Have you ever ordered take out from a BYOB restaurant you like only to have the restaurant screw up your order? Based on an informal polling of BYOBguide.com users, apparently the answer is yes. I know we have had a less than 100% success rate on take out from restaurant, and this is true even from restaurants we know to have good food ands service. To try and help improve ours and your take out experience, we conducted some research and found some useful guidelines to follow when ordering take out. Our list is short and concise and should help guarantee a successful take out experience. 1. Be sure the restaurant is still offering that entree your love. When ordering off a menu you have at home, be sure to confirm with the restaurant that the menu is still valid. Some restaurants frequently change their menus, so even though you consider the three-month old menu in your possession up to date, the restaurant may not. 2. After you place your order, ask the server to repeat the order back, just to make sure everyone is on the same page. 3. When asked for a name to put the order under use your first name and the first letter of your last name, i.e., Mary T. You will be surprised how many mistakes this will avoid. Don’t forget to have the server repeat your name as well. We recently ordered take out and apparently two Dave’s had placed orders at approximately the same time. 4. Whatever the time frame they give for pickup, shave five minutes off and show up early. Better to wait for hot food then to arrive late and bring home cold soggy dishes. 5. Since the food will be in a bag or box when you pick up the food, be sure to get an itemized list of your order and if time permits, go through the receipt and the bag to ensure you are picking up your complete order. This will save you from missing a soup or salad that can easily not find its way into the take out bag.

Since its Thanksgiving this week we thought we would point out some of the myths of Thanksgiving. First the date we celebrate Thanksgiving is by no means the actual date of when the Pilgrims celebrated. Apparently there is no definitive date as to when the first Thanksgiving was except that it occurred in the autumn of 1621. (Some records say summer and some say autumn.) As for an afternoon family feast, records tell us that it was more likely a week long community event rather than a one day affair. As for food, your guess is as good as anyone. There really aren't any good records. Most likely venison, fowl and fish were served since they were in abundance at the time, when was the last time you had any of them on Thanksgiving? Enjoy your holiday and don’t forget the wine.

EDITOR'S NOTE We give users the power to write reviews for BYO restaurants listed on our web site. We do this to encourage users to share their experiences at the various restaurants so people can make objective decisions on which restaurants to try (we know we would all like to try them all). We have found that when people have even the most minor issue with a restaurant, they will post a review on the byobguide.com web site and blast the restaurant. I say this because we require all users to first register to the www.byobguide.com site before they can submit a review, this allows us to keep track of who really likes dining at BYO restaurants and providing reviews and who uses our site on a one time basis to blast a restaurant. We have found that most bad reviews (most not all) come from users who once they have criticized a restaurant will never post a review again. We also know that even if one of our BYO listed restaurants does not receive any user reviews, it doesn't mean the restaurant is bad. On the contrary, out of hundreds of satisfied diners, if not thousands, one or two may take the time to write a review and post it to our site. Where as if one person has a bad experience they will go out of their way to tell as many people as possible and will take the time to post a review. Why are we telling you this? Because we receive emails from users as well as restaurant owners referencing bad reviews of restaurants that for the most part are very good dining establishments. They complain that diners who post negative reviews don't provide enough specifics as to why the experience was bad or if they brought up their complaints to the server or other restaurant personnel. Because BYO restaurants are normally chef owned and operated, when these bad dining experiences occur the owner is usually in the restaurant and would like to hear from you and correct the situation. This is the opposite of the corporate restaurants where the owner is a million different shareholders or simple an absentee owner. BYO restaurants provide the unique ability for diners to get great meals without the restaurant being distracted by the expense or the time to manage a liquor license or wine list. The BYOBguide.com web site should empower you to post review on these restaurants either good or bad so other like minded diners can benefit from your experiences. You can also take your compliments or complaints to the owner or manager of the restaurant while you are there, trust me they want to know what you think and why. Before stepping off my soap box, nest time you dine at a BYO restaurant, drop us a line and let us know how it was. Your opnion will go a long way.

For true home-style Italian dishes, and benissimo-great desserts, visit Mama Tuccis in Morristown!

Many of you enjoy dining at Fiddleheads (jamesburg.net/fiddleheads) not only because of the great food and atmosphere, but because you like bringing your own wine. How about making your own custom wine? We're talking the whole enchilada--crushing and pressing grapes, barreling and racking, and bottling, corking and making your own labels for a wine uniquely your own. So we’re pleased to announce that Tom and Nancy Nye, owners and master winemakers of The Grape Escape wine academy in Dayton, N.J., will once again be our guests at Fiddleheads on Sunday, March 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. for our sixth “Dine with the Winemaker” event. Enjoy a great meal at Fiddleheads and visit the Nyes’ table to sample some of the fine wines coming out of The Grape Escape, where you make and bottle the wine yourself! They’ll be available to chat with you about this year's Chilean Curico Valley and Argentine Mendoza grape harvest (South American Malbecs are all the rage right now!), and the company’s unique winemaking course (you might even call it a "party school"!) right on Stults Road in Dayton, off Cranbury Road, near Turnpike exit 8A and Route 130. Dinner reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis, so make your reservation by calling us at 732.521.0878. This event is always a full house and the Nyes make it a very fun evening. The Grape Escape, a fast-growing winemaking school less than 10 minutes from Fiddleheads and the only one of its kind in Middlesex County, features a signature hands-on course to make and bottle your own wine. The same award-winning grapes used in the best California and Chilean wineries are now available to all winemakers. They are shipped to The Grape Escape and in four short sessions over a 10-month period, you will have the unique experience of "fine wining"! It’s an outstanding opportunity to share a creative and fun craft with friends, family, a team of coworkers, or any club or group. Your own wine also makes great holiday or corporate gifts, favors for baby and bridal showers, and commemorations of wedding and organizational anniversaries. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced winemaking students created many thousands of bottles of wine at The Grape Escape in 2007, and you can sign up for the 2008 South American winemaking sessions right now; this spring season features grapes from the top regions--Curico Valley in Chile, and Mendoza in Argentina. For our current menus, see our Web site: www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads, where there is also a flyer about this event that you can print out to share with your friends. For more information about The Grape Escape, link to their site at GoGrapes.com. For reservations, call Fiddleheads at 732.521.0878.

This chic new Philadelphia BYOB serves tapas-style dishes in an upscale dining atmosphere.

Decorated with dark burgundy walls, white tablecloths and seasonal accents, it’s a friendly yet intimate New American BYO.

Tuesdays through Thursdays, choose from various appetizers, pastas and entrees for only $15 with their Three Course Small Plate Dinners. Several desserts are homemade and half off when you order.

If you’re craving authentic Italian cuisine, with reasonable prices and super service seasoned on top, then Duo Italian Bistro is the place to stop.

Stop by Tulipano Nero for their Vitello Marsalla!

Head to Gabriela's Portuguese Cuisine. Just bring your favorite red or white wine to add to their sangria pitcher!

Cacia's is a mix of the Old World and the New. Sip Ellis coffee and enjoy cannoli and pizzelles (made-from-scratch cinnamon buns, cookies, and pastries are coming shortly). Laze in cafe seating as you wait for pizza to from the oven or use the WiFi while authentic gravy simmers.

Head to Onasis Estiatorion. They specialize in a wide variety of fresh fish that's flown in from Europe twice a week!

Located in the center of hip Red Bank, visiting Thyme Square (not in NYC)delights and excites your palate. They serve Mediterranean inspired creative American cuisine!

With a warm and comfortable, Gaucho Steak serves the most authentic grilled Argentinean food on this side of the equator!

Craving authentic Italian? Try La Campagna, in Morristown and Millburn! We hear they serve olive oil, cheese and pasta straight from Italy! Delizioso!

We hear they serve tremendous Thai at Tom Yum Goong, in Princeton. Stop by and give it a try!

Aj Sushi is *the* spot for innovative sushi in Morris Plains. Aside from sushi they serve sashimi a la carte, regular and deluxe, rolls, sushi apps and noodles—among other great entrees. Stop by and give it a try!

If you're a chocholics then you'll love dessert at Albivi Brick Oven. Their signature dessert, “Albivi’s Own Vesuvius Cake” is a dark chocolate, brownie cake and caramel cheesecake, filled with chocolate mousse, covered in chocolate ganache, surrounded by dark chocolate truffle bombs and sprinkled with walnuts. Mmmm!

Try Curry Bombay and Grill. We hear they serve outstanding tandoori chicken and spicy entrees!

There’s no need to cross the Atlantic in find fabulous Portuguese cuisine. Churrasco serves a variety of traditional Portuguese dishes and desserts created from the finest prime cuts on steaks & chops.

Then try Origin French Thai. With locations in Morristown and Somerville (the original Origin) you can’t go wrong!

Who know a slice of Cuban cuisine could be found in downtown Hoboken? La Isla is a charming, family-run BYOB serving authentic Cuban dishes and creative Nuevo Latino.

Magma Pizza strives to create innovative pizza and cuisine that’s natural and tasty. Pizzas are baked and roasted in a Volcana oven/rotisserie over lava rocks, blending traditional Mediterranean with New American.

If you only learn two words of Greek, it should be Pithari Taverna. This moderately priced BYOB, in Highland Park, NJ, serves authentic dishes that will inspire you to visit Greece!

Sultan's Turkish Cuisine, inHackettstown, boasts serving the best Gyro in Jersey. Check it out and let us know if it *really* is the best around!

Sabrina's Cafe serves brunch all day, every day, seven days a week...so take the kids and have breakfast for dinner!

Can't travel to India this summer? Then travel to Ardmore for authentic cuisine at Khajuraho India!

For fresh Italian in Doylestown, check out Domani Star!

This new Italian BYOB in the Fairmont district is worth the wait for hearty and delicious dishes!

