I have been here a few times and have had a good experience each time.
It is a great place to just grab a drink or sit down for a nice meal. Be sure to try their different meats and cheeses to start. Not the biggest cheese fan, but they do it right.
Had the steak, which was good not great, but I was happy with the meal. The menu and portions are on the smaller side, which isn't a bad thing if you are not looking to stuff your face with food all night.
Good atmosphere and service as well. d in any way to the owner or employees.
This resturant was cute. Our waitress was attentive and catered to all of our needs. It was a nice sized menu and my dad and I opted to split the duck duo. It was delicious and perfectly cooked. My mom had the burger which she enjoyed. Their salads looked fantastic, but I didn't get to try them. My dad also had the goat cheese and wild boar prosciutto which was outstanding. They also had live music.... (that's all I have to say)
Overall, it was a good meal with good service.
The food was good. The lighting was bad, all of us had to have our smartphone flashlight app out to see the menu. The waiter even has small flashlight at the ready. So adjust the lighting already. With the prices this place is charging, you'd think you could get bread and butter on the table for free. Not, they charge you for bread and butter. Over all a little pretentious, but they can execute a good menu.
Review Source:This is a straight up Cougar's Den--if you couldn't already tell from the breakdown of reviews! Â If I was single I would grab a wingman and head over there on a Friday night to run some desperation game. Â If you can't find a wingman then holla at your boy! Â But lets keep that between me, you, and the 2 people that read my post :)
A bit pricey, but the food, drinks, and ambiance was pretty good. Â Add in the fact that I could wine and dine my lady without driving into Boston....and we have a winner! Â I got a dirty martini, which was OK. Â The Haverill IPA was actually pretty good. Â I got the burger and fries--not big portions, but definitely tasty.
I have been there 3 times, and my only negative is that they are always out of something--even if you have dinner at 6PM. Â Also, they could use some belly dancers.
Told to go here for their burgers and crab cakes so I did and brought two friends with me and are told they are out of burgers and crab cakes. Ugh. BUT we dived into the rest of the menu and it was fabulous. Went back a few weeks later and the burgers were sublime. Atmosphere is a little lacking in some parts but overall a good - solid place to get a burger and a martini.
Review Source:I was looking for a "middle ground" location to meet some girlfriends from NH & my Yelp friends did not steer me wrong.... We were THRILLED with Brasserie 28. The ambiance is delightful, the burger (w/ caramelized onions & brie) & fries were amazing, topped off with their donut dessert & washed it all down w/ a few nice glasses of red wine. The tab was a little steep, but we probably over-indulged in wine & we WERE in Andover. The service was perfect, the setting was just what we had in mind for "girls night", but it would also be great for date-night, there were a few guys at the bar watching a game -- it seems to appeal to the masses. Just loved this place & will definitely be back.
Review Source:Came in one night with a friend after a delicious meal across the street at Yella for dessert drinks. Â For a Friday night, the bar area was packed, but the hostess offered to seat us on a couch in the "lounge" area where we could order drinks and appetizers if we wished. Â Although we weren't necessarily in the mood for more food, we offered to take the couch. Â The couch was comfortable and it certainly wasn't like the proverbial couches found in dorm-lobbies. Â Ahhhhhhh to think that used to be fine furniture back in the day....
The restaurant is dimly lit, which made it troublesome to figure out if the place was even open from the outside. Â However, it was dim enough to give it a really cool vibe. Â The bar can make virtually any martini you wish while boasting an extensive wine list.
I ordered my usual post-dinner drink - an espresso martini, while my friend ordered a chocolate martini. Â Both our drinks were loaded, but damn if they weren't delicious. Â Mine tasted just like an iced coffee while hers tasted just like chocolate milk. Â Sitting in the lounge area gave us the privacy to hold a conversation (mostly about other people in the bar, who are we kidding?) with an optimal view for people-watching.
Overall, it has the potential to be a fun place. Â There is a crowd that ranges from the late 20s to the early 40s typically at the bar. Â It is a casual-to-dressy place; yet we did not feel out of place wearing jeans. Â I don't go north of Boston frequently, but this is definitely in my list of places to consider visiting while in the area.
(The only reason why it's not 5 stars: Â Another friend and I traveled up to Andover to Brasserie 28 at the end of the summer only to find out they were closed on vacation for a week. Â Argh!)
A really nice place to go in Andover for an upscale, delicious meal and good wine. Â Brasserie 28 has friendly waiters and a very cozy yet trendy atmosphere. Â I had a foie gras appetizer and a burger, both were exactly to my liking. Â Definitely returning to try more items, especially since it's walking distance from my parent's place.
Review Source:I am not a fan of Longhorns or any of the other spots nearby. Â I had heard about this place from my manager.. thought it would be a nice wine bar to stop by. Â We got a spot at their large bar... it was nice. Â I saw they asked somebody to move.. so they could make room for two new patrons. Â
The sweet potato fries were good. Â Four types of dipping sauce! Â Yum!
So happy to see a great upscale restaurant in Andover. Wonderful service. Especially our waiter Billy (we grew up together ;).
The first time I ate here, they had just opened (It was Bin 28 back then) and I went with my two girlfriends. The food was wonderful and they gave us free dessert because the chicken came out a touch raw. Very nice! We loved sharing all the small plates we ordered. I think we tried everything on the menu. It was an intimate atmosphere and they let us sit and reminisce for awhile (maybe because we kept ordering bottles of wine).
The second time I went I took my parents. The salads were delicious and had a touch of uniqueness making me "mmmm" all over the place which is pretty hard to get me to do while eating a SALAD (those sounds are usually only made when eating dessert). My mom and I both had the arugula salad that had shaved parmesan and lavender=the uniqueness.
Speaking of "mmmm" - hand cut herbe frites that came with dipping sauces - Get em!
We also had the cheese plate which was amazing. My parents and I just got into cheese, meat, jams and wine, and besides Teatro in Boston, their cheese plate was one of the best.
End your meal with warm french doughnuts or the brownie. Did I say "mmmm" already?
Lastly, I was walking out of the restaurant and I heard a voice that sounded like a mix between Fergie and Jesus, kidding...no but seriously, the singer sounded exactly like Michael Buble. I thought they were playing his cd but I realized it was an actual singer. I researched their site and I believe the singer was Dan Sky who sings on Tuesday nights. I will definitely be going next Tuesday.
1 recommendation: People ask me if they are open all the time. It is so dark in the windows that they always looked closed. Can we have a secret light turn on outside that notifies frequent diners that they are open? I guess people could just look up their hours of operation...
Definitely a place to try.
We just went for the second time; it was pretty busy but the bartender was very cool and got to us quickly. Â The menu has expanded recently and is quite good. Â The food is great. Â Going from the bar to the table this last time was a bit rough; next time we will stay at the bar. Â Server had a noticibly cold vibe or she was just in a bad mood that night, but she was otherwise professional. Â
I was reading the comments on this site regarding pricing; I haven't find the prices to be bad at all. Â We walked out with four courses and six glasses of wine for a around $120 without tip, which is good. Â We'll be back.
Wow... well worth trying... It was recommended to me a while back and finally got the chance to get there. The menu is filled with different courses of antipasti and Tapas which are great for pairing. The menu also adds several entrees which are filling enough for the larger appetites. But the caveat of this place is really the wines, so, wine snobs step right up. Evidently they are the first restaurant in Massachusetts to have a napa technology wine station... Its a computer that determines the right temperature, pour etc... Whatever!!! I just like to drink the stuff... and they had many to offer ranging from the the affordable to ridiculous. best part of that is they offer a 3oz, a glass, carafe, and bottle of most wines in the house. Chelsea, our server, was excellent very honest about her menu suggestions and didn't steer us wrong
Review Source:We got the Groupon for Brasseire 28, or bin28, or B28, or whatever it's called. It was a good deal though we still spent more than we normally would. That's how they getcha!
The food was very good. I liked the small plates and the Valentine's Day tasting menu was very elegant. There was absolutely nothing wrong with our experience but it didn't blow me away. The service was good and food yummy. Seating is a little squished and the menu is pricey. But we had a nice dinner so I was happy.
Brasserie 28 is in a time of transition. Â A name change, switching from no reservations to reservations (and apparently not telling that many people), and a changing menu/concept as well. All of this uncertainty manifested itself in the form of passersby and potential diners asking the hostess lots and lots of questions.
I was sitting by the door so I heard at least five each of the following:
"Is this Brasserie 28?"
"I called this afternoon and tried to leave my name, did you get it?"
