My follow-up review for this restaurant. Read my previous review for this restaurant here

We got seated in the more-fancy section (perch and squid?) but asked for the burgers-and-salad menu. Instead of any kind of disdain, the waitress was totally sweet about it.
Annnd we ate well.

Oh, I should add that I had the “Bubbles” flight of wines (18 ounces of bubbly wines) and I was giggling for hours afterwards. Highly recommended.

the food is fine (as fine as other above-average eateries) but you’re not there for the food. you go for the wine flights, which are four glasses filled with 2.5 oz of different wines. the wines are grouped together in some interesting categories (“italian vs. spanish whites”, “south america red & hot!”, "bubbles"). the waiters seem to really know their wine; now you can, too. or at the very least, you’ll learn to bluff.
oh, and they have a pretty great brunch menu which may be worth getting up for on sundays.

A modern restaurant located in Downtown Chicago. The big deal about this restaurant are the wine flights. For a modest amount, you can choose various wine flights (i.e. several wine tastes of a particular type or region). This is a great way to ascertain the qualities of a wine you like or dislike on the spot. It serves American Contemporary dishes. And, to my recollection, the food was rather unremarkable (I don’t yearn for it but neither did I feel disappointed after the meal). The dessert dishes were pretty but not delicious. I found the service borderline pretentious. Despite it’s grand size, this place is always packed though so be sure to make an RSVP. I’ve been here 3 times now and have even taken people out here (they’ve always been pleased with it). So, would I go back again? Sure, but it would be more for the the wine and cheese. And that’s why I’m giving it the 4 stars instead of the 3 (I would otherwise give it a 3.5)

I go every week or two for lunch. They get you out of there quickly and you get to take water, coffee, and cookies with you when you leave. Gotta get the beet salad. It’s fantastic!

if you love wines/cheeses, then bin 36 is a good place to consider. sleek, modern, and clean, bin 36 offers a unique trio of a wine store, a casual wine/bar dining area as well as a more upscale fine dining area. on a friday night, the place was bustling and everyone seemed to be enjoying a nice glass (or four) of wine w/their meals.

i was surprised to find the food to be fairly good (as other reviewers haven’t been so glowing), and the atmosphere although loud, still enjoyable.

would i make another visit to bin 36?
most probably.

Get your taste buds ready and head over to Bin 36. If you’re ready for some taste exploration you gotta try the deluxe cheese flights and a few wine flights.

The decor is a bit odd since it’s a pretty bright restaurant and feels like a wine shop when you walk in. The fancier dining area is a bit darker, but not much. It’s a good atmosphere for having fun with friends and not as much for a romantic date.

The service was pretty good. Our server was very attentive, polite and extremely helpful in explaining things from cheese to wine to scotch and tawny ports.

It’s easy to keep ordering and ordering but if you take your time like we did and have a nice leisurely 3 hour meal, it all feels worth it.

The entire experience of this restaurant is great. The decor right when you walk in is modern and sleek with glass walls, metal chairs, and white linens. The wines, which you can buy at the restaurant, are great. Feel free to pick from the pre-made flights or create one of your own. The food is also outstanding. The menu offers wine pairings for each item, and the staff is very knowledgeable as well. A must visit.

The wine list is great! Food is really good. A little noisy but other than that a place i will definitely go back to.

I went for the first time yesterday. I was sort of apprehensive because I was dining by myself (I felt like it was time to treat myself out to a good meal). However, the minute I stepped inside, I was greeted warmly, seated right away, and generally felt welcome. That is really important for any solo diner.

I ordered oyster on the 1/2 shell with bin 4 (nv brut). The combination was marvelous. Granted, I’ve had better oysters, but the ones bin 36 served were still fresh and flavorful (despite being really small). For my second course, I had blini lentil crepes with candied veggies? Well, the combination was amazing and the bin 23 (a riesling) went really well with the meal. For dessert, I had the caramel creme brulee with the 2005 dark muscat quady electra. The meal totaled $60 including tax and tip. Not expensive considering the fantastic three course meal, and three different wines to accompany it.