This Independence Day, celebrate the 4th with sake at the freshest sushi in Philly--Wasabi Japanese Sushi Bar!

This fresh Italian BYOB has a sharp pedigree serving tasty fish and pasta that's a perfect fit on a warm summer night!

For a flavor of Spain in Philadelphia be sure to try Café Apamate. Serving pinxtos, tapas, and churros, all we can say is “Ole Apamate!”

Check out the divine summer specials--straight from Turkey--at Divan Turkish Kitchen!

Grab the red wine and head to Molcajete Mixto where they'll make sangria as you enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine!

At Villa Barone, it’s all about Italian food—all the time. When you step in the door, you’ll see pasta on display…whetting your taste buds for the delicious meal ahead!

Avoid Wine & Spirits when you dine at The Table. This fresh BYO employs vino delivery service from Blue Mountain Vineyards. Your server presents a wine list, you place an order, and the wine is brought right to the table.

The warm weather has returned. And so has Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company for its 31st year. Stop by and savor some of the very best seafood found along the Jersey Shore!

...where the ingredients are fresh, the presentation's beautiful and the menu's inventive!

Experience the Aura of Ora. Ora prides itself on not only satisfying the guest's palate, but on creating an ambiance and an experience for each visitor. This contemporary American restaurant has a menu that changes seasonally and incorporates ingredients from around the world!

Then stop by Cuban Pete's in Montclair...be sure to bring your own Sangria!

Roughly translated, “umai” is the “yum” you get from your first sample of something tasty. The "yum-my menu offers items such as sesame chicken to lamb chops, Thai seafood paella, Surf and Turf carpaccio, shrimp pad thai, and a Kobe beef entrée…overall it’s an Asian fusion spectacle.

It's spring and everything's shiny at Cu, the Copper Bistro. This charming and quaint BYOB features two candlelit rooms with a fireplace, white tablecloths, hardwood floors, and shiny copper cookware hanging on walls of exposed-brick.

Mazi is open again for another season of delicious Mediterranean food. Be sure to stop by and treat yourself to a taste of summer, and hints of warmer weather, with their Greek, Porteguese and Spanish entrees!

Stop by the Blue Bottle Cafe for a New American meal that's anything but blue. Ran by the husband and wife team of Aaron and Rory Philipson—CIA graduates. (No, not that CIA.) The restaurant’s name stems from the couple’s interest in blue glass, as the bottles create a Mediterranean feel...so stop in and check it out!

When dining in Montclair, stray from restaurant row and stop in quaint CulinAriane located in a quiet, residential neighborhood half a mile from Montclair’s busy business district.

Then head to Tomo’s Cuisine where chef/owner Tomonori Tanaka creates super fresh Japanese cuisine.

Then try Piquant Bread Bar and Grill. They serve fresh, organic ingredients in their signature recipes. The all-natural menu is a gourmet dining experience that’s not to be missed.

Beat the March winds with their fresh, organic ingredients and their signature recipes. Their all-natural menu is a gourmet dining experience that’s not to be missed!

Andaman Sea Recipes is all about Asian-seafood fusion. From the Thai furnishings to the Thai food on your place, it’s prepared just right!

Happy Valentine's day. Hope everyone dined at a BYOB restaurant. If you did tell us by posting your experience about the restaurant on the site. To us most holiday dining, most notable New Years Eve, Valentine Days and Mothers Day tend to be bad dining days, as the restaurant is overly busy, service is normally off and pre fixe pricing is usually in place. But hey what do we know, tell us your side of the coin.

Many of you enjoy dining at Fiddleheads not only because of the great food and atmosphere, but because you like bringing your own wine. Have you ever considered MAKING your own? We’re pleased to announce that Thomas and Nancy Nye, owners and master winemakers of The Grape Escape (GoGrapes.com) wine academy in Dayton, N.J., will once again be our guest at Fiddleheads on Sunday, March 4, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for our fourth “Dine with the Winemaker” event. Enjoy a great meal at Fiddleheads and visit the Nyes’ table to sample some of the fine wines coming out of The Grape Escape, where you make and bottle the wine yourself! They’ll be available to chat with you about the Chilean grapes soon to arrive, and the company’s unique wine making course (you might even call it a "party school"!) available right here in Dayton. Dinner reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis, so make your reservation by calling 732.521.0878. The Grape Escape, a fast-growing wine making school less than 10 minutes from Fiddleheads and the only wine making school of its kind in Middlesex County, features a signature hands-on course to make and bottle your own wine. The same award-winning grapes used in the best American and Chilean wineries are now available to all winemakers. They are shipped to The Grape Escape and in four short sessions over a 10-month period, you will have the unique experience of crushing grapes, barreling the juice, and bottling, corking and labeling your very own wine. It’s an outstanding opportunity to share a creative and fun craft with friends, family, a team of coworkers, or any club or group. Your own wine also makes great holiday gifts and wedding or shower favors. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced wine making students created thousands of bottles of wine at The Grape Escape in 2006. The 2007 Chilean grape season is signing up now! For our current menus, see our Web site at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads. For more information about The Grape Escape, link to their Web site at GoGrapes.com. We hope to see you on Sunday, March 4!

The high-ceilinged, two-level restaurant is sleek and sophisticated, complete with a striking sushi bar and they serve food that’s equally as elegant!

As Latin rhythms play and delicious aromas waft from the kitchen, you will find it difficult to select your meal without swaying (or maybe swooning) in your chair at Casa Solar in Belmar, NJ. The relaxed atmosphere and careful attention to every detail make a visit to Casa Solar a fine way to lift the 'winter blues'.

Stop by Cedars Restaurant in Belmar for Baba ghanouj that’s a great deal! Be sure to ask when their Saturday evening entertainers are performing!

If you’re craving the summer and all its delights, the Brass Monkey Café and Market, in Brigatine Beach, is open to serve you all winter long!

For the best in sushi entertainment, stop by Mikado Japanese Cuisine in Maple Shade. Sit on the right side of the restaurant and watch as your meal is preprared!

It’s not the time of year to be eating outside in a garden. But in the Garden State you’ll find fresh garden ingredients at Thai Garden in Somerset County.

Spice up your holidays by adding a little "Mixx" into your life. Stop by Mixx Asian bistro on Arch Street, at the old Joseph Poon space, and tempt your taste buds with some Asian fusion!

For a taste of Thailand in South Jersey, be sure to stop by Taan Kitchen on Route 38 in Cherry Hill.

It's almost Thanksgiving. If you're hungry for "Turkey", but don't want to spoil the holiday fun, stop by Divan Turkish Kitchen. This family-owned restaurant is warm and welcoming, just like home, and serves all the best that Turkey--the country--has to offer!

They have been doing catering and take-out at this location since 1993, and in April 06 they added a 25 seat BYOB.

For a flavor of Spain in Philadelphia be sure to try Café Apamate. Serving pinxtos, tapas, and churros, all we can say is “Ole Apamate!”

When in Princeton, be sure to try the pasta at Camillo's Cafe. This neighborhood Italian eatery is family-friendly and light on the budget!

As the season turns chilly, be sure to check out Masti Indian Grill, in East Windsor, for their hot and spicy entrees. The menu features a fusion of Indian-Chinese that's unique to the chef's roots in Mumbai, India.

Tucked in the back of Philadelphia's French hotel is a brasserie transported straight from Paris. Chez Colette allows diners to BYOB seven nights a week with no corking fee...and the food c'est manifique!

For a fine-dining experience on the Main Line, stop at Sola for superior contemporary American cuisine.

Looking for the spice of summer on a dreary day? Then cross the boarder and try Taco Riendo. "La Salsa Hace La Differncia!"

For over 27 years FUJI Japanese Restaurant in Cinnaminson, New Jersey has been serving diners. Due to a state development plan for Rt 130, FUJI Japanese Restaurant is officially CLOSED now. They are going to have a new location at 116 East Kings Highway in Haddonfield, New Jersey. However, the new location is not going to be ready in few months. We will keep you informed.

Tempt your tastebuds at the new Northern Liberties find--Taste. This French Bistro BYO has an Asian influence...and hidden artwork.

If your palate loves All-American cuisine then be sure to try Palate, in Spring Garden Street's Loft District, for an appetizing meal!

Ernesto's 1521 Cafe is an Meditteranian-style restaurant that allows you to BYO--even though they have a wine menu. So grab your favorite Italian bottle and head over to Spruce Street, near the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Madame "S" opened in February 2006, by the same owners as the two well known Origin Thai restaurants in Somerville and Morristown. They feature seafood, such as Turbot, Dover Sole, and Swordfish, as well as a raw bar with a rotating menu of oysters, and, of course, shrimp cocktail and chilled Lobster. The restaurant also has game dishes such as Niman Pork, Duck breast and Buffalo. The menu is mostly French and English dishes, however there are different accents in several of the dishes that reflect international flavors (Asian, Middle Eastern, European) Atmosphere is upscale casual, with a "Soho style".

We love BYOB restaurants, that much isn't new, but we also love non BYOB restaurants that welcome BYOB. Core de Roma on South Street in Philadelphia is one such liquored establishment that allows diners to Bring their own, which allows them to be a welcome addition to our BYOB restaurant guide. The title of this family run business loosely translates to "heart of Rome".

Collingswood restaurants will have their very own Restaurant Week Celebration (again!) from Sunday, July 30th through Thursday, August 3rd! Restaurants in town will be offering either 3 or 4 courses for $30.00 (excludes gratuity and sales tax). The Tortilla Press will be offering 4 choices which feature locally grown produce (since we are into prime growing season).

Gazelle Case & Grill in Ridgewood, New Jersey has been added to the site. The cafe/bistro has an open kitchen for diners to enjoy. Patrons can eat fresh artistically prepared and presented food with clean flavor that is a signature of the owners. Meals leave diners feeling good about what they've eaten without sacrificing flavor.

