...continued from the a href="http://newworldwine.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_restaurant_wine_list
a href="http://newworldwine.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_restaurant_wine_list
previous article.
B.Y.O.B
Bringing your own bottle of wine is a viable option, but... If the restaurant charges a corkage fee (the majority do), consider the math. My current restaurant charges $25 corkage per bottle which is slightly above industry standard. Since most restaurants charge at least double retail for the wines on their list, you would be close to breaking even bringing in a $25 dollar bottle of wine. Therefore, if I was bringing my own wine into Morton's or Ruth's Chris, I would probably make it a more expensive bottle, $50 and up. Check the restaurant website, often they will post the corkage fee on the website. If the corkage is low, take advantage.
THE BEST METHOD
Be informed. There is no substitute for preparation. The more you know going in, the better. You're not going to walk onto the lot of a car dealership without doing some homework. The same applies to your dining experience. Here is a list of helpful tips regarding your preparation: