Binkley's
Topic: Restaurants
Posted: Sat, Feb 12, 2005 
Binkley's at last. As before, parking was atrocious and the wait was quoted at "55 minutes" but unlike my previous attempts, we actually gutted it out and found ourselves eating a meal. Was the wait worth it?
In a word, yes. If you're looking for consistent crowd-pleasing fare in a pleasant inoffensive atmosphere, then go to Binkley's. Or Applebee's. Or TGI Friday's. Or any other number of chain restaurants where you'll find Brave New Food, market tested and lowest-common-denonminator approved. The only problem is, Binkley's isn't a chain restaurant. It just feels like one.
It's Friday night, about 6:45. I don't mind waiting if you don't have a reservation, but Binkley's doesn't take reservations unless you have a party of twelve or more. Someone please explain to me why restaurants don't take reservations. It perplexes me.
A note about arriving at Binkley's: you'll want to go in the back door, via the parking lot. You can walk through the front door but you might be waiting a while for someone to stumble onto you, because the hostess station is in the back.
After putting our names in, we went to the bar area. It, like the restaurant, is sleek, with exposed black-painted ductwork, large terra cotta tiled floors, and cool wood tables. A stone fireplace splits the bar and dining areas. The bar was crowded, a mix of the happy hour and waiting-for-dinner contingents, and it was difficult to find a comfortable place to stand where we weren't in the way. Despite standing in the servers' bar station area (a big no-no) we didn't get any flack. In fact, all of the servers we jostled elbows with were friendly.
We ordered from their wine list, which isn't steak-house big, but offers a good breadth of choices. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass (lots of whites and even more reds). It's a pretty predictable list but there are some nice choices including a Two Tone merlot that I'd recommend for any red drinkers.
We were seated after about 35 minutes in a smaller room off of the main dining room which also had a smaller second bar. The charm of the fireplace in the room was diminished by the presence of a few TV sets, which were thankfully muted. I had to brush old food off of my chair before I sat down.
Binkley's has the standard appetizer selection: nachos, crab cakes, wings, calamari, breaded mushrooms, etc. etc. One standout is the sesame seared tuna with a carrot cucumber slaw in a mango dressing, criss-crossed with stripes of wasabi and teriyaki sauces. The tuna was fresh and the portions ample, and the wasabi gave it a nice bite.
The rest of the menu offers plenty of choices — soups (veg, chili), salads (Caesar, Cobb), sandwiches (pork tenderloin, wild mushroom panini) as well as steaks, burgers, chicken, pizzas and a few seafood and steak entrees. The entrees are accompanied by a veggie and starch side, or you can choose to order sides a la carte for $2.25. The entrees seemed uninspiring to me (char-grilled chicken, North Atlantic Irish salmon, fish and chips). Instead, I tried one of their pizzas and my husband ordered the Cobb salad.
My Hawaiian pizza was excellent, featuring lots of ham, pineapple and almond slivers. The crust was coated with corn meal and very crisp. Even though it had a ton of mozzarella cheese it wasn't greasy or heavy. The Cobb was huge, with lots of crispy romaine, avocado, bacon, ham, egg, and a tangy bleu cheese dressing. We barely made it through half of what we ordered and took the rest home.
Service throughout the meal was very good. Our server was friendly and downright motherly, making sure we were always topped up in the beverage department and helping me choose a pizza (the Hawaiian is her kids' favorite).
The food's good, the drink selection is good, the service is good. So what's my damn problem? Why don't I like this place? My husband had the same vibe. We really want to love Binkley's. Our neighborhood needs more restaurants, and we were so looking forward to the opening of this place. But something is just...missing. Despite the tremendous effort they obviously put into the renovation, it feels a bit soulless. A bit chain-restaurant. Binkley's, despite its name tie to the past, feels like it has no past. As my husband pointed out, it would have been a good restaurant for Carmel or Fishers, but it doesn't seem to fit its location. It lacks the charm of Mama Carollas, or the quirky freaky rules of the Red Key. I wish they would be a little more adventurous with their menu and take a few chances. Maybe it just needs a few scuffs and cobwebs and personalities to define it. In the meantime, you'll find me down the street at the Aristocrat.
