Bin 303 — Restaurant in Rockwall

In Historic Rockwall an old house just off the square has been converted into a top end dining destination, a place where Texas cultural staples and flavors meet New American twists. It’s a place that’s distinctly Rockwall in every possible way. This is Bin 303.

I’ve visited this restaurant on countless occasions, but only today realized I’ve never taken the time to write a proper google review. Since my most recent visit (pictured) on 9/11/20 is still on my mind, I think it’s fair to write a summary of this experience in the hopes that you reading can find value in my observations and help you to make decisions of your own.

Bin 303 is a charming restaurant in Rockwall, and generally considered by locals to be at, it very near, the top of the selection list of fine dining in the area. Now, this is still Rockwall, so even at a place as nice as Bin 303 you won’t commonly see ties, blazers or suits. Like every place in the city, casual attire is welcomed and worn, so expect to see a mix of people from the guy in flip flops and cargo shorts to someone in a tailored button down and everything in between.

On my most recent visit we called ahead and made a reservation a day prior, and our table was ready as expected at the exact minute of the reservation.

The hostess and staff were prompt, courteous and helpful, assisting you as you navigate the maze of a house to get to your seat. The restaurant was always intimate, but with current Covid-19 restrictions, you really do feel like you lucked out just getting a table in here on a Friday night.

Appetizers range from $8-$16 here and have selections like “Axis Deer Hummus” and “Bandera Quail Brochette”. On this visit we prefer the quail, dips, and pork belly risotto fritters to start (pictured).

The quail was amazing, wrapped and bacon and infused with the flavor of wood, and the dips included what is possibly the best guacamole I’ve ever had. Absolutely addictive.

While we enjoyed our appetizers with company the wait staff took great care of us, with different members of the team dropping off items as they were ready, even drinks, you really felt that everyone was working together to make sure you had what you needed, but not before you needed it. Special points to our server for reading the table and knowing when to ask us questions and when to let us finish conversations. She never interrupted us, even once. That takes real skill.

For my main I ordered the “Surf and Turf” which includes a 8-10oz Filet and 2 butter poached, cajun seasoned colossal tiger shrimp with bernaise sauce. Sides for steaks are a’la’carte, and they have a lot, but today I opted for my favorite the twice baked potato.

The filet is something else. I’m not sure what trickery the chef uses to get the steak like this, but it was unbelievably juicy, tender and flavorful. Nothing was overwhelming, nothing was bland. It was apparent in every bite that the steak here was a notch better than just about anything else you can order over a table around here.

Dinner went long, nearly 3 hours, as we were lost in conversation with friends. This is how the best dinners go. The server never rushed us, but rather seemed to encourage us, and let us dictate the speed of the dinner based around our own body language and observational assumption. I have to say again, this was really a pro server and she made the food even better by properly controlling its tempo.

All together, it was yet another memorable dinner at Bin 303, nothing was off, wrong or amiss. Looking around, every table was full, you could hear laughter, you could see maskless smiles.

Life almost seemed normal again.

I would advise that this is a restaurant that could be made to fit various budgets, items like the Texican Burger come with fries and clocks in at a meager $12, while salads range from $16 to $27 (with steak) and premium angus steaks start around $37. The quality of everything here, including the service, is...

Really cool old house - lousy service, and I mean attitude bad - will not be back - went for a friend's birthday - Bin 303 has a rustic cool country feel to it - great wine selection, reasonably priced too - we arrived to the surprise party late to complete a party of 8 - our Server who was young and pretty and knew very little of wine - I ordered polightly a "I would like a Large Bottle Format Belle Gloss Pinot Noir - do you know the vintage on that" - Birthday Girl likes Pinot Noir - Belle Gloss is on the menu- excellent! As I proceed to order the bottle, our server stares at me and asks "what do you want?" I politely point to the offering on the menu to which she replies- "that's the large bottle format" , "yes Ma'am"- I replied and smiled politely - no smile, rolls eyes an sc sighs, she then looks straight at me (mind you with a look as if I am bothering her and know nothing of wine) "what do you want?...sigh" - "the large bottle format of the Bella Gloss Pinot Noir plese with 8 glasses for the table please" I replied, "and may we get a decanter to pour it out easier - wine was not presented for approval to the person buying it - Me , I excused myself to use the mensroom, I return to the table to find that this roughly $300.00 has now been opened - never offered to the host - Me for tasting, rather the bottle was opened without me, then partially poured round the table to confused guests - I had to explain what was happened - then polightly asked for the cork and bottle - the icing on the terrible service was the complete lack of training in how to properly server wine - this is a wine place....but it gets better, I mean worse - ok- order a Filet Medium Rare - easy right? Wrong - this is what my medium rare looked like (after cut immediately into the center tok confirm the temperature - overcooked - I don't want to cause a scene because this is my Fiancé's best friend's birthday dinner and She chose this place $500.00 later I'm leaving, hungry, I little shocked at the complete lack professionalism and or hospitality - this is VERY atypical for me - but I have to be honest so "THEY" Bin 303 can get better - super disappointed 😖

Cherry on Sunday seeing Server try to pour out the rest of the wine in the decanter and into the glasses of our friends and literally dumping almost a glass of wine on the...

So my family and I decided to try something new tonight. It was just me, my Wife and our Son and Daughter. The 4 of us were immediately greeted by 3 friendly hostesses that escorted us back to our table within seconds of our arrival. We made a reservation for 6:30pm. It being our first time to dine there, we decided to try a few appetizers. We went with what our phenomenal waitress Deidra recommended which was the pork belly sushi and the baked goat cheese dip. OMG 😲 were those starters delicious! 😋 We decided on a few cocktails. I got the Eagle Rare Old Fashioned and my wife chose the Bin 75, there take on a French 75. Those were tasty and a wondeful compliment to the starters. For our entrees: I had the 14 OZ WHISKEY MARINATED BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP, which was absolutely sublime! Accompanied with sweet chili sprouts , cream corn, and garnished with a serrano apple butter. 😋 My wife got a traditional 8oz Filet which was cooked perfectly at a Rare Plus paired with a twice baked potato. The kids chose the traditional Bacon Cheese Burger and the Grilled Cheese, kids will be kids. But I love that they accommodate kids and treat them with the respect they deserve, especially when dining at an establishment of this caliber. The ambiance is so inviting and the table settings are rustic and chic, but sophisticated and tasteful throughout. They had a professional musician with an angelic voice playing acoustic guitar outside when we walked up. Just another wonderful flourish inviting you in, not to mention the mesquite grill smell that bellows through the air as soon as you park the car and open your door. Apparently live music is a common occurrence on the weekends. As someone who has worked in fine dining over a decade or more and is very familiar with steps of service and a well thought out menu. BIN 303 hits the mark on every facet. I was most impressed on a busy Saturday the kitchen times as well as the "All hands in" delivery of food, pre bussing , and refills. If you're looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, or just a lovely evening out with family, friends, or that special someone. Look no further than BIN 303. Just a spectacular venue and restaurant to enjoy exceptional food and great service....