A Steakhouse that Sizzles
Any university town is going to have more than its share of casual dining establishments, pizza joints, and all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet restaurants. But when your university was founded in 1795 – like, say, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for instance – ample time has passed for the area to cultivate a rich culture of sophisticated tastes.
Which brings us to Bin 54, a robust eatery in the tradition of Morton’s of Chicago and Keen’s in New York City that has carved out a reputation as the name for classy and classic steakhouse dining in the region. Executive Chef Kevin Draper has guided the Bin 54 team to its present position on every Chapel Hill diner’s bucket list. Locals keep Bin 54 at the top of their list of places to celebrate big events and special occasions.
For over a decade, Bin 54 has served as an anchor at the Glen Lennox Shopping Center, earning a devoted local following and gaining national attention in part by its naming to OpenTable’s list of the top 100 steakhouses in America. Owner/operator and James Beard Award nominee Georgios Bakatsias has brought a taste of the big city to this little college town, and it’s a hearty taste.
Yearning for a 32 oz. prime Porterhouse? You’re in luck. Bone-in ribeye or dry-aged N.Y. Strip? Step right up. Braised beef short ribs or one of two sizes of Filet Mignon? At your service.
Still, Bin 54 is far from one-dimensional. Seafood selections such as sashimi-grade Ahi Tuna and Faroe Islands Salmon get the royal treatment from Chef Draper and are combined with local produce from North Carolina’s diverse agricultural resources. Everything at Bin 54, including bread and desserts, is made in-house.
There’s always the question of what to pair with your meal. Or perhaps you’re simply looking for a place to meet a friend and talk about life over a fantastic glass of red. Bin 54’s phenomenal wine list, well-stocked with Wine Spectator favorites, offers a gracious number of options. Not sure which wine to pair with your meal or taste? Bin 54’s sommelier advises with an encyclopedic grasp of the fruits of the vine.
Bin 54 follows the same formula that has propelled the inventive Bakatsias into the upper echelon of restaurateurs in the United States. It’s a bedrock formula that has produced 13 successful dining establishments, each offering a different type of menu and dining experience, all using only the freshest meats, seafood and produce and prepared with the care, attention to detail and the passion of the gourmet and gourmand that he is. His collaboration with Chef Draper ensure that incredible creations and noteworthy experiences will be found at Bin 54, an intimate venue tucked into the Glen Lennox Shopping Center.
