1776 Restaurant

Walking into 1776, the Colonial theme is doing a lot of work — but the wine list earns its own independence. A 150-250 bottle program with a California spine and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2023 signals that someone here takes wine seriously. This isn't a list that got assembled by a distributor rep in a rush.

The list leans hard into California, and it leans well — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Duckhorn, Rombauer, Far Niente, and Stags' Leap Winery all show up, which is a murderer's row of recognizable, reliably quality producers. Premium bottles stretch above $200, which means there's room for a real splurge alongside more accessible entry points around $35. The regional focus is tight — if you're hunting for Burgundy or Rioja, you may be disappointed — but within its California lane, the list is deep and coherent. It pairs logically with the menu: big dry-aged steaks call for Cabernet, and they've got the Cabernets to answer.

Twenty to thirty-five by-the-glass options is genuinely impressive for a restaurant of this size in Crystal Lake — that's not a typo. The glass program gives guests real access to the list's California highlights without committing to a full bottle, which is the right move. We'd like to see more rotation, but the sheer count earns points on its own.