Wine questions answered include topics on Wine Temperature i.e., how to store red and white, when to chill wine and what temperature to serve wine at. All questions and answers can be found under the Wine Questions link on the left hand side of the site.

The restaurant Yi-Tzi Peking requests that diners follow a strictly Kosher policy which is upheld under the supervision of the Vaad of Philadelphia and the Vaad of Baltimore (Star-K). Only Kosher wines and approved liquor is permitted. We suggest you call ahead.

The State Street Grill in Chester County, Pennsylvania has been added. The new owners moved to the area with the hopes of opening their own restaurant. The small store front eatery was just what they were looking for and purchased the restaurant in 2004. The emphasis at the State Street Grille is a Chef created & produced menu, a labor of love if you will. Richard has a hand in just about everything. All stocks and sauces are classically prepared by him as well as the butchering and just about anything else you can think of. Richard even shops and hand pick much of the food himself. The "open kitchen" lets you see Rich in action. Evelyn does her share in the dessert department, again where all sauces and desserts are prepared on premise. It is their hope that you experience the charm of an authentic gourmet meal without flash and pretense. The grille's web site provides detailed menus that allows wine enthusiast to bring a selection that will compliment the menu and enjoy the casual gourmet experience even further.

Check out this new BYOB...

The fusion of Chef/Owner Kevin Diskin’s classic technique and his love of globally influenced food create the progressive contemporary American cuisine served at Big Fork. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1998, Kevin went on to work at Le Bec Fin, Le Mas Perrier, Jakes, Novelty and Gilmores. His cooking is characterized by complex flavor combinations and delightful presentation.

The warm weather is back. And so is Harvey Cedars Shellfish Company for its 31st year. Stop by and savor some of the very best seafood found along the Jersey Shore!

"The Incredible Lightness of Being" Reception: Sunday, May 21 Fiddleheads Restaurant and Family Framers of Jamesburg are pleased to announce a special exhibit of art, sculpture and photography titled "The Incredible Lightness of Being." Opening receptions will be held at both venues on Sunday, May 21, on East Railroad Avenue (Route 522) in Jamesburg. A portion of proceeds from the reception will benefit the SweetArt Katrina Fund of New Orleans. In a takeoff of Milan Kundera's 1968 classic novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the artists tackle a philosophical ideal that we have one life to live, so what beauty can we create in that life? Inspired to create new visions of hope and celebration of life in the painful aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the tsunami in Southeast Asia, and the war in Iraq, this diverse group of artists has come together to create space where the light of life beams at the forefront. Each artist depicts his or her unique vision of what the "incredible lightness of being" looks like in myriad artistic forms, from watercolors to acrylic paintings, photography to sculpture. The May 21 receptions will be held at Fiddleheads Restaurant from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by Family Framers' reception until 8 p.m. There is no charge for admissions and refreshments will be served. The contributing artists are donating 25 percent of all sales during the exhibition to the SweetArt Katrina Fund and the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans. Since 1976, the Contemporary Arts Center has been home to artists' bold experiments in painting, theater, photography, performance art, dance, music, video, education, and sculpture. Situated at the gateway to New Orleans' Downtown Arts District, their award-winning building houses 10,000 square feet of gallery space dedicated to rotating exhibitions throughout the year, as well as arts exposure and education for children. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused nearly $2 million in damage to the CAC and permanently altered the city's cultural landscape. In response, the CAC created the SweetArt Katrina Fund, through which they are awarding nearly $100,000 in grants to affected artists of all disciplines along the Gulf Coast. The Jamesburg exhibition has been spearheaded by artists Jeffrey Clapp and Donna Clapp, a married couple residing in Red Bank, and Teddy Ehmann, owner of Family Framers. Additional information is available on their Web sites at www.clappster.com and www.familyframers.com. Other artists contributing to the display, all of them New Jersey residents, include Melissa Bronwen Pyle of Spring Lake, Scott Buttfield of Red Bank, Glenn Murgacz of Iselin, Dorrie Rifkin of Englewood, Donna Roettger of Brick, Graziella Smith of Monroe, Marc Steiner of Union Beach, and Phyllis Elizabeth Wright of Princeton. Photographer Jennifer Wiessner of North Yarmouth, Maine, a house artist at Fiddleheads, will also be displaying her work. The reception at Fiddleheads also will feature live acoustic-guitar music by Bill Elliott of Jamesburg, and a special sale on Fiddleheads gift certificates: During the hours of the reception, all gift certificates will be discounted 10 percent when paid in cash. In addition, the restaurant will provide a bonus $10 gift certificate with any art purchase over $150 on the day of the receptions at either venue.

Sang Kee Asian Bistro in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania celebrates their one year anniversary. While this may not seem like big news, many BYOB restaurants die out long before diners find out how good the restaurant really is.

Because the first one last August was so much fun, we're going to do this again! For those who weren't there, read on.... Many of you enjoy dining at Fiddleheads not only because of the great food and atmosphere, but because you like bringing your own wine. Have you ever considered MAKING your own? We’re pleased to announce that Thomas and Nancy Nye, owners and master winemakers of The Grape Escape wine academy in Dayton, N.J., will once again be our guest at Fiddleheads on Sunday, April 9, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. for our second “Dine with the Winemaker” event. Enjoy a great meal at Fiddleheads and visit the Nyes’ table to sample some of the fine wines coming out of The Grape Escape, where you make and bottle the wine yourself! They’ll be available to chat with you about wine and grapes, and the company’s unique winemaking course (you might even call it a "party school"!) available right here in Dayton. We’ll also have live acoustic-guitar music by Bill Elliott. Dinner reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis, so make your reservation by calling us at 732.521.0878. Our August dinner was sold out. The Grape Escape, a fast-growing winemaking school less than 10 minutes from Fiddleheads and the only academy of its kind in Middlesex County, features a signature hands-on course to make and bottle your own wine. The same award-winning grapes used in the best American and Chilean wineries are now available to all winemakers. They are shipped to The Grape Escape and in four short sessions over a 10-month period, you will have the unique experience of crushing grapes, barreling the juice, and bottling, corking and labeling your very own wine. It’s an outstanding opportunity to share a creative and fun craft with friends, family, a team of coworkers, or any club or group. Your own wine also makes great holiday gifts and wedding or shower favors. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced winemaking students created thousands of bottles of wine at The Grape Escape in 2005. The 2006 Chilean grape season is signing up now! For our current menus, see our Web site at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads. And a new menu, with exciting new choices but with many of your favorites, will be launching on April 5. For more information about The Grape Escape, link to their Web site at GoGrapes.com. We hope to see you on Sunday, April 9!

La Esperanza in Linderwold undertook a needed renovation (read expansion) and the place is finished. More seating means more happy diners to this popular Mexican BYOB restaurant.

The South Jersey Independent Restaurant association, which is comprised of both BYOB and non byob restaurants is having their restaurant week March 19th to the 24th. Four course meals for $30.00 at select restaurants. Log onto www.sjhotchefs.com for a listing of restaurants.

The barbecue and Southwest themed BYOB restaurant RUB (Really Unusual Barbecue) Hut on Manville, New Jersey has been added to the guide.

Fiddleheads Restaurant, an upscale, contemporary New American bistro at 27 East Railroad Avenue in Jamesburg, and the artists whose work is on display there, invite the public to the artists' Spring 2006 Art Reception at the restaurant on Sunday, March 12, 2006, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors may view the gallery show currently on display, browse unique gifts of fine art, and meet the artists. The artists' paintings and photographs, 38 in all, are available for sale. The Winter 2005 exhibit, curated by Family Framers of Jamesburg, features Teddy Ehmann of Jamesburg (mirror images, photo assemblies and charcoal drawings), Melissa Bronwen Pyle of Spring Lake (giclee prints), Judy Stein of Monroe (watercolors and mixed media), Jennifer Wiessner, formerly of East Brunswick and now of North Yarmouth, Maine (outdoor photography), and Susan Winter of Hightstown (oils on canvas). The reception is being held between the Sunday brunch and dinner serving periods. Beverages will be available to gallery visitors and there is no admission charge. A complete listing of the featured works and their prices is available on the restaurant's Web site: www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads. The reception will also feature live acoustic-guitar music by Bill Elliott of Jamesburg, and a special sale on Fiddleheads gift certificates: During the hours of the reception, all gift certificates will be discounted 10 percent when paid in cash. In addition, the restaurant will provide a bonus $10 gift certificate with any art purchase over $150. Fiddleheads, first opened in 1992 and purchased by Brian Blatz and Dan Davis in 2004, serves an eclectic, elegant mix of superbly prepared and moderately priced dishes that appeal to a discriminating palate. Customers may bring their own beer and wine. Currently rated in Zagat's, the restaurant offers a "downtown" experience, with candlelight ambiance and jazz, swing, soft rock, and contemporary acoustic-guitar music. Fiddleheads is open for lunch Wednesday through Friday and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday, and also features a Sunday brunch. Reservations for all serving times are recommended. The restaurant menu and directions are available on the Web at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads.

Opened in June of 2004 in the space formerly occupied by Madison Avenue Cafe. Owner Nick Weinstein is a graduate of Penn State University with a Hotel and Restaurant Degree. He has worked for Stephen Starr in Philadelphia, managing The Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar, and Tangerine. Locally Nick has trained in the kitchen at Blue Restaurant in Surf City. Executive Chef Jason Hanin is a graduate of the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, NY. He has worked at Striped Bass in Philadelphia, for Club Med and in Colorado. He is a local talent and has been cooking since he was 13 years old. Dune is open year round and closes for 2 months during the winter (Jan and Feb).

