Ok, going to Philadelphia this summer from the rural midwest state where bringing in bottles of wine into a restaurant simply isn't legal. You must buy on site.

Anyway, is there a cost to uncork? is it worth you time and money to bother with BYOB? Never done it before?

I was in Phila last week and ate at at BYO with no corkage fee (Branzino).

I would expect that any restaurant that sells wine will charge a corkage fee.

Phila has many places that do not serve wine..and actually encourage you to bring your own

The url below will lead you to an interactive map where you can select the neighborhood and cuisine of your choice.

http://www.gophila.com/byobmap/

I live in Philadelphia and yes, it's worth it to "bother" with a BYOB. While there are many fine restaurants with liquor licenses that sell wine, there are many fine BYOB restaurants and since you're buying the wine yourself, you get a better value by not paying an exhorbitant markup for wine.

Just wanted to reply that we did enjoy a BYOB in Philadelphia with our own bottle.

For those who never had a chance to bring in your own bottle it certainly is a moneysaver! Wish we had that opportunity in my home state.

You didn't answer your own question - <is there a cost to uncork?>

BTW, I don't remember paying a corkage charge in the last few years.

I've never seen a corkage fee charged in a BYOB in Philadelphia. It seems that would be pretty nervy since they don't have the ability to sell you any alcoholic beverage.

Suki-- I was astonished to be charged a corkage fee at the Orchard, in Kennett Square. Attractive restaurant, above average food, and a BYOB! We never went back.
A local reviewer once wrote something to the effect that the charge could be justified by a restaurant's serving our wine in lovely glasses. What utter nonsense!