French Finesse Hiding in Midtown Madness
Midtown · New York · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Acadia’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Acadia expecting loud Midtown energy and you get it — but the wine list quietly signals that someone here actually cares. A focused, France-first list with real producers and a sommelier on the floor is not what you expect at 57th and Seventh. This place earns its 2024 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence by leaning hard into what it knows.
The list runs 150-250 bottles and it's essentially a love letter to France, which is either a strength or a limitation depending on your mood. Burgundy gets serious treatment — Domaine Leflaive and Faiveley anchor the whites and reds respectively, and the Rhône section punches above its weight with Château Rayas and Guigal in the mix. Bordeaux fans will find Château Lynch-Bages and Cos d'Estournel, while the Loire section offers genuine pleasure with Domaine Vacheron and Henri Bourgeois rounding things out. If you're looking for Argentina or Oregon, look elsewhere — but if you want France done properly with depth, this is your spot.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a healthy pour program for Midtown, and the $14-$22 range reflects the neighborhood's premium without going completely off the rails. We'd expect the Loire and Southern France picks to anchor the glass list given the Mediterranean menu — look for Provence and Rhône representations here. Rotation intel is thin, but with Prabal Belbase on staff, the by-the-glass program should at minimum be curated rather than accidental.
Henri Bourgeois Sancerre — $70
Loire Sauvignon Blanc from a top-tier producer at a price that doesn't make you wince — cuts right through the table-side hummus and keeps the conversation going.
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Rouge
Most people default to white Sancerre, but Vacheron's Pinot Noir-based red is a genuine gem — lighter than Burgundy, more structured than you'd expect, and almost always overlooked on a France-heavy list like this one.
Cos d'Estournel Bordeaux
Trophy wine at a trophy price in a room full of people ordering rotisserie chicken. The markup on prestige Bordeaux in a Midtown setting rarely makes sense, and this is no exception — you're paying for the label, not the experience.
Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape + Rotisserie Chicken
Rayas is an anomaly — a Grenache-forward Châteauneuf that's all elegance and red fruit rather than muscle. It mirrors the simplicity and richness of a properly roasted bird without bulldozing it. One of the more inspired combos on this list.
The Bottom Line
Acadia is a French wine program wearing a Mediterranean menu as its costume, and it mostly works — especially if you've got Prabal Belbase steering your order. Markups will sting on the bigger names, but the depth and curation make it worth a visit for anyone who wants serious France with their hummus.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Fia has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — thoughtful white selections, a few hidden gems, and a Champagne section that sets a mood — but steep markups and a list that doesn't stray far from the expected hold it back from greatness. Go for the Aligoté or the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, skip the trophy bottles, and you'll drink well without feeling taken.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Mediterranean
Dametra Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be one either — and that honesty is refreshing. The sparkling selection is genuinely fun, prices are fair across the board, and the few left-field picks like Chateau Musar Jeune give the list just enough personality. If you're in Monterey and want a bottle that doesn't feel like a markup shakedown, this is a safe call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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