BYO Spots For A Date

New York City isn’t necessarily known for its BYO (“bring your own”) restaurants, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the ones out there. Grab a bottle or two of wine nearby and hit up one of these spots for your next date.

Note: Prices given are ranges for typical dinner menu items.

Tartine (West Village)
Café, French
253 W 11th St (at W 4th St), Northeast corner; 212.229.2611
Prices: Apps: Less than $10; Entrees: Mid $10’s – Mid $20’s
No Reservations Accepted, Cash Only
Notes: Small, packed in, French corner café with byo policy, expect a line of people waiting outside for a table during prime hours, great for brunch, lunch or dinner, enjoyable atmosphere, set on a nice tree-lined street, try to get a sidewalk table if it’s nice out.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
Pop The Cork Wines
168 Seventh Avenue S (btwn Charles St & Perry St), West side of street; 212.807.1010
Hours: Mon-Thu: Noon-9:30pm, Fri-Sat: Noon-10:30pm, Sun: 2-7:30pm

Imperial Vintner Wine & Spirits
579 Hudson St (btwn W 11th St & Bank St), West side of street; 212.929.6222
Hours: Mon-Thu: 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun: 12:30-7:30pm

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La Sirène (SoHo)
Restaurant / Bistro, French
558 Broome St (btwn 6th Ave & Varick St), North side of street; 212.925.3061
Prices: Apps: Less than $10 – Mid $10’s; Entrees: Low $20’s – Low $30’s
OpenTable Reservation, Cash Only
Notes: Tiny, modern French bistro, great food with influences from the South of France, unlimited byo policy, candle-lit with nice artwork on the walls, cozy atmosphere, inviting and helpful service, the friendly owner makes regular appearances, located on a random block in West SoHo, make a reservation, especially on the weekends.
Deals: Sun-Thu (5-7pm) – 3-course prix fixe menu for $27.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
Spring Street Wine Shop
187 Spring Street (btwn Thompson St & Sullivan St), North side of street; 212.219.0521
Hours: Mon-Thu: 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-11pm, Sun: 1-8pm

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Wondee Siam (Hell’s Kitchen)
Restaurant, Thai
792 Ninth Ave (btwn 52nd St & 53rd St), East side of street; 212.459.9057
Prices: Apps: Less than $10; Entrees: Less than $10 – Upper $10’s
No Reservations Accepted, Cash Only
Notes: Tiny, cramped, not much in the form of décor, but a place you go to for the food, the byo policy and the cheap prices, tables are very close together, usually a wait for a table after 7pm due to its size.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
54 Wine & Spirits
400 W 55th St (at 9th Ave), Southwest corner; 212.757.7123
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-10pm, Sun: Closed

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Cube 63 (Lower East Side)
Restaurant, Japanese / Sushi
63 Clinton St (btwn Rivington St & Stanton St), West side of street; 212.228.6751
Prices: Apps: Less than $10 – Low $10’s; Noodles, Special Rolls: Low-Mid $10’s; Entrees: Mid $10’s – Low $20’s
Reservations: 212.228.6751, American Express Not Accepted, Closed Sunday
Notes: The byo spot in the city to get drunk and be part of a loud scene, good for double dates, bring your sake, wine and liquor and have a fun dinner before you go out for the night, don’t expect great food or service, but enjoy it for what it is, make reservations since the space is on the smaller side.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
De Vino
30 Clinton St (btwn Stanton St & Houston St), East side of street; 212.228.0073
Hours: Tue-Sat: Noon-10pm, Sun: Noon-9pm, Mon: Closed

East Village Wine and Liquors
183 Stanton St (btwn Attorney St & Clinton St), South side of street; 212.358.7700
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-11:30pm, Sun: Noon-9pm

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Angelica Kitchen (East Village)
Restaurant, Vegetarian / Health Food
300 E 12th St (btwn 1st Ave & 2nd Ave), South side of street; 212.228.2909
Prices: Apps: Less than $10; Sandwiches: Less than $10 – Low $10’s; Entrees: Low-Mid $10’s
No Reservations Accepted, Cash Only
Notes: Popular, spacious vegetarian and health-focused joint in the East Village, large glass windows and light wood furniture, affordable menu, homey atmosphere, grab a bottle or two of organic wine beforehand.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
Miat Liquor Store
166 2nd Ave (btwn 10th St & 11th St), East side of street; 212.228.5811
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-Midnight, Sun: 11am-10pm

Astor Wines & Spirits (for Organic Wines)
399 Lafayette (at E 4th St), Northeast corner; 212.674.7500
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm, Sun: Noon-6pm

