Favorite BYOB's

Forgive me if a thread like this already exists but I am looking for a few recommendations of local BYOB restaurants for my fiance's birthday coming up in June.

We are looking for something fairly new, somewhat "upscale" and, preferably, with outdoor seating that can accommodate a group of 20 or so.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

OTF

BYOB Chicago: Your Guide to Bring-Your-Own Bottle Restaurants and Wine and Spirits Stores in Chicago is a very good guide.

There's also this thread.

New, BYOB, upscale, and large patio.....I think you're gonna have a hard time meeting those needs.

Boinsore, its great outside. Lucia's, but not outside.

I agree heartily on BonSoiree. Thisthreadhas quite a bit of information.

Thanks for all of the help! Reservations have been made for 20 at Bonsoiree on the patio!

OTF

Nice choice. Glad you chose a place in my neighborhood! Hope you have a nice night outside. That patio is cute.

The more I read about this place the more excited I get for this day to come! I can't believe that I am eating at Schwa and Bonsoiree in consecutive weeks (both for the lady's b-day)!

Again -- thank you all for the suggestions.

OTF

OldTownFoodie wrote:The more I read about this place the more excited I get for this day to come! I can't believe that I am eating at Schwa and Bonsoiree in consecutive weeks (both for the lady's b-day)!

Again -- thank you all for the suggestions.

OTF

You should let Kurt and Shin at Bonsoiree know about the special occasion. I'm sure they'll ramp up an already great experience. Please post your experiences at both.

I spoke to Anthony (the catering manager) and he has been more than accommodating - even going so far as to offer us the ability to choose our own menu!

For those of you that have been there -- how big is the patio? I've been searching online but have not been able to find a good pic as of yet.

OTF

OldTownFoodie wrote:For those of you that have been there -- how big is the patio? I've been searching online but have not been able to find a good pic as of yet.
OTF

The patio holds about 20, IIRC.

Thanks Jon -- that sounds about perfect.

Many of us are trying to save a little money when we dine out and I'm wondering if any of you have any favorite BYOB spots.

Here are my favorite--- Almost all are close to my house in Ukie Village. There are threads on them already....I think.

Jose's Restaurant
806 N Winchester
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 269-3188

Mariscos El Veneno
1024 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 252-7200

Habana Libre
1440 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60686
(312) 243-3303

Tamalli
2459 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL 60686
(773) 276-1441

Sun Wah –It’s BYO Wine only, which is all I drink, but the beer they sell is very inexpensive.
1134 W Argyle Street
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 769-1254

Here are my favorites:

Bonsoiree
2728 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60647
(773) 486-7511
www.bon-soiree.com

Think
2235 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-394-0537
www.think-cafe.com

Trattoria Caterina
616 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60605
312-939-7606

Lucia Ristorante
1825 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773-292-9700

Schwa
1466 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773-252-1466
www.schwarestaurant.com

chloe54, i could not find a thread on jose's. perhaps you could start one. i've been interested in this place and would like your and other thoughts on it.

I'm a big fan of Treat:

1616 N. Kedzie (just north of the intersection of Kedzie and North)
http://www.treatrestaurant.com/

Mixteco-Ashland and Montrose

I also have to agree on Bonsoiree. Have completely enjoyed every visit. Looking forward to having a great meal there next Wednesday in fact!

anniee8m wrote:I also have to agree on Bonsoiree. Have completely enjoyed every visit. Looking forward to having a great meal there next Wednesday in fact!

Make sure you have a reservation. My understanding is that they are going to be one of the restaurants on this Friday's "Check Please" show. That usually ends up with an explosion of business.

Bonsoiree on Check please? Oh, no, Oh no, oh no..aggghh....
I can't handle another restaurant with an hour and a half wait..Seriously! I'm patiently waiting for their New Year's Eve mail, and will pounce when it finally comes.

