Daniel B.
Yelp
We had a wonderful experience at Bin 54 Steak & Cellar. This is one of the only non-chain, high-end steakhouses in Chapel Hill. The food, drink, and service were among the best we've experienced in the Chapel Hill-Durham area. This is a locally-owned-and-operated business. It's been around since 2006, so it's stood the test of time. If you're looking for a nice dinner out in Chapel Hill, I highly recommend this place.
Book your reservation using OpenTable. I'm a fan of OpenTable because it lets you earn rewards such as restaurant discounts and Amazon gift cards. I used my last two points redemptions for gift cards. It's a nice perk for dining out at no additional cost to you.
Bin 54 is located in the small Glen-Lennox Shopping Center on highway 54 (Raleigh Rd) at 15-501 (Fordham Blvd). There's free self-parking in the shopping center's lot. No valet. Every time we've come here, the parking lot has been close to full.
This is one of those classic, old-school, white tablecloth steakhouses with formally-dressed staff, some in suits like the general manager (Michael Fiscus, who greeted us when we checked in) and sommelier. All staff wear at least bow ties/neckties. We had a Tuesday 7:30pm reservation. We arrived early and the place was packed and busy. Bar manager Collin Lusty took care of us while we waited at the bar. Here, you have the option of eating at the bar.
The interior was dimly lit with different rooms and nooks with seating. My wife and I were seated at one of the two-tops in the center of the main dining room. The way the room is setup, there are U-shaped booths along the perimeter so the folks who sit there look inwards towards the center tables. For a two-top, our table was nice and big to fit everything, but my wife and I were farther apart from each other than we're used to when dining out (a lot of leaning forward to talk; not a big deal).
Below is a list of what we had. It should give you an idea on what Bin 54 has to offer and the pricing at the time of our visit.
"Beginnings" (Appetizers)
* Beef Tenderloin Tartare ($18) - cornichon, capers, shallots, quail egg, potato crisp
* Seared Diver Scallops ($25) - cauliflower puree, butternut squash caponata, Calabrian chili agrodolce
"Land" (Steaks)
* Bone-In Ribeye ($78) - 22 oz. with au poivre vert sauce on the side
* Filet Mignon ($55) - 10 oz. with bearnaise sauce on the side
"Companions" (Sides)
* Mushroom Ragout ($14) - garlic, thyme
* Creamed Spinach Casserole ($12)
* Truffled Four Cheese Macaroni ($16)
Dessert
* Banana Pudding ($12) - bourbon pecan cookie, toasted meringue
Classic Cocktail
* Perry's Terrace-tini ($14) - Absolut Citron vodka, pomegranate liqueur, lemon juice, mint; served up with a lemon twist and topped with sparkling cava
* Vesper ($15) - Bombay Sapphire Gin, Stolichnaya "Stoli" Vodka, Lillet Blanc; served up with a twist
Special Wine Feature
* Portuguese Flight (three 3-ounce pours for $29)
- Quinta de Saes, Dao Tinto, 2018
- Fitapreta, A Touriga Vai Nua, 2021
- Asnella, Single Vineyard, 2021 (Vinho Verde)
Everything was phenomenal. No matter what type of food or drink it was, it was perhaps the best we've had in the Triangle, from the Scallops to the Banana Pudding. Even the complimentary bread and butter was fantastic.
The Beef Tenderloin Tartare and the Seared Diver Scallops were terrific. One thing that stuck out to me about Bin 54's Beef Tartare was the potato crisps. Presumably housemade, they were really good. The Scallops were incredibly flavored and the meat itself was fresh and succulent.
The steaks were A+. We ordered both steaks medium rare and they came out perfect. All aspects of the steaks were on point, from how they were seasoned and cooked to the meat quality. The au poivre vert and bearnaise sauces were housemade and excellent.
The sides were amazing too. My wife and I love mushrooms and the Mushroom Ragout hit the spot. The mushrooms were super tasty and had very appetizing textures too. Both the Creamed Spinach Casserole and the Truffled Four Cheese Macaroni were rich and addictive. Generous portions.
I loved everything about the Banana Pudding, from the toasted meringue on top to the cookie crumbles inside (my favorite part). This may have been the best Banana Pudding I've had anywhere.
The cocktails were strong and delicious. The wine was superb.
Our server Brandon was great. This business runs like a well-oiled machine. They got all the details locked down. If I recall correctly, Brandon used to be the bar manager at Cucciolo Osteria in Durham. The executive chef, Kevin Draper, came over from Fearrington House in 2009, so no surprise why the food is exceptional here.
Bin 54 is part of the Giorgios retaurant group, named after founder-owner restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias. At the time of writing this review, there are 16 Giorgios restaurants, 15 of which are located in the Triangle. In Chapel Hill, Kipos Greek Taverna and Osteria Georgi are also part of the group.