Except for paper cuts and parking tickets, not much is worse than arriving at a restaurant empty-handed and learning it is BYOB. Well at least diners in Noble Square are now protected.
The Noble Grape, a wine shop that opened last month at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Bishop Street, has launched what it calls “mobile grape” — delivery service to all restaurants within about six blocks Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. By tricycle, no less.
Noble Grape wine lists have been dropped off at about 10 restaurants in the neighborhood with suggestions of what pairs with the house cuisine, be it sushi, Cuban or Schwa’s $110 nine-course prix-fixe.
Delivery service seemed obvious with the prevalence of BYOB restaurants, said Noble Grape co-owner Alex Basich.
“When you know you can buy a bottle for $15 at a liquor store or pay three times that at a restaurant, a lot of people opt for the lesser alternative,” said Basich, 36.
Delivery costs $2 per bottle. (Home delivery can be had, with a minimum $25 order, for a $5 delivery fee.) Even after the weather turns foul, the service will likely continue, Basich said.
“But we’ll probably move to a car then.”
And yes, youngsters, you have to show ID.
