive potato salad was enjoyable with the deep smoky flavour of the trout playing nicely against the rich marscapone dressing. This was followed by the blue cornmeal crusted calamari with a poblano and tomatillo dipping sauce. The calamari itself was barely recognizable with the tiny pieces being covered with the cruchy cornmeal crust. However the sauce had that rich earthy flavour that you only get from great Mexican chile sauces.
Moving onto the 'Tapatisers' menu we selected crab cakes with burnt orange chipolte sauce, cucumber salsa and tobiko. Again the crab cakes were largely unimpressive with no real crab flavour finding it's way through. Once again the sauce was the highlight showing that Martin made good use of his time in Mexico. The citrus flavours worked so well with the hot chipotle peppers and was offset nicely with the cool cucumber salsa. I am not sure that the trip to Japan really added anything to the dish rather than an interesting read on the menu.
We followed these with a Beef Tenderloin Wellington. Mash, grainy mustard masala sauce and black cod with cauliflower puree and green apple gastrique. These dishes were both standouts with the Wellington cooked to perfection as was the black cod which fell apart at the touch and whose robust flavour and texture was paired perfectly with a smooth and rich cauliflower puree and slightly tart apple gastrique.
Not wanting to neglect the dessert menu we dove in with a coconut crumb crusted marscapone white chocolate cheesecake with warm fuego banana rum sauce and a Belgian Chocolate torte with Cognac soaked cherries, chocolate truffle centre and café latte sauce. Needless to say these did not last long, with the rum banana sauce being unashamedly cleaned off the plate by greedy fingers at the finish.
The term 'wine bar' can conjure up images of sparse modern décor, wordy menus and wait staff that don't hide their distain for your ignorance when you ask about the difference between a Chianti and a Montepulciano. This is where Bin 941 really breaks through with their edgy décor, a well priced yet interesting wine list, and the casual demeanour of the wait staff who kneel alongside your table to discuss food and wine choices and give their opinions.
Listed in: Davie Street
i'm pretty sure our server picked up on the fact that we're americans and instantly hated us. the lady who greeted us took care of us for the second half of our visit; dunno what happened to so-and-so. ah well.
the music is awesome! the restroom, while wasn't in the best aromatic state, was cute with its flowers, old school radiating heater and ambient lighting and overall had a great photo op angle no matter where i pointed my camera. the red truck brewing lager was pretty tasty. i kinda wanted to sample an app or two but again, our server was nowhere to be found. the kitchen was clean and the food smelled/looked good coming out so i'm sure it's safe to say that their grub is probably yum. oh and nice wine list too--he saw a bottle of coppola go out. not too shabby.
This is a great place to go for a small gathering or a romantic date (up to 4 people) otherwise it can be hard to get a seat. But the atmosphere is worth it.
The service is great with the servers really knowing their wine list. They are also a wealth of information for wine/food pairings.
I'd recommend the bison, ahi tuna and najavo bread. Everything comes as tapas so be ready to share.
Listed in: My West End Hood, Casual Fare, Baby It's Cold Outside, Vancouver Girl's Night Outs, Tap Tap Tap Tapas in Vancouver
I love this place!!! Talk about fun times, especially if you sit at the seat right in front of the door. You can people watch to your heart's content - in fact, you're facing the other couple across the glass thru the door - while eating tasty tasty grub. They used to have a guest book where you could write notes...three years ago and 6 sangrias later, I think my note became a hot and steamy romance novel....I tried to find it the last time I visited, but perhaps Harlequin publishers ripped out the pages for their next publication?
Bottom line, if you're in Vancouver visiting (which I was) and even moreso if it's your hometown (which it is) you need to go here for some late night food and drink!!
I agree with most of what has been said about Bin 941. It is a great little spot with some really innovative cooking. Gord Martin, a former punk singer, who opened this place and then followed up with Bin 942 as well as local favourite Go Fish has had a lot of influence on the Vancouver restaurant scene. Many people say that he is the person responsible for the move towards small-plate dining in Vancouver - which has caught on everywhere around town.
Before launching the Bins and Go Fish his early culinary career was flipping burgers at the PNE and then managing a KFC! He then trained as a classical French chef at Dubrulle Culinary School and went on to work at Raincity Grill, Century Grill, Allegro Café, and the Wedgewood Hotel.
The Bins have spawned many other restaurants around town too including veterans of the Bins going on to open Lolita's South of the Border Cantina, Me & Julio, Cobre, and a few others.
So how's that for random facts of the day?
Tip: Come very early or very late as they don't take reservations, but do stay open quite late.
Tip: Take a seat at the Chef's bar to watch them prepare everything, and also chat with the chefs about the food that evening. It can make a really different experience.
