The Auswine Forum

On the broader theme - the other judgement call is opportunity cost. In a full restaurant, if you BYO, you're not only cutting into the restaurant's margin of what they could sell you, you're also taking a table from someone who might otherwise buy from the list. So I can understand why nominal charges - or even 'cheapest bottle equivalent' charges might be unappealing. It's probably hard to calculate what the true 'level' should be on a case-by-case basis, so I understand why restaurants might not want the hassle.

What I have seen work elsewhere is using BYO to drive foot-fall on nights where the restaurant might otherwise be quiet. Early week specials, etc. The Hawksmoor chain in London seems to do this incredibly successfully - I'm assuming because the margins on their food make it worthwhile. I'm guessing they're fat, based on what I think they're paying at cost.

Don't buy the first paragraph, but certainly agree with the second. There are establishments that do free BYO on quiet nights. There also those that know BYO every night will translate to more bums on seats.
Unless I'm in another universe, doubt that there are restaurants at capacity every night and punters are happily paying 300-600% mark ups on wine.
Think BYO will continue, canny operators will use it as a strategy to remain open

Cheers Craig

Depends what level of restaurant you're talking about, I think. If it's local restaurants in suburban areas - even good ones - they'll often be trying to turn more tables. As such, offering BYO might be a lever they could, and often do consider.

In my experience though, higher-end restaurants in the CBD, or the most affluent suburbs aren't struggling with getting people through the door, so maximising margins from a capacity clientele is going to be the name of the game.

I'm absolutely not ITB though, but I've booked more than my fair share of tables!

Transferred from another thread. Paris Go in Carlton (VIC). Great french food at very reasonable prices. $17 corkage. Linen tablecloths and napkins an indication of the quality.

There are plenty of Asian and Pizza/pasta restaurants who have no problem with byo. Happy to give them my cash.

Cafe Sydney for lunch yesterday and thankfully I was drinking soda water only. Over $800 for a bottle of Wendouree from last decade!

I tend to do my fine dining over lunch these days to avoid the horrendous wine mark-ups.

In Perth, I can heartily recommend Lulu's Little Bistro, just outside the CBD. Excellent mostly-French food, cosy 25 seater restaurant, and a chef who is a wine enthusiast.

Newly opened, and open Thursday to Saturday at this stage. And BYO, of course.

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 10:11 am Cafe Sydney for lunch yesterday and thankfully I was drinking soda water only. Over $800 for a bottle of Wendouree from last decade!

I tend to do my fine dining over lunch these days to avoid the horrendous wine mark-ups.

There you go...just a lazy 300-600% mark up, and contrary to popular opinion, it just flew off the shelf
Cheers Craig

Waiters Friend wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 1:55 pm In Perth, I can heartily recommend Lulu's Little Bistro, just outside the CBD. Excellent mostly-French food, cosy 25 seater restaurant, and a chef who is a wine enthusiast.

Newly opened, and open Thursday to Saturday at this stage. And BYO, of course.

I second that! Been there a couple of times now, drinking great champagne, barolo and burgundy at absolutely no cost (apart from my own already sunk cost). Great food too!

phillisc wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 3:56 pm

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 10:11 am Cafe Sydney for lunch yesterday and thankfully I was drinking soda water only. Over $800 for a bottle of Wendouree from last decade!

I tend to do my fine dining over lunch these days to avoid the horrendous wine mark-ups.

There you go...just a lazy 300-600% mark up, and contrary to popular opinion, it just flew off the shelf
Cheers Craig

Yes you’d say with shipping and commission the Wendouree would cost them $200-$250 so that’s about right. If you are building a wine list a few “cults” looks good but it would be nice to see more reasonable wines.

As a postscript, Cafe Sydney were always my nemesis at auction outbidding me and counter-bidding didn’t see success. So over the years if I saw them bidding I’d play along too. It was fun- and drove the price up for the vendor. I chatted the sommelier and told him this. He said they stopped bidding on wine like Giaconda at auction due demand and obtaining wines direct- and they smartly have a more discrete bidding handle now!

Went to a relatively new Thai joint in the northern suburbs last week, Bangkok Snap in Kilburn. Waiter apologised for having to charge us $5 for corkage! Reasonably authentic Thai food, good value.

Went to Sean's in Bondi last week - $35 for corkage seemed a bit steep, but given the quality of the food I was more than happy to pay it. Seemed like a good compromise.

Went to Epocha (Rathdown st Carlton) last night. Excellent food and allows BYO. Not cheap but very good glassware, excellent and attentive staff.

mjs wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 11:38 pm Went to a relatively new Thai joint in the northern suburbs last week, Bangkok Snap in Kilburn. Waiter apologised for having to charge us $5 for corkage! Reasonably authentic Thai food, good value.

As opposed to a recent meal at Antica in King William Road, which is basically a wood fired pizza joint, very very good pizzas, but still a pizza joint. Corkage was $30 which is a bit steep, but we keep going back there!

Chianti in Adelaide $55 for BYO. I took a 1999 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio All'Oro. $100 on release in Hong Kong and cellared professionally. Something like this would be $1000 on a wine list! So I’m OK with the corkage. Chianti has an extensive wine list with adolescent BdM about $500 a bottle.

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 11:34 am Chianti in Adelaide $55 for BYO. I took a 1999 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio All'Oro. $100 on release in Hong Kong and cellared professionally. Something like this would be $1000 on a wine list! So I’m OK with the corkage. Chianti has an extensive wine list with adolescent BdM about $500 a bottle.

Admittedly been a few years since I have dined there, but remember corkage at $15 a bottle
Cheers Craig

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 11:34 am Chianti in Adelaide $55 for BYO. I took a 1999 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio All'Oro. $100 on release in Hong Kong and cellared professionally. Something like this would be $1000 on a wine list! So I’m OK with the corkage. Chianti has an extensive wine list with adolescent BdM about $500 a bottle.

Jamie,
At that wine level, I wouldn't mind the corkage either, hopefully with food to match. Thinking of going there in the next couple of months
cheers, Malcolm

Nice food. I can see their problem they’ve an extensive wine list which needs to turn over otherwise quite a liability.

I’m reversing on corkage a little. So many of my wines in my cellar are $1000 dollar experiences at restaurants these days both here and abroad. Paying a relatively expensive corkage is fine by me.

Sure, cheap and cheerful places, I’d be aghast.