River Views, Wednesday Wines, Familiar Faces
Northwest Akron · Akron · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Beau's on the River’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river do a lot of heavy lifting here — and honestly, so does the wine list. It's the kind of list you've seen before: hotel-safe, approachable, and built to offend nobody. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not going to surprise you either.
With 60-90 labels, this is a properly sized list for a hotel restaurant doing business dinners and date nights — but it leans hard on California and the usual international suspects. You'll find Josh Cellars, Joel Gott, and Bread & Butter doing their reliable thing, alongside Kim Crawford pulling New Zealand duty and Chateau Ste. Michelle representing the Pacific Northwest with a Riesling that actually earns its spot. The Italian presence is thin beyond La Marca Prosecco. There's no real depth in Burgundy, Rhône, or anything that requires explaining to a guest — this list was built to move, not to impress.
Twelve to sixteen by-the-glass options is a respectable count for a hotel restaurant, and the spread covers the obvious bases — a Chardonnay, a Cab, a Pinot Noir, a bubbly option. Don't expect rotation or anything adventurous; these pours are built for the business traveler who wants something familiar with their steak. Prices run $9–$15 a glass, which is reasonable until you do the math on the bottle markups behind them.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $36–$42
It's the most honest bottle on the list — a genuinely food-friendly wine from a producer that actually knows what it's doing with Riesling. Order it with the seafood and you're eating smarter than most tables in the room.
La Marca Prosecco
Nobody orders bubbles at a hotel steakhouse, which means you should. It's a solid pour, the markup is the least egregious on the list, and starting a meal with Prosecco by a river is never a bad call.
Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon
At $54 a bottle, you're paying more than three times what this wine costs at your local grocery store. It's a perfectly drinkable Cab, but there's no world in which it earns a 218% markup. Order a glass if you must — don't commit to the bottle.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Fresh Seafood Entrée
Ste. Michelle's Riesling walks the line between dry and off-dry, which gives it the acidity to cut through rich butter sauces and the fruit to complement whatever's fresh that night. It's the one pairing on this list that feels intentional rather than accidental.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles on Wednesdays in the dining room and lounge. Some exclusions apply for reserve list bottles.
The Bottom Line
Wednesday's half-price bottle night is genuinely the move here — it's the only time the math starts working in your favor. Show up on any other night and you're paying hotel prices for grocery store wine with a great view.
· Akron · Wine Bar & American Bistro
The Wine Mill is doing exactly what a neighborhood wine bar should do: fair prices, wide glass pour access, and a few bottles worth getting excited about buried in an otherwise approachable list. Send your friends here if they want wine without a lecture.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Akron–Canton corridor · Akron · Upscale rustic Italian
The Bistro at Gervasi is a wildcard in the best sense — a full estate wine experience dropped into the middle of northeast Ohio, executed with more care than anyone from out of state would guess. Come curious, skip the cynicism, and let the Nebbiolo do its thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Bath / Ghent · Akron · Upscale American / Steakhouse
Ken Stewart's Lodge isn't here to challenge you — it's here to make sure your Napa Cab and your dry-aged steak show up exactly when you want them. Come on a Wednesday, order something from the Stag's Leap end of the list, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Bath / West Akron border · Akron · Upscale American Steakhouse with Seafood
Ken Stewart's isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but it's executing the classic version with enough depth and care to earn your trust. Show up on a Wednesday, grab the Jordan or Far Niente at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Green / East Akron corridor · Akron · Steakhouse / American
Prime 93 is a perfectly serviceable steakhouse wine list that won't thrill anyone but won't embarrass the table either — fair prices, California-forward, and honest about what it is. Send a friend here for the steak; just don't send them expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Come for the seafood — the Shrimp & Grits and Crab Cake have genuine fans — but come on a Tuesday when the bottles are half off, because that's the only time the wine program makes financial sense. Any other night, order a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Taos · Contemporary American
NOSA is doing something genuinely rare: curating a short, smart, globally curious wine list in a place where no one would expect it. The pricing is fair, the picks are specific, and the list has a clear point of view. If you're driving through Taos and care about what's in your glass, this is the room to be in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Taos · Contemporary American
medley. has no business running a wine list this considered in a small New Mexico mountain town, and yet here we are. Pricing is fair across the board, the selection leans curious over commercial, and the rosé section alone is worth the visit. If you're in Taos and care about what's in your glass, this is where you eat.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Evanston · Contemporary American
Chef's Station earns its Reliable badge the honest way: a sommelier who cares, a list with actual regional perspective, and a room where drinking something good feels like the obvious move. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a trustworthy one.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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