The Artful Diner - BYOB Restaurants

BYOB Restaurants

"Bring Your Own Bottle" restaurants represent an incredible windfall to the conscientious diner. Here you may tote along an exceptional vintage of your own choosing and match it up with superior cuisine. You have the best of both worlds.

If you are a relative newcomer to the world of wine, however, a visit to a BYOB eatery will undoubtedly strike you as a major inconvenience. Not only does it necessitate a trip to your local wine shop, and the time and trouble spent scouring the shelves for what you hope is an appropriate vintage; it also represents the not insignificant mental anguish of wondering whether your selection(s) will ultimately be considered beneath contempt by some restaurant lackey. But as you become more adept at deciphering oenological esoterica and, perhaps, even begin to lay away a few bottles in that unused hall closet or cellar, your fears will undoubtedly dissipate. In the meantime, console yourself with the fact that you are saving mucho dinero along the way.

However, even at an eatery where you are invited to bring your own, one rule of thumb always remains in force: Choose a wine that will be commensurate with both your food and your surroundings. Fine restaurants, for example, call for equally fine wines. On the other hand, it makes absolutely no sense to waste an exquisite vintage on strictly plebeian fare. If you've dined at a given restaurant previously, you should have no great difficulties in this regard. If this is your initial visit, a written or online review should provide you with enough clues to make an intelligent decision.

Perhaps a few personal preferences on the lower end of the culinary Richter Scale may prove helpful... When my wife and I are in the mood for marinara, we usually tote along a bottle of inexpensive/moderately priced Chianti. When our gastronomic adventures take us south-of-the-border, we inevitably bring along a bottle of Spanish or Chilean red; both stand up well to a variety of spicy onslaughts. It is notoriously difficult to find a wine that marries well with Chinese food. After a good deal of experimentation, we've finally decided that Gewürztraminer most adequately fills the bill. Its unique flavor is guaranteed not to get lost in the sauce. If this is a bit over-the-top for your palate, a sturdy Alsatian Pinot Blanc or Riesling is an equally good bet.

Apart from these few personal recommendations, I would strongly suggest that, when in doubt, always bring along TWO bottles, a white and a red. This is particularly important when you're not quite sure where your taste buds may lead, or when you're dining at an exceptionally fine restaurant. When you tote along two bottles (preferably in some form of wine carrier rather than a paper sack advertising your favorite food emporium), you are not only increasing the spectrum of gastronomic possibilities, you are also serving notice that you take both food and wine seriously. Like it or not, whether purchased on site or ferried across the threshold, wine makes a statement, a statement that illustrious restaurant proprietors and their assorted lackeys are quick to pick up on. Lovingly presenting your bottle of white zinfandel in a first-class BYOB eatery, simply because you suffer from the misconception that "it goes with everything," will automatically mark you as a great pretender at table.

Should you decide to take my advice and schlep along two vintages, a cautionary word is in order... Until you are absolutely certain as to how a given establishment treats the fine wines entrusted to its care, when handing over your cache, make it absolutely clear that NO wine is to be opened until YOU give the word. Whether you decide to open only one bottle or both -- the natural progression of white to red -- this decision should be yours and yours alone. You should in no wise be dictated to by some minor functionary who happens to be greased lightening with a corkscrew. The late, great Yves in Montclair, for example, usually handled wines impeccably. However, on the one occasion I failed to make my wishes known, before we had even been seated, our bottle of white Burgundy was presented at table uncorked. While apologies were profuse, the damage had already been done. Even in the most reliable of establishments, it never hurts to reiterate your instructions.

One final word... BYOB eateries should on no account be considered inferior to those that serve up alcoholic beverages on site. In point of fact, the cuisine at "Tote Your Own" establishments is among the very best that the Garden State has to offer. Consider, if you will:

49 North Main, 49 North Main Street, Lambertville, (609) 397-5990
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Acacia, 2637 Main Street (Route 206), Lawrenceville, (609) 895-9885,
Restaurant's Website

Alexander's, 653 Washington Street, Cape May, (609) 884-2555
Restaurant's Website

Alisa Café, Barclay Farms Shopping Center, 112 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, (856) 354-8807
Restaurant's Website

Anjelica's, 1070 Ocean Boulevard, Sea Bright, (732) 842-2800
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Anthony David's, 953 Bloomfield Avenue, Hoboken, (201) 222-8399
Restaurant's Website

Aquila Cucina, 30 South Street, New Providence, (908) 464-8383
Restaurant's Website