I have done a FEW Yelps, and Jose's is one of them....so here's what I wrote this summer with a few additions at the bottom:

I went to Jose's last night and I am bummed that I hadn't gone sooner. It was AWESOME! The pork tacos were heavenly. The portions were large. The tamales were homemade and the sauce on top was delicious. It's BYO. The guac was delish.
The decor inside is really cute and it definitely has ambiance...Jose dimmed the lights as it got later and lit candles. You could certainly enjoy an inexpensive date here with your honey. There is nice sidewalk seating as well.
The owner is very nice and does his best to make sure that you are having a good time.
My only problem was that I think the chips we had were stale.

A winner.
I eat at a lot of Mexican places and this is my new favorite!

UPDATE since---We took our whole family there about a month ago. I think it was 10 of us and everyone loved it. They all want to go back. It is so inexpensive. Jose and his mom make everything homemade. It's just really, really good. The chips were not stale this time. Jose and his mom and very kind welcoming hosts. I live around the corner and I hope he does well because I really love his pastor. Also, he makes this burrito (and I think fajitas) with a mixture of beef, BACON and I think pork that is FANTASTIC. My stepfather cannot stop talking about a steak my uncle had (carne asada perhaps). DH and I were going to check out Chickpea tonight but writing this post has given me other ideas.....mmmmm.

Chloe54 wrote: DH and I were going to check out Chickpea tonight but writing this post has given me other ideas.....mmmmm.

We went to Chickpea tonight and they are NOT BYOB, the owner told us that they don't have Dram Shop insurance, therefore no BYO.

Anyone know what Graham Eliot's BYOB policy is?

DutchMuse wrote:Anyone know what Graham Eliot's BYOB policy is?

from another thread...

ChefGEB wrote:4) We recently invested $10K in our wine list and hired Scott Noorman, formerly of Trio/Alinea, to oversee our wine program.
5) We recently added 15 micro brewed beers to our drink list.

not sure but it looks like they would like to sell you some wine....

Understood but my question remains. As an example, Eleven Madison Park in NYC won the James Beard Foundation Best Wine Program award. And they have a BYOB policy which encourages BYOB.

Chloe54 wrote:I have done a FEW Yelps, and Jose's is one of them....so here's what I wrote this summer
A winner.
I eat at a lot of Mexican places and this is my new favorite!

Chloe54 - might I pick your brain a bit further about this place? Do you remember any prices? Would you consider it more of a taqueria than a full service (I don't CARE if it's a dive, I LIKE dives.) I also am very big on Mexican food, and you've peaked my interest a lot. The web site is under construction:

Jose's

Um, I guess you can get pizza and pasta here too? Have to admit, that raises a red flag for me, but Jose's is now in the ol mental rolodex. I should be in the area around dinner time early next week...

http://www.grubhub.com/chicago/joses-restaurant/

seebee wrote:Um, I guess you can get pizza and pasta here too? Have to admit, that raises a red flag for me, but Jose's is now in the ol mental rolodex. I should be in the area around dinner time early next week...

http://www.grubhub.com/chicago/joses-restaurant/

Oh- that's the place! (The taqueria that is around the corner/not visible from Chicago Ave.) Some friends of mine go there occasionally and I believe they like it. If I'm remembering correctly from talking to them, though, I think the cook (Jose, perhaps) used to work for years at an Italian restaurant, hence, the Italian specialties. In any case, it's piqued my interest enough that I'll have to try it.

I can't recall exactly prices...I would say no entrees more than $14???? Maybe some steak or seafood things are more, but I would say most are around $10. I really don't remember. I know my hubby and I can eat like pigs for around $30.
It's not a dive, it's full service and decorated pretty cute inside.
Yeah, it's on Winchester just North of Chicago. He has sandwich boards propped up on Chicago fairly often.

The do offer Italian, but we have never gone that way before.

I think I am going this week with a group of friends. I will post again if I do.

Hi, going to Mythos Greek Taverna tonight. They are byob. Never been to a byob before. Are there any special unwritten rules I should know? Will we be opening the wine ourselves?

Thanks!