24 great BYOB restaurants that foodies will love

Bring your own wine and save a few bucks at these fine dining establishments in the Garden State.

When the check arrives after an evening out at a nice restaurant, the price of drinks may rival the cost of food for those who enjoyed a few alcoholic beverages with their meal. 

But sipping on a glass or two (or three) of wine at the dinner table isn't going to pad the tab for diners who pick an establishment that allows patrons to bring their own drink of choice.

Dozens of upscale restaurants throughout New Jersey are BYOB, offering plenty of opportunity for residents from Sussex to Cape May counties to be their own bartender at dinner.

Here are 24 options to consider the next time you're making dinner reservations.

Got a favorite spot we didn't include? Let us know about it in the comments.

Amuse: Open since January 2014, this Westfield eatery says it offers "classic French cuisine" with "a modern update." Try the duck breast with beet puree and smoked bordelaise sauce or chicken with hash browned potatoes, haricot verts and mustard jus.

Find it at 39 Elm Street in Westfield. Call (908) 317-2640 for reservations.

Anthony David's: Potato gnocchi with gulf shrimp, wild mushrooms, roasted corn and thyme and lamb braciole with gorgonzola-pistachio risotto are among the dinner options at this Hoboken restaurant serving "Italian classics and new creations."

Find it at 953 Bloomfield Street in Hoboken. Call (201) 222-8399 for reservations.

Belford Bistro: The New American cuisine coming out of the kitchen of this Monmouth County restaurant includes entrees like jumbo lump crab cake with broccoli, peas, leeks, whipped potatoes and celeriac remoulade.

Find it at 870 Main Street in Belford. Call (732) 495-8151 for reservations. 

A photo posted by Belford Bistro (@belfordbistro) on Jun 5, 2016 at 7:23pm PDT

The Blue Bottle Cafe: Chef Aaron Philipson has described his cuisine as New American with a lot of French influence, as well as hints of South American and Asian cooking. Try toasted semolina cakes with braised 
wild boar ragout and savory cream to start. 

Find it at 101 East Broad Street in Hopewell. Call (609) 333-1710 for reservations.

Brian's: Chef Brian Held serves up a three-course prix fixe menu in a restaurant described as a "cozy, unpretentious BYO."

Find it at 9 Klines Court in Lambertville. Call (609) 460-4148 for reservations. 

Cafe Matisse: Serving dinner six days a week in a former horse and buggy firehouse, this Rutherford establishment offers a chef's grazing menu in three, four or five courses.

Find it at 167 Park Avenue in Rutherford. Call (201) 935-2995 for reservations.

A photo posted by Chef Peter Loria (@cafe_matisse) on Jun 16, 2016 at 6:42pm PDT

Cafe Panache: At a restaurant where the chef "believes in freshness and simplicity of food," the entrees include crispy yellow fin tuna with puffed basmati rice and wasabi sake and filet mignon ravioli with maitake mushrooms and truffle butter.

Find it at 130 East Main Street in Ramsey. Call (201) 934-0030 for reservations.

Common Lot: Dine on contemporary cuisine prepared with local and seasonal ingredients at a restaurant launched by a young couple this spring, with dishes that include a whole sous vide lobster with tarragon and pea puree, pickled asparagus and grilled endive salad.

Find it at 27 Main Street in Millburn. Call (973) 467-0494 for reservations.

A photo posted by Common Lot Restaurant Millburn (@common_lot) on Jun 9, 2016 at 11:13am PDT

The Diving Horse: This seafood-focused restaurant at the Jersey Shore serves up main dishes like New Jersey fluke with asparagus and wild mushroom broth and Barnegat Light scallops with English peas, leeks and lobster sauce.

Find it at 2109 Dune Drive in Avalon. Call (609) 368-5000 for reservations.

Drew's Bayshore Bistro: Serving a menu that is inspired by cajun cooking, this Keyport establishment offers up a variety of seasonal dishes and bistro fare, including the popular voodoo shrimp.

Find it at 25 Church Street in Keyport. Call (732) 739-9219 for reservations. 

Fascino: The food coming out of chef Ryan DePersio's kitchen has been described as "humble and rustic, but also refined, delicate, sophisticated."

Find it at 331 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Call (973) 233-0350 for reservations.

