Corkage

jetskier · 09-22-2009, 12:32 PM

Hi all,

I travel to California routinely on business and it is quite common to bring your own wine to dinner there. Some restaurants charge a corkage fee and others do not. In the lakes region I have noted that even the good restaurants typically have a pretty mediocre wine list (except potentially O's).

Do restaurants in the lakes region allow you to bring your own wine? If so, what is the prevailing corkage fee?

Jetskier

twoplustwo · 09-22-2009, 12:54 PM

I can't think of any that allow it off the top of my head.

BernerGuy · 09-22-2009, 12:56 PM

While I cannot speak for those restaurants in this area. I can tell you that in Massachusetts it is a violation of our liquor license to allow patrons to bring in their own wine. It is even against the Board of Health to allow patrons to bring in their own dessert cake and even milk for their baby.

ironhorsetim · 09-22-2009, 01:11 PM

Isn't there a Mexican restaurant in Rockport that allow's you to bring in your own? There was an LQ right next door.
Some friends took us there a looong time ago.

Woodsy · 09-22-2009, 01:26 PM

The State requires that all restaurants that have license to serve beer/wine and or liquor purchase thier alcohol from the state on that license... all alcohol served in these establishments must be accounted for. BYOB is NOT allowed.

However, those restaurants without a license to serve alcoholic beverages may have a BYOB policy....

Woodsy

TomC · 09-22-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironhorsetim

Isn't there a Mexican restaurant in Rockport that allow's you to bring in your own? There was an LQ right next door.
Some friends took us there a looong time ago.

it is in Magnolia, the Edgewater. Haven't been there in years - but I think this is the place you recall.

donnamatrix · 09-22-2009, 02:32 PM

Gee, haven't lived there for going on 8 years, but grew up and spent MANY years in Mass. We used to go to Cambridge (in particular) and other towns and all restaurants allowed BYOB - even in Boston in Chinatown, if they didn't have a license... of course, I don't about today, the rules in MA have changed, you can now buy beer/wine on a Sunday---OMG!!

Zeke · 09-22-2009, 03:46 PM

East of Suez, when open during the summer, has a BYOB policy. They will uncork it for you. Though there is no corkage fee. I do agree that the wine lists in a good many restaurants in the area, don't quite match the level of the food that they serve.

Lakepilot · 09-22-2009, 05:47 PM

We always bring our own bottle to East of Suez. I also bring an opener. They would open the bottle for me, but since there isn't a corkage fee, I feel better doing it myself.

By the way, if you haven't been to East of Suez you are missing something. I had a trout there this past season that was to die for. Their regular menu is fantastic also.

angela4design · 09-22-2009, 06:57 PM

I think calling ahead is sound advice, but as for the fee... I've seen everything from $5 to $20 for corking.

Phantom · 09-23-2009, 07:58 AM

Whomever posted that Mass doesn't allow it by State Law was incorrect. Perhaps it is controlled by the local Towns but I know of at least one "chain" resturaunt (Il Forno's) with locations in Acton and Westborough that do not have liquor licences and allow you to BYOB (corkage is free).

Perhaps it's a stipulation if you HAVE a liquor license?

dewitt · 09-23-2009, 08:22 AM

When I got married 15 yrs ago at a facility in MA they charged me a corkage fee because I brought in my own wine for the tables. (I worked for a liquor dist. and they were kind enough to give it to me for free.) The facilty did have a full liquor license.

dpg · 09-23-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom

Whomever posted that Mass doesn't allow it by State Law was incorrect. Perhaps it is controlled by the local Towns but I know of at least one "chain" resturaunt (Il Forno's) with locations in Acton and Westborough that do not have liquor licences and allow you to BYOB (corkage is free).

Perhaps it's a stipulation if you HAVE a liquor license?

Yeah, go back and read again. BYOB if the establishment doesn't have a license. I've never heard the bit about not bringing milk for a baby, I wonder about formula?

AB_Monterey · 09-25-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom

Whomever posted that Mass doesn't allow it by State Law was incorrect. Perhaps it is controlled by the local Towns but I know of at least one "chain" resturaunt (Il Forno's) with locations in Acton and Westborough that do not have liquor licences and allow you to BYOB (corkage is free).

