"RestaurantWine" news and stories

Ever seen the phrase "corkage fee" on a restaurant menu and wondered what it meant? Here's the 411: some restaurants let you BYOB, but they charge a small amount ($5-35) to cover the glasses, service, etc. While $20 might seem like a hefty fee for the server to spend 15 seconds pulling a cork, the corkage fee is really just a gentle reminder to you that your BYOB is cutting into their profit margin. Restaurants make a lot of money from drinks markups, including wine, and when you bring your own they aren't raking in the dough.

BYOB is a good dining strategy whether you're a connoisseur or a cheapskate. As a connoisseur, you can bring a special bottle the restaurant wouldn't possibly offer. As a cheapskate, you can save money by paying the corkage fee instead of exorbitant markups.

Just remember the rules of etiquette when you BYOB:

• Call ahead and ask first so you don't show up with your $8 Merlot only to find out the corkage fee is three times that.
• Don't bring wine that's on the restaurant's list. It's rude.
• Offer your server/sommelier a taste. (He or she may say no, but it's the right thing to do.)
• Don't stiff the server: factor the wine in when you calculate the tip.