The popular Princeton BYOB restaurant, the Fery House has been added to our guide by reader request. The chef owner has proven that his talents can stand the test of time and this is one BYOb that is worth a visit.

Happy Valentine's day. Hope everyone dined at a BYOB restaurant. If you did tell us by posting your experience about the restaurant on the site. To us most holiday dining, most notable New Years Eve, Valentine Days and Mothers Day tend to be bad dining days, as the restaurant is overly busy, service is normally off and pre fixe pricing is usually in place. But hey what do we know, tell us your side of the coin.

BAZZINI AT 28 OAK STREET in Ridgewood, New Jersey opened in January 2004 featuring an Innovative American and Modern Italian menu spotlighting the finest ingredients under the direction of chef/owner Paul Bazzini. They offer seasonal menus with an extensive offering of market-driven daily specials,including seafood, homemade pastas, signature risotto's,prime meats & raw bar selections. The atmosphere is a romantic, candlelit bistro featuring oak accents, brass, smoked mirrors, soft lighting and deep, rich banquetes. After your meal indulge in the homemade desserts, ice creams & signature coffee offerings. Any of the menu items are available to go to enjoy in your home or office. They are available for corporate events and private parties including, retirement dinners, bridal/baby showers, rehearsal dinners, communions, confirmations, anniversary, birthday celebrations & repasts. They offer full service off-premise catering from CUCINA EVENTS-off premise catering company & BAZZINI TO GO, which features prepared foods to enjoy in your home for dinner parties & social gatherings.

Cafe LoBianco, a BYOB located in Ventnor City, New Jersey, is open throughout the entire year. It serves dinner only, and begins seating at 5:30 pm. This BYOB restaurant is just two blocks away from the boardwalk. It is also a great restaurant choice in the winter, as it remains open for patrons while most other restaurants close down.

Anne's Kitchen Table a popular Glenside, Pennsylvania lunch only eatery is now serving dinner Friday nights, with the idea to expand evening dining in the spring of 06, stay tuned for more details.

Our online listing of BYOB restaurants is the largest on the web but we need your help to keep it relevant. If you haven't already done so, why not give us and our site visitors a little feed back regarding your experiences at BYOB restaurants. Your reviews help our users find new restaurants and benefit from your first hand experience at the restaurant. Both good and bad BYOB restaurant visits are a welcome submission to the site. Give it a shot, hey who wouldn't want to be a restaurant critic?

A reader asked us, what to do with sparkling wine left in the refrigerator for New Years but is unopened. Well, temperature fluctuations help degrade wine, but a minor change from a refrigerator to basement temperature (55 degrees) should not impart any discernible changes to the wine. Although I want to note that this question comes on New Years day, and if you are like many of us who have refrigerated champagne and sparkling wine to celebrate the new year, but you still have a bottle or two in the refrigerator. My advice is to keep the wine in the refrigerator and find a reason to drink it before the end of the month. Sparkling wine and French champagne are wines that I don't think we drink enough of as Americans. We seem to reserve the wine for special occasions, such as wedding and New Years, where it is such an enjoyable drink that I don't believe people should limit their consumptions to such few days of the year.

Our online listing of BYOB restaurants is the largest on the web but we need your help to keep it relevant. If you haven't already done so, why not give us and our site visitors a little feed back regarding your experiences at BYOB restaurants. Your reviews help our users find new restaurants and benefit from your first hand experience at the restaurant. Both good and bad BYOB restaurant visits are a welcome submission to the site. Give it a shot, hey who wouldn't want to be a restaurant critic?

Fiddleheads Restaurant at 27 East Railroad Avenue in Jamesburg (www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads), and the artists whose work is on display there, invite the public to a Holiday Art Reception and Sale on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Artists on display include Teddy Ehmann of Jamesburg (acrylics and oils on canvas), Judy Stein of Monroe (acrylics on canvas), Ingrid Davis of East Windsor (white line wood block prints), Jennifer Wiessner of Yarmouth, Maine (outdoor photography), Susan Winter of Monroe (oils on canvas), and the late George Ivers (watercolors). The reception is being held between the Sunday brunch and dinner serving periods. Beverages will be available to gallery visitors, and there is no admission charge. A complete listing of the featured works and their prices is available online at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads. Fiddleheads, purchased in 2004 by Brian Blatz and Dan Davis, serves an eclectic, elegant mix of superbly prepared and moderately priced dishes that appeal to a discriminating palate. Currently rated "excellent" in Zagat's, the restaurant offers a "downtown" experience with adult contemporary music and candlelight ambiance. Open for lunch Wednesday through Friday, dinner Wednesday through Sunday, and Sunday brunch. Directions and menus are available on the Web site.

A new seafood themed BYOB restaurant has opened up on main street in Manayunk. Called Fish Tank on Main, the restaurant boasts a 200 gallon fish tank and a cool relaxed atmosphere. Owner is an 18 year industry veteran who is branching out on his own.

The Hamlet Bistro, a new BYOB restaurant for Philadelpia is now posted on our site. The chef owner did stints at a number of excellent restaurants including Striped Bass. The restaurant only has nine tables so calling ahead is the plan.

Colllingswood's Bistro Di Marino is now serving lunch Monday thru Friday. They also have taken over the adjacent space which in essence doubles the size of the restaurant.

Former home of the popular Red Hen Cafe is now The Coral Reef Bistro serving outstanding seafood fusion cuisine in the heart of Medford. With talented Executive Chef Jeffery De Lawder, a CIA alumni, the bistro features a bold and innovative seafood menu combining the influences of Asian,French and Creole. The restaurant also offers long-time favorites from the former Red Hen eatery.

As the title says Max's of Cinnaminson, New Jersey has quitely closed it's doors.

The Little Tuna of Haddonfield, New Jersey is now open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

New owners have reopened Salt and Pepper. They cosmetically redid the place and reopened in October 2005. just completed our 3rd week open. The proprietor is Robert Reilly, the chef is John DeSantis.

Silver Oak American Bistro is the newest Ridgewood, New Jersey, BYOB Restaurant. Chef/Owner Gary Needham comes to us from his previous engagement at the famed Galileo Restaurant in Washington DC. With over thirty-three years of culinary adventures as an executive chef in five star hotels and resorts he considers his career as a life long pursuit of culinary training in all of the world cuisines. Starting at the young age of seventeen he apprenticed the old school way in fine restaurants of San Francisco, Chicago, Colorado, and Florida. A native of Louisville Kentucky he blends southern tradition with French, Asian, Mediterranean, and South American influences in his cuisine.

Chabaa Thai Bistro has opened up on Main Street in Manayunk, Pennsylvania. With the opening of Chabaa, Manayunk diners can be treated to yet another ethnic food option. Since Manayunk is a fairly wet town, any new BYOB restaurant in Manayunk is welcome.

We are trying to expand our restaurant coverage beyond our BYOB roots, and have been hitting a few non BYOB restaurants (I know, we bad, but friends and relatives sometimes demand a change). Recently we hit Meritage Restaurant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a BEST of 2005 restaurant pick for those who think they are in the know. We at the BYOBguide.com know better, having been here and knowing we require quality food and service, something not even the owner could fix during our visit. Please read our review and see what the restaurant is ACTUALLY offering diners.

On the BYOBguide.com web site we have a message board where users can discuss various BYOB related matters, including Best BYOB restaurant and most romantic BYOB. Take a look and post a message, there are other like minded BYOB diners that use the site that want to discuss BYOB topics.

Second ever rest. week will be September 25th thru October 1st with 18 participating restaurants. It will be 4 courses for $30.00.a list of the restaurants can be found on sjhotchefs.com This is the sponsor of this event. It is made up of independent restaurants with many of them being BYOB.This event will showcase these chefs creativity and dedication to their profession.

august byob in south philadelphia is closed for vacation until thursday sept 8th.

Many of you enjoy dining at BYOBs not only for their great food and atmosphere, but because you like bringing your own wine. Have you ever considered MAKING your own? Fiddleheads Restaurant, an upscale BYOB bistro at 27 East Railroad Avenue in Jamesburg, N.J., is pleased to announce that Mr. Thomas Nye, owner and master winemaker of The Grape Escape wine academy in Dayton, N.J., will be our guest at Fiddleheads on Sunday, August 28, 2005, from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy a great meal at Fiddleheads and visit Mr. Nye’s table to sample some of the fine wines made at The Grape Escape, where you make the wine yourself! He’ll be available to chat with you about wine and grapes, and his company’s unique winemaking course available right here in Dayton. Dinner reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis, so make your reservation by calling us at 732.521.0878. The Grape Escape, a fast-growing winemaking school less than 10 minutes from Fiddleheads and the only academy of its kind in Middlesex County, features a signature hands-on course to make and bottle your own wine. The same award-winning grapes used in the best American wineries are now available to all winemakers. They are shipped to The Grape Escape and in four short sessions over a 10-month period, you will have the unique experience of crushing grapes, barreling the juice, and bottling, corking and labeling your very own wine. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share a creative craft with friends, family, a team of coworkers, or any club or group. Your own wine also makes great holiday gifts and wedding favors. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced winemaking students created approximately 9,000 bottles of wine at The Grape Escape in 2004. The 2005-06 season starts soon! For our current menus, see our Web site at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads. For more information about The Grape Escape, visit their Web site at www.thegrapeescape.net.

Center City Philadelphia's Melograno Italian BYOB will be closed for the month of August for vacation.

Susan's gourmet kitchen of cherry hill, new jersey, has closed. No word yet if a new BYOB restaurant will take their place.

La Cava Mexican Haute Cuisine located in Amlber, Pennsylvania is open now for SUMMER time Lunch, Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30pm to 2:30 pm. and for dinner,Monday to Thursday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Come on in, and try our out door tables for this summer!

