I [re-]nominate Orchard Market & Cafe ... obviously, I love the place!

And thanks for the "heads-up" ... I never thought of tipping extra for bringing glasses (we bring our own corkscrew), but I'll try to remember next time.

BYOB places: aren't they mostly sushi establishments. And, aren't the OB's normally taken unremarkable? Most (all) places where you would take a great Claret to compliment the food already have liquor on offer. Seems to me to be just a cheaper drunk. (See the mood RfCK's world without Red Robins has landed me?)

Iggie's Iggie's Iggie's! The casual atmosphere and seating (which I know some readers dislike) has led to several conversations with strangers about beer and wine and sharing of those beverages. And there are several decent spots nearby to purchase said intoxicants. No corkage fee, numerous corkscrews/bottle openers, wine glasses, a fridge where you can stash your brews (or substandard wines)... and great pizza!

Has anyone been to Winks on Conkling Street in Canton? I drive by there often, but have never stopped in.

Savan Thai/Fuji San Sushi in Cockeysville. GREAT (and authentic) Thai food, beautiful decor (even though it's in a small strip mall) and fantastic, friendly service.

Hmmm... I've never been to a BYOB sushi place - all the ones I've visited have beer & sake. And as far as unremarkable OB's, we tend to bring a higher grade of beer than most restaurants offer, and we usually go for nice Argentine malbecs for wine (and the occasional lambic). And, really, with the incredible restaurant markup on wines, what's wrong with a cheaper drink with dinner now and then? Case in point, Alamos makes a lovely malbec that retails for about $9 and usually costs $20+ in restaurants.

I am a huge fan of Winks! The owners are super nice and the food is yummy. I took a large party there one night and the waiter offered to put our beers in the cooler for us. Now that's service!

best BYOB place in Baltimore is Asashi Sushi in Fell's Point. A liquor store is convieniently located accross the street. Big sapporo available.

Also Chopstix Cafe in Perry Hall. A great liquor store is right next door.
5002 Honeygo Center Dr
Perry Hall, MD 21128

Thai Arroy in Federal Hill on Light Street is BYOB...Their Thai food is great & cheap...Bring a bottle of wine and a six pack, and you're set. For the most part, I'll tip a bit extra over the usual bill if the server brings glasses or uncorks the bottle of wine for us. We had a get together for a buddy that was home from Romania, and we brought a couple of 6 packs with us. The servers where good with getting us glasses and opening bottles that required an opener.

Thai Arroy! Thai Arroy!

It would be helpful for any BYOB if you could tell us what restrictions there might be and if there is a "corkage" fee for beer and wine. I never heard of that for BYOB before, but I read on Chowhound that Gia's in Little Italy has a $7.50 per bottle charge for BYOB and $1 per bottle (or can!) for beer. That sounds kind of hostile to the BYOB concept. I suppose you wouldn't be welcome if you just cowboy-styled a bottle of Jack straight from the bottle. Yee ha!

I second Iggie's.

Iggie's by far... I met the love of my life at the community table. I love the seating, the pizza and the idea of sharing my favorite wine that maybe the restaurant wouldn't carry!

Thai Arroy - their food is wonderful (some of the best Thai I've eaten, and I've eaten lots of it) and you get to bring your favorite beer to drink with it. What's not to love?

I have been to Wink's - very casual and the food is okay. I really like the white seafood pizza; most of the offerings are good but basic/unremarkable. The service at Wink's (I think that a family runs it) is good and friendly.

It is just nice to have a decent place to get dinner in Brewer's Hill/Highlandtown without walking the 8 extra blocks to the square. The Five Guys heart-attack menu, way-too-loud music at Brewer's Hill Pub and unrelentling smoke at Canton Station make those bad options. I suppose the smoking ban and opening of Annabell Lee will change things.

Thai Arroy, of course! Great staff, GREAT food (pad see eew is amazing). One of my favorites places overall in B-More.

Samos has to be #1, with everyone else a distant second.

I can't believe how many comments were posted before Samos was mentioned ...

We'll go out to the burbs to eat at India Palace in Cockeysville. It serves good comfort Indian food. Its relaxing and usually is not too crowded. And if you forget to bring your wine, there is a wine store with a reasonable selection in the shopping center across the street.

I nominate Egyptian Pizza in Belvedere Square! Nothing too fancy, but a slight notch above super casual. Great selection of Middle Eastern dishes, pita sandwiches, and pizzas, but also has some nice pasta dishes and seafood. Super friendly service and Grand Cru is right across the street if you didn't bring your bottle from home.

In the RIP section I would nominate Mari Luna in Pikesville. Fantastic, cheap Mexican standards with some delicious, more imaginative specials. Alas, they just got their liquor license a few months ago.

For all my intentions to shop locally, I haven't actually been to Egyptian Pizza. I'll have to try it next weekend after my regular stroll through Daedalus Books. I usually just stop at Atwater's for lunch when I'm there.

Samos ... definitely! I hope they're still open, but Kiko's in Perry Hall is BYOB and I've always had great meals there....

dear owl meet galoot
i noticed that your comments on cafe gia were taken from chow hound, and not from personal experience. please know that our "cork" fee is $6.00 per bottle of wine and correctly $1.00 per beer. i am sorry that you believe that charging a cork fee creates a hostile environment.it is not mandatory that you bring beer or wine, we also serve nice non alcoholic beverages.please come dine on thursdays. there will be no cork fee on thursdays in the month of march.our food is good, our prices are reasonable and our cafe is friendly and comfortable. judge for yourself. hope to see you soon.
ps. no hard liquor please, but cowboys are welcome !

sincerely,
the mom

Janet--were we separated at birth? I also hang out at Belvedere Square, although I usually visit Atwater's for take out soup on those nights when Mom Doesn't Cook. You can recognize me by my gym clothes. ;->

Darker Than Blue - the restaurant does not charge a corkage fee.

Dahlink - I was just reading the advance from Amazon on Laura Lippman's new Tess Monaghan book due out next month and thought this was interesting -
"Kirkus Reviews
Like lunch at Atwater’s, Tess’s latest leaves you fully satisfied but looking forward to next time."

I agree with Mom, that it is your right not to come just as it is her right to charge whatever they want for the corking fee. We choose (Darker Than Blue) not to charge because it doesn't create a great hardship financially for me to clean a few extra glasses. I certainly didn't know that I wasn't the only one that didn't allow hard liquor, it just takes away from the dining experience having someone at the next table getting hammered LOL. This was by far one of the most informative blogs yet keep em coming LOL

PS "Chowhound" is not the Law Peoples judge for yourself

I almost forgot to comment on that lovely picture of the stuff shrimp at the top of the page LOL Wink Wink

That seals it, Janet--separated at birth. I LOVE Tess Monaghan! And what a great review!