Fuji: This modern Japanese restaurant in Camden County serves up sushi and sashimi, as well as entrees such as panko crusted crab cakes with cocktail and horseradish mustard dipping sauces and pan seared Chilean sea bass with garlic sauce.

Find it at 116 Kings Highway East in Haddonfield. Call (856) 354-8200 for reservations.

Khloe Bistrot: Choose from entrees like merlot braised lamb shank with pureed yams and chardonnay scented pei mussels and frites at this French eatery in Fort Lee.

Find it at 200 Main Street in Fort Lee. Call (201) 461-9700 for reservations.

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Luke Palladino: This seasonal Italian restaurant serves up pasta, fish and meat dishes that include pork rib ragu with rigatoni pasta, tomato, basil and shaved pecorino pepato and seared scallops with potato alla chiusa, ricci burro fuso and pickled beech mushrooms.

Find it at 199 New Road, Central Square, in Linwood. Call (609) 926-3030 for reservations.

Oliver a Bistro: Dinner at this Bordentown BYOB can include  crispy fried soft shell crabs with oven dried tomato, asparagus and shiitake mushroom ragout over linguine in a chevre cream sauce or spicy butter poached shrimp with cheddar grits and garlicky spinach.

Find it at 218 Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown. Call (609) 298-7177 for reservations. 

Peter Shields Inn: Order up traditional and contemporary seasonal dishes in the five dining rooms or front porch of a 1907 Georgian Revival mansion across the street from the beach.

Find it at 1301 Beach Avenue in Cape May. Call (609) 884-9090 for reservations. 

The Poached Pear Bistro: This Jersey Shore restaurants declares its "mission is to offer familiar dishes presented in innovative ways." Among the main offerings: apple cider brined pork chop with red cabbage marmalade, crispy spaetzle, caramelized apples and bourbon cider reduction.

Find it at 816 Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach. Call (732) 701-1700 for reservations.

A photo posted by Poached Pear Bistro (@poachedpearbistro) on Nov 21, 2014 at 1:43pm PST

Restaurant Lorena's: Named by OpenTable as one of the 100 best restaurants in the U.S. in 2015, this French eatery offers diners main courses such as Scottish salmon with spring ramps, fingerlings, radish and chive creme.

Find it at 168 Maplewood Avenue in Maplewood. Call (973) 763-4460 for reservations.

The Saddle River Inn: A contemporary French restaurant housed in an 18th-century barn that serves up seasonal dishes, including tuna carpaccio with avocado, lemon, sesame and jalapeno and duck breast with fava beans, miso, crispy rice cake and spicy peanut sauce.

Find it at 2 Barnstable Court in Saddle River. Call (201) 825-4016 for reservations. 

St. Eve's: Choose from a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as house-made pastas, on the menu of this Bergen County restaurant that aims to use organic and locally-sourced ingredients.

Find it at 611 North Maple Avenue in Ho-Ho-Kus. Call (201) 857-4717 for reservations. 

Tisha's Fine Dining: Dine on entrees that include curry scallops risotto and roasted pepper raviolis in historic Cape May at this BYO restaurant that also offers a selection of bottles from Cape May Winery.

Find it at 322 Washington Street Mall in Cape May. Call (609) 884-9119 for reservations.

Turtle + the Wolf: Chef Lauren Hirschberg, the former director of culinary operations for star chef Tom Colicchio's restaurants, crafts dishes such as white clam lasagna with basil pesto and sea urchin salaison. 

Find it at 622 Valley Road in Upper Montclair. Call (973) 783-9800 for reservations.

A photo posted by Turtle + The Wolf (@turtleandthewolf) on Jun 21, 2016 at 2:10pm PDT

Village Green: Order a la carte or sample a tasting menu at this New American restaurant, which serves up dishes like parmigiano crusted grouper with Mediterranean orzo, asparagus and warm red pepper vinaigrette. 

Find it at 36 Prospect Street in Ridgewood. Call (201) 445-2914 for reservations.

Zeppoli: This 35-seat establishment, which serves up cuisine inspired by Sicilian cooking, was named as one of the 20 best Italian restaurants in the country by Time Out. 

Find it at 618 Collings Avenue in Collingswood. Call (856) 854-2670 for reservations.

Erin O'Neill may be reached at eoneill@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LedgerErin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.