Fun With Carbs

'First course': prosecco (Photo by Diana Guay)

My Hartford Courant friends and I took advantage of last week’s Taste of Hartford restaurant promotion Friday, booking a table at bin228, a sexy little wine bar that serves great vino and small plates. Their $20.10 three-course meal deal included three small pours of red, white and prosecco.

First, I need to credit bin228′s fantastic staff: the tiny dining room seats a whopping total of 24 people and we were trying to cram in a party of 10, two more than our original reservation. While they rightfully could have turned down our request, they instead put us along the back wall, with cushy banquette seating and pillows. Nor did they blink an eye when several people changed seats to keep the conversation going before entrees arrived. A+ service. We felt comfortable and welcomed.

The first course of fontina fonduta, paired with three ounces of Nino Franco prosecco, was the absolute star of the night. We each received a warm ramekin of creamy cheese fondue topped with truffle oil and served with bread chunks for dipping. The fontina was velvety and luxurious. Several members of our party pantomimed licking their containers clean – it was that good.

Amazing fontina fonduta (Photo by Diana Guay)

Next came a plate of two bite-sized crab cakes on a bed of mixed greens, topped with a spicy remoulade. Terre Grillo white was poured with this course.

These were unfortunately forgettable, a bit too fishy. Not the best first taste of crab for Sara, who was excited for more palate expansion. Worse, she thought she bit down on a piece of shell, which completely freaked her out.

The third course, a choice of panini, fared a bit better. The non-meat eaters chose the vegetable version, made with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and asparagus. (The other options: pesto chicken and steak, caramelized onions and peppers.) Nobody was impressed by the accompanying chickpea salad, made with basil and capers. (I like capers as much as I like mushrooms.)

My ideal panini has lots of gooey flavor and this didn’t really hit the mark – it was on the dry side and could have used a stronger cheese. At the very least, a creamy spread, maybe something like the remoulade topping the crab cakes. Or hell, just pass me another ramekin of  that amazing fontina.

Vegetable panini (Photo by Diana Guay)

In my experience, Restaurant Week promotions (in most cities) can be hit or miss.  Last spring, during Northampton’s promotion, we had a truly terrible meal – with matching service – at a restaurant many consider to be the best in the city. Though we only spent $20.09 on that experience, you won’t see us back there for their regular offerings.

While these kind of deals do lure customers who might not otherwise pay full menu prices, who’s to say they wouldn’t keep that place in mind for a future special occasion? They won’t, if they receive bad food and service – or are made to feel that they’re only ‘restaurant week’ customers.

As for bin228, I’d most definitely make my way back there for wine and cheese. It’s my kind of place – relaxed yet classy upscale atmosphere, menu full of interesting cocktails. Wonder if they’d let me order a vat of that fonduta.

Want to see more pictures of our Hartford night out? See all of Diana Guay’s shots at her Flickr page.