Everyone loves a BYOB restaurant. Right? You get to Bring Your Own Bottle of wine, beer or spirit to enhance your dining experience. It also saves money and really, who doesn’t appreciate that?
Once you talk to restaurateurs and chefs who run BYOB establishments, you realize that they have the same passion. Why else would they do it?
Diners may have been conditioned to believe that selling liquor is how restaurants make money, but not all BYOB owners buy that. Some say they love focusing on food only, others don’t have the space for a bar. They all like the quality of life that comes with a BYOB restaurant. Still, a few BYOB restaurant owners do hope for a license to become available to increase their menu beyond spirit-free cocktails.
Those who spoke said they charge in the range of $2 to $5 fees for BYOB service. Most times, that’s for the table but it can be per person.
The only question that remains is this: why aren’t there more of them in Rhode Island?
When Chris Palios opened his Sophia’s Tuscan Grille at 1729 Warwick Ave., Warwick, 20 years ago, he couldn’t get a liquor license because the Italian restaurant was close to St. Timothy’s Church. (Let’s talk about the state’s liquor regulations at another time.) So BYOB was his only option. What does he say about it today?
“BYOB is king,” he said. “It is a choice.”
Palios said what he loves best is that he bridges every economic gap. He has diners who bring expensive bottles from the wine cellars in their multi-million dollar homes. But he also has guests who grab a $15 bottle of wine at the liquor store before coming in for dinner.
“We have a fun but casual dining atmosphere,” something he attributes to the diversity of the diners in his 60-seat restaurant.
The chef/owner also loves focusing on the food. His menu changes weekly with five or six new dishes offered all the time. That was his pivot during the pandemic when he realized he had to woo diners to his restaurant which was open for limited days. It keeps him on his toes and creative. Though he has signature dishes like his Calamari Fritti, with cherry pepper tartar sauce, that never go away.
He also said his business model tracks in a business sense. Palios has two degrees, a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Johnson & Wales University. He also studied in Italy.
Details: Sophia’s Tuscan Grille, 1729 Warwick Ave., Warwick. (401) 732-6656, sophiastuscangrille.com
At Cafe Vino in Johnston, owner Carson Laughter said BYOB is all he’s known for his eight years at 235 Greenville Ave. The previous restaurant at the location, Cafe Andiamo, was also BYOB.
He agreed that BYOB service makes for a fun vibe.
“I love it when someone shows me a bottle that they brought back from Napa Valley,” he said.
He also gets a kick out of a group of men who bring liqueurs like Frangelico to put in their cappuccinos. Some bring their homemade wines or limoncello.
Younger diners might bring a beach cooler of beer or sleeves of Fireball, the cinnamon liquor.
He’s thrilled they pair it with what he calls “the best chicken and veal parm in Rhode Island” from chef Rick Melise. Everything is made daily from the fettucine to the gnocchi. That’s what matters to him.
Laughter’s restaurant is small with 11 tables and 49 seats. His BYOB fee is $3 a table. Unlike most BYOB restaurants, he pays a yearly $1,000 fee to the Town of Johnston. Most cities and towns don’t charge for a BYOB license.
Details: Cafe Vino, 235 Greenville Ave., Johnston, (401) 349-2680, cafevinori.com
No liquor licenses were available when John Walsh opened his Edgewood Café in 2008. Walsh operated the Bookstore Café on Providence’s East Side for a decade.
He quickly learned that his guests liked this quaint, 40-seat restaurant in a storefront being BYOB. What Walsh has found is this: “When there is no liquor, the food better be good.”
He’s had a loyal following, even though he opened months before the 2008 recession.
“As long as everybody got paid and we made a profit, things were fine,” he said. For him and his family, it’s been about quality of life. He lives in the Edgewood neighborhood and likes being part of the community.
“It’s never been about getting rich,” Walsh said. With low overhead and no liquor-related expenses, they’ve succeeded.
Diners can even bring the ingredients for cocktails. “They aren’t limited to beer and wine,” he said. “They just have to take it with them when they leave.” His BYOB fee is $2.
It’s been tougher for him since the pandemic. He estimates he’s lost 40% of his customers since 2020. He sees more people splitting meals or ordering sandwiches. Since his business has slowed, he has two people working in the kitchen instead of four.
Next month, the Edgewood Cafe will be featured on a Nov. 3 episode of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” on Food Network. He’s hopeful that will give him a bump in business.
Details: The Edgewood Cafe, 1864 Broad St., Cranston. (401) 383-5550, edgewoodcafe.com.
Yagi Noodles, the Newport ramen restaurant that offers food influenced by techniques from Japanese and Chinese cuisine, is BYOB because there are a limited number of liquor licenses available in the city.
They specialize in handmade-from-scratch ramen and other creative dishes. Yodi Keith and Chef Basil Yu are co-owners.
“As a way to make up for that huge loss of revenue we wanted to showcase spirit-free cocktails because they are equally delicious,” said Keith.
When they first opened three years ago on Thames Street, there weren’t many non-alcoholic cocktails offered at restaurants and bars outside of plain juices and sodas, she said.
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“I have a background in bartending so it was really fun for me to put together a cocktail menu – sans alcohol,” she said.
Keith said they would love to get a liquor license.
“We have such big plans for a sake bar, with really cool sake cocktails and an extensive sake selection,” she said. “But that is a waiting game,” she added. Even if they get a liquor license, they will always carry spirit-free cocktails.
“Everyone appreciates them and we love making them!”
Details: Yagi Noodles, 20 Long Wharf Mall, Newport, (401) 324-5098, yaginoodles.com.
BYOB restaurants in Providence
Apsara Asian Restaurant, 716 Public St., (401) 785-1490 apsaraasianri.com
Apsara Palace, 783 Hope St., (401) 831-4722, on Facebook
Fellini Pizzeria, 166 Wickenden St., (401) 751-6737, fellinipizzeria.com (BYOB in Providence only)
Gourmet House, 787 Hope St., (401) 831-3400, gmhri.com
Sakura, 231 Wickenden St., (401) 331-6861, providencesakura.com
Cranston BYOB
Minh Hai, 1096 Park Ave. Cranston, (401) 383-8071, minhhairestaurant.com
Newport BYOB
The Corner Cafe, 110 Broadway, Newport, (401) 846-0606, cornercafenewport.com
Mr. R Fusion, 7 Memorial Blvd., (401) 843-8127, mrrfusion.com
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Humming Bird Cafe, 104 Broadway, (401) 619-0032, hummingbirdnewport.com
Bristol BYOB
Pomodoro Italian Kitchen, 271 Wood St., Bristol, (401) 396-9699, Pomodorobristol.com
South County BYOB
Crazy Burger Cafe & Juice Bar, 144 Boon St., Narragansett, (401) 783-1810, crazyburger.com
The Hungry Haven, 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown, (401) 364-3609, Hungry Haven
Sly Fox Den Too, 4349 South County Trail, Charlestown, (401) 642-7350 slyfoxdentoorestaurant.com
New Wave Kitchen, 359 Main St., Wakefield, (401) 515-7628, newwavekitchenri.com
Blue Bird Cafe, 554 Kingstown Rd., Wakefield, (401) 792-8940, on Facebook
Luk Thai, 249 Main St., Wakefield, (401) 284-4370, lukthaifood.com
Run or work in a restaurant that’s BYOB that’s not here? Let me know at [email protected] and I’ll add you to the list