"You're really all booked up? Is there anywhere I can possibly sit?"
The hostess handled the throng of inquiry-hurling Andover natives with aplomb, and it led to some very enjoyable people watching. The rest of the people watching came from the profoundly foolish and goofy people eating immediately to my left. Â I was sitting at a high table near the bar at the front of the chic little space. One couple kept mispronouncing items like "carpaccio" and "pinot grigio." Not just slightly, but hilariously. And another couple quite literally ordered half the menu. Loudly, and in a jerky "My friends said I was funny at UNH" voice.
So yes, you get dinner AND a show at Brasserie 28. Â Speaking of, I should probably talk about the food for a minute. While I normally don't like "small plates" that aren't specifically Mexican or Spanish tapas, I think Brasserie 28 does a decent job with the concept. There are larger dishes that can fill you and not break your bank, and a pair of smaller dishes or a tasting menu will work too. Â I opted for a lovely Valentine's Day menu that boasted a caesar salad, a pasta with braised short rib, and a hangar steak. Â All were nicely prepared and combined to create a sound meal.
I would recommend the place, as it is a lovely and modern alternative to Palmers or some of the other Elder Statesmen restaurants of Andover. Â Worth a trip if you're a local.
Torn between 3* and 4* for this review so erring on the side of generosity - in most part due to super nice waitress
Went for dinner/drinks with a friend and from the outside we were a bit confused, the windows are tinted dark and all we could see was big screen TVs showing sports - wine bar?!?!
As we entered (around 8ish on a Tuesday night) we were greeted immediately and seated in the back area. Nice atmosphere.
Our waitress was lovely and super helpful. Olives were good. The charcuterie plate at $18 was nice, not spectacular of historic but pleasant. The herb frites were divine.
My mini carafe of a Sauvignon Blanc from Malborough NZ tasted a mite dusty but I hadn't had that one before so wasn't sure if it was meant to taste that way. More importantly I didn't feel it important enough to mention.
With tip it worked out around $80 for 2 drinks and snacks for 2 not very hungry people which is fine. I'm probably giving 4* due to the company but I would definitely head back to try it again. MUCH better than Palmers and comparable to Glory so far. Looking forward to next visit.
Bin 28 has a very nice atmosphere, friendly staff, comfortable seating, nice window views from the bar, interesting well prepared food, and a modest selection of wine described in the usual parlance of the elite oenophile. There is, however, Â an imbalance in the value equation. The prices for both the edible and drinkable portions are rather exorbitant compared to other comparable restaurants in the area. Calling it a wine bar is a bit pretentious with a shy 52 bottle repertoire and their expensive high tech storage, but I suppose its an easy marketing ploy. I liked it, but won't be a regular.
Review Source:I really like that Bin28 has brought a new option to Andover other than Glory (since I would never recommend anyone go to many of the other local establishments like Palmers). Â My wife and I have been several times, together and with friends. Â The food has been consistent and good, and it's always a good time sitting at the bar. Â
They are, however, a bit over-priced and the plates are small, so be prepared to drop a small fortune if you plan to eat well! Â
The ambience is also pretty eclectic, which I like. Â You never know what you'll get when you get there. Â Some nights, it looks like married couples' date night, and others it's cougar night where the dudes from Merrimack College are out in force. Â Either way, it always makes for a fun night.
Entree prices for tapas portions! Â The atmosphere, service and food were all wonderful but I don't know how they arrive at their prices???? Â My guess is that once the novelty of the "new" restaurant in town wears off people will opt for dining somewhere where you get a lot more bang for your buck. Â I think if they reign in their prices they will have a better chance at long term sustainability.
Review Source:First, it's worth clarifying: at this time, Bin28 is not really a wine bar. It's a darned good tapas-style restaurant with a wine book. They do not offer tasting flights (though you could make up a bunch of 3oz. tastes on your own). They do not have a sommellier. And their servers don't have much wine knowledge. In fact, ours had practically none, and we're pretty basic novices ourselves.
The food is creative and wonderfully varied, from gourmet snacks to larger plates of gnocchi, duck, and such.
Service in general is very good, and the dessert options and quality are excellent. We'll go back, most definitely with friends, but perhaps not as quickly, or as often, we thought we might.
