Restaurants shouldn't get to claim that the food cost is just for the food (and therefore we must tip, too), then also demand $25 for wine 'service' if it doesn't actually cover any 'service'.

These places get away with charging $25-$30 for the same reason that Starbucks gets away with asking for tips. Americans are too frivolous to pay attention to where their money goes.

I wouldn't pay more than $15 or so for an opportunity loss to the restaurant by bringing my own wine. For the tipping part - that's gone far out of hand in the States.