Sydney fine dining restaurants who offer BYO

Cheap and cheerful is no longer the default option if you want to BYO wine

Back in the day, bringing your own wine to dinner was a way to keep your budget in check. But for those with serious cellars, it’s the best way to complement a great meal.

Restaurateur Lucio Galletto of Lucio’s Italian Restaurant, Paddington, said he makes an exception for heavyweight wines. The Your Cellar experience allows groups of six to 10 diners to bring four bottles from their home cellar and the kitchen will design a bespoke, four-course menu to match for $150 per person.

“Many people are very proud of their cellars and want to celebrate opening their bottle with a beautiful meal,” Galletto says.

“They ask, ‘We have this special bottle of wine, can we bring it?’

Diners call ahead so the kitchen and sommelier can design the menu.

“We’ve had some fantastic wines; a French Château Latour and an
80-year old sauternes from
Chateau d’Yquem which was just amazing. I suggested some gorgonzola dolce to match,” Galletto says.

“It’s not just a bottle from the bottle shop, they’ve been treasuring the wine for years. Some open them at home and others bring wines that need to be opened for longer the day before.

BYO is becoming increasingly popular in up-market restaurants.

When the Ormeggio Group opened Sotto Sopra, Newport, in February last year, it was BYO only on Tuesdays at $12 corkage a bottle. By June it had extended to Sundays and, because of diner demand, by September it was BYO all week.

Chiosco is also part of the same group and co-owner Anna Pavoni said more than half of the diners bring their own, and it’s not just cheap plonk.

“In all my days in hospitality I’ve never worked anywhere that serves so much champagne and it all comes as BYO,” she says.

“Who doesn’t want a bottle of Dom with their chargrilled split prawns?”

OREMGGIO AT THE SPIT

D’Albora Marinas, Spit Rd, Mosman

This fine diner makes exceptions if a diner wants to celebrate a special occasion with a special bottle.

“We ask our guests to deliver their wine in advance so we can ensure optimal temperature and decant it if necessary, that the proper glassware is ready so they are not walking in with
a bottle under their arm,” Pavoni says.

Corkage is $30 per bottle.

 

KINGSLEY’S

10/6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo

It’s free corkage on Sundays if you want to pair a bottle of Grange with your 400-day, Darling Downs,
6+ wagyu rib on the bone.

 

BISTRO MONCUR

116A Queen St, Woollahra

Open That Bottle runs every fourth Wednesday of the month. BYO and a sommelier will guide you through a four-course menu, $110, to match.

 

ONE PENNY RED

2 Moonbie St, Summer Hill

The popular Raid Your Cellar nights happen on the last Tuesday of the month. Five courses to complement your wine is $85.

 

GOLDEN CENTURY

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

393-399 Sussex St, Sydney

Most people know that this is where to go when you want your fill of XO pipis, but not many know that you can also BYO wine for $8 per person.

 

OTTO

8/6 Cowper Wharf Rd, Woolloomooloo

Groups of eight or more can enjoy BYO and a three-course shared menu for $89 per person.

 

REGATTA

594 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay

BYO is available on Wednesdays for $10 corkage a bottle.

 

SEAN’S PANORAMA

270 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach

Overlooking Bondi Beach, this local institution is $25 per bottle corkage.

 

ST CLAUDE’S

10 Oxford St, Woollahra

French bistro, $20 per bottle corkage.

 

HARTSYARD

33 Enmore Rd, Newtown

On Wednesdays, pick up a bottle from neighbouring P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants and get a free snack and
$8 corkage per bottle.

 

 

SONG KITCHEN

5/11 Wentworth Ave, Sydney

BYO available during June dinner service, Tuesday-Saturday, for $10 corkage per bottle.