Old-school power dining, serious wine credentials
Midtown East · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Aretsky's Patroon’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Patroon lands with the quiet confidence of a place that's been doing this right since before most wine lists in New York got interesting. Four hundred to six hundred bottles, a Best of Award of Excellence held since 2014, and a sommelier on staff — this is not a list that was assembled by the general manager on a slow Tuesday. You're in capable hands from the first page.
France, California, and Italy form the holy trinity here, and the depth across all three is genuinely impressive. On the French side, you're looking at Château Latour and Château Margaux — these aren't just trophy bottles on a vanity list, they signal a cellar that's been thoughtfully built over years. California is equally serious: Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Caymus, Kistler, and Silver Oak represent the full spectrum from cult to classic. Italy gets its due respect with Sassicaia and Tignanello anchoring the Super Tuscan corner. The list skews toward the establishment rather than the adventurous, which fits the room perfectly — this is Midtown East, not the East Village.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is a genuinely generous pour program for a steakhouse of this caliber, with glass prices running $15 to $40. That upper range suggests some real bottles are being cracked open rather than defaulting to patio-pour inventory. Sommelier Elizabeth Lennon's presence means the glass list is curated with intent, not just filler.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon — $15–$40 by the glass
Silver Oak by the glass at a place like this is the move — it's a name people recognize, it's built for red meat, and ordering it by the glass lets you sidestep a bottle markup that's going to sting in this zip code.
Kistler Chardonnay
In a room full of Bordeaux heavyweights and cult Cabs, Kistler tends to get overlooked. It shouldn't. This is benchmark California Chardonnay — precise, layered, and genuinely exciting — and it holds its own against the Dover sole better than anything else on the list.
Château Pétrus
Pétrus on a Midtown steakhouse list is almost certainly a four-figure bottle carrying a restaurant markup that'll make your eyes water. It's a trophy, not a drink. Unless someone else is paying, this is a flex for the table next to you, not for you.
Tignanello + Dry-aged prime steak
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend has the structure to stand up to a heavily marbled dry-aged cut without bulldozing it — you get the fruit and the grip without either element going to war with the other. It's the right call at a table this serious.
The Bottom Line
Patroon is the kind of place where the wine list matches the room: polished, confident, and built for people who know what they want. The markups are real, but so is the cellar — and Elizabeth Lennon's presence means you're not navigating it alone.
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
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