Kunkel’s Seafood and Steakhouse has opened on Kings Highway in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. The BYO restaurant is a typical example of a modern day BYO dining. The building that houses this BYO restaurant was a former carpet store, which the owners have converted into a restaurant space. This is significant because it is virgin restaurant space and anyone who has undergone any type of renovation knows the headaches of converting a building into something new. It is also significant since the space is virgin and not some pizza shop or failed BYOB restaurant space. New restaurants in new restaurant quarters are a testament to the overall growth in the dining scene in New Jersey and in particular BYO dining. This freestanding building offers on site parking and ample on street parking for area diners. The restaurant location on King Highway in dry Haddon Heights, New Jersey is well situated for diners trying to find the restaurant.

Cafe Lombardi's, an Italian BYOB restaurant located in Horsham, Pennsylvania has just been added to the BYOBguide Restaurant Directory. In addition to offering catering services for parties of 10-300 people, this full-service restaurant also allows patrons the choice of dining in or taking out. For full information, check out this listing in the database.

A new Italian BYOB Tre Famiglia on Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield has thrown their hat into the BYOB restaurant scene. Owners are from Philadelphia and the restaurant appears to filled with relatives from chef to server to hostess. Good intentions abound here and a strong effort is made to insure you enjoy your meal.

Rosa's Cafe has opened up on Kings Highway in Haddonfield, New Jersey. The space formerly housed a sandwich shop and is now being touted as a casual lunch spot by day and Italian entrees at night. Seasonal outdoor dining is also a feature for the new cafe.

Did you know that registered users of our site can post reviews of BYOB restaurants? No matter what we think of the restaurant, if you post a review and give it a bottle rating better or worse than what we think, you will change the rating for the restaurant. Give it a shot, your opinion counts.

Cafe Arabica is a unique concept offering Middle Eastern fare mixed with your old favorites and great desserts/coffees and of course the signature hookah (waterpipes). They offer some of the Northeasts best live entertainment of original nationally touring artists.

The BYOB restaurant Lazezar Turkish Restaurant on Bloomfield Avenue in Monclair, New Jersey officially has been open six months. The restaurant is a new addition to the Montclair, New Jersey dining scene. The restaurant has been listed as one of the "Five Fabulous New Restaurants by NJ SAVVY Magazine-April 2005 Edition". They have also been selected for three consecutive months as the most popular restaurant in Monctlair. The restaurant offers spacious dining in Traditional Turkish/Ottoman Style Gold Room or Red Room. Try it just to take a break from Italian dining.

A brand new restaurant space on Tanner Street in Haddonfield welcomes Cristinas Italian restaurant to little Haddonfield, New Jersey. The biggest wow about Cristinas is the outdoor dining area, which is a welcome addition to the limited outdoor dining scene at byob restaurants. The food and the service are another issue. Check out our review of Cristinas.

Mandoline, a new contemporary American BYOB restaurant has opened up at 213 Chestnut Street in Old City, Philadelphia. Any new BYOB in popular areas such as Old City Philadelphia are welcome additions to the BYOBguide.com. Although we have not been yet, we will review the restaurant shortly. If you have gone, please feel free to write a review.

Water Lily a French-Asian Bistro on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey has opened up this winter (2005) in a former gym. Having the opportunity to take a wide open space and convert it into a restaurant has allowed the owners to create an open but intimate space for area diners. The half moon shaped couch style booths are a nice touch to help break up the space. The French Asian dining option is welcome addition to the dining scene, with the over done Italian BYOB's that that keep opening up on and off Haddon Avenue. We give it a three bottle rating.

Alison at Blue Bell is continuing their outdoor dining. Outdoor dining started in of July 2004. This year it will start in April & will be available weather permitting.

Fiddleheads, an upscale, contemporary New American bistro in Jamesburg, is proud to host artists Teddy Ehmann and Vincent Valle during its dinner hours on Thursday, April 14, 2005. Dinner customers may visit the restaurant from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to meet Mr. Ehmann and Mr. Valle, who will be available for conversation and to answer questions about their paintings, photography, and photo assemblies. A collection of their works, along with that of Helen Post, Maurice Mahler, and Jennifer Wiessner, is currently on display and for sale at Fiddleheads during the restaurant’s spring 2005 art exhibit. Dinner reservations for the “Meet the Artist” night are recommended. Fiddleheads, first opened in 1992 and purchased by Brian Blatz and Dan Davis in June 2004, serves an eclectic, elegant mix of superbly prepared and moderately priced dishes that appeal to a discriminating palate. Customers may bring their own beer and wine. Currently rated in Zagat’s, the restaurant offers a “downtown” experience, with candlelight ambiance and jazz, swing, soft rock, and contemporary acoustic-guitar music. Fiddleheads is open for lunch Wednesday through Friday and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday, and also features a Sunday brunch. Reservations for all serving times are recommended. The restaurant menu and directions are available on the Web at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads. Artists’ Biographies Mr. Ehmann, an acclaimed artist and owner of Family Framers, an upscale framing store, art gallery and studio in Jamesburg, curates the exhibits at Fiddleheads and has framed most of the current display. Specializing in home and office décor, Family Framers' Web site is at www.familyframers.com. Ehmann is the grandson of the late M. Frank Ehmann, a noted New Jersey artist, known for his paintings and etchings of landscapes. He studied painting at the Philadelphia College of art with Paul Goodman, Jane Piper and Gene Baguskis. Later, he was invited to teach art at the College of New Jersey and taught there while completing his BFA. His works are in many collections and have been exhibited nationally. Ehmann is best known for his wilderness paintings. He paints primarily in the Appalachian Mountains from Massachusetts to Georgia. Abroad, he has made Iceland his second home, preferring its unique landscape to any other. In recent years, Ehmann has been behind the camera and his photo assemblies literally turn the world upside down. A retired high school art teacher, he continues to teach classes above his gallery in Jamesburg. Mr. Valle is a resident of Princeton. A specialist in high-end photography, he states that his motivation as an artist comes from “capturing an everyday object or human experience in a way that provokes an emotional response....By focusing on such elements as repetitive shapes, light and shadow, magnification and unusual perpectives, I transform the common to the unexpected.” Mr. Valle's Web site, with samples of his work, is at www.vincentvalle.com.

Starting in mid January, Bacio Italian restaurant of Cinnaminson will be hosting Chef Robert Minniti's "Monday Night Cooking Series." The classes will be held every Monday night and will feature a 3 course demonstration and dinner. For more information on the classes, please email Chef Robert Minniti at chefrobert@baciorestaurant.com

The Casanova Grill, a new Italian BYOB has opened up on North Maple Avenue in Marlton, New Jersey.

Dominic's Place, a BYOB restaurant located in Wildwood, NJ is both family owned and operated by the Damico family. The executive chef, John Damico, is the owner of the restaurant; and the other executive chef is John's son-in-law, Robert Wright. All of the food served, from the appetizers to the entrees to the desserts, is all home-made fresh.

Fiddleheads Restaurant of Jamesburg, New Jersey, announces its second art gallery showing, which was hung in mid-November. Featured New Jersey artists include Shirley Venit Anger, Eleanor Spencer, Teddy Ehmann, and Laurie Stern, as well as work by photographer Jennifer Wiessner. All artwork and photography is on consignment and is curated by Family Framers of Jamesburg, a high-end art and framing establishment near Fiddleheads. Five pieces were sold in the first exhibition. Fiddleheads has also launched an a la carte Sunday brunch, served 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featuring eggs Benedict, a specialty bruschetta menu, delicious omelettes, and chicken and steak dishes, as well as the restaurant\'s own SmokyRoast potatoes. Visit Fiddleheads online at www.jamesburg.net/fiddleheads, or call for reservations: 732.521.0878.

We have answered some of your wine questions, including how to recork a bottle of wine.

We review Bistro Di Marino, Collingswood's newest Italian BYOB.

Haddonfield's top BYOB restaurant has moved to Kings Highway in Haddonfield. The Little Tuna has taken over the spot that formerly housed Café M (café Mediocre). Opening day was Tuesday, January 18th, 2005 and the restaurant has relocated without a hitch. Larger quarters, seasonal outdoor dining and an expanded menu welcomes diners to this popular south jersey, seafood restaurant. We also review the restaurant again.

MERIDITH'S of Berwyn, renowned as the Main Line's best kept dining secret, will be open for your BYOB dining please, Tuesday through Sunday 5pm to 9pm, starting Feb 1, 2005.

Bistro Di Marino an Italian BYOB has opened up at 492 Haddon Avnue Collingswood, New Jersey, phone (856) 858-1700. We will be reviewing the restaurant in the next week and adding the restaurant to the site.

The Mandarin Group, owners of 3 Chinese/Japanese restaurants located in Glassboro, Sewell, and Deptford, have plans to open a fourth in Mullica Hill. Owners of the chain, Chris and Mei Yeung, are working to open this restaurant in January, 2005. Tokyo Mandarin, the Glassboro restaurant, offers a dining area for 80 as well as a sushi bar. It has just been listed in the BYOBguide database, with complete information available there.

The up and coming Restaurant Row, located on Passyunk Avenue in South Philly, has two recent additions. Albertino, an Italian BYOB, and Karina's, an Italian-Latin America BYOB, both offer patrons a wide variety of cuisine choices. Both restaurants only serve dinner and are doing quite well; both suggest reservations be made in advance. For complete information on either restaurant, look in the BYOBguide restaurant directory.

Monsoon Malaysian Restaurant with Sushi Bar recently opened in Mount Laurel, NJ. Anna Shye, one of the executive chefs of this BYOB, is from Malaysia and insures a genuine Malaysian cuisine is served.

