All the info on BYOs, here and elsewhere

Philadelphia is nationally known for its numerous restaurants that allow patrons to bring wine, so it makes sense that a local entrepreneur is behind what's arguably the ultimate database of restaurants that permit BYOB.

Today marks the national launch of GoBYO.com, a free search engine providing such info as addresses, days of operation, reviews culled from such sources as Yelp.com, and lavishly explained wine policies for more than 15,000 restaurants in 10 regions of the country. Locally, it covers about 1,300 restaurants.

Entrepreneur Joseph M. Segel - who founded such retail giants as Franklin Mint and QVC and who enjoys exploring BYOBs with his wife, Doris - laid the groundwork for the site three years ago as a hobby. He called that site - a database of restaurants offering waiter service - DiningInfo.com.

"BYOBs are only casually covered by other guides," Segel said.

Seeking to refocus on restaurants that allow BYO, he enlisted his granddaughter Devon Segel to run the operation. She and assistants call and re-call individual restaurants.

Primarily because of Pennsylvania's strict liquor laws, the Philadelphia region is by far the nation's most BYOB-dense. GoBYO's research found that 23.7 percent of the region's restaurants are BYOB-only; the average of the 10 regions was 6.7 percent.

The research also uncovered a trend inspired by the economy. Until a few years ago, restaurateurs with wine lists discouraged or barred patrons from bringing a bottle. Restaurateurs have loosened the rules; about 24 percent of Philadelphia-area restaurants with wine lists now allow BYO. Nationally, 48 percent of such restaurants allow it.

Philadelphia leads the nation in the number and percentage of restaurants that do not charge a corkage fee - about 75 percent, compared with the national average of about 22 percent.

The site, which covers Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Southeast Florida and Washington, D.C., does not turn a profit. It carries ads from QVC for wine and wine accessories.