Bin 942 Tapas Parlour

Added Nov 3, 2009 by jmozery of downtown vancouver (2 Reviews)

Outstanding food, meh everything else
These guys know how to cook a piece of meat. But if you're serving tapas (as the waitress so condescendingly informed me) then don't price your plates at $16, and categorize them as 'dinner'. That does not make sense for small plates. What I got was well cooked, but it was not tapas. It was just a small portion of overpriced food that you put in the middle of my table.
Music was also headbangingly loud. I wanted to like this place, but i'll bring my earplugs next time

Added Jun 28, 2009 by Rocky_Vancouver of vancouver, westend (11 Reviews)

So Bad, Such a Sham!
We went here last night and had only a couple of dishes. A risotto dish and the portabello mushroom dish. Unfortunately, they were both horrible - and definitely did not live up to the description on the menu! The risotto was overpowered by some kind of cheese flavour - you couldn't really taste anything else (esp.the prawn. The second dish was NO BETTER, it had no flavour and was very greasy. We really should have sent them both back but because the portions are so small that one two people taste them over half the dish is gone!

The prices were just ridiculous - $16 each for these plates. They are supposed to be sharing plates but the are tiny - you really can't share them. The risotto dish offered about three spoons each. IF (huge IF) the food was worth eating, it would cost over $150 to feel just a little full. Value Rating should really be zero b/c the portions of food (even if BAD) are so small! Even the mark-up on wine seems a little high, but whatever.

The staff weren't bad,...just didn't seem interested or happy to be there. I don't blame them really - I wouldn't be want to have to smile and try to represent the restaurant carrying food like that. I feel bad for the servers.

Anyway, because our first two choices were so bad - and such a rip off we decided cut this experience short. We paid, a left for a better choice.

Vancouver has so many good restaurants. I don't know why this place still exists.

Added May 1, 2009 by MrsMason-Brown of Kitsilano (10 Reviews)

First Anniversary Nibbles - Wink!
You know how big occasions seem to always call for a very expensive, very fancy meal? You know how you always get all gussied up, shave, etc. You always sit down and say things like "oooh this is VERY nice!" etc. You know how upon reading the prices associated with what you are eating you suddenly become a food critic. Knowing that you are paying $20.00 for two prawns and a single scallop served with a small pile of lemony leaves makes you acutely aware of how good you perceive everything to be. If it was White Spot, you couldn't care less if it even arrived warm, if it is nice it's just a pleasant surprise! So for our first anniversary, we decided that the last thing we wanted was to spend something akin to a first months rent in Yaletown on a "nice meal". I left this up to my husband to pick something romantic but unconfrontational. He decided on Bin 942, the West Broadway sister of Bin 941 on Davey. It is funkily romantic. This is not a place for a first date. This is definitely the one you save for the date when you finally think you're gonna get laid. The music is a little bit louder, but not so much that you can't hold a conversation, and the girl behind the bar was on top of this, monitoring it to make sure it never became nuisance . The ambiance is warm and red, people are dressed up, but in expensive jeans and the like. This is, I think, a very good first stop on the way to go clubbing.
The drinks menu is short and to the point, it doesn't waste time on anything uncool. The wines and beer are nicely selected. This is a Tapas place, so I was surprised to not find a Cava on the menu. Maybe that's a little camp of me to ask for. Maybe this is because we got engaged in Barcelona and I really wanted a bottle of Cava. So I had a glass of Prosecco instead. It sufficed.
This is Tapas, so we ordered 4 items. They were all in the $15 range, so we didn't feel too bad about this, so far. First up was Kobe beef carpachio, a plate full of little slices of gorgeously seared beef, with a little dab of balsamic reduction, and a cheeky bowl of garlic popcorn. Really nice, I felt the love in the little whispers of beef. Next came scallops wrapped in prawns topped with leek tempura. Again, lovely, nibbly, moreish. Mussels in garlic and white wine followed. Huge, fat mussel meat, nice little garlic toasts, served molten lava hot. There is no time wasted from kitchen to table here. Last up was a giant mound of matchstick pomme frites with a syrupy drizzle of balsamic reduction. (Balsamic reduction on two items, nah I'll let it pass). The only thing was that I wish I had known how big the pile of matchstick potatoes were. This was really something best shared between four people with drinks. After everything else we really didn’t need these. We had it packed up, and took it home. They kept fine, and were eaten as a late night snack later. Liked the candied fennel seeds that came with the bill. Have a bad feeling very soon anywhere that tries to emulate trendiness will have these coming with the bill very soon. But I felt they fit in this place, amongst the red light and young pre-clubbers in hair extensions and torn jeans.
I love Tapas, and I thought Bin 942 did a nice interpretation of the theme rather than being a slave to traditional Spanish food. Excellent food, prepared with love. So my husband was very successful with his restaurant selection and we had a great night. Later we ran out and grabbed a bottle of Cava to drink with the top tier of our cake. So i took care of that whole Cava craving. And I got pretty spiffy ring for my present. YAY!

