Comments on food for thought | a miami food blog: El Carajo International Tapas & Wine - Miami

Frod, I love El Carajo, for the price, and the pri...

2009-07-01T10:00:05.360-04:00

Frod, I love El Carajo, for the price, and the price of the wines, it can't be beat. (Plus, I kind of like the gas station novelty). You mentioned in your review that they don't have the lowest wine prices around, where have you found cheaper wine prices than El Carajo? Thanks!

My husband often brings home their paella. The se...

2009-05-17T16:36:00.000-04:00

My husband often brings home their paella. The seafood one can be a little, er, chewy, but I love the meat one.

Would I pay $10 to bring a bottle from home to hav...

2009-04-16T01:23:00.000-04:00

Would I pay $10 to bring a bottle from home to have at El Carajo? No, but that's solely because I can buy right there from a pretty darn good selection at retail prices. That's sort of the point. It is still vastly better than the wine markup you will see at any restaurant, from dive to 3-star.

Find me any other place in Miami where I can sit down, have a good meal, and drink a $30 (

Think of it this way, would you pay $10 to bring a...

2009-04-16T01:10:00.000-04:00

Think of it this way, would you pay $10 to bring a bottle from home to drink at that gas station restaurant?

You are buying the bottle from the restaurant, it's the same people's pocket. Corkage is charged largely because you aren't paying the restaurant a dime for the bottle. And sure, higher end restaurants usually charge a higher corkage than $10, but again, this place is attached

How many restaurants in Miami offer $10 corkage? I...

2009-04-16T00:47:00.000-04:00

How many restaurants in Miami offer $10 corkage? I can think of one.

Don't understand your second comment - if you're grabbing wine and leaving, they don't charge the $10 corkage. It's only if you're sitting down and opening it to have with a meal.

I understand that, but $10 corkage fees are common...

2009-04-16T00:30:00.000-04:00

I understand that, but $10 corkage fees are common, and in restaurants that aren't part of a gas station.

Waving that would probably be a wise business decision. Likely people are grabbing wine and leaving, they'll more than make up the corkage fee on food, tip and possibly extra wine.

CB - because glasses, and dishwashers, and servers...

2009-04-16T00:23:00.000-04:00

CB - because glasses, and dishwashers, and servers cost money. Considering that most restaurant markups are generally at least 2x retail, and often upwards of 3x retail (i.e., if you bought a bottle that would retail at $10, a restaurant will typically charge you at least $20 and often $30 or more), the $10 corkage fee is a bargain for any bottle that retails for more than $10.

Why is there a corkage fee if you are buying the w...

2009-04-15T23:06:00.000-04:00

Why is there a corkage fee if you are buying the wine from right next to your table?