Old-school power dining, serious wine credentials
Midtown East · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
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.
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
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.