Bring Your Own Wine - London
Are you bored of cooking for yourself and just want to get out and taste some incredible restaurant food? We're with you. It's been a while, and when you do venture out, you've more than likely been stunned by the prices on a wine list or two. It's just not fair is it.
Bring your own booze (always BYOW for us) gives you the best of both worlds – you pick the perfect vino (for the right price) and someone else cooks. This week Team Vintner have picked our favourite BYOB restaurants in London and a bottle that’s perfect for the menu...
The Hawksmoor
Hamish
Hawksmoor is a staple. With a few different venues and a pretty extensive menu, this very cool steakhouse is perfect for a boozy, slap up lunch or a romantic dinner for two. Extra points are earned on a Monday when you can bring your own wine and pay a small corkage fee (£5). I'd usually be scoffing the crab toast and a chateaubriand with a serving of the triple cooked chips. Yum!
What should you be taking with you?
Corkage is £5 on a Monday, and £25 the rest of the week
KaoSarn
Lucy
Kaosarn is on St Johns hill is just a short walk from Clapham Junction, it's a really nice bit of town with lots going on. It's Thai food but like really great Thai food, service is super speedy and it's just a great vibe! They've now got a large outdoor eating area which is perfect for long summer evenings.
What should you be taking with you?
Corkage is free!
Mien Tay
Noura
I have very fond memories of Mien Tay on Kingsland Road. They involve two thing; really delicious food and getting really drunk. I was last there for my birthday in August last year. It was great.
Obviously, we each brought (at least) one bottle of wine with us. Sadly, Vintner wasn’t born yet, however, I intend to plan my visit a bit better for next time. Mien Tay is Vietnamese cuisine, specifically from the Mekong Delta region in the southwest of the country. It’s home-style cooking, hearty, and has electrifying flavours. Everything on the table was succulent, flavourful, spicy, and colourful.
You'll find me at Mien Tay for my birthday this year again with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (white for me, always), I bet the acidity and the vibrancy of this wine goes hand in hand with the food.
What should you be taking with you?
Corkage is £2.50 Sunday - Thursday and £3.50 on Friday & Saturday
Golden Hind
Matt
I love this place for a quirky posh night. A few juxtapositions to deal with here. Fish & Chips is not posh, but it is when it’s in Marylebone, and if you throw in a bottle of fizz, you take it to another level of Friday night feasting. The Golden Hind is a trusted staple for many a central north Londoner and with good reason. First, the fish is brilliant, and grease free (you could even suggest it’s good for you). Then the trimmings don’t disappoint. The chips, mushy peas, and everything else you might to want make a fish supper a fish super. Top off every bite with a glug of English sparkling wine and you’re in heaven. Delicious!
What should you be taking with you?
Corkage is £5 per person
Tayyabs
Julia
A family business which has been serving amazing Punjabi food since 1972. And for good reason too as the food is fantastic, in particular their super tasty grilled lamb chops. Pre-Covid you couldn’t book, and part of the experience was queueing up, starting your BYOB tipple, and enjoying a chat with people in the queue. I think they now take bookings. The food is very flavoursome, so beer may be the best pairing, but if you’re going wine, I would go for a spicy Syrah. To make the whole experience even more perfect, their prices are great too.
What should you be taking with you?
Corkage is free!
Bon Appétit!