Opened scarcely one year ago in Collingswood; Sicilian native Franco Lombardo made his leap from Philadelphia and a small Italian Trattoria called La locanda del Ghiottone to the new and bustling burough in New Jersey just five minutes over the Ben Franklin bridge. Since it's birth the restaurant has been known to deliver the most authentic Italian cuisine that most anyone has encountered outside of Italy. Repeated reviews make claims of the simplicity and culinary purity found in the ingredients used in the dishes that bring out very southern Italian flavors. Chef Francesco Parmisciano also native to Southern Italy works feverishly making fresh pastas and stuffings for everything from quail to chicken, to creme brulee', chocolate mousse and of course tiramisu'.

The Wine Room, located in Cherry Hill, NJ, offers classes on the skill of making wine. This school began when Kathy and Kenton Nice expanded their hobby of making wine to teaching others how to do so. The Wine Room is a 125-seat facility, complete with professional winery equipment. This modern technology at students' disposal aids the traditional wine-making process. The final product, which is one barrel of wine, or 240 bottles, is created in 10 months time. During this time frame, there are 4 sessions. Classes are offered during the day or night, and on weekends. Private sessions are offered for groups, organizations, and companies. If you or your company are looking for an event that is both creative and fulfilling, check out The Wine Room. Contact Information: The Wine Room 1 Esterbrook Lane Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 Phone #: 856-424-WINE (9463) Web Address: http://www.thewineroom.com/index.cfm Email Address: info@thewineroom.com

Get a taste of SJ's Top Independent Restaurants! 28 Unique Restaurants September 25th - 30th 4 Courses - $30 for more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit www.sjhotchefs.com

The Salt and Pepper Bistro, a Philadelphia restaurant, has just been added to the BYOBguide directory. The 28-seat dining area is decorated with vaious salt and pepper shaker sets and has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Andrea's Trattoria, located in Newfield, NJ, has recently opened a few months ago. The owner and chef of this restaurant, Andrea Covino, has replicated an authentic Italian trattoria with Andrea's Trattoria Italiano.

Kiku, a Japanese restaurant with sushi bar, located in Cherry Hill, NJ, has recently been added to the BYOB directory.

Sapori offers a 4 course pre-fixed menu for $35 P.P. weekdays. You choose one appetizer, one pasta course and one entree and it includes coffee and dessert. Daily specials do not apply. Sapori has been doing it for 6 months now and it is a tremendous success, people come during the week just to try it. It gives you a chance to taste different items in the menu in smaller portions and a chance to eat like we eat in Italy.

The BYOB restaurant 49 North Main Restaurant in Lambertville, New Jersey is now open Monday thru Thursday 11:30 - 8:00 Pm., Fiday and Saturday 11:30 - 9:00 PM and open forlunch and dinner all day. They also are serving a brunch Sunday Dec 26 from 11:00 am to 4 Pm They will be serving New Years Eve Dinner. Regular menu with Special additions offered. Serving Dinner only Saturday Jan 1, 2005.

The Green Gables of Beach Haven, Long Beach Island, New Jersey, is offering a Winter Season Special for 2004, which includes a FREE* night accommodation…!! Indulge yourself, and the love of your life,… find the perfect gift for a special friend, or business associate! Come and enjoy the splendor of Long Beach Island in the winter or spring… No traffic lights, plenty of parking, beautiful beaches and best of all a most memorable getaway at the Green Gables Inn. Enjoy a FREE* overnight accommodation in one of our romantic bedrooms (now with queen size beds!) with the purchase (by December 15th 2004) of our famous and unforgettable dinner for two ($150 per couple). Hurry! Space is limited! Call us now at 609 492 3553 or e-mail us at greengableslbi@aol.com. *this offer is valid through May 1st 2005 – some restrictions apply www.lbinet.com/greengables

Did you know that registered users of our site can post reviews of BYOB restaurants? No matter what we think of the restaurant, if you post a review and give it a bottle rating better or worse than what we think, you will change the rating for the restaurant. Give it a shot, hey who wouldn't want to be a restaurant critic?

Spezia of Brynn Mawr Pennsylvanis has closed.

Although this may not qualify as news it is an often misunderstood situation on the part of restaurant owners. Since the BYOBguide.com launched several of our listed restaurants have gotten liquor licenses and now do not allow diners to BYOB. We do contact the restaurants and ask if BYOB is still possible and the usual response is no because "it's against the law". Well here is how the law is in New Jersey. There is no regulation in New Jersey prohibiting a diner from bringing alcohol into a licensed restaurant. Although the owner/operator of a restaurant may prohibit the practice. So when the restaurant tells you it is against the law to bring your own beer or wine to their restaurant, they are not enforcing any New Jersey law just their own policy. So if the restaurant says it is their policy to not allow outside alcohol, that is the way it is, if they say it is against the law, they are just saying they would rather make money on the food and the alcohol they serve you.

Did you know that registered users of our site can post reviews of BYOB restaurants? No matter what we think of the restaurant, if you post a review and give it a bottle rating better or worse than what we think, you will change the rating for the restaurant. Give it a shot, hey who wouldn't want to be a restaurant critic?

The BYOBguide has a message board where users can post comments to existing discussions or start new topics. Come on and give it a try, post a comment, our programmers spent a lot of time coding the board and have given it a lot of cool features. The link to the message board is on the lefthand side of the home page.

Moulin Rouge in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has closed. A new BYOB has filled the space, which we will be commenting on shortly.

One of the few restaurants that is open on Monday's in Collingswood is also open for lunch again. Sapori, on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood is now open for lunch six days (closed tuesday) a week from 12:00 to 3:00. Great spot, great lunch, give it a shot.

The wine questions keep coming and our answers are posted for your enjoyment.

Pinot Noir is one of my favorite wines, and I recently bought multiple cases of various Pinot Noir wines to try. One of the more interesting, non Pinot Noir wines I tried is a Pinot Meunier from sparkling wine producer Chandon. A short and sweet review of this tastey wine is posted in our wine sction.

We recently re-visited Matyson, a BYOB in Center City, Philadelphia. The restaurant, owned by Matt and Sonjia Spector, is a delightful bistro serving excellent New American cuisine. Sonjia’s, a professional pastry artist, makes the most wonderful deserts, while her husband, Matt, creates his dishes using unique flavors. It is quickly becoming one of the most popular BYOB’s in the area, and reservations are suggested.

The BYOBguide has a message board where users can post comments to existing discussions or start new topics. The link to the message board is on the lefthand side of the home page. Enjoy the site

I am back from vacation and have answered a number of your wine and dining questions. Check out the answers in our wine section.

Lilly's on the Canal, formally The Fish House, has been transformed into a new, urban chic BYOB restaurant. Owner Lilly Salvadore creates a daring and unusual cuisine that has customers coming back for more. Located in Lambertville, New Jersey, the restaurant offers excellent meals and efficient service, all next to the water.

La Piazza Bistro, a BYOB restaurant in Ridgewood, New Jersey, offers a unique dining experience on their elegant outdoor patio. Enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine and their excellent service. Check out our review.

Hooper's Seafood Cafe is an excellent find. It is a great little BYOB restaurant that offers fresh seafood delights, an accommodation staff and an overall pleasant dining experience. Take a look at our review!

Kon Tiki restaurant, in Valley Forge, PA, has been added to our list. Kon Tiki is a Pan-Asian Fusion restaurant that bases its menu and dining experience on Feng Shui. Check out our review.

What better time to try August, an elegant New Italian BYOB restaurant in South Philly. Take a look at our review.

The Tortilla Press has expanded their location as well as added a gourmet take-out menu. You can now build burritos or tacos with your choice meat or vegetable fillings, beans, salsa and sides. There are also 4 salads to choose from with you choice of dressings. Take it to go.

Chief Alex Capasso brings taste and talent to Misto, located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Enjoy Franco-Italian cuisine for both lunch and dinner.

If you are dining at one of the BYOB restaurants in the Haddonfield or Collingswood areas, stop in and enjoy a cigar at Nero's Cigars. They are located at 421 North Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield, New Jersey. They are open Mondays through Thursdays from 10am to 8pm, Fridays from 10am to 9pm, Saturdays from 10am to 7pm, and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. Call (856) 428-0059 for further information.

Yes a lot of you have asked us, who invented wine. Well we gave it our best shot. Who invented wine is a question that no one can truthfully answer. My guess is that it was first made accidentally by storing grape juice in clay containers where the juice was allowed to ferment and thus make wine. I do know that references to grapes appear in both Greek and Roman mythology although who was first to mention it is questionable. In mythology wine is associated with the Greek god Dionysus and the Roman god Bacchus. This does not mean that some mythological god created wine, it means that wine was obviously present in Greek and Roman culture to have a god represent wine. References to wine before the Greeks or the Romans are kinda sketchy, but please be aware that the wine you drink today is vastly different in taste from the wine made back then. That much I am sure of and the advances that we have made in wine production allow a much wider group of people to enjoy wine. If you want to concentrate on the creation of wine, go visit a winery and I don’t mean just in California, go visit a local winery (you would be surprised how many there are) and ask the wine maker about wine. I have no doubt they would love to talk about it and let you sample their offerings, this way you can affirmatively say you know the person who created that particular wine.

Guido's Ristorante Italiano of Philadelphia has been added. The family has been serving up quality Italian fare for over 14 years. How we overlooked them, I will never know. But here they are.

Users asked us about food and wine pairing and red wine headaches (RWH. We posted our answers, as well as some to some other questions, check them out under our wine questions link.

Vera's Trattoria, located in Harrington Park, New Jersey offers an intimate, cafe-style dining area, complete with live entertainment. This Italian BYOB is owned and operated under the same management as Vera's Pizza Parlor, which is adjacent to the Trattoria. If you are interested in an inexpensive, delicious Italian meal and a night of entertainment, stop by Vera's Trattoria.

