If you’re not very familiar with restaurants that allow you to BYOB–bring your own beverage–here’s a starter list of some of D.C.’s best.
Le Grenier
502 H St. N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-4999
www.legrenierdc.com
Corkage Fee: $15
Known as “The French on H Street,” Le Grenier (which means “the attic”) is a hip French cuisine restaurant that will de-cork your favorite beverage for a fee, although it does have a liquor license. Servers will happily provide an ice chest at your table to keep your beverage perfectly chilled while you enjoy authentic French entrees like Steak du Grenier, Marmite Normande or Cassoulet Toulousain. Located in the up-and-coming H Street corridor, this family owned and operated restaurant is quickly making a name for itself and is becoming a favorite spot for crowds both young and old.
The Carolina Kitchen
Rhode Island Row
2350 Washington Place N.E.
Washington, DC 20018
(202) 733-1216
www.thecarolinakitchen.com
No Corkage Fee
The Carolina Kitchen is known for its indulgent down-home dishes that are smothered and covered in Southern goodness. That Southern hospitality seems to know no bounds as the establishment will de-cork the beverages of private diners free of charge. The restaurant’s newest location on Rhode Island Row has a stunning interior with a contemporary flair, but trust that your BBQ short ribs, mac n’ cheese, crab cakes, fried green tomatoes and Southern fried chicken will be full of down-home flavor.
Blue Duck Tavern
24 St. and M St. N.W.
Washington, DC
20037
(202) 419-6755
www.blueducktavern.com
Corkage Fee: $35
This restaurant serves flavorful American fare that you can enjoy with your own beverage for a corkage fee of $35. The Blue Duck is known as a “contemporary neighborhood tavern” and offers a modern, yet warm and inviting atmosphere complete with handcrafted wooden furniture and fitted with a wood-burning oven that conjures quintessential Americana. The restaurant’s menu, which includes an apple pie with a flaky, buttery top crust and a tender, seasoned filling, is out of this world.
Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 822-8783
www.wearefoundingfarmers.com
Corkage Fee: $0 for the first two bottles; $25 for third
An organic and environmentally conscious restaurant, Founding Farmers will de-cork your first two bottles for free–a corkage fee is assessed for the third. The comfortable atmosphere at this establishment is a mix of the rustic and the contemporary, and is in keeping with the building’s environmentally Green construction. The knowledgeable wait staff—dressed in comfortable jeans and plaid shirts—will keep your beverage refrigerated while you dine.
Kevin Don Porter is the author of OVER THE EDGE and MISSING—two mysteries available on Amazon.com. Visit his website at www.kevindonporter.com..
