|
Corkage Fees
What do you think about corkage fees to bring your own bottle of wine to a restaurant?
How much is reasonable? |
It depends entirely on the restaurant. Perhaps a nice little Italian restaurant might charge less than $10. But an upscale restaurant could charge $20 or so. Or you can look for a good restaurant that doesn't have a license to serve wine and it's free. :)
|
Google is your friend ...:
Restaurant Corkage Fees We’re often fielding questions regarding restaurants that allow customers to bring their own wine and the various corkage fees charged to do so. What we’re discovering is there is no industry standard, even locally. And, understandably, some restaurateurs may feel insulted when customers bring their own wine since much time and money has been invested in preparing a wine list that offers interesting wines at all price points. There are exceptions of course, such as that fine, older vintage you want to bring up from your cellar to enjoy with a wonderful meal. Most restaurants, for a modest fee, are pleased to serve it for you. What about the corkage fee? What’s fair? Most assume that the corkage fee is to cover the cost of opening wine and providing glassware. But, more to the point, the basis of corkage is to recover money from a lost sale. Corkage fees we’ve encountered range from $10 to $30, roughly equal to the price of the cheapest bottle of wine on the restaurant’s list. Some restaurants will waive the corkage fee if you also buy a bottle from the wine list.To avoid embarrassment, when making a reservation, always ask whether the restaurant permits BYO. Some do, some don’t - and find out the corkage fee. Do make sure the wine you wish to bring is one that the restaurant doesn’t offer. |
Doppy,
What do you have that's so good ? Many steak places in NYC, except 2, do not allow you to BYO. Earlier this year, I went ot the Strip House with mjm and ClueBy4 and brought a (good) bottle so that my other wine buddies could enjoy. :o I think they charged $25. And slightly off-topic, I always ask the restaurant to bring me their good glasses . Just ask. :o |
Most upscale places I've been lately charge $20-$25. This should include decanting and fine stemware at no extra charge.
QL |
In DC, the typical cost is $20-30, with the following exceptions.
A number of the better restaurants do not allow outside wine. A number of restaurants will not allow wine that they have on their list. In that regard, I would like to decant one of my magnums of Brunello into a "wine in a box" container, and haul that in. a number of restaurants have a "no corkage fee" night. I stopped doing the BYOB, and do 1/2 price wine nights. The half price usually gets the wine under shelf price, and there are so many highly allocated wines that I cannot get that are on restaurant wine lists. When you bring in your own bottle, do you tip 20 % of twice shelf price??? |
Originally Posted by slawecki
a number of restaurants have a "no corkage fee" night.
|
When we bring a bottle we always make sure it's a very special bottle that the restaurant doesn't have in its cellar, we offer some to the wine steward and we order a bottle of something else in addition. We seldom get charged corkage.
|
I know QL will disagree ;), but I usually leave an extra tip to reflect the difference between the corkage fee (if there is one) and what the server would have made from a decent bottle of wine on their list.
|
Originally Posted by blairvanhorn
I know QL will disagree ;), but I usually leave an extra tip to reflect the difference between the corkage fee (if there is one) and what the server would have made from a decent bottle of wine on their list.
|
In this case, I suppose everyone will agree that the waiter will have the same work to do serving your wine that the restaurant's wine, and that an extra tip should be OK. Extra compared to the usual tip you leave, which is another thing best left undiscussed.
|
Some restaurants don't allow it because it may not be allowed by law to bring in your own. Always ask when making the reservation.
I would expect the fee to be about half the least expensive bottle on the menu. |
Back to the tip. When we do BYO, we do BYO. Group of six bring 18 bottles worth $50 to 100(wine list $100 to 300) and we open 12. We only buy about $200-300 of food.
How much do we tip? |
Originally Posted by slawecki
a number of restaurants have a "no corkage fee" night.
Originally Posted by blairvanhorn
I know QL will disagree ;), but I usually leave an extra tip to reflect the difference between the corkage fee (if there is one) and what the server would have made from a decent bottle of wine on their list.
Originally Posted by dhammer53
Doppy,
What do you have that's so good ? And slightly off-topic, I always ask the restaurant to bring me their good glasses . Just ask. :o |
Originally Posted by Doppy
Interesting. Ever been rejected? |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 3:50 am. |
This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.