Michigan corkage & BYO

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk:
...the Michigan legislature passed a law over the winter allowing Restaurants with wine licenses to offer BYO/corkage!!

I thought it might be useful to start a rolling list of establishments that do offer corkage.

If you hear of any others, I would welcome an update to the list!

Redhawk - When I was living in Grand Blanc a few years (2006-2008) the Redwood Lodge would allow me to bring in any wine not on their list (that was pretty easy ) . Decent restaurant and corkage was $10 (however I don't recall ever actually being charged).

BTW- In the theme of "it's a small world and you never know"...Would you happen to know anyone named Sean Halpin?

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk:
...the Michigan legislature passed a law over the winter allowing Restaurants with wine licenses to offer BYO/corkage!!

I thought it might be useful to start a rolling list of establishments that do offer corkage.

If you hear of any others, I would welcome an update to the list!

Redhawk - When I was living in Grand Blanc a few years (2006-2008) the Redwood Lodge would allow me to bring in any wine not on their list (that was pretty easy ) . Decent restaurant and corkage was $10 (however I don't recall ever actually being charged).

BTW- In the theme of "it's a small world and you never know"...Would you happen to know anyone named Sean Halpin?

I went to High School with a Suzy Halpin. That's about a good as it gets...

As for your "corkage" at Redwood Lodge. I don't doubt your story, but that was certainly illegal behavior for a restaurant in Michigan at that time. Prior to the new law passing this past December, it was illegal for a restaurant with a beer/wine license to allow people to bring in outside bottles. I'm sure there were examples of those who skirted the law, but the typical response I got when I asked was "No, we don't allow it. We could lose our liquor license if we got caught. No." Restaurants who did NOT have a license could (and still can) allow you to bring your own bottles in, but it was at the discretion of the local sheriff. In most cases, the local sheriff is a buddy with a local bar or restaurant owner WITH a license, and they would make the determination that the practice was unfair to those who paid for the license, and somehow "dangerous" to the community, and so force the restaurant to cease and desist.

The new law should open many doors, and bring the Michigan dining experience at least into the latter half of the 20th century! I'm just curious to see how well it is embraced.

What a shock. Michigan doing something right for a change. I hope it helps. God knows the state could use some help. Surprised the casinos didn't kill it. Congrats Michigan.

Tapawingo and Rowe Inn let us bring in wine.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Tapawingo and Rowe Inn let us bring in wine.

Tapawingo has been closed for a couple of years, although it is now the home base of a catering business, and they will rent out the facility for private events, weddings, etc.

Hawkshead Inn in South Haven now allows corkage at $15 per bottle.

VM

Red Ginger in Traverse City has a $25 corkage fee.

quote:

Originally posted by zinfan:
Red Ginger in Traverse City has a $25 corkage fee.

Thanks for the info.

Do you know off-hand what the corkage policies of any of the other restaurants in downtown TC are? Amical? Chefs House? Minerva's? etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk:

quote:

Originally posted by zinfan:
Red Ginger in Traverse City has a $25 corkage fee.

Thanks for the info.

Do you know off-hand what the corkage policies of any of the other restaurants in downtown TC are? Amical? Chefs House? Minerva's? etc.

I'd love to know this, too.

Redhawk - if you find out any info on corkage further up in the Elk Rapids area, I'd love to hear that, too. We are staying up there for a week this summer.

quote:

Originally posted by Wine Sparty:


Redhawk - if you find out any info on corkage further up in the Elk Rapids area, I'd love to hear that, too. We are staying up there for a week this summer.

I smell summer offline in Elk Rapids.

You would think that corkage would never be turned down where legal. The fine dining biz is so competitive that anything that would prevent customers from coming in would be avoided. I can guarantee it is allowed most everywhere now Redhawk.

quote:

Originally posted by WineTrooper:
You would think that corkage would never be turned down where legal. The fine dining biz is so competitive that anything that would prevent customers from coming in would be avoided. I can guarantee it is allowed most everywhere now Redhawk.

But, this is Michigan. I wonder how many restaurants are even aware of legal corkage, or even know what it is, or have a policy formulated?
It took a couple of years before most restaurants figured out that patrons were allowed to take partially consumed bottles home with them.

I am sure there are some restaurants that will say, "we put a lot of effort into our wine list, so we don't think our customers should have bring a bottle in from the outside."

Tello's in South Haven has a $20 per bottle corkage policy.

VM

Salt of the Earth in Fennville has $15 corkage.

VM

Flemings in Birmingham has corkage. I believe it was $25.