In Bring Wine, Pay Double, Helena Echlin of Chow explores the question of corkage fees in restaurants.
People might not appreciate to have to pay a $20 corkage fee for a wine they bought for around $10 or $15 in a wine store.
I think the fee should stay in the $20 region (per bottle).
I suggest people call the restaurant prior to bringing their own wine so they will know what the policy is.
The wine brought should be something special.
Profits made on wines and spirits help many restaurants balance the high costs of producing high quality foods.
For both sides, it all comes down to good manners.
Would anyone dream of bringing their own steak and ask the kitchen to grill it for them?
I also find it rude when people eat out and bring along and put in full display their water or soda bottle, cappuccino. Some not wanting to pay for tea, bring along their own tea bag and ask for hot water.
Others ask for a lot of sugar and lemons and make their own lemonade.
To conclude restaurants should charge a reasonable corkage fee and stingy customers should mind their manners and not make a fool of themselves.
Amanda Gold offered a ‘fair and balanced’ review of the same topic in Taming of the Screw for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Also on restaurants, manners and corkage fees: Has the restaurant become the new hotel bedroom, plus Restaurants, Wine and Wikis and Tis’ the season for Elements of Etiquette