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Message |
    
Lucky13
Citizen
Username: Lucky13
Post Number: 10
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 9:03 pm: |     |
my first time- wonderful food, reasonably priced. such an asset for the town.
by the way, completely full on a wednesday night. if you do it right, we will come. |
Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 51
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 10:11 am: | |
I agree. We had dinner there a few weeks ago and it was perfect in all ways. one of the best meals and dining experiences I have ever had. Now if only NJ would revamp those liquor license rules... |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3099
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 10:37 am: | |
I love that they are BYO -- it makes a fabulous meal so much more affordable. There's a great wine shop right across the street! |
Cubeless
Citizen
Username: Cubey
Post Number: 134
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 11:12 am: | |
My wife and I had dinner there with another couple about 2 weeks ago. The food was excellent and there were so many great options on the menu.
However, I was displeased with the service. The staff (aside from the chef) was very abrupt and they rushed us through the entire meal. As we finished dessert, a busboy and waitress literally stood across the room with their arms folded as they watched us eat. We had an 8:30 reservation, and it was only approaching 10:00 when we finally left. To me, that is not unusual.
Maybe it was a one-time occurrence, but we were pretty dissappointed considering how much we liked the food.
Anyone else experience this before?
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Lucky13
Citizen
Username: Lucky13
Post Number: 27
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 12:44 pm: | |
algebra2-
i couldn't agree more. i'm quite fond of our liquor store there and it makes it all the more affordable. i hope new jerseyans realize that in states where alcohol is served you cannot BYOB- liquor licenses preclude it. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2215
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 12:52 pm: | |
you can bring wine to restaurants with liquor licenses...the restaurant will charge a corkage fee of varying amounts (for opening the wine, but really for the "lost compensation"). |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 780
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 12:52 pm: | |
Cubeless I have had that happen to me at other restaurants before. Usually in that situation I just let the waitor now that I would like to enjoy a nice and leisurely dinner, that usually helps. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3103
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 12:55 pm: | |
Is a corkage fee legal in NJ -- for some reason I thought it wasn't. I'd feel weird BYOing at a restaurant w/ a liq lic |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 707
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:08 pm: | |
I wonder why so many people complain about BYO restaurants. I think it's such a great cost effective way to have a nice meal and not spend 300X more on a bottle of wine than you need to! And yet lots of people prefer restaurants that have liquor licenses. Why? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1554
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:16 pm: | |
Because you're not aloud to bring the hard stuff, and I enjoy a martini with dinner.
Also, sometimes, after looking at the menu or starting the dinner, we've changed our minds on what we feel like drinking. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2216
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:19 pm: | |
algebra,
I did some quick research. The NJ ABC doesnt have any easily accessible info on its website regarding it, but that makes sense because Im waiting to hear back from them for three months now. The only thing I could find was a thread on eGullet...it may not be legal, but its still done. Its also illegal for staff to pour your wine at a BYO establishment too, but thats also done, according to this one post on eGullet.
Id say people who have really extensive wine collections may not want to buy a bottle of wine at a restaurant if they already have hundreds or thousands of bottles. They are willing (and able) to pay the corkage fee (regardless of how steep it is). In some cases, the price you pay for a wine may still be well less even with the corkage fee than the mark-up on the restaurant's winelist. If its a less expensive wine though and youre trying to avoid the mark-up, it should feel weird because thats just plain cheap. Or if its a special occasion and you have a specific wine to commemorate it that you want to have...those are instances where one shouldnt feel weird. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 782
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:29 pm: | |
Brett-- Seriously you are not aloud to bring the hard stuff? We have brought hard stuff to several restaurants in the area, and they have been always delighted to make us mixed drinks, martinis whatever. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1555
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:30 pm: | |
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/abc/faqs.html
ARE NON-LICENSED RESTAURANTS PERMITTED TO ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR OWN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (BYOB) FOR CONSUMPTION WITH THEIR MEALS?
