The BYO Wine Restaurant Thread

[Madagascar94]

Looking for somewhere in SE Melbourne that does a good meal and has good glassware. France Soir is our normal lunch spot but no BYO with number restrictions at the moment and timed seating's doesn't suite our style.

French would be preferred (rib eye, frites and béarnaise), but open to alternative cuisines. The further SE the better (less travel)

Thanks in advance

Haven't seen a single good french place that does BYO wines. However in the Toorak-Malvern Area there are a few great Italian restaurants (Fratellinos, 39+) that do BYO. Also recently went to Remy Tapas which was also BYO in Malvern.

Not sure if it helps, but might help some others!

 

[bob_chop]

Thanks for that, i'll look into them

 

[CTT]

I was at Matteo's in Fitzroy last week. They do BYO but their wine list seems pretty well priced to me. Had a clonakilla shiraz viognier 2013 for $135.

I struggle to find a restaurants in Sydney with a well priced price list... anyone got some recommendations?

 

[boomy]

I was at Matteo's in Fitzroy last week. They do BYO but their wine list seems pretty well priced to me. Had a clonakilla shiraz viognier 2013 for $135.

I struggle to find a restaurants in Sydney with a well priced price list... anyone got some recommendations?

That's an excellent price for Clonakilla SV!

(Sorry can’t help with SYD restaurants)

 

[CTT]

That's an excellent price for Clonakilla SV!

(Sorry can’t help with SYD restaurants)

yep I was super surprised too

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

 

[billbro]

I struggle to find a restaurants in Sydney with a well priced price list... anyone got some recommendations?

Haven't come across any well priced lists (but depends on what you deem good pricing) - most of the time it seems to be 2.5 to 3 times mark up, which is fairly standard.

I think the trick is to find the bottle or two on the list that is hard to find, you wouldn't purchase or is just below that mark up range (i.e. pretty happy with a 2x).

From memory, Poly wasn't too bad if you picked up a bottle - by the glass was so so. Noi (sister restaurant to LuMi though not under Federico) has half pours via Coravin that are well priced. I'd assume Fix as a wine bar should be decent, but haven't looked up their pricing.

 

[billbro]

Here is another BYO doozy that I found on the website of a Vietnamese restaurant I was going to go (Hello Aunty) and I quote from their website

Bookings Marrickville – Hello Auntie

www.hello-auntie.com.au

Each to their own, but I personally find it a bit rich when commenting about restaurants and their BYO stance (agree the COVID safety reason is a bit iffy but we have seen it at a few locations). Ultimately, it's entirely fair and reasonable for a restaurant to choose not to offer BYO imo, as a large portion of their margins would presumably come from this side of the business.

We do prefer restaurants with BYO and they do still exist in Sydney, there is just a much more limited handful that serves finer/higher-end food.

 

[Daver6]

Each to their own, but I personally find it a bit rich when commenting about restaurants and their BYO stance (agree the COVID safety reason is a bit iffy but we have seen it at a few locations). Ultimately, it's entirely fair and reasonable for a restaurant to choose not to offer BYO imo, as a large portion of their margins would presumably come from this side of the business.

We do prefer restaurants with BYO and they do still exist in Sydney, there is just a much more limited handful that serves finer/higher-end food.

I think you make a fair point. But what amazes me (in Perth at least) is that on a Monday or Tuesday night when restaurants are notoriously quite, they'd prefer to not have any income rather than the sale of at least two courses plus paying corkage. Having said that, I'm not in the business of running restaurants so perhaps they are better off financially but not having that income. What would I really know?!

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Ryne is no longer BYO. I am hoping they will bring it back in a limited way, maybe weeknights. I'll keep lobbying.

Estelle - part of Scott Pickett's empire - is now BYO on Mondays which I will probably take advantage of. Scopri remains BYO all the time.

 

[billbro]

But what amazes me (in Perth at least) is that on a Monday or Tuesday night when restaurants are notoriously quite, they'd prefer to not have any income rather than the sale of at least two courses plus paying corkage.

I would find that odd too, potentially comes down to how hard it is to wean people off BYO or having customers being unhappy/requiring an explanation as to why they can't BYO.

A previous local of ours started off with BYO for a while, then had to shift this position to their wine list only - the owners did explain to us though that the average cover per head was quite low, they either had to jack up the food prices or make more margin off the wines. Did take us a bit of adjustment to get used to it and we also limited how often we visited.

 

[boomy]

I think the compromise for mid-range restaurants is to offer wine list but also give the option of BYO at a high cost (at least $20 per bottle) in order to attract different crowd that prefer to drink better wines than what’s on offer in their wine list and is willing to pay decent commission for that. Don’t know about others but I often chose (non-BYO) restaurants as much for their wine list as the food menu and if the former is not good / too overpriced we look elsewhere. Gone are the days of allowing myself to get ripped off on mediocre wines just because the restaurant owner is too greedy.