Total for 4 items, two drinks and tip: $85
*read more at womaneatscity.wordpress.com*

Added Apr 20, 2009 by topvanchef of kitslilano,vancouver (7 Reviews)

tasty food with welcoming service
went with my good frnd , she told me nice place to hang around. its was nice and we had nice wine , good collection, try hummus one , we ordered 3 dishes , were all nice , staff was nice and good looking , and well groomed. music was bit loud that cant hear each other and one must try this place ,

Added Jan 19, 2009 by rlf of Downtown Vancouver (11 Reviews)

Bin needs a new spin
Bin 942 has been a longtime favorite of mine, but I have not had the occasion to visit as often since moving out of the immediate neighbourhood. I went Friday night with some girlfriends and was shocked at how bad it had become - food was mediocre at best, service spotty and wine list uninteresting. It has become very pricy ($16/plate for most items) and the portions have gotten disproportionately small. To call this "Tapas" is a misnomer...there were three of us and most of the dishes were one bite each.

We had the portobello mushroom, flank steak, risotto and the navajo fry bread. The portobellow was oversauced, flank steak cold, risotto flavorless. The fry bread is wonderful, as always.

Overall impression - limp, tired and in need of a makeover. Bring back your $10 plates and shareable portions.

Added Nov 1, 2008 by Rayzach of West End, Vancouver (50 Reviews)

Great Tapas Spot
We love Bin 942. It's a little larger than the original Bin 941 on Davie and they are not as busy... Almost the same menu and everything we have ever tried has been great. My fav has got to be the Navajo Bread with Sundried Tomato and Goat Cheese Salsa. We also love the Cinnamon Rub Chilli Flank Steak and the Halibut dish.

The service at Bin 942 seems to be a little better than 941 and the desserts are also a must try. Would recommend going later in the evening to avoid the dinner rush...

A fun hip place to share creatively prepared food and great wine...

Added Oct 11, 2008 by KitsKid of Kitsilano (72 Reviews)

We'll be back
We headed to Bin around 8pm on a friday night accpecting a half hour wait at the least. We were greeted by a server who told us that it'd be about 15 - 20 mins which was awesome, I asked if we can grab a drink and stand near the door where there was a small ledge she said no problem and gave us a menu and shortly after brought us our wine. The one thing I thought was odd was that she said if we wanted a table right away we can share a table with another couple - who were making out - we thought that was wierd as they were obviously on a date.
Before we could finish our wine our table was ready, a booth no less. We looked through the menu and ordered the coconut mussels, great flavour, nice broth - Tuna 2 ways which we both agreed was our favorite of all the dishes- Ceasar salad I thought it was over dressed but still quite tasty and the Seared Prawn and Scallop which was okay, nothing special, shrimp was a bit over done, scallops were perfect but just okay.
Our food came out quickly and one plate at a time which was lovely as we could enjoy a dish while it was hot (or cold) and fully enjoy all the flavours. The menu is decently priced, some things more overpriced(prawns and scallops) than others but nothing to complain about.
The service was great. Prompt, fun, and attentive. Half way during our meal one of the servers changed our plates and napkins which I thought was a nice touch. They were also always topping off our water and cleaning our table as we finished each dish.
The room is awesome and the music was great. We really enjoyed our dinner and will definalty be back.

Added Jul 25, 2008 by casualdiner of Vancouver (2 Reviews)

love this place
I've been here over and over. its one of my favorite places to go dine in Vancouver. The food is exceptional. The flavors are bold and tasty, and plating is beautiful. Menu is small, and you might find yourself eating the same thing when you come back, you'll definitely have your favorite dish. Great and funky space. Not intimidating at all. Great place to bring friends and have a good time. The music is loud, the space is funky and small, and food is incredible, and you won't break your wallet.

