Very kewl to know Even cruise ships charge $10-15 fees now -- so $2 is a steal

You know, there just aren't enough places in the world with "Add-a-Quail" on the menu. Someday I will have to check this out!

This is true, Philadelphia is a great BYOB location. You can view some of the BYOB places here:
http://philadelphia.citysearch.com/list/12

Permissible in a few states, but most states' beverage laws prohibit the practice, allowing only alcoholic beverages purchased on site to be consumed there.

A general rule of thumb....In "Dry Jurisdictions" (precincts, townships, counties, cities, etc.) which prohibit the retail sale of alcohol or in restaurants which are not licensed to sell alcohol, BYOB may be permitted by the owner.

Exceptions and why one should "call ahead".....

Many jurisdictions allow beer sales, beer and wine sales, sales of various beverages, but not by the glass/drink/across the bar.

Just as Massachusetts used to make drinkers "sit" on Sunday, some state statutes and local regulations can be quaint and hard to appreciate.

TMO

I was just talking with someone sitting next to me on a plane and BYOB issue came up. He mentioned Martha's Vineyard being mostly dry so you pretty much have to bring your own wine to restaurants there. Corkage is apparently minimal - as in a few dollars - at most restaurants.

Oodles of Noodles in Kona got rid of their wine list to cut costs and charged no corkage. They closed and reopened as the smaller O's Bistro with pretty much the same menu. I haven't been since, but would imagine the BYOB w/little or no corkage remains. Something to check out if in the area.

This was a local ordinance to help Ted & Family dry up

M8

I think it's far more than a few, but it would be useful to compile a list of states that don't allow it (and at that it can vary by county). Virginia law forbids it, except with private parties in a separate room, but there are restaurants there that allow it anyway.

Which other states that you know have laws forbidding bringing your own wine for consumption at a restaurant? These are the ones I found (and in some states listed it's only illegal if the restaurant has a full liquor license - New Jersey restaurants without liquor licenses are apparently forbidden from charging corkage and encourage BYO, and Tennessee law requires corkage be offered):

Virginia
Colorado
Vermont (though apparently not much enforced)
Mass (Wellesley requires a special permit for corkage; and it's obviously allowed in Martha's Vineyard as noted above)
NJ
Michigan
Maryland (possibly only banned in Montgomery County)
Indiana
Ohio
Texas
Vermont
Hawaii (Maui county only?)
Arizona

A side topic, but a lot of people don't realize that most (yes, most) states allow you to recork wine served at a restaurant and bring it home. At least 27 states let you do this and several others have no law one way or the other.

Since I/we really enjoy a bit of fine wine with our meals, I love BYOB places because you truly make your own selection, and get a great price too. Stopping in to purchase an appropriately nice wine for $25 while on the way over to the restaurant rather than electing to purchase a second choice wine, often not nearly as good, and perhaps being even more expensive! Long live BYOB.

On the other hand, occasionally I'll see a great new wine to try at a restaurant and sometimes it is extraordinarily well priced. Go figure!

BTOB places saved me when I was a poor student.

-Mark

In Texas it's "legal" if permitted by owners in "Dry" areas (where wine may not be sold "across the bar") or when the establishment has no alcohol sales permit (for either beer, wine or mixed drinks).

Much patronized by the national media when the Prez is weekending or longer in nearby Crawford, Waco's "Siete Mares, fresh seafood in the style of the Mexican Gulf Coast, charges no corkage fees and once had the grandest collection of unmatched glasses brought by local patrons before the little place had wineglasses at all - everything from high end Napa boutiques to Rhenish souvenirs. Now, it has its own "dollar store" variety, less charm, but less breakage.

There's celebrities to sight, but from some perspectives, status does not always endow couth.

Pet Peeve...Restaurants that more than triple the normal retail price of modest but drinkable wines. I expect to pay a substantial markup, but not to send the owner's daughter to finishing school (in Switzerland). That business in Cana? The hall had plenty of wine. The manager was simply charging to much!


TMO

I just at my first BYOB restaurant in the city this past weekend.

The place was called Think Cafe. Oh by the way, it's in Chicago in bucktown. The food was great.

http://www.think-cafe.com/

This would surprise me greatly, as most states have separate on and off premisis lisences. some places have both, but most restaurants do not have an Off Prem. Lis.

Be surprised! Here are snips (trying to avoid copyright violations) from the Sept. 22 WSJ. The story goes on to explain that the laws were generally made to curb drunken driving by not making diners feel as though they have to finish the bottle they paid for. In some states participation by restaurants is voluntary, in a few, it's required. There are also different procedures - some states require the restaurant to recork it; some require it be put in some sort of sealed bag so you're not temped to drink it in the car. Definitely one of those things you'd want to ask about before you order and expect to take the leftover wine home.


(I was going to give a WSJ link, but it's in the archives for $29.95, I think it is. This site reprinted it in full: http://www.bookofjoe.com/2004/09/waiter_id_like_.html)

...having entire neighbourhoods with nothing but byob restaurants...i highly reccomend L'acamie on the corner of St. denis and deluth.