I'm down with the other reviewers who liked the atmosphere of this place for it's hectic cramped style. The interior could use an update but the food has never let me down and I just have a good time here, always. Plus it's right by my place. I love my neighborhood!
Listed in: Moving to Midtown!
I never really understood the hype....to me Bin looked small and cramped...who wants to go on a romantic date and half to practically sit on your neighbors lap? I will admit the tiny, dark space does have an appeal...so I finally gave in and went to dine...
It was relatively quiet which was good...if you have seen the line ups you know it can get busy...my dinning partner and I were sat in the window..Davie is always the best place to people watch...and although cramped it was kinda cozy...
The food...the food was good....very creative tapas dishes...typical pretentious Vancouver fare...small little plates that cost WAY too much...but were prepared with thought and care.....
I did enjoy the food...it was not enough to fill us up..it could be if money was no option and you order tons of dishes...but when pinching pennies and in the mood to really eat..I wouldn't suggest Bin.....we actually stopped at KFC on the way home 'cause we were still hungry....
Walked in here at 6:30 pm on a Monday night - thankfully, there were two tiny tables available. In one of my more insane moments I have waited 45 minutes for a table at this place. Sitting at the back of the restaurant along it's 'waiting' bar is no fun - with many, many people squeezing by you enroute to the washroom. I think I've managed once to get one of the two coveted velvet booths - by arriving at 6 pm.
But beyond the acoustics and guaranteed cramped quarters - I do enjoy the food, this place consistently delivers beautifully presented, thoughtful dishes. The Beef Tenderloin Wellington with portobello and romano was our favourite dish of the night. They had replaced the mushroom risotto with a side stripe shrimp risotto on the menu (!) but will be bringing it back onto the menu by next week, according to the waitress. I hope they bring it back to the Tongue Teaser size because the $16 sized shrimp risotto was a bit too much for us - portion and tastewise. The Gathered Greens with pear and gorgonzola is presented in alternating layers of purple and green leaves, a dramatic look that elicited a "Wow, what's that?!" from the table beside us. Also ordered a gorgonzola fresh pesto bruschetta, which was a bit too soggy and heavy on the balsamic vinegar for my tastes.
Because it's so loud, you can't really hear the conversations beside you and vice versa (I hope) but I can't say it's the most comfortable place for me to have a meal. A good place to impress an out-of-towner couple for some small eats & a glass of wine.
Somehow I knew I'd love Bin 941 even before I dined there. Tapas and wine in an intimate restaurant calls my name. It was a tight fit getting in, but despite the crowd myself and a friend secured a table for two.
The service was a delight. Cheery, upbeat and recommended a great malbec, that waitress earned her 20%. We ordered several dishes, included the cheese to end all cheeses, baked brie. As the table was quite small, the dishes logically came out one at a time. This worked just fine, the course breaks were perfect and allowed time to enjoy the fine bottle before us.
In no time we made the acquaintance of the parties around us, and although we came as two I spend the night chatting amongst a large group.
I am firmly dedicated to the pursuit of perfect ambiance. Bin 941 comes damn close.
Went here on New Years Eve and was very happy with the experience. The place is small no doubt...and they don't take reservations...but, if that's the way it is then that's the way it is...
Service was good as all the servers were very genuine and had some nice recommendations. The food was very good!! We all kinda picked at each others plates...the Flank Steak with honey chipotle glaze was amazing!! As was the Pork Belly with Scallops.
If you are in Vancouver, do yourself a favor and stop by...
dropped by here with a friend just for a drink and mostly for dessert
i've been to their sister location bin 942 before but not this one
this place is super tiny and hard to find! its very close to the corner of burrard and davie st, downtown van
there is pretty much no waiting area.. standing by the door while you wait, you are pretty much in the way of the servers.. they have bar seating as well.. the tables are tiny as well and they have a couple booths which would be perfect if you can get one for just 2 people cuz it would be roomy
we got seated.. and perused the menu.. their drink list is pretty limited unless you want wine which we didn't.. i opted for a mandarin orange vodka on the rocks.. it came in a tiny class that almost looked like a floating candle holder and had a small slice of orange in it.. so it was cute but not worth 8 bucks
they had a special menu with spanish inspired tapas.. we decided to try the cornmeal crusted calamari that came with this fine green salsa.. i loved the coating and it had a nice spicy kick to it.. for $5 it was a steal; the portion size was very decent too
we also got a mascarpone white chocolate cheesecake, with a coconut baked crust, drizzled with warm feugo banana rum sauce.. it was simply W-O-W!!! this is one of the best cheesecakes i've had in a while! for the most part, unless you go to cheesecake factory in the states, cheesecake is cheesecake.. but the coconut crust and that sinfully sweet and rich sauce that was draped on the cheesecake put this one over the moon.. you must try this if you are a dessert fan! i'll definitely be back just for this!
atmosphere was good and bustling.. and the service was exceptional.. very warm, friendly and helpful
My boyfriend and I came up for the weekend and wanted to try a tapas place close to our hotel. We read some reviews of it in a Vancouver magazine and it was just a short walk from where were staying. It's tucked away and teeny tiny, but so cute inside.
