What does it take to get on this list? A Vino Cammino Mailing List member must have recommended it to us!
We're excited to take a look at some of the suggestions from the Vino Cammino community that we haven't tried before. Before we get to the list, we have three tips for doing BYO right.
- Call ahead (if the website doesn't have details) to check before booking as it's common for BYO to only be offered on certain days.
- Match the corkage with the quality of your bottle. We find the corkage (the restaurant charge per bottle for BYO) increases as the food, service and glassware quality increases.
- Mix it up a bit and grab something from the restaurant wine list as well as your own bottle(s). The restaurant will appreciate it, and you won't have to lug an esky in the front door :)
Our personal favourite BYO: Porcine (Paddington) - book well in advance for the stunning Canard à la Presse experience
On with the list, in Geographic / Alphabetic order, starting over the Bridge:
1. Chiosco (Spit Bridge) - Ormeggio's sister restaurant. "barefoot friendly" in case you're stepping off a yacht. Take some of Sophie Conte's Chicchero (White Sangiovese) when it's back in stock in a few months.
2. Tago-an (Miller's Point) - Japanese? Yes please! Take a great Riesling.
In the Inner West, a pair from Enmore:
3. Emma's Snack Bar (Enmore) - despite owning one of their t-shirts, we've never been to this popular casual Lebanese eatery. We reckon a young Demi-sec Vouvray will be versatile enough to handle anything on the menu here.
4. Russo & Russo (Enmore) - In their own words "styled on the classic Italian trattorias of the 1970s, but serves intricate share plates... and doesn't play Andrea Bocceli." I think they deserve a Barolo; a 2018 Terlo from Cagliero feels right.
A couple of great options South of the city
5. Attenzione (Redfern) - didn't know Attenzione did BYO? Neither did we (and we're regulars!) - so we're claiming this as a Vino Cammino scoop. You could call them a "Nebbiolo first" restaurant, so many of the dishes would be a great match for Cecilia Monte's 2019 Serracapelli Barbaresco.
6. La Coppola (Redfern) - wood fired pizza... we've got a pack for that.
And then there's our home turf - with plenty of suggestions coming in for the Eastern Suburbs.
7. Bar Reggio (Darlinghurst) - an inner-city institution with no frills and no fuss Italian. The Langhe Rosso from Cagliero is just the right level of bold to match the vibe.
8. Bibo Wine Bar (Double Bay) - we're excited to try the classy Portuguese cuisine at this wine bar, where you might even get to add to their BYO cork board of fame. We'll go gastronomic with a Grand Cru Riesling from Kuentz-Bas or a wine from Monteleone, when they arrive.
9. Cafe Nino (Woollahra) - lot's of Italian seafood fare here. Until the next vintage of Timorasso and Viognier from Cecilia Monte arrive, bring a Vaugiraut Premier Cru Chablis.
10. Cipri (Paddington) - traditional, old school Italian. Better take an epic Brunello.
11. MacLeay St Bistro (Potts Point) - order some red meat and open a top end Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from Sophie Conte at Tregole.
12. Malabar (Darlinghurst) - This is great South Indian cuisine. Take a low tannin red or something with a bit of sweetness like the Moscato d'Asti from Cagliero to beat back the spice.
13. Osteria Riva (Bondi Junction) - casual but put together Italian... Langhe Nebbiolo is pretty versatile!
14. Porcine (Paddington) - Our favourite French spot, we usually take Godin et Filles Champagne to start and something sweet, like the Pinot Gris Vendandge Tardive from Kuentz-Bas, to have with their delicious Île Flottante. If you book the Canard à la Presse, take a nice Pinot.
15. Sean's (Bondi) - this was the most commonly recommended BYO from our mailing list members. With all the shells decorating the dining room, we couldn't rock up here without a bottle of Chablis. The 2022 Vosgros Premier Cru from Domaine des Trois Vwill go well with the seafood and poultry dishes (and oysters of course).
16. Table Manners (Bronte) - the snacks and starters look delicious. Pair with Rosé Champagne? Or aged sec Vouvray? then get something from their amazing wine list.
17. Thai Riffic (Randwick) - we're glad someone suggested a Thai place because it gives us a chance to remind you that on the 7th day, in addition to resting, God created Gewürztraminer to pair with Thai food.
18. Vacanza (Waverley) - you can never have enough BYO pizza options. Take a Dolcetto or Chianti Classico.