Enjoying Food without Wine

I meet some friends at a chain steakhouse last night that had a wine list so poor that beer was the best option. The steak was neither wonderful nor awful. What surprised me was that I found I could not enjoy the steak without wine. Thinking back over the 15 or so years since I started exploring wine, I believe there are some foods that I have always enjoyed with wine and my experience last night now has me wondering if I now could no longer get the same enjoyment from the food alone.

Along with noticing that I did not enjoy the steak without wine, I also realized that my wife and I have modified our eating habits such that we cook ourselves, eat at the houses of wine loving friends, or eat at restaurants with good wine service. A notable exception to this being the local crab houses. Apparently our approach toward food has become wine centric without even being concise of the fact.

Don't the local crab houses allow BYOB?

I don't know. I never checked. I guess I just assumed that they did not.

Just wondering because most of the seasonal seafood places on the New England coast allow it and in many cases encurage it. Some just let you bring everything in a tote and don't charge you anything. Others have small corkage and provide you with setups.

Don't the local crab houses allow BYOB?

Some in Baltimore (a bit north of where Brian lives, I think) certainly do, Carl. But steamed crabs served the way crab houses do in these parts may be the most beer-demanding dish I know.

Don't the local crab houses allow BYOB?

Some in Baltimore (a bit north of where Brian lives, I think) certainly do, Carl. But steamed crabs served the way crab houses do in these parts may be the most beer-demanding dish I know.

I have to admit--beer and steamed crabs is better than any wine I've tried with them, but of course I haven't tried every wine with them--yet.

But back to Brian's post: welcome to the club. The rare times when I am forced to dine without wine, I literally have to be forced.