It's basically a bar on the right and a few tables on the left with a walkway in the middle. The kitchen is right in the back and also very tiny. Only two chefs work in there at once. Once we got in, there wasn't a hostess stand, but a waitress passing by pointed us to a table. We sat down and were brought menus, utensils, plates and water. She commented that it was great timing when we walked in and we were slightly confused why. The restaurant was full, not but packed. However, we figured out why shortly afterwards. People started coming in and waiting for tables in the bar and by the time we finished, there was a line (it was a Friday night).
The menu is just a piece of paper, but a glorious one. There were so many things that sounded appealing. Many times when I come to a restaurant, immediately only a few items jump up for my attention. However, here, I was wanting too many dishes.
We ordered the mussels steamed in a smoked saffron tomato broth, the gorgonzola fresh basil pesto bruschetta, duck breast, and scallop and tiger prawns. The amazing: the mussels were delicious. They were cooked perfectly and the broth was smoky and a little bit spicy. It was perfect. It came with a few pieces of bread and I soaked it in the broth.. YUM! Even my boyfriend really enjoyed this dish and he normally doesn't like mussels. The bruschetta was also really good. While it's a simple dish, it is done so horribly wrong at a lot of places. This was the perfect portion with melted cheese and pesto. The mediocre: duck breast was a little overcooked, but the port sundried cranberry sauce was delicious (is it clear that I like sauces?). The prawn and scallop dish was a disappointment. I love scallops if they are cooked correctly, but this one was OVERDONE. *cries* It was chewy and rubbery and I was sad. The prawn was overdone as well, but was more bearable. I didn't finish this dish.
The plates come one by one and they give you new plates (usually) between dishes. It's a good pace and great for conversation. It could also be a good place to get a bite to eat before a night on the town, just not with a large party.
Next time I visit, I am definitely trying the portebello mushroom in a balsamic roast garlic reduction and the black olive homous with fry bread (while still ordering the bruschetta and mussels). The table next to us ordered those things and I was jealous. It looked awesome.
Definitely a very cute place and worth the wait (if there is one).
Listed in: Trips up north to…
oh tapas... how our love/hate relationship torments me! why is it that when you're cheap, you're not really worth eating. why is it that when you're delicious, you leave me thinking maybe i should get a second job in order to feed our self destructive relationship???
the way you did here at bin 941.
fried bread... pork belly... mmmm... the show stoppers of the night. so delicious - and yet you give me so little. you break my heart. if you gave me a little more at what i was paying, i'd be telling everyone you were a perfect 5 outta 5... (yes tapas, i eat and tell...)
The very things that are annoying about Bin 941 are what make it charming. It is VERY tiny. It takes a while to get a seat since they don't accept reservations. If you are able to snag a chair at the "bar" in the back, the wait is a bit easier, but you'll most likely be squeezed between the stock room and the restroom. Also, not much of a cocktail list to peruse and enjoy in the meantime. So what's so great about it? Everything else. Once seated, you will still feel quite "cosy" at your miniature table. But the dim lighting, cool music and lively chefs who cook up tapas in batches make the whole thing feel like an actual experience instead of just another night out at one of Vancouver's many uber-trendy restaurants. It's unique, slightly European feeling, and the food is very good. Definitely start with the "picnic." Portions are larger than average for tapas. Be sure to order a bunch of plates at the beginning, as all orders in the restaurant for a particular dish are cooked at the same time, and if you miss the first go round, you may have to wait a while.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver. It's tiny, eclectic and is totally funky. I fell in love with the orange, mirrored, mosaic wall.
It's always packed so you may have to wait for a table, but it's totally worth it. The food came out looking like art and the cook seemed to put a lot of care into ever dish. But I think I liked the ambiance even more. We spent like 3 hours there.
It's the kind of place you go to splurge or go to if it's on your company's dime (I've only been to Vancouver on business).
So if you have the time and some extra $$ then Bin won't disappoint.
Loud, dark, slow, but the food is good and the atmosphere is electric.
It is cozy, in a good way. The people are nice. But it is really darn slow to get food or drink and the food is not worth the steep $16 price tag -- and since when did tapas become full meals instead of tasty bites? doesn't accept amex either which is not a deal killer but be aware.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Fairview Slopes
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: West End
Neighborhood: Downtown
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