A wine tasting is being hosted by ABC Liquors of Bear, DE on April 28th. The theme is White wines of the world, the time 7:00 P - 9:00 PM. Email them at ABCLIQUORS@yahoo.com for more info.

We added this popular Cherry Hill, New Jersey, pizza/casual Italian spot.

We all know web Blogs are all the rage. (For those not in the know, a web blog is a glorified message board.) A pretty cool food related blog is www.bourrezvisage.com. If you've never been it is worth checking out.

By request, we've added West Chester Fish Market, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Word is the chef goes to the docks every day and hand picks the best seafood he can find. Sounds like what they would do at Striped Bass in Philadelphia.

Nunzios, a restaurant that people spoke about months before it opened has been reviewed. The restaurant has also been our most viewed restaurant listing for the past two months. Check out our word on Collingswood's new Italian restaurant.

The location on haddon Avenue in Haddonfield that formerly housed Blondies Seafood has reopened. Via Jiulia, an Italian BYOB with cloth napkins and tablecloths is a welcome addition to Haddonfield's dining scene. Probable the second best restaurant in town after The Little Tuna.

Our online listing of BYOB restaurants is the largest on the web. But did you know that registered users of our site can post reviews of BYOB restaurants? Give it a shot, hey who wouldn't want to be a restaurant critic?

With the number of restaurants on Haddon Avenue, a popular after dinner non BYOB restaurant is Giumarello's, on Haddon Avenue in Westmont. The restaurant offers post dining desserts and offers two bars, one smoking and nonsmoking for a casual after dinner drink. The restaurant offers a nice escape for diners looking to expand their evening out and get a drink in an upscale environment. Best of Philly Martini menu is one highlight. http://giumarellos.com/default.htm

The BYOBguide has a message board where users can post comments to existing discussions or start new topics. Come on and give it a try, post a comment, our programmers spent a lot of time coding the board and have given it a lot of cool features. The link to the message board is on the lefthand side of the home page. Thanks Dave

We have added a new feature that lists the most viewed restaurants every month. The section is on the right hand side of home page, towards the bottom. It is updated hourly and resets at the start of each month. So if you want to know what everyone else is looking at or just why you can't seem to get a reservation at a certain restaurant, check it out.

We answer what does BYOB stand for in our wine questions area.

Marcellos of Ridgewood has been added. A pretty unique BYOB, with a nice interior, great food and reasonable prices.

For those of you dining out this weekend at a BYOB (hey it is Valentines day), do us a favor and tell the restaurant you found them at the BYOBguide.com. We want to get the word out about the site and let restaurants know what a great resource we are. Thanks

Cafe Everest at 45 Broad Street, in Red Bank, New Jersey has been added.

Red Hen Cafe, Medford, New Jersey. Users have suggested several BYOB restaurants that weren’t currently listed on the site to be included in the BYOBguide. We have not yet reviewed the restaurant. If anyone would like to post a review feel free, we encourage user feedback.

Our newest wine question answered provides the answer to Who invented champage? FYI the link to our wine Q & A is on the lefthand side of the home page.

Tuscan Grill, Moorestown, New Jersey. Users have suggested several BYOBs that weren’t currently listed on our site to be included in the BYOBguide. We have not yet reviewed the restaurant. If anyone would like to post a review feel free, we encourage user feedback.

Nunzio's open two Thursdays ago to little fanfare but great anticipation. When you go, and from the license plates in the parking lot a lot of Philly people are going, you will be able to see the nice features an experienced restauranteur puts into a restaurant. We will formally review the restaurant in about a week, after a few more meals. If you go in the interim, use our map feature to locate the place (this is for those of you living in PA) apparently people fr0m Pennsylvania are having a bit of trouble trying to find Collingswood. (It took one group an hour to find the restaurant after crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge, when it should only be less then 10 minutes)

The Hurrican House has been added.

From deli to Italian Cafe want to be, Brianna's Italian Cafe in Collingswood is going to need to get up to spead fast to compete against the onslaught of restaurants in town. Read our review.

Arturo's, which has been a popular Italian BYOB restaurant for some time has moved next door and gotten a liquor license. The old spot is now Nicolian Restaurant is BYOB. Same owners for both restaurants.

We've been about a half dozen times and have put our thoughts down as we review Word of Mouth in Collingswood, New Jersey.

Well known and experienced chef Nunzio Petruno formerly of the Monte Carlo living room in Philadelphia, opens his restaurant in Collingswood, New Jersey.

We review Elements Cafe in Haddon Heights. One of the best BYOB restaurants you never heard of.

If you haven't been to our wine Q & A area, stop by we've recently posted some answers to users questions. Hey if you've got questions we've got answers.

With cold weather all around now is the time to crack open a cab and savor the flavor. The Hess Collection Winery of Napa, California has an excellent track record of producing high quality wines, particularly their reds. We've loved their wines for both their quality and value for a number of years now. Check out our review in the featured wine section.

Users have suggested several BYOB that weren’t currently listed to be included in the BYOBguide. We have not yet reviewed the restaurant. If anyone would like to post a review feel free, we encourage user feedback.

Although we had reviewed Sapori in the past month, we revisited the restaurant based on reader feedback that the restaurant has some issues. Check out the reviews.

We recently revisted Ritz Seafood in Voorhees, New Jersey. Check out our latest opinion.

This lunch and dinner BYOB has just been added!

Most Jersey shore restaurants are only open during the spring and summer seasons, then close for the latter part of the fall and entire winter. Not Cafe Lobianco, however. This BYOB restaurant, located in Ventnor City, NJ, serves dinner year-round, beginning at 5:30 p.m. It is just two blocks away from the south end of the boardwalk.

Yes Collingswood, New Jersey is still exploding with restaurants. One of the newer ones to open and with no hype is Sapori. We have officially reviewed the restauant and it is a go to spot. Check out their info on the site.

In our continuing effort to enhance the BYOBguide.com site, we have launched a new email feature for the site. Register users can sign up to receive emails when new restaurants are submitted, when new wine tastings are posted, when new wine questions are answered and when new restaurant news is posted. You can also view all your restaurant reviews. If you want to receive any of the email alerts, you have to opt in by signing into the site and checking off which emails you want to receive. The My BYOBguide link is on the top lefthand side of the homepage. It is only viewable after you sign in. If you don’t want to be bothered receiving any emails you do not have to do anything. If you haven’t registered yet, please do and be sure to fill in your town, so you do get the most relevant BYOB information for your area. One more FYI, we launched a BYOB message board, where users can post messages to existing topics or start new topics. (The link to the Message Board is on the lefthand side of the page.) Happy Holiday Dave.

With family and friends getting together, bottles will be popping and toasts will be made. So here's a little toasting history. The clinking of glasses in a toast was originally performed to ward off evil spirits. (presumable the kind that makes your head hurt the next day.) In the middle ages toasts were performed by a person drinking from their glass and then pouring some of the beverage into other peoples glasses. This was done not to spread germs but as a sign of trust that the beverage was not poison. Cheers

We provided some quotes to a nice article on BYOB dining. If anyone cares to read the article here is the link. http://www.dailyrecord.com/entertainment/entertainment1-byo.htm

We've just answered some wine related questions which might be of interest to people around the holidays.

We hope everyone who visits our site enjoys it and will continue to use the site. With that said, if you shop at Amazon.com this holiday season click to Amazon from our site. There is a banner ad for Amazon on the home page of the BYOBguide.com site. We are an Amazon.com associate and we will get a small commission with every purchase you do when you click to Amazon from the www.BYOBguide.com. Support us and shop at Amazon. We support our site through advertising, and we try to keep the number of ads on the site small and we never use pop ads or spyware. Happy Holidays

Catherine's of West Chester has moved to Unionville, Pennsylvania.

We've just added a great sparkling wine (Cava from Spain) to our featured wine section and we've just launched our message board. Check them both out. Post a message, let us know what you think of the site and what else you want us to do.

Trax has up dated their menu and web - site. They just celebrated their 5th anniversary! Check out their website www.traxcafe.

Wine lovers take note we've posted a new wine to our Featured Wine Section. Remember we taste many and suggest few, so check it out. Future wine choices will focus on wine and the holidays. Cheers Dave

Blondie's formerly of Haddonfield has closed their doors. I guess maybe they went fishing or maybe the Little Tuna put the hurt on them.

Christopher's Greek and American Fare has opened in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The restaurant is located on the west side of Gettysburg and was a deli from 1977 auntil it was renovated in 2003. The restaurant provides a nice dining alternative to the area. Word is they know what their doing.

Blondie's Gourmet Seafood of Haddonfield has closed their doors. I guess they went fishing or maybe the Little Tuna put the hurt on them.

Although not a new BYOB restaurant (they have been open for 6 years, La Scala of Somerville, New Jersey is now listed on our site. Thanks to all the readers who suggested the restaurant for inclusion. (FYI, this La Scala is not associated with the Hobeken, New Jersey La Scala. )This Northern Italian style trattoria comes well recommended from several users. The chef is the owner which is always a plus. Now would someone post a review, we've been concentrating on adding Washington, DC so North Jersey restaurant reviews are on hold for awhile.

Although not a new BYOB restaurant (they have been open for 7 years, Girasole of Bound Brook, New Jersey is now listed on our site. Thanks to all the readers who suggested the restaurant for inclusion. This Tuscan style trattoria comes well recommended from several users. Now would someone post a review, we've been concentrating on adding Washington, DC so North Jersey restaurant reviews are on hold for awhile.

The restaurant Moulin Rouge has opened up in Cherry Hill. I have a good feeling about this restaurant, which shows more promise than some recent restaurant openings in Cherry Hill. The restaurant location offers fast access to the Lowes Movie Theater in Cherry Hill and would make a great pre or post movie destination. If you haven’t been go, let them know we sent you.

