Yes.

However, if you bring a bottle and buy a bottle, many restaurants will waive the corkage fee on the brought bottle.

As far as the OP,
(1) Corkage should be charged on the corked bottle once it is opened. Sometimes you don't even know until you start drinking corked wine.
(2) Corkage should be waived if the bottle is undrinkable and you order a bottle from the restaurant.

It is funny because sometimes when I bring a bottle (which is frequently), the server will pour me a taste to "approve" the bottle, at which point I might say "do I get to send it back if I don't like it?" But this is exactly why a corkage fee is acceptable - when you get proper wine service with your wine.

In Australia the corkage fee is usually per person.

Audrey

I've been in the restaurant biz virtually my whole life and I think the corked-corkage charge would be within the rights of the restaurant. I can't imagine it ever being applied however. It would be 'bad business' and could easily cause everyone in the party to never return. Since your bringing one from your cellar - you're probably a local as well. I too, find that both 'bring one - buy one and tasting the waiter or sommelier frequently gets the corkage waved. 2 bottles - 2 fees, however, some places with extensive lists won't allow 2. I tend to 'bring one - buy one', it has to be something exceptional, and if it's on the list - it stays in the bag. wj

I agree with pretty much everything you say and your last comment brings to mind a restaurant called The Restaurant in Cape Town- I don't think it is still operating. BYO corkage charges are ridiculously cheap in South Africa typically $2-$3/bottle. The Restaurant was no exception unless you brought a bottle that was on their winelist in which case the corkage was the list price of the wine - you paid the restaurant their price to drink your own wine. I had no argument with the philosophy! Nor do I have any problem paying $20,$30 or even $40 corkage depending on the quality of the restaurant. At upwards of $40/bottle I'd probably be considering a change of venue.

To those who helped with my question - thank you. This happened to me recently and I thought it was very cheesy, but maybe it is more common than I realized.