Went to Bin 28 on a Friday night for the first time with two friends. Â Great atmosphere, personable bartenders, and great drinks. Â We were very disappointed in the tapas offerings. Â The servings were tiny, enough for one person, but were very pricey. Â We saw the cheese platter on Chronicle, but when we ordered and received it, the platter was enough for one person for $21.00. Â The cheese selection was poor for a wine bar, which should be the strongest feature to pair with the wine. Â We would return for drinks, but would eat before we went. Â It was very expensive, and we went home hungry.
Review Source:Have now been to Bin28 twice since they opened. Â A couple of thoughts. Â First of all - thank GOD they did not open another bank in Andover. Â The town desperately needs a few "destinations" and Bin28 could do the trick.
Both times, the food and service have been excellent. Â This despite the fact that they are consistently swamped. Â Our first visit was on a recent Tuesday night. Â Dull? Â Quiet? Â Oh no! Â Clearly the clamor for someplace decent to go in Andover remains as this place was packed. Â And deservingly so. The appetizers were excellent and well presented. Â The entrees, excellent. Â The only surprise? Â The limited wine selection. Â As a wine bar, we expected a more varied selection. Â Perhaps this evolves over time but for now, it is shockingly limited. Â A few Chardonnays, a couple Sauvignon Blancs, ONE Chenin Blanc, ONE Petite Sirah, ONE Riesling, Â well you get the idea. Â There are some moderately interesting choices but I expected more boutique, perhaps at least eclectic winery offerings and frankly - its pretty generic - as in easily found at your local MA wine store. Â
That said, it's a nice place in a higher income location starving for great food, good drink and style and they have delivered. Â We've gone twice and will go again. Â I suggest you do the same...
I grew up in Andover (family moved there in 1976), and never, in that whole time, if someone said to me "hey, I'm going to be in Northern Massachusetts, can you recommend a good restaurant?", would I ever have recommended any of the restaurants in Andover. I mean, sure, there has been a good sub shop or two, and a decent pizza joint, but it just never really made it onto the map with "fine dining"...
Now that has all changed.
Bin 28 is spectacular. They serve small plate "tapas" style dishes, and have a vast selections of wines. I was there last night, and we shared 4 different plates. All of them were superb. Even though the place was packed, we were able to sit at the bar and eat, and our service never lagged because of the crowds.
Their sommelier could do to beef up their selection of white wines, and a larger selection of beers on tap would be great, too...but neither of these facts deter from the fact that Bin 28 should easily put Andover on the map for great dining in Massachusetts.
Bin28 is an exciting, new concept that is a very different experience.
Bin28 features a wine bar and small plate dining. Â It is not your traditional big-portion restaurant experience. Â The setting is intimate (seating capacity is approximately 100), features a generous bar, and a modest number of tables in each of two rooms. Â The owners promise outdoor dining which would be an exciting addition to downtown Andover.
We've been to Bin28 three times in recent weeks (unusual frequency for a restaurant, but not for a fun-filled wine bar). Â
We've enjoyed the wine experience sampling our way, one glass at a time, through a generous selection of wines of different styles and from different regions. Â My personal favorites were the Clean Slate Riesling (and I don't usually drink Rieslings), the Super Tuscan (I don't recall the name), and the Chalk Hill Chardonnay. Â
We returned later in the week, and I enjoyed discovering the selection of beers and micro-brews. Â My personal favorite was the Sea Dog Wild Blueberry. Â It was my first time trying a blueberry ale, and I was amused to find it served in a chilled glass and frozen blueberries.
Third time around was martini night. Â My wife loved the pomegranate martini complete with a dollop of pomegranate sorbet. Â Each of the martinis had some configuration of frozen fruit and/or sorbet in them. Â For myself, I was content to sample the shelf of single malt scotches.
Bin28 has hit Andover by storm, and navigating the crowd can be a bit tricky.  They open at 5pm and close at midnight.  They don't take reservations, and the period from 7 to 9:30 can be very crowded.  If you  like a fun-filled, adult atmosphere, this is the place for you.  If you're searching for a stuffy, quiet, traditional restaurant experience, come here to start your night (or to finish it), but you may find that the dining experience doesn't live up to your expectations.