Aria Ristorante, 4 Little Falls Road, Fairfield, (973) 227-6066
Restaurant's Website

Atrio Café, 515 Bridge Street, Stockton, (609) 397-0042
TAD's Reivew

Bacio, 2806 Route 130 North, Cinnaminson, (856) 303-9100
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Basilico, 324 Millburn Avenue, Millburn, (973) 379-7020
Restaurant's Website

Bay Avenue Trattoria, 122 Bay Avenue , Highlands, (732) 872-9800
Restaurant's Website

Bay Point Prime, 1805 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach
(732) 295-5400 Restaurant's Website

Bistro 44, 44 Washington Street, Toms River, (732) 818-7644
Restaurant's Website

Black Duck On Sunset, 1 Sunset Boulevard, West Cape May, (609) 898-0100,
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Black Trumpet, 7 Atlantic Avenue, Spring Lake, (732) 449-4700
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Blu, 554 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
(973) 509-2202
Restaurant's Website

Blue Bottle Café, 101 East Broad Street, Hopewell, (609) 333-1710, TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Blue Restaurant, 11^th Street & Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, (609) 494-7556
TAD's Reveiw
Restaurant's Website

Brandl., 703 Belmar Plaza, Belmar, (732) 280-7501
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Brennan's Bayside, 50^th & Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City (609) 263-8881
Restaurant's Website

Brothers Moon, 7 West Broad Street, Hopewell, (609) 333-1330
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Bula World Cuisine, 134 Spring Street, Newton, (973) 579-7338
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Café Matisse, 167 Park Avenue, Rutherford, (201) 935-2995
Restaurant's Website

Café Panache 130 East Main Street, Ramsey, (201) 934-0030
Restaurant's Website

Casa Maya, 1 Main Street, High Bridge, (908) 638-4032; 615 Meyersville Road, Meyersville, (908) 580-0799
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Casona, 563 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood 856) 854-5555
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Chef's Table, 754 Franklin Avenue, Franklin Lakes, (201) 891-6644
TAD's Review

Claude's, 100 Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood, (609) 522-0400
Restaurant's Website

Dish, 13 White Street, Red Bank, (732) 345-7070
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Elements Café, 517 Station Avenue, Haddon Heights, (856) 546-8840
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Epernay, 6 Park Street, Montclair, (973) 783-0447
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Fascino, 331 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, (973) 233-0350
Restaurant's Website

Fat Kat, 201 Main Street, Little Ferry, (201) 814-0234
TAD's Review

Ferry House, 32 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, (609) 924-2488
Restaurant's Website

Fiddleheads, 27 East Railroad Avenue, Jamesburg, (732) 521-0878
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Gaetano's, 10 Wallace Street, Red Bank, (732) 741-1321
Restaurant's Website

Gennaro's, 47B State Road (Route 206), Princeton, (609) 497-2774
Restaurant's Website

Girasole, 520 West Union Avenue, Bound Brook, (732) 469-1080
Restaurant's Website

Green Gables, 212 Centre Street, Beach Haven, (609) 492-3553
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Grill 73, 73 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville, (908) 630-0700
Restaurant's Website

Hamilton's Grill Room, 8 Coryell Street, Lambertville, (609) 397-4343
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Hannah & Mason's, 39 North Main Street, Cranbury, (609) 655-3220
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Indigo Moon, 171 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, (732) 291-2433
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Island Grill, 311 Mansion Avenue, Cape May, (609) 884-0200
Restaurant's Website

Island Palm Grill, 1321 Third Avenue, Spring Lake, (732) 449-1909
Restaurant's Website

Karen & Rei's, 1882 Route 9 North, Clermont, (609) 624-8205
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

La Campagna, 5 Elm Street, Morristown, (973) 644-4943
Restaurant's Website

La Campagne, 312 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, (856) 429-7647
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Laceno Italian Grill, 1118 White Horse Road, Voorhees, (856) 627-3700

La Cipollina, 16A West Main Street, Freehold, (732) 308-3830

La Mezzaluna, 25 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, (609) 688-8515
Restaurant's Website

La Petite France, 7 East Front Street, Red Bank, (732) 936-0640
TAD's Review

La Spiaggia, 357 West 8^th Street, Ship Bottom, (609) 494-4343
Restaurant's Website

Latour, 6 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, (201) 445-5056

Lawrenceville Inn, 2691 Main Street (Route 206), Lawrenceville, (609) 219-1900
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Le Rendez-Vous, 520 Boulevard, Kenilworth, (908) 931-0888
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Limestone Café, 89 Main Street, Peapack, (908) 234-1475
Restaurant's Website

