Los Angeles Corkage Guide

If you’re like us, you hate overpaying for wine. Restaurants can mark wine up by 100 to 300 percent over retail! That bottle you just bought for $20 at the local wine shop can be on a menu for $55. We’re always looking for places that have free or low-corkage policies. When you do BYOW, bring something worthy of the corkage. Don’t bring a ten dollar bottle of wine then pay fifteen for corkage. It’s just not worth it.

A couple of things to remember when bringing your own wine. I wouldn’t bring a bottle to a restaurant that is known for their vast wine selection. Never bring a bottle they already have on the list. And finally, always include the corkage fee when you figure in your tip. We’ve even offered the somlier or server a taste of our wine on occasion and gotten the corkage fee waived, but this is a rare occasion.

Here are some places to try where corkage is less than $15. If you’ve got a suggestion, shoot us an email. Policies and prices are subject to change, so please call the restaurant to confirm.

Downtown

Water Grill – FREE
Cafe Pinot – FREE
Colori Kitchen – FREE
Nick & Stef’s – FREE
Bottega Louie – FREE (first bottle)
Kendall’s Brasserie – FREE
Pitfire Pizza – FREE

Eastside

Speranza – FREE
Masa of Echo Park – FREE
Blair’s Restaurant – FREE
Alegria on Sunset – FREE
Two Boots – FREE
Gingergrass – FREE
Il Capriccio – $7
Taix French – $10
Aroma – $10
Camilo’s – $10
Canelé – $10
Casa Bianca – $5
Edendale Grill – $10
Marouch – $8
Michaelangelo’s – $10
Taylors Steak House – $7
The Kitchen – $10
The Park – $8
Mess Hall – $10

Hollywood

Jitlada Thai – FREE
25 degrees – FREE
Bossa Nova – $8
Musso & Frank – $4 (per person)

Mid City/Fairfax

Girasole – FREE
Providence – FREE on Mondays
Farm of Beverly Hills – $10
Osteria Mamma – $12
Indias Oven – $7

Beverly Hills

Grill on the Alley – FREE
Breadbar – FREE
South Beverly Grill – FREE
Lawry’s – $10

Culver City

Cafe Brasil – FREE
Pitfire Pizza – FREE
Ford’s Filling Station – $10
Brunello Trattoria – $10
Tender Greens – $10

Westside

Gulfstream – FREE
Hillstone – FREE
R+D Kitchen – FREE
Manchengo – FREE
Houston’s – FREE
Latitude Thai – FREE
Ocean Ave Seafood – FREE
Bandera – FREE
Pitfire Pizza – FREE
Ocean Ave Seafood – FREE
Fritto Misto – $2 per person
Chez Jay – $10
Restaurant 2117 – $10
Bossa Nova – $8
Nook Bistro – Free on Monday and Tuesday
Josie Restaurant – Free on Tuesday

South Bay

Bluewater Grill – FREE
Buona Vita Tratteria – FREE
Fritto Misto – $2 per person

The Valley

Pitfire Pizza – FREE
Granville Cafe – $10
Laurel Tavern – $10
Gio Cucina Napoletana – $8
Ombra – $8

Pasadena

Houston’s – FREE
La Grande Orange – $5
Celestino – $10
AKA Bistro – $8
Gus’s Barbeque – $10
Mike and Anne’s – $10

Updated March 12, 2013