Unless there is a local ordinance prohibiting it, customers of an unlicensed restaurant may be permitted by the ownership of the restaurant to bring and consume only wine and beer. The restaurant can supply glasses, ice, etc., but may not impose a cover, corkage or service charge. Also, under no circumstances may spirituous liquor be permitted. There may be no advertising whatsoever of the fact that wine or beer may be permitted. Additionally, the owner may not permit wine or beer to be consumed during hours in which the sale of these products is prohibited by licensees in that municipality, nor allow consumption of beer or wine by persons under the age of 21 years or by persons who are actually or apparently drunk or intoxicated. (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-27)._[
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Lucky13
Citizen
Username: Lucky13
Post Number: 28
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:40 pm: | |
hank-
in texas, as in most other states IIRC, it is absolutely illegal for any customer to bring his own beer, wine or hard liquor into any establishment with an alcohol license. it's that way because the restaurants, baseball parks, etc want it that way. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 785
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:43 pm: | |
Interesting, we have never had a problem in any of the restaurants. I won't name any, but our favorite always mixes us martinis and poured after dinner drinks. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2217
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:53 pm: | |
so it says you cant charge corkage if you are unlicensed...I have a call into a restaurant manager that does major wine sales...curious if he knows if it applies to licensed restaurants. redY, like in your instances of pouring liquor, corkage fees in licensed restaurants may be illegal but not strictly enforced. As someone trying to get a clear read on certain alcohol-related laws and regulations in NJ for a few months now, I can tell you all, like many other states, its pretty arcane and archaic. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2218
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 2:53 pm: | |
got a call back from the restaurant manager at Huntley Tavern. He said corkage fees are legal but as he understood it, it was illegal for BYO's to charge people, as the above listed law states. |
whiffleball
Citizen
Username: Whiffleball
Post Number: 35
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 8:00 pm: | |
Back to Jocelyn's. We have friends who received a gift certificate for an anniversary. They misplaced it and found it after 18 months. When they went to Jocelyn's for a special celebratory dinner, the management refused to honor it because it had an expiration date on it. We thought that it was illegal in NJ to have an expiration date for a gc. Also, as a "neighborhood" restaurant, wouldn't it have been smarter of J. to have accepted the cert. and show a little good will? Now neither our friends nor we will ever go back there. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 419
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 8:30 pm: | |
Speaking of gift certificates, this brings up a question I have had for a long time, and a major pet peeve of mine!
Why does a gift certificate expire?
The money you use to buy it doesn't expire. So does that mean if the gift certificate is not redeemed, the establishment it was purchased from just walks away with a nice little profit, free and clear, even though they provided no service?
I have this argument with my husband all the time. Can anyone clarify?
Sorry about the drift.  |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1558
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 8:00 am: | |
It’s a little more complicated then that.
In the end Yes the business will walk away with a profit. But the business can’t realize any profit from a Gift Certificate until it’s redeemed. The business would be caught in a pretty tight spot if no one redeemed the gifts certificates for 10 years then one month everyone decide that they wanted to cash in. So for bookkeeping purposes they have to have them expire.
That said, some places just want to make an extra large profit.
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Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2731
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 8:54 am: | |
I doubt that Brett's darker scenario applies to Jocelyne's. That said, I entreat whiffleball to contact Jocelyne personally and lodge the complaint (and accompanying negative patronage resulting from it) with her. Perhaps things may yet be worked out.
-s.
BTW: Or not... in which case, reservations will be just that much easier to obtain. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 764
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 9:09 am: | |
Businesses love gift certificates because it is impossible to lose, and there's a good chance you'll win big. A percentage of people will never redeem a gift certificate, or at least a portion of it, and that amount becomes pure profit.
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Agent Orange
Citizen
Username: Agentorange
Post Number: 14
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 5:08 pm: | |
I find it is most pleasing to dine at BYO's. I enjoy bringing wines or beer to Neelam in South Orange or to Jocelyne's or American Fare. You don't have to buy by the glass or the whole bottle and not finish it (it could happen) and so on. Plus, especially in Maplewood, sending a glass back to the chef always seems to invite a bit of cheer for all. It is a tough business, I imagine, and it is demanding to make everyone happy and still make money. Now, if only someone would give me a gift certificate... |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 434
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 6:53 am: | |
I am a big fan of the BYO. I've always had a real problem paying almost as much for my favorite by the glass as I do by the bottle at Wine Library!
What's with that mark-up anyway!
For the sake of the thread, I'll give my 2 cents: Have been to Jocelyn's once. Thought the place was cute as a button, really enjoyed the food. However, felt just the tiniest touch of snottiness and condescension on the part of Jocelyn (who, I assume, is the hostess). Not enough to put me completely off, would definitely go back--hopefully soon. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 790
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 9:29 am: | |
ME restaurants make the bulk of their money through liquour sales, thus the mark-up. |
jamie
Moderator
Username: Jamie
Post Number: 849
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 1:02 pm: | |
I spoke with Mitch, he says that he has accepted expired gift certificates, and that he hasn't sold gift certificates for the last 1 1/2 years.
Also want to plug that I had dinner there last year and it was one of the best meals I've had! I had the rack of lamb. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3302
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 11:56 am: | |
bump |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 4515
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 27, 2005 - 2:27 pm: | |
Jocelyne's is one of my two top faves, anywhere. We've never had a bad meal & get greeted & treated like royalty every time we go, even tho we have been absent for many, many months at time. I also always prefer a BYO since we do have an extensive (OK, TS does) wine collection and enjoy picking something to take for the evening. It's also fun to see what friends have brought. We'll meet up with 2-3 bottles a piece & choose from among the BYO selection.
We've never been hurried out, either.
I see Brett's point about a pre-dinner martini. Part of our little ritual when dining at a BYO with friends is also to meet at someone's house & have a cocktail before we head to the restaurant. This is a pre-Antonella's or Jocelyne's event, since it is a 3 minute drive to either place. |
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