Is it okay to bring my own high-quality wine to a restaurant?
Every restaurant has its own policy, so call ahead. Some will allow you to bring your own bottle, some will charge a cork age fee, and some will flat-out refuse. Also, make sure you’re not bringing a bottle that the restaurant sells. This is especially important if the eatery has an extensive list, says David Gordon, the wine director at Manhattan’s Tribeca Grill, which boats a wine list 1,700 selections deep. “When a restaurant has a vast list, you should make sure you’re bringing a special bottle for a special occasion,” says Gordon. After all, you don’t want the corkage fee (typically, $20 to more than $75 per bottle) to trump the price of the wine.