August in Washington may be hot and humid, but there are two things that I can count on. First, traffic is just a little bit lighter, and second, you can usually snag a reservation at your favorite restaurant and next week, you can get an extra treat during Restaurant Week.
From Aug. 16 to 22, more than 200 of the areaÕs finest restaurants will offer three-course meals for set prices during the 16th biannual Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants will offer a three-course lunch for $20.10 and a three-course price-fixed dinner for just $35.10. For a complete list of restaurants taking part in the promotion, visit washington.org/restaurantwk.
Many of these restaurants also will offer wine specials, so you could really save big while splurging. If you are celebrating a special occasion and have been waiting patiently to open an extraordinary bottle of wine, now might be the time to consider taking it out to dinner. But there are a few things you need to know before you show up with wine bottle in hand.
First of all, the only jurisdiction in our area that will permit patrons to bring wine into a restaurant is D.C. Restaurants in Montgomery County only can sell wine to guests that the restaurant has purchased through the county. They are strictly prohibited from allowing patrons to bring in their own wine. Restaurants in Northern Virginia have a similar policy, however, under certain circumstances, an exception can be made. For example, if the restaurant is either a private club or has a dedicated room for private functions, you may be allowed to bring your own wine in at the discretion of management. They may be required to petition Virginia’s alcohol bureau to get permission to allow private wines on-site. Understandably, most restaurants are reluctant to go through the process since it can be time-consuming and let’s face it they’d like you to buy their wine.
D.C. law allows patrons to bring their own wines to a restaurant at the discretion of the establishment. This is a privilege, not a right. Policies vary widely from restaurant to restaurant and even may vary at the same restaurant depending on the day of the week (some restaurants may waive their corkage fee during weekdays – see below). With that said, the District does dictate a restaurant with a standing corkage policy may not charge more than $25 per bottle and must allow a two-bottle minimum.
Now that you know where you can take your wine, let’s talk etiquette. I suggest you always call the restaurant ahead of time to let them know that you are planning on bringing in your own wine and why, e.g., a special occasion. Next, tell them the name of the wine(s) you want to bring. It is very poor form to take your wine to any restaurant where the same wine is offered on their wine list, so make sure your special wine is not one of their special wines. Lastly, confirm the restaurantÕs corkage policy and pricing since both can vary widely. For example, at Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington, the standing policy is not to charge a corkage fee if you bring in a domestic bottle of wine (limit two bottles). The fee for additional bottles or any nondomestic bottle is $25 per bottle. Fair enough.
Owner Dean Gold of Dino in Cleveland Park recently told me his restaurant is doing Restaurant Week all month long with deals that include 33 percent off of wines that cost more than $50 on the wine list, as well as free corkage Monday through Wednesday. But I would recommend limiting your selection to one bottle, especially during Restaurant Week, when the values already are built into the menu pricing.
Lastly, I recommend you always offer a taste of the wine to both the sommelier and your server. A little kindness goes a long way, and a sip of a unique wine just might help the server forget the bottle of wine your table didn’t buy. And please, be respectful and tip your server and the sommelier generously. When you bring your wine to a restaurant, you are using their stemware and the server and/or sommelier’s time (I always try to order at least one bottle of wine off the wine list as a way of showing my appreciation).
So, when you want a special night out with that extraordinary bottle of wine you’ve been saving, just remember to call the restaurant ahead of time to get the scoop. That way, you’ll be assured of having a pleasant experience. And if you do bring your wine with you, please don’t try sending it back. That’s just mean.