Little Café, 118 White Horse Road, Voorhees, (856) 784-3344
TAD's Review

Lorena's, 168 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, (973) 763-4460
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Manon, 19 North Union Steet, Lambertville, (609) 397-2596

Matt's Red Rooster Grill, 22 Bloomfield Avenue, Flemington, (908) 788-7050
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Meil's, Bridge Street, Stockton, (609) 397-8033,
Restaurant's Website

Mélange Café, 1601 Chapel Avenue, Cherry Hill, (856) 663-7339
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Mojave Grille, 35 Elm Street, Westfield, (908) 233-7772, Restaurant's Website

Navesink Fishery, 1004 Route 36 South, Middletown, (732) 291-8017

Niecy's, 65B South Orange Avenue, South Orange, (973) 275-1770
TAD's Review

No. 9, 9 Klines Court, Lambertville, (609) 397-6380

Ora, 90 South Street, Morristown, (973) 326-9200
Restaurant's Website

Origin, 10 South Steet, Morristown, (973) 971-9933; 25 Division Street, Somerville, (908) 685-1344
Restaurant's Website

Osteria Dante, 91 Broad Street, Red Bank, (732) 530-0602
Restaurant's Website

Ota-Ya, 21 Ferry Street, Lambertville, (609) 397-9228
Restaurant's Website

Pacific Grille, 1200 South Church Street, Mount Laurel, (856) 778-0909
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Pamir, 85 Washington Street, Morristown, (973) 605-1095
Restaurant's Website

Peter Shields Inn, 1301 Beach Drive, Cape May, (609) 884-9090
Restaurant's Website

Portofino, 720 Tinton Avenue, Tinton Falls, (732) 542-6068
Restaurant's Website

Raimondo's, 1101 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom, (609) 494-5391

Raymond's, 28 Church Street, Montclair, (973) 744-9263

Ray's Little Silver Seafood, 125 Markham Place, Little Silver, (732) 758-8166

Rebecca's, 236 Old River Road, Edgewater, (201) 943-8808
Restaurant's Website

Red's Lobster Pot, 57 Inlet Drive, Point Pleasant Beach, (732) 295-6622
Restaurant's Website

Ritz Seafood, 910 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Voorhees, (856) 566-6650
Restaurant's Website

Roberto's Dolce Vita, 12907 Long Beach Boulevard, Beach Haven, (609) 492-1001

Saddle River Inn, 2 Barnstable Court, Saddle River,
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Sea Salt, 8307 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, 609-368-3302
Restaurant's Website

Silver Oak Bistro, 26 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood, (201) 444-4744
Restaurant's Website

Simply Radishing, 2495 Brunswick Pike (Route 1), Lawrenceville, (609) 882-3760

Slowly, 73 Main Street, Toms River, (732) 914-0102

Sogno, 69 Broad Street, Red Bank, 69 Broad Street, Red Bank, (732) 747-6969
Restaurant's Website

Sunny Garden, 15 Farber Road, West Windsor, (609) 520-1881
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Sweet Vidalia, 122 North Bay Avenue, Beach Haven, 609 207-1200

Table 8, 615 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, (973) 746-2233
Restaurant's Website

Theresa's, 47 Elm Street, Westfield, (908) 233-9133
Restaurant's Website

Tim Schafer's Cuisine, 82 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, (973) 538-3330
Restaurant's Website

Tisha's Fine Dining, 714 Beach Drive, Cape May, 609-884-9119
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Tortilla Press, 703 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Trattoria Fratelli, 119 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, (201) 447-9377

Tuptim, 600 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, (973) 783-3800
Restaurant's Website

Union Park Dining Room, Macomber Hotel, Cape May
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Village Green, 36 Prospect Street, Ridgewood, (201) 445-2914
Restaurant's Website

Whispers, Hewitt Wellington hotel, 200 Monmouth Street, Spring Lake, (732) 974-9755
TAD's Review
Retaurant's Website

Wild Ginger, 6 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood, (201) 567-2660

Word of Mouth, 729 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, (856) 858-2228
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Yellowfin, B104 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, (609) 494-7001

Za Restaurant, 147 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington
TAD's Review
Restaurant's Website

Zarole, 20 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, (201) 670-5701

These are just a few of my favorite New Jersey BYOB dining establishments. For a more complete list of BYOB restaurants in the Garden State (and parts of NY & PA), as well as some other interesting tidbits, be sure to consult http://www.byoguide.com/.

Bon Appétit!

The Artful Diner