 

[burmans]

I think the compromise for mid-range restaurants is to offer wine list but also give the option of BYO at a high cost (at least $20 per bottle) in order to attract different crowd that prefer to drink better wines than what’s on offer in their wine list and is willing to pay decent commission for that. Don’t know about others but I often chose (non-BYO) restaurants as much for their wine list as the food menu and if the former is not good / too overpriced we look elsewhere. Gone are the days of allowing myself to get ripped off on mediocre wines just because the restaurant owner is too greedy.

So agree with this, if the restaurant wants us to drink their wines they should put some effort into choosing good wines. Decent wines can be found at all price points, even the cheapest (Mike Press for example).
While price is a factor in me preferring BYO wine quality is somewhat more important to me and so many restaurants have rubbish wine lists that are clearly afterthoughts.

 

[Daver6]

A big thing that puts me off some wine lists isn't the choice in wines, but the age (or lack) of the wines. They might have a bunch of great wines that are current vintage and way too young to drink.

Whenever I enquire about BYO at a venue that sells wine I always make it clear that I intend to bring something that isn't on the their wine list, likely have some age, isn't a $10 bottle of plonk and most importantly than I'm happy to pay corkage.

 

[qaz]

Ryne is no longer BYO. I am hoping they will bring it back in a limited way, maybe weeknights. I'll keep lobbying.

Estelle - part of Scott Pickett's empire - is now BYO on Mondays which I will probably take advantage of. Scopri remains BYO all the time.

don't forget The Recreation

also now

• High Top BYO Tuesdays @ Hero ACMI

$30 per person to bring your own wine, as many bottles as you like - 16 places available every Tuesday​

​

Hero High Top BYO Tuesdays

Introducing Hero's High Top BYO Tuesdays . One table, 16 people, one price to bring as many bottles as you’d like.

www.eventbrite.com.au

Hero at ACMI (closed)

Hero is now closed. Thank you to everyone who supported this award-winning restaurant since it opened in 2020.

www.acmi.net.au

HERO ACMI

www.heroacmi.com.au

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

High Top BYO Tuesdays @ Hero ACMI

Well discovered - on my list of restaurants to visit

 

[olympicwiz]

I struggle to find a restaurants in Sydney with a well priced price list... anyone got some recommendations?

I don't think there is a such a thing in Sydney - but there are some restaurants with an extensive (albeit expensive) wine lists like Rockpool.

As for BYO places in Sydney - here is my list

macleaystbistro.com.au BYO charge per bottle ($20 from memory - might be less)
Brasserie L'Entrecote – Brasserie L'Entrecote BYO on some days except the weekend
cafelyon.com.au BYO on some days except the weekend
https://bistrorex.com.au/ ($15 per bottle on Mondays, $35 on other days)

Home - Alfredo Italian Restaurant - officially not a BYO but it can be if you ask nicely to bring a special bottle,
Bayswater Kitchenette $20 per bottle
https://www.grappa.com.au/ BYO except weekends

Bar Reggio

Bar Reggio is a family owned and operated restaurant. It was established in 1992 by Renato and Cesare

www.barreggio.com.au

chubbycheekspaddo.com.au BYO Tue to Thu

Phamish Vietnamese Cafe

Rice paper rolls, pancakes and mains in a bustling red room with gold screens and counter service.

www.phamishcafe.com

https://washoku.com.au/

Flavour of India

www.flavourofindia.co

Don't Tell Aunty $20 per bottle

Will update the list with new findings.
Always trying to promote Sydney places that offer BYO and vice versa.

 

[qaz]

20% off $100+ with MERRY20 - ends next Monday

20% off $300+ physical Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Gift Cards with free express post using MUM20 - ends this Saturday

 

[baiden]

Anyone have good recommendations/experience for Perth. BYO option. Sun dinner. Open to all types of cuisine. For a 21st so prob 15-20 people.
Thanks in advance

 

[Daver6]

Anyone have good recommendations/experience for Perth. BYO option. Sun dinner. Open to all types of cuisine. For a 21st so prob 15-20 people.
Thanks in advance

First challenge is finding something open in Perth on a Sunday night!

Welcome to Good Fortune Roast Duck House is extremely casual but the food is excellent. Glassware is average but can also BYO if that's an issue.

Home Page - Piccolo Trattoria might be an option. I'm not sure how it would handle a larger group. Would need to be outside I think which is then weather dependant.

Chen's Kitchen in Wembley could be an option. They don't advertise their banquet widely, but call up and ask. That could be a pretty good option for a larger group.

 

[baiden]

First challenge is finding something open in Perth on a Sunday night!

Welcome to Good Fortune Roast Duck House is extremely casual but the food is excellent. Glassware is average but can also BYO if that's an issue.

Home Page - Piccolo Trattoria might be an option. I'm not sure how it would handle a larger group. Would need to be outside I think which is then weather dependant.

Chen's Kitchen in Wembley could be an option. They don't advertise their banquet widely, but call up and ask. That could be a pretty good option for a larger group.

Thanks,
Yes, the Sun requirement is/was always going to be a challenge but that's the brief my daughter gave me....

I thought I recalled you writing up something on a Kitchen but couldn't remember its name. There seem to be quite a few "kitchens". Will give them a call. Think the food will match Hunter Shiraz?