New Orleans Eats Forums at NOLAEats.com

What is the proper etiquette for leftover wine in a fine dining restaurant? My husband does not drink at all and I'm often left ordering from the by the glass list which is usually far less interesting. Would it be completely gauche to bring a half bottle home for the next night or should I offer it to the waitstaff?

I wouldn't consider it poor etiquette to ask. You paid for it, you should be able to take it, but... Much depends on the prevailing local liquor law the establishment falls under. On-premise alcohol sale licenses may prohibit you taking alcohol from the restaurant. Conversely, if allowed, how the wine is packaged to take with, and where it is transported within your vehicle should be considered so as not to potentially violate open container laws. Many states allow for taking home leftover wine as long as it is placed in some kind of tamper-proof packaging. Better establishments where such is allowed will often have your leftover wine waiting at the the host station for pick up as you leave, rather than have you traipse through the dining room with a bottle under your arm. Even if the law says you may, however, the individual establishment may tell you it violates their policy, and from a liability standpoint, they may well be within their rights to do so. I wouldn't feel embarrased to ask up-front before ordering a bottle.

thought this thread may be a trick question. just like all those adorable wine stoppers, as if they get any use. my friends now know better to gift me w/them, as those stoppers will be sent to the island of misfit toys.

another option for you is to look for wines by the half bottle, with often better offerings than by the glass. cheers!

edible complex wrote:thought this thread may be a trick question. just like all those adorable wine stoppers, as if they get any use. my friends now know better to gift me w/them, as those stoppers will be sent to the island of misfit toys.

another option for you is to look for wines by the half bottle, with often better offerings than by the glass. cheers!

so did I.....

I was thinking who has leftovers?

Leftover wine??????

Tchoup: awesome signature line! I'll live by that.

I miss Bella Luna and their great selection of half bottles. Never mind that great semi-private table....

I've taken wine out with me before, but more often than not, I'll leave it with the server for when their shift is over. They are usually very happy.

There are several people who would be shocked to find I've ever leftover anything, much less wine. But an entire bottle of red wine even with food would leave me stumbling out and with a wicked headache the next day. Thanks for the advice, I ended up ordering by the glass as I felt silly ordering a whole bottle, "one glass please!"

I did it once at Commanders. At the time I felt kind of silly, but the host had ordered a bottle and we only had one or two glasses out of it and he insisted that I take it home.
I was worried I would look like a wino standing outside of the place waiting on the valet, but now that I look back on it, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Ditto, Christine, Tchouppie and JAG! And as one of this forum's regulars (his initials are P. W.) once did at La Boucherie, we spot a deserving group of diners at a nearby table and offer it to them.