Recs: Best BYO for opening a really good bottle

My budget in the last year is such that even a splurge dinner out needs to stay at the $$ level. However, I still have some really good bottles from flusher years, and some are more than ready to drink.
So, I'm looking for the best BYO restaurants to bring them to, i.e. $$ BYO places whose kitchens will best complement a great bottle, or, non-BYO places whose corkage is not such that it obviates bringing the bottle in the first place.
Ideas?
(We're talking---I need hardly add---big-ass reds, i.e. Barolos with 15-20 yrs. on them.)

I was thinking Schwa until your closing parenthetical.

The first couple of BYOB that come to mind at a $$ price point would be Ruxbin and Chilam Balam. I think both serve food that would go great with big reds. Tango Sur also comes to mind , although that is going a bit low brow, ha ha.

Vinci. No corkage on bottles over 10 years old. Nice glassware, and food that will compliment your Italian wines. And if your wine turns out to be bad (which sometimes happens) their own list is quite reasonable.

Vinci
1732 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL
http://www.vincichicago.com

(312) 266-1199

leek wrote:Vinci. No corkage on bottles over 10 years old. Nice glassware, and food that will compliment your Italian wines. And if your wine turns out to be bad (which sometimes happens) their own list is quite reasonable.

Vinci
1732 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL
http://www.vincichicago.com

(312) 266-1199

+1 on Vinci

Make a reservation AFTER 7:30 so you can avoid the Steppenwolf theatre crowd
We did that just two weeks ago and it was great.
Our group has had 3 to 4 dinners a year at Vinci for the last 10 years.

+2 on Vinci. And if you go on Tuesdays, their bottles are 1/2 off, in case your bottle is not good. Otherwise, I'd say Ruxbin, but I'm not sure that this big wine will complement their varied menu with a lot of different flavors.

Great idea with Vinci. Haven't been for quite a while and didn't know about the wine policy. Really want to try Chilam B. but maybe not with these bottles. Thanks all.

I know it's a chain, but...

Smith & Wollensky. Try to get a window seat in the grill room. You're right on the river. Food is terrific for a burly red wine. And I am fairly certain they don't charge corkage. If the manager Scott is working, he is a wine fiend and would appreciate a taste of a well aged barolo.