Best Wine. Bin 228 is an amazing little place in downtown Hartford. It really does take you away to a cozy spot in a different city, you certainly forget you are in Hartford. I had some amazing red wine from Montepulciano and my boyfriend even enjoyed a "manly" martini. It was a great place to relive a recent trip to Italy with the fruit and cheese plate, along with an extensive selection of wonderful wines.…

What city are we in?. If you live in the Hartford area and would like to enjoy a simple meal and some great wine then Bin 228 is the place. When I visited this warm establishment I completely forgot that I was in Hartford, it definitely had a NY Chic "feel" with the exposed brick walls and warm color palate. The variety of bruscettas and paninis was just enough to fill me up. Whether this is a place to start off your night or it is your final destination it's a wonderful restaurant.…

Must visit for Italian wine lovers. Great for Italian wine. The staff was very helpful with the wine, even though they fell down when it came to other service aspects. Nice menu, oriented towards lighter fare. Not the place to go for a serious "foodie" meal. All the wines seemed to be Italian, which is a nice change. Wine prices seemed good by the bottle, per glass prices are very high ( I guess to encourage bottle ordering).

Overall a great experience and definetly worth another visit. Not very many tables and small bar, so on a Friday, probably not a good choice.…

Great Spot. This is by far my favorite place in Hartford. Tasty food (mainly finger foods), a wonderful and extensive wine list, and an intimate setting. I wish there were more places like this in Hartford. The owners truly know what they're doing!…

Beautiful presentations of simple, quality sandwiches and snacks complement an extensive menu of regional Italian wines.. The Scene
Overlooking Bushnell Park, this modern Italian panini and wine bar occupies a long, narrow space reminiscent of a Soho eatery. Wine is even part of the decor--steel and cherry racks showcase part of the bar's collection. Brick and stucco walls transport hip diners to Italy. Waitstaff is skilled at interpreting the unconventional menu, and exceptionally knowledgeable about wine.

The Food
At bin228, diners choose from salads, small and large plates, bruschetta, tramezzini (crustless tea sandwiches), panini (grilled ciabatta), and sweets. The mixed greens in shallot vinaigrette, and the juicy tomato, mozzarella and julienned basil salad are refreshing starts, while the herb-marinated olive bowl is a salty transition to heartier fare. A zesty lemon mayo accents the pancetta, tomato and arugula tramezzini. The fresh tomato, pesto and fontina panini is lightly charred on the outside and gooey on the inside. Creamy "pana cota" makes a cool end to a spicy meal, and the crisp Nutella panino, a rich, chocolatey grilled dessert sandwich, is neat finger food.…