French Classics, Very Un-French Markups
Downtown Jersey City · Jersey City · French Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bistro La Source’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The room is charming — all cozy bistro energy, checkered vibes, the kind of place that makes you want to order a carafe of something French and settle in. Then you open the wine list and the mood shifts. Thirty to fifty bottles, France-forward, respectable on paper — until you start doing the math.
The list leans into the French classics: Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, a little Provence rosé. On the surface, that's exactly what you want from a French bistro. But the regional depth stops at the obvious stuff — there's no real digging into appellations, no grower Champagne, no Loire outliers beyond a Sancerre. It reads like someone handed a distributor rep a budget and said 'make it look French,' which, to be fair, it does.
Six to ten pours by the glass at $10–$15 isn't a bad spread, and at least there's range across red, white, and presumably rosé. But without a rotating program or any seasonal thinking, what's in the glass today is almost certainly what was in the glass six months ago. No evidence of a by-the-glass program with any real ambition.
Domaine Fournier Père & Fils Les Belles Vignes Sancerre — $76
At 137.5% markup it's the least egregious bottle on this list — still steep, but Sancerre at this producer level is genuinely good, and it's the closest thing to a fair deal you'll find here. Order it and pretend the others don't exist.
Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé
Yes, it's the Brad Pitt rosé, and yes, it's marked up. But Miraval is actually well-made Provence rosé and most tables here will ignore it in favor of red or white — which means your server might actually be able to talk about it. Worth asking.
Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge
A $15 retail bottle priced at $54 is a 260% markup on one of the most widely distributed wines in the country. Guigal Côtes du Rhône is a perfectly nice everyday red — key word: everyday. There is no version of this that's worth $54.
Domaine Fournier Père & Fils Les Belles Vignes Sancerre + Moules Frites
Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire with a bowl of steamed mussels is about as locked-in as wine pairing gets. The acidity cuts through the briny broth, the herbal edge plays off the shallots, and suddenly you're not in Jersey City anymore.
The Bottom Line
Bistro La Source gets the atmosphere right and the wine list almost right — but the markups are hard to forgive when a $15 Guigal shows up on the menu at $54. Order the Sancerre, enjoy the moules frites, and make peace with the fact that the wine program isn't keeping pace with the kitchen.
· Jersey City · Japanese
For a Japanese lounge with a 21-bottle list, Stingray is doing more work than it has any reason to. The Grüner, the Loire whites, and that Grand Cru Champagne are all legitimate finds at prices that won't sting. If you're nearby and want something better than the usual sushi-spot house white, this is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Italian
Laico's has been doing this for over 30 years, and the wine list isn't why people keep coming back — the Chicken Francese and the neighborhood warmth are. If you're looking for a deep cellar or adventurous pours, this isn't your spot. But if you want a solid glass of something Italian to wash down a classic red-sauce dinner without getting gouged, Laico's delivers exactly what it promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Amanda's isn't going to make a wine lover's heart race, but it's doing the honest work: fair prices, enough variety to match a proper New American menu, and a by-the-glass program deep enough to drink your way through a multi-course meal without getting stuck. If you're in Jersey City and want a reliable bottle without a markup argument, this list delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · American Bistro
Court Street's wine list is functional and fair — no embarrassing markups, a couple of genuinely good pours hiding among the Coastal Ridge, and glass prices that won't wreck your dinner tab. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but it's a perfectly fine neighborhood spot where you can drink the Rioja or the Sancerre and have a good night. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them away from the mystery Champagne.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian
Il Tavolo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a reliable Italian spot with fair pours, sensible pricing, and enough range to keep the table happy. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of Chianti that won't cost you a car payment, this is a safe and honest bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Anthony David's wine list is reliable without being exciting — it does the job for a casual dinner without making you work too hard or feel gouged at the lower price points. The by-the-glass program is legitimately strong for a list this size, and the Crémant de Loire is a smart pour. If you're a wine-first diner, this isn't your destination, but if you're coming for a neighborhood meal and want a decent glass to go with it, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hillcrest · San Diego · French Bistro
A French-leaning list where every glass shows its pour size, with sparkling starting at $19 and still wines at $16. Order the Crémant de Bordeaux at $19 a glass, or the Biéville Chablis with the Moules Marinières, and confirm vintages and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks page, not service, storage or markups.
Wynwood · Miami · French Bistro
An all-French list with a wide posted spread, from a 45 rosé in 375ML to a 15,450 Romanée-Conti, plus a short glass-and-carafe list for a regular dinner. Start with the 15 Le Gouleyant Malbec by the glass, or the Chinon at 70 if you want a bottle, and confirm current prices and sizes since no currency symbol or bottle size is printed on the wine list. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Lincoln Park · Chicago · French Bistro
Start with the $13 Maison les Alexandrins Syrah by the glass, or pour the Gustave Lorentz Gewurztraminer with the roast chicken at $16 a glass or $64 a bottle. Bottle prices on the wine list carry no unit label, so check them against the Btl column on the glass list, and confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
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