Location
Binkley's Kitchen and Bar
5902 North College Ave.
317-722-8888
Ratings
Food: 
Service: 
Atmosphere: 
Price: $$$
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Comments
1. Apr 13, 05 06:18 PM | Phil Bailey said:
I felt that the atmosphere rated no stars. It felt very cold to me very uninviting. The fare that was ordered could not have been less tasteful than if frozen pasta had been boiled in a bag and left out to get cold and then heated in a microwave. The server had no personalty zero zip nada, and a sutable tip was left. We did walk in the front door and were left standing as a manager walked by as well as servers, not knowing that check in was in the back hall. With the experience myself and my party encountered we will not be back unless it becomes a TGI Fridays or a McDonalds.
I was so happy to read most of the comments you had nice to know we were not just in a mood that night.
2. Apr 26, 05 07:26 PM | Marc said:
We go to Binkley's all the time and think it is exactly what the neighborhood needed. Some of it probably is because we are within walking distance, but we still enjoy the food and the atmosphere. While it does have somewhat of a standard menu, it is a good, moderately priced restaurant where everyone can find something to eat. I have not had anything there that wasn't good. True, parking is a problem and the wait can be pretty bad, but my wife and I really enjoy going to Binkley's. It is not so upscale that you have to get dressed up for, but it is certainly better than going to Applebee's. What the neighborhood didn't need was upscale restaurant or just another bar that happens to serve overpriced food. I think Binkley's gives a good mid-priced alternative in the Broadripple area and its keeps us from having to drive up to Castleton or Carmel if we want just a nice dinner out.
3. Jun 30, 05 06:00 PM | Linda said:
I disagree that Binkleys has no more to offer than the "canned" restaurants, such as Applebees. On our late afternoon visit I found the uncluttered atmosphere to be relaxing - the waitstaff, as you said, was terrific, and my salad was very good, nothing at all like offered in chain restaurants. We live nearer Binkley's "sister" restaurant Nickel Plate - although there is a world of difference between them - they have one thing in common, they are both originals!
4. Jul 18, 05 01:07 PM | Concerned said:
You should know that managers at Binkley's have been held up at gunpoint twice in 6 weeks, people have had their cars broken in to multiple times with tires slashed, people have been robbed in the parking lot on multiple occasions. There is rampant drug use ON SITE by employees, and they have been known to come to work intoxicated. ALL of this is known by Binkley's management and owners and NONE of it is being addressed.
5. Jul 19, 05 04:22 PM | Brent Mundy said:
Concerned's info seems to be correct (although I cannot speak to the on-site drug use). Check out what I pulled from the Marion County Incident Report website:
1) 6/11 LARCENY-FROM VEHICLE - 5900 N COLLEGE AV
2) 6/13 ARMED ROBBERY - 5900 N COLLEGE AV
3) 6/26 ARMED ROBBERY - 5900 N COLLEGE AV
4) 7/5 VANDALISM - COLLEGE/KESSLER
Look it up yourself: imaps.indygov.org/prod/incident/
6. Apr 25, 06 07:40 PM | Alan said:
I love Binkley's I just think its such a freindly welcoming place.Wonderful food! Great Location! And I don't think its at all like an Applebees.You can tell it has alot of history behind it. And I would know from going there every day as a child.Go Binkley's!!
7. Jan 11, 07 07:55 AM | Steph Mineart said:
We went there this Monday finally; we've tried a couple of times previously and couldn't get parking. This time we camped in the parking lot and waited for someone to leave. The restaurant itself wasn't crowded at all, though; they had plenty of space, so try parking somewhere, even if it's outlying.
I did enjoy the interior design, although I don't like the bench seating that cuts across the middle of the main room and sections the room in half. I felt like I really couldn't see the whole atmosphere, but also didn't have a whole lot of privacy. We were cut off from the fireplace, too, which is a shame, because it's very nice. I felt like we were sitting in a hallway. I do want to go back; next time I'll steer the hostess and tell her we want a more enjoyable table.
I had the blackened chicken -- it was VERY spicy. But, hey, it's supposed to be, so there you go; I asked for it. The Cajun Shrimp Cavatappi was also really hot. But again - that's sort of to be expected with the word "Cajun" in it. The kettle chips were pretty good; they're made in house, but they were a bit burnt. And the caesar - caesar shouldn't ever have iceberg lettuce, kids. Never. Romaine, always.
In general, I'd give it a second shot, now that I know more about it, and I'll order a dish that doesn't set my digestive system on fire.
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