Added May 14, 2008 by Okaliswan of New Westminster (74 Reviews)

Perhaps Over-Hyped
Popped in here for a quick glass of wine and a nosh. Service was good, we were immediately seated. The wine we ordered was very good, but the food was just OK, and the decor / ambience, didn't really wow me. Kind of junky, but comfortable I guess. Given all I'd heard about the Bins, I'd expected more. Just OK.

Added Mar 31, 2008 by cocoeater of vancouver (187 Reviews)

Nice food but too cramped
Arrived at 8:30pm on a Friday night and expected it to be busy but not the 40 min wait kind. Opted to sit at the bar which was very tight but no wait. Ordered the Kettle Valley PG and it was excellent. Lamb Shanks and the mussels were very good while the crab cake was average and overpriced for the portion you receive. Overall very good food.

Added Feb 20, 2008 by foodie007 of vancouver (4 Reviews)

Great service, decent food
Bin 942 doesn't take reservations, so I was sort of expecting a wait when I arrived with a group of friends. I put my name on the list, and we waited. And waited.

We waited so long, a couple of my friends walked down the street to check out other restaurants. The waitress noticed our group getting antsy, so she managed to hustle a couple sitting at a large table over to the bar, and to seat us. Much appreciated.

Once seated, our orders were promptly taken. Both drinks and food arrived in pretty good time. Food quality was hit or miss, some plates were very good, and some weren't. The fries were a particular hit with everyone in our group. Overall, it's a little overpriced, though.

Throughout the meal, our wonderful server came over and made sure everything was OK. Definitely made up for the long wait (which wasn't her fault, anyway.) A slight negative is the volume of the music, which other people have commented on. We were all yelling at each other, which was kind of exhausting. This is not somewhere you go to chat with your friends, this is somewhere you go to see and be seen.

Added Jan 21, 2008 by may2008 of Kits (2 Reviews)

Love the food
Heard a lot of good things about this place and finally tried this past weekend, it was little small cozy funky place, and the food was amazing good, we ordered Flank Steak and Portobello Mushroom, they were soooo yummy. The service was little slow, but very friendly. We definitely will go again and again

Added Jan 15, 2008 by commonsense of vancouver (1 Reviews)

Wish I had read the reviews before going...
After having loved the food at the Bin quite some time ago we decided that our return trip was long overdue. I wish we had read the reviews before going back.

As mentioned in other reviews the music was too loud but otherwise I found the ambience to my liking. That was about the only positive comment I can contribute.

While we were greated promptly and with some enthusiasm the service was atrocious. After taking our food order another server came by to ask us what we'd like to order. Then another server came by to stating that they wanted to confirm our order but had no idea what we had already ordered. Not once were we asked if anything was okay and our table was obviously avoided as they tried to remember what we had ordered in the first place.

It was at least half an hour between food items. The mussels in the coconut cream was below average, served slightly above room temperature with burnt bread. The carpaccio was almost as warm as the mussels and proved that popcorn is still popcorn even if done with truffle oil. At least we all enjoyed the Brie. Surprise, surpise the only service we recieved was in collecting the money or the bill.

Added Jan 6, 2008 by van4food of vancouver (9 Reviews)

Overpriced but delicious
Overall a decent place to eat but I found it a little too pricy for the small portions. We were a party of three and with 2 rounds of drinks our bill came up to $ 200 plus tip. We were not stuffed or anything like that. The food was really well done and flavours were excellent. There was a lot of love in the food. The service was average. Our waitress was polite but forgot our second round of drinks.
Overall a decent place for Tapas style. Worth it, if you are rich,

Added Dec 15, 2007 by lsa of vancouver (1 Reviews)

a mashup of the best
The ambiance: the fact that Bin 942 (and 941) have no set theme to their interior design makes me feel a lot better about eating there. I can go when I'm in casual wear, I can go when I want to dress up a bit, it doesn't matter - and that is fantastic! The music is loud but it only overpowers the sounds from the table beside you, which is in quite close proximity, but it still allows you to have an intimate conversation with your own company.

