This year I work for myself, so alas, there is no "Company Christmas Party." And no chance to embarrass myself. Not that I ever have.
So this year I decided to take myself out for a really nice meal with a good friend. We went to Bina, the new place on Washington Street in Downtown Crossing. The inside is very sleek, very high-end and polished. Maybe a little too much. We ate at the bar, and had a view of a big flat white wall. I almost expected to see a slide show projected on it. Like I was in an office, holding a meeting. You really expect to see a big piece of art or something up there. I think it could only warm up the place.
Although I was anything but cold. Even though it was freeZING outside, I was nice and warm, with my steak and polenta. And my two glasses of wine. And then my hazlenut chocolate dessert. It sounds like I went overboard, but the portions are small, just right if you order a salad, main course and dessert. To start, they bring you crusty slices of bread with what I thought was butter. Turns out it's some sort of beef fat spread. Like butter, but with a great aftertaste. The women next to us were adding it to their pasta. It was great on the bread, with some of the fresh rosemary and thyme on it. Never thought I would eat beef fat straightup, but this was definitely different. Next we each got the autumn salad which had hazlenuts on it. It was unexpected, but went well with the root vegetables in there. My steak was amazing, they didn't ask me how I wanted it cooked, which I take as a sign that there's only one way to eat it, medium rare. It was perfect, with some sort of prune glaze on the side. And the polenta, so creamy and thick, I was eating it with my fork. Of course that's because they didn't give me a spoon, which I wish I had, if only to eat up all the last bits. My friend's creme brulee with rice and apples in it was almost like a warm apple pie with carmel on it. Although I'm usually not a fan of puddings with rice in them.
I will definitely go back, because the menu just looks so good. Sure, the entrees are pricey (worth it) but you can also just sit at the bar to eat some of the small dishes. Get a half portion of the pasta dishes. I'll go with you and we can share 2 different kinds...
I already mentioned that the decor is sleek and maybe a little too austere. Well, go downstairs to use the bathroom and you'll get a nice warm feeling. It's like the inside of an egg yolk. All yellow, aglow, and each stall has a door that goes to the floor. Imagine that. Having privacy in the bathroom. More places need to think like that. Although I was in a slight panic when the faucet wouldn't go on and I had hands full of soap. I always wonder, why can't these chi-chi places put a foot pedal on the floor like surgeons use? If I've just paid $100 to eat at your restaurant, why won't you trust me not to waste the water?