Perhaps it's a stipulation if you HAVE a liquor license?

Il Forno is great. Locations in Worcester and Fitchburg as well.

09-22-2009, 12:32 PM	#1
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 851 Thanks: 57 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	Corkage Hi all, I travel to California routinely on business and it is quite common to bring your own wine to dinner there. Some restaurants charge a corkage fee and others do not. In the lakes region I have noted that even the good restaurants typically have a pretty mediocre wine list (except potentially O's). Do restaurants in the lakes region allow you to bring your own wine? If so, what is the prevailing corkage fee? Jetskier

09-22-2009, 12:54 PM	#2
twoplustwo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 456 Thanks: 51 Thanked 39 Times in 21 Posts	call first I can't think of any that allow it off the top of my head.

09-22-2009, 01:11 PM	#4
ironhorsetim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Laconia/Ft Myers Beach, Fl Posts: 184 Thanks: 57 Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts	Isn't there a Mexican restaurant in Rockport that allow's you to bring in your own? There was an LQ right next door. Some friends took us there a looong time ago. __________________ "If common sense was common,everyone would have it" Ironhorsetim "Always do sober,what you say you'll do drunk, That will teach you to keep your mouth shut" Ernest Hemmingway

09-22-2009, 01:26 PM	#5
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	it depends.... The State requires that all restaurants that have license to serve beer/wine and or liquor purchase thier alcohol from the state on that license... all alcohol served in these establishments must be accounted for. BYOB is NOT allowed. However, those restaurants without a license to serve alcoholic beverages may have a BYOB policy.... Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

09-22-2009, 02:32 PM	#7
donnamatrix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro Posts: 833 Thanks: 24 Thanked 258 Times in 120 Posts	BYOB in Massachusetts Gee, haven't lived there for going on 8 years, but grew up and spent MANY years in Mass. We used to go to Cambridge (in particular) and other towns and all restaurants allowed BYOB - even in Boston in Chinatown, if they didn't have a license... of course, I don't about today, the rules in MA have changed, you can now buy beer/wine on a Sunday---OMG!!

09-22-2009, 12:56 PM	#3
BernerGuy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 68 Thanks: 17 Thanked 44 Times in 15 Posts	While I cannot speak for those restaurants in this area. I can tell you that in Massachusetts it is a violation of our liquor license to allow patrons to bring in their own wine. It is even against the Board of Health to allow patrons to bring in their own dessert cake and even milk for their baby.

The Following User Says Thank You to TomC For This Useful Post:
ironhorsetim (09-22-2009)

09-22-2009, 03:46 PM	#8
Zeke Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Giford Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts	East of Suez, when open during the summer, has a BYOB policy. They will uncork it for you. Though there is no corkage fee. I do agree that the wine lists in a good many restaurants in the area, don't quite match the level of the food that they serve.

09-22-2009, 05:47 PM	#9
Lakepilot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 446 Thanks: 70 Thanked 57 Times in 40 Posts	We always bring our own bottle to East of Suez. I also bring an opener. They would open the bottle for me, but since there isn't a corkage fee, I feel better doing it myself. By the way, if you haven't been to East of Suez you are missing something. I had a trout there this past season that was to die for. Their regular menu is fantastic also.

09-22-2009, 06:57 PM	#10
angela4design Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 353 Thanks: 45 Thanked 54 Times in 38 Posts	The fee... I think calling ahead is sound advice, but as for the fee... I've seen everything from $5 to $20 for corking.

09-23-2009, 07:58 AM	#11
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	Corkage Fee's in Mass Whomever posted that Mass doesn't allow it by State Law was incorrect. Perhaps it is controlled by the local Towns but I know of at least one "chain" resturaunt (Il Forno's) with locations in Acton and Westborough that do not have liquor licences and allow you to BYOB (corkage is free). Perhaps it's a stipulation if you HAVE a liquor license? __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

09-23-2009, 08:22 AM	#12
dewitt Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	MA corkage When I got married 15 yrs ago at a facility in MA they charged me a corkage fee because I brought in my own wine for the tables. (I worked for a liquor dist. and they were kind enough to give it to me for free.) The facilty did have a full liquor license.