We're still enjoying the culinary adventure at Bin28. Â Everything is small-plate, adventurous, and flavorful. Â I'm not adverse to small-plate dining, but it may not be everybody's cup of tea. Â I almost always start with a salad (the arugula is my top choice), struggle to order only one of the pastas (the risotto is outstanding, the linguine with clams delicious, but the mushroom gnocchi is the best), and finish with one of the two fish dishes (french loup de mer, or the scallops). Â
We're fortunate to have a nice variety of dining options in Merrimack Valley. Â Bin28 is, however, a unique experience, and can be a different experience with each visit. Â Thanks, so much, to the owners for offering us such an unconventional option for a fun-nite out.
I was excited to see Bin28 finally open and got the chance to try it out last night. Â I arrived first at 8:45 on a Thursday night, and was surprised to see it absolutely PACKED! Â I was surprised, but happy for the owners that they had such an apparent hit on their hands. Â
One of the owners was standing at the door when I arrived, but I had to make myself known to him, as he was explaining something to the hostess, and I'm not sure he would have acknowledged my presence, had I not spoken up. Â Similarly, throughout the night, as the crowd died down, he and his wife made eye contact with me, but never came over to see how everything was. Â I would think that they would want feedback from customers a mere 2 weeks after opening. Â However, they did not approach any guests that I saw, and I was on the lookout for it after reading another user's comments.
I was seated by myself, even though my boyfriend had not yet arrived, so I appreciated that. Â Often, you're not given a table until the whole party is there. Â However, the place was so crowded, I would not even have been able to stand with a glass of wine anywhere to wait for him. Â So, I was grateful for the table and settled in with a plate of olives while I waited, along with a fantastic petite sirah, recommended by our equally fantastic waitress. Â Unfortunately, the olives did not impress, and were rather flavorless, as was the olive oil they were served with. Â Also, I was disappointed that they didn't come with any kind of bread or even a toothpick to grab them with. Â
The whole bread situation was disappointing after I realized that the only bread available was a $5 hunk of foccacia, served with three nice, but unnecessary spreads. Â When I have to pay for bread, I start to get testy. Â And to pay $5 for four pieces was ridiculous. Â Yes, the bread was good, but not so good as to want to pay for it again. Â I expect in a tapas place to have some sort of starch on the table to help scoop up the food, or to sop up juices on the plates. Â
This brings me to the prices. Â While the clientele was clearly upper-middle class and they were doing a brisk business, as it seemed, they obviously don't need to do anything to lower the prices at this time. Â However, I'm going to wager that this hip new spot will lose its luster sooner, rather than later, if the prices stay this high. Â $17 for three pieces of hanger steak is steep in any neighborhood, but outside of the Back Bay is just pretentious. Â The steak was the best thing we tried on the menu though, and I would recommend it if you're not that hungry, and you can afford it. Â The ahi tuna tasted fishy and the texture was mushy. Â It was served potato crusted, but in a soupy broth, taking away any kind of crunchy texture that might have been there to begin with. Â Definitely a miss. Â The gnocchi we had was ok, but overcooked and somewhat pasty. Â Not the pillowy goodness that truly good gnocchi can become.
The biggest pluses for the  night was the wine selection, served in 4 sizes, and priced reasonably.  The other drinks on the menu looked to be a good selection, and again, priced reasonably.  The waitstaff seemed to be hard working, always around if you needed anything and very pleasant.  I really would like to see Bin28 stick around, but am going to give it another couple of months before trying it again.  Hopefully this will be enough time to get their menu up to speed, and maybe even eek some more charm from the owners.
Saying I was ecstatic to see Bin 28 had opened is an understatement. I frequent bars based on their wine list, so knowing that Matt Morello (Spire, Federalist) and his (adorable!!) wife would be offering an interactive experience/fabulous selection at such a reasonable price - AND in my town - sold me on this place before we entered.
Arrived Saturday 7/17 circa 6:30pm. Bar was filling up, as was the front lounge. The lovely server Taryn had us sit in the "middle" lounge area with couches and ottomans. Hubby had a dirty Grey Goose, I sampled the great Sauvignon Blanc (cannot remember the name oops). Also tried a 3-cheese platter and we were not disappointed - only four cheeses on the menu but all of the ones we tried were really complex and satisfying.
The "dinner" menu seems limited but I imagine they'll work with the feedback from guests as they go along. For now, we are enthusiastic about returning - soon and often - for the grown up but relaxed atmosphere, wine, and snacks. They seemed as thrilled to be open for business as we were to be experiencing this great new spot. Well done, Morellos, and we will be back soon!