The food: is mouth watering; everything on the menu looks and sounds amazing! We had the duck confit and it was delicious and the fry bread is a must have when going. It's hard not to want more when food that's ordered around you smells and looks so good. Presentation is beautiful! Albeit it's a tad pricey but for the quality of food you get in return for approx $11-$15 tapas it's nothing that's stopping me from coming again.

The service: the girls working there were nice, nothing spectacular, but to me that's saying a lot considering what you are really paying for is the service. They're friendly, decently quick and relaxed, not much more to say about that.

Overall: probably my favorite place to eat out in the lower mainland, most certainly something you want to try out, and I can almost guarantee that you'll fall in love with it

Added Nov 22, 2007 by cameron88 of vancouver (3 Reviews)

re: sad for chef Zuvich
I agree that bin hasn't been the same lately
however, the chef (ryan zuvich) has not been with the company for at least 6 months.
He moved on to england to train from what I understand
Besides, every restaurant goes through a new chef learning curve
it's only a matter of time before the Bins are back!

Added Nov 10, 2007 by frugalgourmet of Vancouver (73 Reviews)

The Love Affair is Over
What happened to the Bin?

My memories of a visit in 2004 were very fond. As a foodie in denail, I kept on rationalizing in my head: Perhaps, the head chef absent on a busy Friday night? Maybe the labour shortage was affecting the hiring of quality kitchen staff? Could it be possible that they were having an off night?

Regardless of benefits of doubt given, the disturbing reality that stood before me spoke the truth:

-a pesto and gorgonzola bruschetta served cold - too salty; over-drenched in pesto, overpowered by the gorgonzola
-a crimini risotto that had huge slabs of peppercorn that completely overpowered the creamy/earthiness of such a dish
-a prawn and scallop dish with overcooked, dry and sinewy prawns
-a Kobe meatball served with the Stroganoff accompaniment served stone-cold

From an operational stand-point, the kitchen could benefit from a more efficient and passionate staff. Staff literally stood around taking smoke breaks in the wash up area (tsk tsk for health and safety) as no one was discernibly taking charge in the kitchen/pass area. I watched as someone's mussels stood at the pass, neglected for a good 3 minutes before a waitperson paid it any attention. Sad for the mussels. Sad for the diner. Sad for owner Gord Martin and chef de cuisine Ryan Zuvich.

This is disappointing for someone who always looked forward to fresh creative dishes from the Bin. As any self-respecting diner or lover would do, it's time to put an end to the misery a bad relationship brings. Adios, Bin!

Added Aug 15, 2007 by jacob_kessler of Vancouver (3 Reviews)

Great food makes for cramped style
Incredible dishes, very cramped seating. Not my style, but worth a trip or two for the wonderful tuna and lamb. Salsa and bread are made of excellence. Servers beautiful, but not very attentive. Music a touch too loud. I assume it's meant to promote a sense of intimacy, but ability to converse is greatly hampered.

Added Feb 27, 2007 by boytoy of nvan (3 Reviews)

bin always good / but needs makeover
Went to bin 942 some time ago and had quite a good time. Having worked in the kitchen I am blown away by what / and how much they pump out in such a small work area. Excellent foccacia bread , flank steak was tasty but had a little too much cinamon for my liking.Cheesecake was fantastic as well . I find the music and dark room a littlte to bauhaus / 80 's goth music feeling to be dreary and in need of a makeover

Added Aug 23, 2006 by moussy of Vancouver (60 Reviews)

Hand it to them for Creativity.
I desperately wanted to try this place out a while ago. So my friends and I decided to check this place out, and were seated quickly because we got there before the lineups!

Ordered digby scallops and prawns, ahi tuna and the duck breast. The digby scallops and prawns had a great flavour to them, but portion was smaller than I expected. Maybe it was because we were sharing this between three people, but thats what came to my mind. Ahi Tuna was good too, but nothing to rave about. My favourite was the duck breast. Very juicy, and had delicious risotto croquettes that melted in your mouth. Cheese fondue with that dish was also wonderful. We wanted to try the butternut risotto, but they didn't have it for some reason.

Desserts here are awesome! Had the creme brulee and cheesecake. Cheesecake is definitely recommended to try. Very smooth and light, not too sweet....and the crust and cream cheese compliment each other perfectly. Creme brulee was good, but not the best I've tried.

Service was good. Timing is right between the dishes. But I don't really like loud places where you can barely hear the person speak.. But then again, Bin 942 wouldn't seem so exciting without it either. The loud music seems to match their decor well.