A new BYOB to both our guide and to Chatham, New Jersey has opened up. Salsa Chatham is creating quite a stir for those who crave good Mexican food. We haven't been yet and but we have been hearing alot of good things about the restaurant. Does anyone want to post a review?

Collingswood is turning up the heat, in the kitchen that is. Collingswood hosts popular restaurants such as the Tortilla Press, Word of Mouth and Villa Barone, but a tidal wave of restaurants is looming on the horizon. Two new Italian restaurants and one expanded establishment are set to open this November. Nunzio Patruno's is set to open at 703 Haddon Avenue and Sapori is opening at 601 Haddon Avenue. (BYOB reviews and info will follow shortly) Brianna's, which is currently moving from their location next to the Tortilla Press, to 712 Haddon Avenue will reopen as Brianna's Italian Café. Is Collingswood hot right now? The answer is YES. The town is enjoying a redevelopment of the downtown area which puts Haddonfield to shame. Besides hosting popular restaurants, the old and new shops (Halo, Erlton Bakery, Bobby Chez) that comprise the downtown area along Haddon Avenue are actually worth shopping at and more are in the works. If the town keeps going the way they are going, the downtown is going to feel a bit like Manayunk, sans the chain stores and the bars. Don’t believe me, take a look for yourself and DO try to visit during the Holidays. They light up the downtown in a classic style that adds a nice atmosphere to evening shopping. I will say that the explosion of Italian restaurants may be a bit much and no doubt one or two may change their cuisine in 2004.

The restaurant says "The Summer Kitchen is an intimate forty seat BYOB which expands with lovely outdoor seating in nice weather. It is located in The Gathering Village, a quaint group of restored, historic buildings. Owner Chef Mario Korenstein creates unique New-American cuisine with a seasonal, creative menu. Chef Mario is a native Cuban and a graduate of The Restaurant School of Philadelphia. The extensive menu ranges from Cuban Paella to Cajun Blackened Tuna and Double Mushroom Chicken Roulade. Creative appetizers are featured as well as a wide selection of homemade desserts." We haven't been. Has anyone? Let us know how it is.

One of our more popular search requests is for Alison at Blue Bell. (This piece is for the people not in the know) The restaurant is owned by renowned chef Alison Barshak, who helped put Philadelphia’s Striped Bass on the map. Since leaving Striped Bass many years ago Alison worked on the West coast for a few years before settling back on the East coast. Her short-lived Venus and the Cowboy restaurant in Philadelphia was quite uneventful. But redemption has come her way with Alison at Blue Bell. The restaurant has all the makings of a top notch BYOB restaurant and here is a quick overview. The restaurant has nice atmosphere, their own pastry chef, the menu changes twice a day (that’s right TWICE A DAY), reservations are strongly encouraged and the wait to get a reservation on a Saturday night is running about three weeks. Word is regulars just keep coming back to the restaurant. If you haven’t gone hit it on a weekday and avoid the three week wait. One more thing, if you go submit a review of the restaurant to us here and let us know what you think.

We have just launched our featured wine section with a Pinotage selection. Our hope for this new section is to provide our users with a selection of wines to try at BYOB restaurants or at home. We will try to provide a concise overview of the wine type and a few notes of interest on the wine and the price. Being a wine snob is not our intention. Currently we are working on wines we consider "Lost Souls". What we mean by lost souls are wines that are good values and are typically overlooked. You won't find an entire row of lost souls, you would be luck to find a dozen of them. Some may even have dust on them. More mainstream wines will be on our radar shortly. Check out our new section, there is a link on the left hand side of the home page called Featured Wine. http://byobguide.com/featured.php

Mount Laurel's popular Italian restaurant Tulipano changed names to "CineCitta". Turns out diners were a bit confused by the name change, some diners thought they were a Chinese restaurant. Word is the owner is changing back to the old name Tulipano. Sometimes change is good, other times not so.

Hello! I've been there. The decor is simple yet elegent and the food is delicious. I personally recommend the Scallops as an appetiser and then Salmon. I loved it! Frank

A new BYOB has opened on 13th street in Philadelphia. The restaurant, August opened on October 7th. We've heard good things about the restaurant, although we haven't been yet. If anyone has gone, give us your opinion.

As if Collingswood didn't have enough going for it already, great downtown shopping district, lots of BYOB restaurants, a new restaurant is in the works. An Italian restaurant from the former chef of the Monte Carlo living room (South Street in Philadelphia) is opening an Italian restaurant on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood. A late fall opening is planned.

The Little Tuna, the popular Haddonfield restaurant had plans to expand into the neighboring space to add both seating and a waiting area for hungry diners. Unfortunately the Borough of Haddonfield, which does not make doing business in the borough easy, put a stop to his plans. The tuna remains unfazed and plans are brewing for a limo to park outside the restaurant on busy nights to give diners a waiting area.

For those in the know, Haddon Heights offers some top notch BYOB restaurant. What may not be common knowledge is the deals that can be found there. Anthony's on Station Avenue in Haddon Heights offers a three course pre fixe dinner Tuesday thru Friday from 5:00 to $6:30 p.m. for $15.50 per person. Yes it is an early bird deal, but you have five movie theaters within five to ten minutes of the restaurant so plan your evening accordingly.

Authentic Turkish Cuisine, Voorhees, the three year old restaurant that has delighted South Jersey diners with great food and memorable belly dancing will be shutting down sometime in October. They are reopening at 228 Vine Street in Philadelphia with a liquor license. If you have never gone, why not give Italian fare a break and stop by for some fine food before they go.

For readers of the Bulington County Times, the Tuesday, September 23rd edition had a nice article about the BYOBguide web site in the Outlook section of the paper.

Apparently French wine is not what diners are having with dinner. The boycott on French wine has put a hurt on French wine sales in the US. French wine sales are expected to be 10% lower than last years.

Fascino, the poplur new restaurant in Monclair is wowing diners with fine food and service. Within two months of the restaurant opening the Star Ledger has given Fascino 3 1/2 stars. Good reviews and repeat customers have and helped Fascino's business take off and reservations have become a must.

The Tottilla Press has brought Sunday Brunch to Collingswood. The brunch menu is an interesting blend of a la carte and prix fixe. Included in the price of a brunch entree are a house salad, appetizer and frozen fruit drink. The press has alsostarted to package their fresh salsas and home made tortilla chips. They first began selling them at the Collingswood Farmers Market and word is that demand is skyrocketing. Lydia Cipriani The Tortilla Press.

The popular Mexican hot spot that has helped turn Collingswood, New Jersey into a dining destination, the Tortilla Press, is expanding. The Press has purchased the adjoining building which currently houses a deli. Plans call for combining the current and new space into a larger dining area. A new take out counter is also planned. Word is a late Fall renovation is planned.

A favorite restaurant of our users and one of ours as well is in the process of buying a liquor license. Word is Nonnas of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is buying Steamers restaurant and bar, including the restaurant's liquor license. Steamers located around the corner from Nonna's on Brace Road in Cherry Hill is a liquored establishment. But don't fret yet, we are told there are no immediate plans to do away with the BYOB at Nonnas and the license may just be used for catering events.

Haddonfield's top foodie restaurant, The Little Tuna, has scraped plans for outside dining. Apparently the number of hoops the town makes you go through was five or six too many for the Tuna under take in its first year. Next year looks more likely and a street scape project may also be undertaken by Haddonfield to help spruce up the Haddon Avenue block the Tuna sits on

Across from the Academy of Music and the Kimmel Center, the Academy Cafe offers casual and comfortable dining before theater or anytime. The Academy Cafe is proud to introduce BYOB Thursdays. Got a great bottle of wine and no place to go? Now you do! Starting Thursday, April 27, the invite you to bring your favorite bottle of wine and dine casually under the glass dome of the Academy Cafe. Whether red or white is your vintage of choice, simply purchase a dinner entree from our sparkling new spring menu and the corkage fee is on us. Make your reservations now. Subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age. Offer valid on Thursday nights only.

For a flavor of Spain in Philadelphia be sure to try Café Apamate. Serving pinxtos, tapas, and churros, all we can say is “Ole Apamate!”

Lovitt restaurant in Chicago has been added to our list. Take a look.

What better time to try August, an elegant New Italian restaurant in South Philly. Take a look at our review.

The Lamberti Organization has recently changed three of their fourteen restaurants. The BYOB restaurant, Lamberti's Cucina located in Cherry Hill, NJ, has been renamed Tutti Toscani and now offers a Tuscan menu. Additionally, the inside of the restaurant is complete with a wood-fired oven made in Italy and the outside offers a large patio for outside dining.

Chef John's Eatery, located in Egg Harbor Twp, NJ has just been added to the BYOB directory. This casual-style restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open seven days a week, starting at 8 am. To learn more about Chef John's Eatery, check out its listing in the main restaurant directory.

Cafe Arabica in Morristown, New Jersey is a unique concept offering Middle Eastern fare mixed with your old favorites and great desserts/coffees and of course the signature hookah (waterpipes). They offer some of the Northeasts best live entertainment of original nationally toruing artists. And they are BYOB.

Nido has opened in the row home that formerly housed Buon Appetito.

This space formerly housed Bellia Mia, which was not BYOB. Meze is owned by Joseph Oliveira and Nick Papanicholas and should be commended for taking a non byob space and making it BYOB. The menu is Greek-Portuguese. Minimal interior decorations allow dinners to concentrate on the good food and conversation.

Stop by Cedars Restaurant in Belmar for Baba ghanouj that’s a great deal! Be sure to ask when their Saturday evening entertainers are performing!

The title says it all, Alison at Blue Bell now has a liquor license. (February 2007). Don't cry yet, they say that diners are still allowed to BYOB. We do recommend calling ahead to make sure the policy does not change.