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There are few acronyms that really get us going quite like B-Y-O-B. There’s excitement in those four letters and we love a good restaurant with delicious food and a super sweet bring-your-own-booze policy. We also know it’s a challenge to find out which restaurants are BYOB and which aren’t (both online and in person), which is why we’ve put this guide together.
So for those of you that want to bring wine from your own collection, or more likely just dropped by your local package store and grabbed a bottle from the fridge, a six-pack, or a paper-bagged tall boy, this one’s for you!
We’re never not craving Thai food and Hartford has a couple of awesome spots that are worth checking out. King & I Thai is a quaint space serving up flavorful dishes, and in the spirit of this guide, is a BYOB-friendly spot. We are big fans, and King & Thai is a small, cozy spot that lets the food shine.
What we’d order: Tom-Kar: a silky coconut soup with mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, lime juice, and Red Curry, with tons of Thai spices and vegetables. And is it even a visit to a local Thai restaurant without ordering dessert? We’ll take the sweet mango with sticky coconut rice, too.
What we’d BYOB: A cold bottle of white wine—the kind of bottle you can grab from the refrigerator of any nearby package store, a crisp and slightly sweet white wine will totally take this dinner to the next level! If wine’s not your thing, a light slightly citrusy wheat beer like Blue Moon would also be good here.
A laid-back, authentic Latin American spot that is so good, there are two locations right in Parkville. La Casita del Sabor has it all—from mofongo and pupusas to empanadas and gorditos, its huge menu is made up of scratch-made dishes that are bursting with flavors. Both locations are open until at least 9:30pm, which makes it a great BYOB option. Pro tip: La Casita del Sabor II has an awesome outdoor space perfect for summertime!
What we’d order: Empanadas de carne, sope de chorizo, and if we have any more room, we’d go for the Personal Paella!
What we’d BYOB: We’d go with a dry bottle of Rosé or a Sauvignon Blanc (again, anything that you can scoop up cold from a package store on your way to dinner)! For those who could go without wine, you really can’t go wrong with a 6-pack of your choice of light beer like Sol, Corona, Pacifico, or Modelo.
Stay up to date with both locations via Instagram: La Casita del Sabor I and La Casita del Sabor II.
Where to shop in Parkville: Billy’s Package Store
This is one of our favorite spots to enjoy classic Italian dishes that taste like authentic family recipes that get passed down from generation to generation. Adriatic Restaurant is a halal Italian & Balkan restaurant in the South End, so they don’t sell or serve alcohol, but you are welcome to bring your own if you want. We love Adriatic for its casual ambiance—it offers an extensive and impressive offering of Italian food in an atmosphere that is anything but stuffy.
What we’d order: Shopska salad, fried calamari for the table (because it’s hard to go to an Italian restaurant and NOT order calamari), and Wild Mushroom Ravioli. If you’re there for their grilled meats (we usually are), the lamp chops are out of this world.
What we’d BYOB: Italian food and wine are a match made in heaven! For this, we’d go for a red like Pinot Noir or a white like Sauvignon Blanc. But if you’re feeling extra fancy, browse around your favorite liquor store and check out their full selection of Italian wines, which are always sure to impress and compliment these types of dishes perfectly!
Where to shop in the South End: Jimmie's Package Store
Whether you’re a current vegan or just looking to enjoy a meat- and dairy-free meal once in a while, Fire-N-Spice has an expansive menu that features vegan, soy-free and nut-free dishes from Jamaica, Africa, and India. It has a cozy dining space that allows BYOB, which makes it a great spot to grab dinner with friends or a partner.
What we’d order: Potato samosas, patties—they offer a bunch of meat-alternative patties like split pea, pumpkin, or kale. And how can we leave without trying a vegan dessert? Fire-N-Spice has a selection of gluten-free cupcakes or whoopie pies along with vegan ice cream.
What we’d BYOB: We’re inspired by the healthy juice and kombucha offerings on the menu at Fire-N-Spice, so this might be the perfect spot to crack open a hard kombucha and enjoy it with vegan food to really round out the experience!
Where to shop near Frog Hollow: Capital Spirits (pro tip: they’re on Drizly so you don’t even have to sweat an in-person visit!)