Bringing liquor into restaurants/Hawaii
 

I was reading in the Kauai Revealed book that you could take your own alcohol into restaurants. I've never known of this and certainly haven't seen others do it either. Is there a corkage fee? Is it just casual restaurants - and is it practiced at all or would it be considered to be 'bad manners'.
Thanks

I think the only place that I know of on Kauai is the Kauai Pasta. If I can remember correctly, they charged $5 per table for corkage/set ups. Their food is good also. ((b))

I was reading in the Kauai Revealed that they discovered lots of the island and that it is ok to trespass.

mmmppphhht. I almost spit out my water, sistah!

Anyway....regarding your own alcohol. You should check with the restaurant because this will not always be the case with every restaurant. If they don't have a liquor license, they will allow it. If they already have a liquor license, there will be a corkage (if they allow you to bring your own).

How many people has the book killed by inaccurate or misleading advise? Like secluded beaches where many have drowned or parking wherever they felt like never to be seen again.... just kidding. I wouldn't take that book as the law of the land as it has contributed to many unfortunate mishaps.

Take Melissa's advice -- call the restaurant(s) in advance. Here on Kaua`i, even the restaurants who do not have a liquor license (i.e., Kaua`i Pasta) charge a corkage fee. The restaurants which DO have a liquor license, will charge $10 and up corkage. And some don't allow BYOB at all.

And for purchasing wine on Kaua`i, head to Safeway or Costco for best selections/best prices.

Thanks for the responses (although I really wasn't expecting the Kauai Revealed argument again!) I didn't think it sounded terrifically classy to go into a restaurant with your own wine (we don't do that here in Canada) but just thought I'd ask - appreciate your comments on whether it's appropriate or not. And imo - I don't feel that the 'book' is in itself wrong - have read a lot of the items and feel they warn people and that it is up to people to make a responsible decision - just my opinion.

It's not "unclassy" to bring your own wine into a restaurant. What if you have a rare bottle of Romanée-Conté that you want to open for a special anniversary and you are going to a great restaurant that very evening? Why not bring it and have the servers pour your special wine? Any restaurant worth its salt will do this gladly (for a nominal corkage fee). Now, bringing bottles of $1.99 Two-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's just because you're too cheap to pay $14 for the same swill at the restaurant-- that's tacky. But how many eateries will have Romanée-Conté?

Oh, excusez-moi-- Romanée-Conti. I always misspell that!

I wouldn't take a bottle of wine to any restaurant that has a liquor license without first calling and asking and pay the corkage.

Kauai Pasta advertises themselves as a BYOB. ((b))

Sorry jumpy. You're opening line made me spit out my water, and I just couldn't help myself.

I would only bring alcohol to a BYOB establishment with no liquor license. Or if it was a special occassion with a special bottle of wine, I would call ahead to ask their policy.

The real scoop is if they don't have inside seating you can bring your own bottle no charge. This was true in Hanalei at the Polynesia Cafe. Look for other restaurants with outdoor seating only.