Not So Fast Bambino's Bistro, BYOB Illegal Without Liquor License

You won't be bringing your own booze to Bambino's after all. The Italian Bistro that opened in Destiny USA was allowing customers to bring their own wine. That is, until the owners found out it was illegal.

Bambino's Bistro serves authentic Italian cuisine with a variety of vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian options. But beer and wine isn't on the menu so they encouraged customers to bring their own, until their lawyer informed them they still needed a liquor license.

Owner Guillermo Salina, tells Syracuse.com, "We will now tell anyone who wants to come in with wine that it's not allowed. Food is our main focus anyway."

New York State Liquor Authority:

BYOB, or “Bring Your Own Bottle,” where owners of establishments allow their customers to bring alcoholic beverages to their premises to be consumed on site, is NOT PERMITTED in unlicensed businesses in New York State. You MUST have a license or permit to sell/serve beer, wine or liquor to the public. Venues without a license or permit may not allow patrons to “bring their own” alcoholic beverages for consumption. In addition, owners of businesses may not give away alcoholic beverages to their patrons. Those that do are in violation of the NYS Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. Allowing BYOB without a license may jeopardize their chances for approval of their license.

A liquor license application is being worked on but until then you can enjoy recipes handed down through generations, including lobster-stuffed ravioli served with mushrooms, scallions, tomatoes and jumbo shrimp.

Bambino’s Bistro is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.