BYOBs are a great way to avoid exhorbitant mark-ups on restaurant wine lists, and to ensure you'll have something you enjoy with your dinner. But the general procedure from top to bottom at BYOBs is a little different so let's discuss it a little, shall we?
First of a all, don't bring every bottle in your collection. Space in BYOB dining rooms is usually pretty limited and you don't really want your table surrounded by wine bags, etc. for me to trip over, do you? Also, if your table is covered with bottles and ice buckets, where will I put the food?
Second, if you require any special glassware, go ahead and bring it along. You're sixteen year old waitress isn't going to recognize your twenty year old Barolo and bring you the "special glasses," so if you can only drink out of Riedel crystal, I'll be happy to rinse it out for you when you're done. Knowing that a business isn't going to invest in sixty five dollar apiece wine glasses when it doesn't make any money off wine, I always bring my own glasses if I have a special bottle.
Finally, whereas BYOBs are meant for avoiding spending extra money on wine, if your server opens, pours, and maintains your bottle, toss him or her a couple extra bucks. Remember, servers are not required to even open your bottle at a BYOB, so any additional attention is above and beyond the standard. And especially at BYOBs, 20% is always accepted.
ok. So 1, I didnt really think people were really into BYOB. 2. Do BYOB resturants not serve alcohol at all or is the byob your choice. 3. Is a glass really that important. As a none drinker, these are the kind of things I have always wondered. But I guess wine is to some people what a book is to me...something I just cant live without. LOL.
ReplyDeleteHey Tia! Thanks as always for your comments. First, in the last couple of years BYOBs have blown up! People are sick of spending ten bucks for a glass of wine when they can get the whole bottle for twelve! And in dry towns (towns that by law do not have any alcohol serving establishments) like the one in which I work, its really the only option. Second, restaurants are usually BYOB or not, one or the other, although many restaurants that have a liquor license have a "BYOB night" usually a Monday or Tuesday when you can bring your own wine (just call to check). Finally, glassware only REALLY matters in the case of really expensive wine, or wines that call for specialty glassware like port or icewine. I have two men that come in about once a week who prefer fine crystal for their high end wines. The glasses are on the table when I greet them, and are put away by the time I bring the check. They don't make a big deal of it, its just what they like.
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