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Peking Duck House (Chinatown)
Restaurant, Chinese
28 Mott St (btwn Mosco St & Pell St), East side of street; 212.227.1810
Prices: Apps: Less than $10 – Low $10’s; Entrees: Low $10’s – Mid $20’s
Reservations: 212.227.1810
Notes: One of the more well-known spots in Chinatown, specialty is of course peking duck which can be ordered for two or more people, extensive menu of standard and some unique items as well, more sophisticated décor than the other surrounding Chinese restaurants.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
Marks Wine & Spirits
53 Mott St (btwn Pell St & Bayard St), West side of street; 212.962.1982
Hours: N/A

Wine Wo Liquor
12 Chatham Sq (btwn East Broadway & Doyers St), West side of street; 212.227.1223
Hours: N/A

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Poke (Upper East Side)
Restaurant, Japanese / Sushi
343 E 85th St (btwn 1st Ave & 2nd Ave), North side of street; 212.249.0569
Prices: Apps: Less than $10 – Mid $10’s; Noodles, Special Rolls: Less than $10 – Mid $10’s; Entrees: Upper $10’s – Upper $30’s
No Reservations Accepted, Cash Only
No Corkage Fee On 1st Bottle ($20 Each Additional Bottle)
Notes: Small sushi spot on the UES, not one of the best in the city but still good, rolls can be a bit small, byo policy adds to the popularity, basic décor, lively atmosphere but not too loud, expect a bit of a wait on the weekends.

Pick Up A Bottle
Yorkshire Wines & Spirits
1646 First Ave (at 85th St), Northeast corner; 212.717.5100
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-10pm, Sun: Noon-7pm

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The Little Owl (West Village)
Restaurant, American Nouveau / Mediterranean
90 Bedford St (at Grove St), Southeast corner; 212.741.4695
Prices: Apps: Less than $10 – Mid $10’s; Entrees: Low-Mid $20’s
OpenTable Reservation
No Corkage Fee On 1st Bottle ($25 Each Additional Bottle)
Notes: Small, always popular, neighborhood spot with a great corner location and quality food, comfortable setting, wines offered by the glass, half bottle and bottle, reservations during normal hours are hard to get (try calling, don’t use OpenTable), try for walk-in but expect a potentially extensive wait (give your name and cell number and get a drink nearby).

Pick Up A Bottle
Sea Grape Wine Shop
512 Hudson St (btwn Christopher St & W 10th St), East side of street; 212.463.7688
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-11pm, Sun: 12:30-8:30pm

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Cherin Sushi (East Village)
Restaurant, Japanese / Sushi
306 E 6th St (btwn 1st Ave & 2nd Ave), South side of street; 212.388.1348
Prices: Apps: Less than $10; Rolls: Less than $10; Sushi/Sashimi Entrees: Low – Upper $10’s
Reservations: 212.388.1348, Closed Sunday
Notes: Cheap sushi in a casual setting, décor and food won’t blow you away, portions are a bit small, service is a bit slow, but great value and byo, can get crowded during dinner hours, take advantage of the “early-bird” special.
Deals: “Early-bird” special includes 3 rolls for $10 or 4 rolls (or 9 pieces of sushi/sashimi and 1 roll) for $13; Mon: all night, Tue-Thu: 5-8pm, Fri-Sat: 5-7:30pm.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
Tinto Fino (Spanish Wines)
85 First Ave (btwn 5th St & 6th St), West side of street; 212.254.0850
Hours: Mon-Sat: Noon-10pm, Sun: 1-9pm

East Village Wines
138 First Ave (btwn St Marks Pl & 9th St), East side of street; 212.677.7070
Hours: Mon-Thu: Noon-10pm, Fri-Sat: Noon-10:45pm, Sun: Closed

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Ivo & Lulu (SoHo)
Restaurant, American Nouveau / Caribbean / French
558 Broome St (btwn 6th Ave & Varick St), North side of street; 212.226.4399
Prices: Apps: Less than $10 – Mid $10’s; Entrees: Mid $10’s
Reservations: 212.226.4399, Cash Only
Notes: Small, crowded, eclectic spot in west SoHo, serves a limited but good menu of French-Caribbean fare, expect a wait due to its size, takes reservations but sometimes isn’t the most organized with them, definitely bring a bottle or two of wine to take advantage of their BYO policy.

Pick Up A Bottle Or Two
Spring Street Wine Shop
187 Spring Street (btwn Thompson St & Sullivan St), North side of street; 212.219.0521
Hours: Mon-Thu: 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-11pm, Sun: 1-8pm

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FM:What are your favorite BYO spots?

This entry was posted on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 5:57 pm and is filed under FreshSpots and tagged with byo, liquor, restaurant, wine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.