Bearing in mind we all have something reasonably decent in our understairs cupboards/attic/garage/cellar etc...

When going to a restaurant for dinner do any/many of you often/ever enquire about corkage cost for bringing your own bottle to a restaurant ?

Personally I never do. However, I've booked a restaurant for Mother's day and looking at their wine list I'm not overly impressed so am thinking about enquiring
Yes there are acceptible wines on the list but I kinda begrudge paying the mark up (3.5-4x having look up bottle prices on the net) for these which look to me like run of the mill offerings at best:

White Wines

House White - £15.50

Pinot Grigio, Hungary 2009 - £18.50

Willowglen Semillon Chardonnay, Australia 2007 - £19.50 (rrp: £5.95)

Corvinus Chardonnay, Hungary 2009 - £21.50 (rrp: ~£4.50)

Stoneburn Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough NZ 2010 - £28.50 (rrp: £7.99)

Boreham Wood Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough NZ 2009 - £30.50 (rrp: £9.99)
- This seems best value & reviewed of the whites

Macon Villages Blanc, France 2008 - £32.50

Chablis, France 2008 - £34.50

Sancerre, France 2008 - £36.50

Montagny 1er Premier Cru, France 2008 - £45.00


Red Wines

House £15.50

Almeda Merlot, Central Valley Chille. 2010 - £20.50 (rrp: £5.99)

Deer Point Cabernet Sauvignon, Bulgaria. 2009 - £21.50 (rrp: £5.30)

The Accomplice, Shiraz, Australia. 2009 - £22.50 (rrp: £5.99)

Malbec Vin De Pays D’OC, France. 2008 - £24.50

Kintu Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile. 2009 - £25.50 (rrp: ~£6)

Vina Marro Rioja, Spain. 2009 - £27.50 (rrp: ~£7.25)

Stoneburn Pinot Noir, Marlborough, NZ. 2008 - £31.50 (rrp: ~£9.99)

Vina Marro Rioja- Vendimia Seleccinada , Spain. 2009 - £33.50 (rrp: ~£9.50)

Barolo, Italy. 2005 - £49.00


(excuse the long post - got carried away)

You should enquire....GO FOR IT.

Good Post Shez.

How big is your Party for Mum's day. They don't want to lose your business do they ?

You'll be drinking three bottles or more perhaps......whose driving ? So offer them £20 / £25 in readies, and say that you will vacate the table reasonably promptly, that of course, if you are a 1st sitting.
Remind them that some customers sit there all bleeding night nursing a bottle of house white !

Tell them you will be discreet, so that other customers do not know that you have already given the wine to the maitre D'. Unless the owner / driver is there, the corkage will go into his pocket anyway.

They will come around, provided you have all your amunition in place - even if they don't usually offer corkage, they want the business.

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Duncan

Those prices are one of the reasons that I've not been to a "proper" restau in 30 odd yrs. Surly staff, small portions, enoooormous prices.
The last occasion, despite telling the waiter that my steak should be incinerated and the same colour throughout, I got a chunk of raw cow. I sent it back 3 times and even offered to cook it myself if the chef was incapable. 3 mins more each side I said. It came back after 30 seconds and we all left.
I left them my name and address and suggested they forward the bill. I told them to deduct 6 x man hours, trauma, lack of food and travel expenses and to include a cheque to cover.
No reply.

_________________
Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

7 adults and 2 youngsters attending
My nan however only tends to drink 1, maybe 2 White wine spritzers and the 3 men are going to be driving so at best we're only likely to get through 2 bottles max at the restaurant

Will ask all the same as it can't hurt

I once asked in an Italian we go to around twice a year, the answer was a firm 'no'. They need the money to offset the lower margin on the food, many restaurants make more profit from the drink.

Truth is, we eat out less and less, have grown tired of poor service, disappointing meals, smaller portions and rip-off drink costs. We came to the conclusion some time ago that we can produce better quality food at home for a fraction of the cost, and the wine selection is better

Agree that a large amount of revenue is made from the drinks bill in a restaurant

I still enjoy going to restaurants when I get the chance and at times don't begrudge paying the mark up on winne provide it's half decent stuff and not in excess of 2.5-3x rrp.
But the wine on this list fails to enthuse me.

Think I read recently that paying corkage is apparently becoming increasngly more accepted altho in some places you pay at least the price of a bottle of house

I enjoy cooking and would have liked to dish up dinner for the family but Mrs Shez likes the stress free (and washing up & pre/post cleaning free) environment of going to a restaurant and as it's mothers day she gets to call the shots

Enjoy the day Shez, dont get drunk and insult the MIL

I always look on the web at their wine list first then food.
If the list is poor I call and ask for corkage rates.

We are dinning out this Saturday and taking 5 bottles with us to open.

The rate was only £2.00 a bottle so very good indeed, been to restaurants in Manchester, Nottingham, Derby and London who vary from £5-15.00 a bottle.

Cant wait as I am taking one of my treasured Noel Verset Cornas 1999 with me.

Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

ha !

As one of the designated drivers there'll be no getting drunk on my sides (would have been another benefit to hosting) and its only the mother's from my side of the family going to dinner.
Will Go see the MIL (who happily is a lovely lady) earlier in the day