Easton

Roma Alla Pala

Downtown Easton · Easton · Roman-style pizza

The Lazy List

Roma Alla Pala is absolutely worth visiting for the pizza — but the wine list is an afterthought with steep markups on recognizable grocery-store bottles. Order the Prosecco, focus on the food, and save the serious wine drinking for another night.

T at the General Store

Royal Oak · Easton · Upscale New American with Global Influences

The Wild Card

T at the General Store is a destination for the food first, and the wine list knows that — it's curated just enough to be useful without trying to steal the spotlight. Come on a Wednesday, order the LAN Crianza, and let the chef do the rest.

Tiger Lily

Downtown Easton · Easton · Fusion (global/Asian-influenced American)

The Reliable

Tiger Lily won't win any awards for its wine program, but it earns its keep — fair prices, a thoughtful short list, and a few genuinely good picks buried in there for anyone willing to look past the Chardonnay. If you're eating here, drink the Eroica.

Scossa Restaurant & Lounge

Downtown Easton · Easton · Authentic Northern Italian

The Reliable

Scossa is a legitimately good restaurant that happens to have a wine list more interested in Napa status symbols than in what's on the plate — but with the Brunello and Barbaresco hiding in there, and a strong by-the-glass count, there's enough to work with if you look past the obvious picks. Send your friends, but brief them first.

Out of the Fire

Downtown Easton · Easton · Contemporary American

The Reliable

Out of the Fire is a dependable wine stop in a town that doesn't have many — the California-focused list is a little one-note, but the pricing is honest and there are a few genuinely interesting bottles hiding in the lineup. Send a friend here for dinner, point them to the Cab Franc, and tell them to skip the bourbon barrel novelty act.

The Stewart

Easton · Easton · Regional

The Wild Card

The Stewart is a genuine surprise on the Eastern Shore — a cocktail lounge with a brass-and-marble soul that quietly runs a Wine Spectator-recognized program with a real sommelier steering it. Hit it on a Wednesday and you've found one of the best wine deals in Maryland.

Kabinett Wine Bar

Easton · Easton · Australian, German

The Wild Card

Kabinett is a genuine wild card — a glam little wine bar in a mid-size Pennsylvania city doing serious Austrian and German wine work that would hold its own in any major market. Send your friends, especially the ones who think they don't like Riesling.

Bas Rouge

Easton · Easton · European

The Rager

Bas Rouge is a legitimate destination wine list disguised as a neighborhood bistro — the Burgundy and Austria depth alone justify the drive from anywhere in the mid-Atlantic. Yes, some trophy bottles are priced for the occasion, but with a knowledgeable sommelier on the floor and a cellar this serious, you're in very good hands.