"Kent" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Johnny Lobster" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I have noticed that many restaurants near my home in Denver are
>> raising their wine prices. They are already charging three to four
>> times the retail cost of a bottle. When my local French bistro raised
>> theor prices so that there were no bottles under $30, I stopped going
>> there and let them know why.
>>
>> However, recently a Pasqiuni's pizzaria opened in the neighborhood
>> with no bottle over $20 and many around the $11 mark. Shortly after
>> this, Swing Thai lowered their wine prices so that decent bottles can
>> be had for $14. Then another downtown restaurant started offering
>> bottles for half price before 7:00. I hope these are not all
>> coincidental, and that they are trying to compete. Just two weeks ago
>> I ate in a wine bar-restaurant in San Diego, and they had good
>> Australian Shriaz for $7 a bottle.
>>
>> Lobster
>>
>>
> In California a restaurant has to allow you to bring a bottle of wine into
> the restaurant and drink it. They can, and do, charge you a "corkage fee",
> usually $10, occasionally $15, and rarely $30+. Wine prices here in
> restaurants have skyrocked as well and this is one way to decrease the
> price a bit. You buy a bottle of "two buck Chuck" mask the label in some
> way and go to your favorite restaurant. I usually take in a reasonably
> priced good wine that the somnelier won't recognize.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Kent

In the Philly area it seems most new restaurants opening up are BYOB's,
which eliminate this issue. To fight back, many restaurants with a liquor
license have started allowing diners to bring there own wine and charging a
small corkage fee. This was pretty much unheard if a few years ago.

I like the trend. The same Argentinean Malbec that cost me $41 at Taquet in
Wayne last year, can be had from the state store for $17. I'd rather put the
money saved towards better food anyway.

Jon