I was seriously disappointed in the lack of editing/proofing by WS in their latest Awards issue, as countless RI and MA restos were listed as having corkage fees. This is a typical setup at restaurants all over the west coast - but in Boston, the practice is non-existent.

Bringing a bottle to a resto here, even a rare bottle, is akin to walking in with no shirt on.

I called some restos that I was shocked to find allowed BYOB and of course, found out that despite WS listing a corkage fee for their resto, in fact, they dont allow BYOB.

Horrible, horrible editing by WS.

And shame on Boston and RI restos for not allowing the common practice.

Does anyone else run into this dilemma in their state?

organized crime

quote:

Originally posted by spacewrangler:
Horrible, horrible editing by WS.

It had nothing to do with editing. If the WS was quoted a corkage fee and put it the listing, it is the fault of the restaurant for providing incorrect information.

Yes, I too understand that WS merely re-produces the info provided by the restaurant, though perhaps James Molesworth can clarify.

Much of the information listed in our Dining Guide is supplied by the restaurants themselves, beginning with their address and including their corkage fees. We're not making this stuff up!

We advise diners who want to take their own wine to call the restaurant in advance. If a restaurant lists a corkage fee in our guide, and you discover that no corkage service is offered, please let us know.

Thomas Matthews
Executive editor

Ha!

Thomas, you're essentially saying: "We make money by letting restaurants list whatever they like, therefore we dont care."

Kudos for you honesty, at least. But still reprehensible for a periodical to not fact check its contents.

And FYI - not ONE of the MA or RI restaurants listed as having corkage allows the practice.

Perhaps you'd like to make the calls yourself and ask why they told WS as such? Or does WS not do any fact-checking or editing - unless it's from a poster on a forum board who sees a huge flaw in the AE issue?

quote:

Originally posted by spacewrangler:
And FYI - not ONE of the MA or RI restaurants listed as having corkage allows the practice.

That is quite surprising. Even a couple restaurants with faulty info is quite understandable, but all of them???

spacewrangler is angry

and i think i know why

sometimes it seems like that if you are not an accomplished diplomat (read as lier)

a restaurant staffer will give you the treatment if you expect something that they don't feel like offering that night (corkage)

spacewrangler try taking some snake charming lessons

it works most every time

Sfiorare - Not angry at all - just expect to be given correct information in a supposed trade magazine about restaurants they purport to recommend, then dont even know if the info is correct or not.....

I always call a restaurant before bringing wine - I think that's good etiquette rather than show up with a bottle.

I just think it's a shame that NONE of the MA or RI restaurants listed as offering corkage, in fact, offer the service.

ok, maybe angry wasn't the right word

how about disappointed?

they may have some 4" small print disclaimer posted behind the counter

reserving the right to refuse good service if...

did you read about k with the gatekeeper in 'the castle'

he expected to be let into justice and got a knife

"like a dog"

Thomas -- I can tell you that all the restaurants in British Columbia that list corkage fees in the latest issue don't actually offer it, as it is illegal in our province.

ok, maybe angry wasn't the right word

how about disappointed?

they probably have a 4" small print, disclaimer posted behind the counter

reserving the right to refuse good service if...

did you read about k and the gatekeeper, in 'the castle'

he expected to be let into justice, but got the knife

"like a dog"

Im sure there is some law against it in MA as well - our laws are SO back-arsewards.

And all the restaurants in Maryland that say they have corkage are in violation of Maryland law if they actually permit it.

I am sure WS is just reporting what the restaurants say. It isn't editing. It is lying by the restaurants.

A few years ago I picked out a hotel in Paris partially because a noted travel book said they had air conditioning. It was during 2003 when they had the heat wave. We left and went somewhere with a/c. I am sure it wasn't editing, but the incorrect report of the hotel.

Fron the number of errors apparent here, it seems that WS needs to do a much better job of vetting this information prior to going to print. If there are this many inaccuracies on such an important issue as corkage, I wonder what type of fudge factor there is with the actual lists as well. Another strong argument for slowing the process down a little, increasing standards and making this award just a little harder to achieve.

PH

slow sales?

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
Fron the number of errors apparent here, it seems that WS needs to do a much better job of vetting this information prior to going to print. If there are this many inaccuracies on such an important issue as corkage, I wonder what type of fudge factor there is with the actual lists as well. Another strong argument for slowing the process down a little, increasing standards and making this award just a little harder to achieve.

PH

Purple - WELL SAID!

That's my whole beef - you're a "reputable" mag, do it right!

Irwin - too bad about the hotel room ,ugh. Believe me, Im not one to make a mtn out of a molehill. But when I called every resto on the list in MA and NONE allowed BYOB, it's a pretty egregious error

I talked to the owner of a restaurant in Olney MD (meaning that you can figure out which one it is since so many Olney restaurants got WS awards )

When they submitted the info on the restaurant, in the place for corkage fee the manager wrote None. Meaning that there was no corkage permitted. One would hope that WS would have figured that one out since MD is somewhat notorious about their wine laws, but I can understand the confusion.

Space: You claim to have called "every resto on the list in MA". That's 142 phone calls - quite an achievement on your part.

Curious - did you ask them why they claimed they offered corkage in their WS award application? Was it that they did not understand the question? Did they think it would help them get more wine lovers in the door if they lied and said they did? Do they offer corkage on the qt and just don't want to answer 'yes' to every one who calls on the phone asking about it?

This may explain why some of the Delaware listings include a corkage fee. The DE Alcoholic Beverage Commission told me this practice is illegal in DE.

I wish we were allowed to do corkage. I don't have a problem with it.

"Curious - did you ask them why they claimed they offered corkage in their WS award application? Was it that they did not understand the question? Did they think it would help them get more wine lovers in the door if they lied and said they did? Do they offer corkage on the qt and just don't want to answer 'yes' to every one who calls on the phone asking about it?"

good questions

let's do a sting...i mean survey

James,

I think the problem you've run into is some ambiguity in the application. The term "none" used in reference with corkage could either mean:

1) Corkage permitted - no corkage charge....

or

2) NO CORKAGE ALLOWED!!!

I do think the number of errors is a problem. How you got to this point is going to be important in improving the process as you head into next years Awards of Excellence program.

PH

I love correcting restaurants in Calif. who say that corkage or BYOB is "illegal". I have no problem with ones that say "Mgmt doesn't allow it". Usually it is the multi-state chains.

Sounds like the restaurant lobby is as powerful as the big Distributors in some states. Kinda like the airlines-"We'd love to give you Free movies while flying over the boring ocean, but Federal Regulations won't permit it." I wonder what industry lobby got that regulation passed?

quote:

Originally posted by James Molesworth:
Space: You claim to have called "every resto on the list in MA". That's 142 phone calls - quite an achievement on your part.

He's just trying to bait you, hence the title of the thread.

you should know