Local BYO Restaurants
Latest Addition:
Trattoria Carpaccio
Trattoria Carpaccio, (973-706-7277), at 120 Grand Avenue in Englewood, is one of the two best Italian BYOs in North Jersey. Whereas Rutherford’s Fiorentini is contemporary, Carpaccio is quite traditional. Quality is excellent. Pastas (one includes fresh truffles from Italy), seafood (real Dover Sole, great swordfish), veal, steak, and chicken dishes are top-notch. Portions are generous, and service is leisurely, yet attentive. Our only complaint was the noise level. It’s a small place, so reservations are strongly recommended. Street parking is minimal, but there’s parking behind the next-door office building. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for. Dinner for two is $125-$175.
This resource for dining out in northeastern New Jersey lists most of the better local restaurants that allow patrons to Bring Your Own wine or beer (but not hard liquor). This significantly reduces the cost of dining out, for restaurants typically charge $50-$60 for a bottle you can buy for $20. You can bring a better wine for the same or lower cost! It also increases the selection. Of course we hope you will bring a good bottle (or two) that you purchased from us.
These are restaurants that we have tried, found worthy, and have written up in our monthly newsletter. All restaurants listed here should provide an enjoyable meal. Clearly superior ones are noted * or **. Expect them to be more expensive. We look for fine dining experiences but include many casual restaurants if we feel the quality is really good. Most are local, but we include some restaurants from further afield if they are special.
Relatively few new fine-dining restaurants have opened since COVID. We’ve removed the restaurants we know have closed. Please let us know if we’ve missed one or if we have neglected to list one of your favorites (a restaurant may not be listed because we haven’t tried it or because our experience there was less than satisfactory). The most recent additions are in bold.
A few more thoughts:
• All listed restaurants allow you to BYO (bring your own wine or beer, but not liquor – restaurants can be fined if they let you bring in liquor).
• It is perfectly legal for you to drive with an opened bottle as long as it is sealed and stored in the trunk or inaccessibly in the back of the vehicle. You might want to air or decant a wine before going, or bring leftovers home.
• The wait staff at a BYO does nearly as much work (glassware, opening, pouring, chilling) as if you had purchased the wine at the restaurant. Tip generously!
• It is always a good idea to bring a back-up bottle just in case. Bad bottles are rare, but they do happen. You can leave the back-up in the car.
• Not listed here are the many kosher BYO restaurants in Teaneck, NJ. They allow only kosher wines, and they will check your bottle. Ask ahead if the wine must be mevushal; not all kosher wines are.