For Your Consideration: Bin 8945
Note: Picture cribbed from The Book Los Angeles
One place I would consider fine dining is Bin 8945, a little restaurant in West Hollywood where I joined my friend Ben and our friend Jason the night before they left for London a couple weeks back. We went there on the recommendation of the esteemed S. Irene Virbila, food critic for the LA Times, and she did not disappoint.
We all decided to throw down for the tasting menu at bin 8945, which weighed in at $100, but we convinced ourselves that we needed the wine pairing as well. Earlier that evening, we had the chance to booze it up with the inestimable Michelle Collins at the Standard. You see, the wine was necessary to keep the buzz going from all of those mojitos (the bill for our pool-side fun came out to $7 worth of food and $125 in booze).
Because of all the alcohol, I really can't remember what I ate, I just know that it was amazing and I want to go again. The wait staff was great and there were many items on the menu that were simply too good for words, as if I could have come up with any good ones in my altered state. The owner/manager David Haskell has managed to combine a very hip yet not pretentious vibe.
The appeal of the tasting menu we chose was that it went on until we could not go on. From the appetizers to the final dessert and champagne, we went through fourteen courses and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. At the end, the price of the meal plus the wine was well worth the experience.
My only regret of the evening was that I later joined a friend at Barney's and drank two more beers. Not only did I not need those beers, but it had the unfortunate effect of helping my stomach get rid of my lovely meal later that night. On the bright side, I didn't have any nagging guilt the next morning to burn off six or seven courses on the treadmill.
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So who'd you have to sleep with to get all that great food for $7 ?
Sorry, the $7 worth of food was at the Standard. I like to keep my food whoring to a minimum, and there has to be lobster involved.
Note to self: if I ever meet Jojo, have lobster on hand...not literally on my hand, just have some handy.
Wow - eating a fabulous meal and then barfing so no weight is gained...I think you might be onto something.
hb
Wow what a booze filled evening - no wonder why you yacked it up! I always thought the saying was liquer before beer have no fear??? Mybe they just didn't mean that much liquer before beer!
You lead such a glamorous life, Joe.
Oh! Horseheads! Special to my heart, Mokey-Joe. I grew up west of there by, oh, maybe 50 miles, but also on "17". We'd drive each summer to see Da's family in NYC, and your town was us kids' favorite place name. The runner up? Fishes Eddy, I think it's called, on east along the same highway. Lately, though, we have marked the progress of the upgrading of said roadway on each of the so many trips we took from FAAAAAR West NY to be with my sister before she passed last month. She was just beyond Elmira, so there was no avoiding your hometown if we'd wanted to. There was also no avoiding the freaking construction from MY location right on past "yours," and our regular refrain, Sunday after Sunday, for months as we made our return was "Dude! Like, who'd Horseheads hafta blow...?" Seriously, there is some hefty sums being left there, and it makes the REST of "future I86" look downright DOWDY!
So Bobbie, would that put you around bath or Hammondsport?
All of the construction has freaked me out a little as well, and made everything seem like I never grew up there. Then I take a stop at the Arnot Mall and everything is as it should be.
Another saying goes:
Wine before beer makes you feel queer,
Beer before wine makes you feel fine.
(Will & Grace)
Bin 8945 was awesome! I highly recommend. I would go again, but since I'm unemployed, it probably would be best if I stuck to mac and cheese.
b-side, if you show up at the brunch on May 20th i will get Bauer's Sweetheart to pay for your meal.
hb
See, this is what you don't get at any other site... a resturant critic who can't remember a damn thing about the food..... who knew it would still make me want to go and try......
and B-Side with no money for a drinking and eating binge..... unemployment sucks but I have heard you can sell you food stamps for cash......
I can not believe you are from horseheads, ny this is totally blowing my mind right now. I know a ton people from there who I met in college at Syracuse. this is shocking.
Unemployed B? Didn't the Today Show pay you? :)
Naw, I'm originally a schooch farther along than Bath--though that was my school's main rival in all things sportish. It's Wellsville I'm from; we travel "old 17" (now 417), which chomps 30 miles off the trip between--and when you're talking the miles between some of these central and western NY townlets, every freakin' mile counts, right?
I went to college in a tiny town in PA - and EVERYONE took their parents to Hoss's. Gah, I loved that place too. Itwas dark and gross but great. I kinda miss it.
I grew up along the Hudson but I refuse to call it up state NY. Suck it, Westchester!
One of my best birthdays ever was when we spent 3x more for alcohol and food - incl. appetizers and dessert. Then played drunk arcade games.
I guess it's all about me, today, sorry J! :(
D'oh, that was me.
Mokers and B-Side, if you guys show up at the brunch on May 20th...your drinks and brunch are on HicksPub and I. It would be our pleasure.
Wow, I love a food critic that doesn't mention actual food! So, what ya drink?