River Views, Wednesday Wines, Familiar Faces
Northwest Akron · Akron · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
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.
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
East Akron · Akron · Japanese / Hibachi
Hibachi Japan's wine list isn't going to make anyone's bucket list, but it's priced fairly, covers the basics, and won't embarrass you on date night. Order the Riesling or Pinot Gris, enjoy the show, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Bonefish Grill Fairlawn won't give you a wine moment worth texting about, but it won't rip you off either — and in the chain restaurant landscape, that clears the bar. Show up during Social Hour, grab a Kim Crawford, and focus on the fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Family American
Yours Truly is a solid diner doing diner things — the wine list is an afterthought, and that's fine, because you're probably here for the eggs anyway. Order the Prosecco or a Riesling, skip the red blends, and put your energy into the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wadsworth · Akron · Steakhouse, American
Circle L is a genuine wine-list overachiever hiding in plain sight off I-76 — the Thursday bottle discount night alone is worth putting in your calendar. Send your wine-curious friends here; just make sure they don't show up on a Wednesday.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Wadsworth · Akron · American Upscale
Galaxy's Wine Room is the best wine program in the Akron orbit, and it's not particularly close — but the steep markups and thin by-the-glass selection hold it back from true destination status. Come with a budget, order a bottle, and skip the sticker shock on the Napa end of the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Country Club Plaza · Overland Park · Contemporary American
Gram & Dun is a reliable wine night for Plaza-adjacent diners who want a real list without doing homework — the California selections are genuinely good, and a few hidden gems reward curious drinkers. Just steer clear of the trophy bottles unless you enjoy paying rent-money markups.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pentagon City · Arlington · Contemporary American
Fyve is a perfectly competent hotel wine program that will never embarrass you on a client dinner and will never surprise you either. If the company card is out, order the Jordan and call it a night — but don't come here looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
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.