I'd come back if I felt like having unique tapas for an alright price...but would come back definitely for desserts. Not sure if this place is as good as people claim it to be, but their creativity shows off well without the pretentiousness.

Added Jul 17, 2006 by foodfanatic of South Vancouver (295 Reviews)

Can't help lovin' them!
In spite of the elbow-to-elbow "intamacy" with your strangers you're forced into sharing, and the loud banging music that makes you shout across the little table over to your dining companion to be heard as everyone else is doing it, it just adds to the fun, noisy atmosphere. Can't help but love the place. The food is superb at reasonable prices. The current white chocolate coconut cheesecake with pan fried slices of bananas & butterscotch syrup dressing is an absolute must! That's just heart-meltingly good! What's good is that the banana comes to you still hot! What better to go with it then the many wines by the glass or bottle they have to offer? A good wine selection by the glass at okay prices.

The menu & prices vary a lot to a little between the 2 bin locations. But between the two, I do prefer the service at this Broadway location over the downtown one.

This is a definite favourite dining & drinking destination for my hunt for a 2nd dinner in the same evening spot, or simply for a late night bite. If you have few in your party, like 1 or 2, sitting at the little bar by the door is probably one of the more private seatings available where you needn't feel like you're squeezed between the 2 tables on either side of you as well as making conversation a little easier between yourself & your companion.

Though, I must say, I still prefer the mussels over at Chambar better, but I much prefer the prices for the drinks & food at Bin.

Added Jan 16, 2006 by sharz of Burnaby (6 Reviews)

Needless to say...
The food was incredible, two thumbs up! (Enjoyed EVERY dish that I've tried.) The service was a little disappointing because the place is always so busy. The decor is nice but I found the seats were tight and the music is a bit too loud to have a good conversation. Despite that I'd still go back there again and again just for the food.

Added Oct 2, 2005 by madddskillz of Burnaby (58 Reviews)

Worth Checking out
Went here today with a party of three. Arrived around 6ish, and had to wait about half an hour for a table. The place is pretty small and it's very easy to miss if you're just driving by. Inside there's probably only enough room for 8 or so people to wait. Some people came in and left. They weren't taking reservations on the day went (sunday).

The space inside is very cozy because of the small space and the decor. There are decorations hanging off the walls and ceiling. The music reminded me of music they would play to a guy sketching a picture with a pencil. The service is friendly and helpful. They poured water out of a wine bottole which I thought was interesting. Overall, it's a pretty nice environment inside.

We ordered the scallop and tiger prawn tournedos, which was pretty good. The Chicken, which honestly is pretty much the best chicken I've had that was on the bone. The Ahi Tuna, which was alright but not too outstanding. Grilled Asparagus, it was topped with some cheese, was just okay. The pomme frites, which is a GIANT plate of hickory stick like fries. We couldn't finish it at all. It's alright, but a little too much for three people. The risotto, I thought it was alright, but realized that I didn't really like risotto in general. By the point we got to the risotto we were stuffed and couldn't finish it either.

Overall, I'd rate the place a four. It's pretty good, but not mind-blowingly so. If you go, be sure to get the chicken!

Added Dec 30, 2004 by thecritic of East Side (173 Reviews)

Tasty Tapas
We had a late night urge for some tapas after going to a movie so we decided to hit one of the Bin restaurants. Unfortunately, the Bin 941 on Davie Street was jammed full. With only a dozen or so tables and a few more seats at the bar, it doesn't take long for the place to fill up. We drove to the Broadway location which is about the same size and there were a couple tables available.

We order 5 tapas including the seared ahi tuna, digby scallops and prawns, butternut squash risotto, beef tenderloin satay, and mashed potatoes. We definately made a mistake ordering both the risotto and mashed potatoes; way too much carbs for one meal. Overall the food was great. My favourite tapa was the prawns and scallops. It had a healthy portion of deep fried leeks layered on top of the dish which I though added a nice change in consistancy making the dish very satisfying.

One note of interest was that they do not serve martinis. They are strictly a beer and wine shop with a few scotches and other appertifs. With most restaurants hopping on the martini bandwagon, this gives the restaurant a distinct image and allows them to keep their service level high not having the overhead of constant martini mixing.

I will attempt another visit to Bin 941...maybe make a reservation this time.