Let’s face it: most New Yorkers live in small apartments with little more than coffee, water and some random beer in the fridge, and like to go out for most meals. In fact, a Zagat report reveals that New Yorkers eat out or order in about 58% of the time. But with the rent being “too damn high” and $15 cocktails draining our wallets, we love us a good Bring Your Own Bottle spot. So pick up a bottle of your favorite juice and get to the Top 5 BYOB Spots in NYC … trust us. Note that most of these spots are cash only and don’t take reservations.
TARTINE CAFE
Tartine is a BYOB institution and deserves to be on the top of this list. This West Village French bistro-bakery was created by Chef Thierry Rochard over 20 years ago offering baked goods, brunch, lunch and dinner. Our personal favorite is to grab some rose wine when the weather is warm and sit outside to enjoy delectable Chicken Paillard but brunch enthusiasts love the Eggs Norvegienne. 253 W 11th St; 212.229.2611; www.tartinecafenyc.com
NOOK
Getting its name from it’s size, this tiny Hell’s Kitchen gem is churning out some really awesome grub. And while they have a solid and eclectic lunch and dinner menu, we recommend grabbing some bubbly and OJ and mimosa-ing it up at brunch and trying one of their delicious scrambles and french toast. 746 9th Ave; 212.247.5500
LUCALI
This Carroll Gardens pizza joint has developed a well deserved rabid following due to it’s authentic brick-oven thin-crust pizza. It is very cozy and rustic, so it is a great date spot. But it’s also perfect for a fun group – the more people the more pizza you can try. As for the booze, we recommend pairing a pizza and a calzone with a nice Chianti, Pinot Grigio or 6-pack of Peroni. Be prepared to wait but trust us that it is well worth it. And they’ll even let you open a bottle of wine and sit outside when the weather is nice. 575 Henry St; 718.858.4086
KUMA INN
This second story BYOB is a bit tricky to find but worth the search. Serving up some great Filipino, Thai and Southeast Asian dishes, all of the food is tapas-style and the portions are fairly small, so the best game plan is to rally up a big group and order a few of everything. The dishes are packed with flavor and we recommend bringing sake, soju, or some Thai faves like Singha or Chang beer. 113 Ludlow Street; 212.253.8866; www.kumainn.com
A CAFE NEW YORK
If you’re looking for some action on the Upper West Side near Columbia, head over to this Caribbean-infused, organic BYOB spot. They have a pre-fixe deal for only $25 from 6pm – 8pm where you get an appetizer and entree. All of the dishes are packed with flavor so bring something that will hold against strong Caribbean spice – can’t go wrong with a few Red Stripes! Be patient since there is usually only one chef and one waiter, but if you bring a nice Shiraz or Sauvignon Blanc, the wait will be way more bearable. 973 Columbus Ave; 212.222.2033; www.acafeny.com
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