Great View, Lazy Pours, Move On
Hendry's Beach / Arroyo Burro · Santa Barbara · Seafood, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Boathouse at Hendry's Beach’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting on one of the best ocean views in Santa Barbara, the salt air is hitting right, and then the wine list arrives — and it reads like the beverage section of a casual chain restaurant. Nothing offensive, nothing exciting, just a roster of names you've seen a hundred times before at a hundred other places.
The list leans hard on California workhorses: J. Lohr, Kendall-Jackson, La Crema, Meiomi. These are perfectly drinkable bottles, but they're also available at every grocery store from here to Fresno. There's no local Santa Barbara County representation to speak of, which is almost criminal given that the restaurant sits in one of California's most exciting wine regions. No Sta. Rita Hills Pinot, no Santa Ynez Valley Syrah, nothing that says 'we thought about this.' Zonin Sparkling rounds out the bubbles situation, and that tells you most of what you need to know.
Glass pours run $10–$16, which sounds reasonable until you realize the bottles behind those pours are retailing for $12–$20 at your local BevMo. The by-the-glass program appears to mirror the bottle list — familiar brands, no rotation, no surprises. It's not broken, it's just completely on autopilot.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir — $48
Of the options here, this is the least egregious markup at around 140% over retail. It's a known, consistent bottle that actually makes some sense next to seafood. Not a steal, but the closest thing to one on this list.
Zonin Sparkling Wine
Nobody is ordering this, and honestly that's fair — but a cold glass of sparkling wine with fresh local oysters at a beachside table is a hard combination to argue with. Set expectations accordingly and it does the job.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
At $34 a bottle, you're paying nearly three times retail for one of the most mass-produced Chardonnays in California. This is a $12 bottle with a view tax baked in. Hard pass.
Zonin Sparkling Wine + Fresh Local Oysters
Bubbles and briny oysters is a classic combo for a reason — the acidity cuts through, the carbonation cleanses, and you're sitting on the beach doing exactly what you should be doing. It's the one moment this wine list earns its keep.
The Bottom Line
Come for the Cioppino and the Pacific views, not the wine list — this is a beach spot that coasts on scenery while charging grocery-store-brand prices like they're cellar selections. If you're a wine-first diner, grab a bottle from a Santa Barbara producer before you arrive and ask about corkage.
Montecito · Santa Barbara · Italian
Tre Lune isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a well-loved Montecito Italian with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod and leans intelligently on Margerum's local chops. Send a friend here knowing the wine will be fairly priced and thoughtfully chosen, even if the excitement ceiling is comfortable rather than thrilling.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · New American / California Cuisine
Finch & Fork is a reliable pour in a great wine region — the list champions its Santa Barbara backyard with real conviction, even if the markups occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want to drink local and drink well; just steer them toward the Foxen and away from the M5.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Santa Barbara · Italian Pizzeria
Ca' Dario Pizzeria isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list does its job, the prices are fair, and the Santa Barbara rosé alone justifies looking past the cocktail menu. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine with their pizza and zero fuss.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / East Beach · Santa Barbara · Contemporary Oaxacan and Mexican
Flor De Maiz isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card in the best sense — a waterfront Oaxacan spot that took the time to build a small, thoughtful list with local producers and a genuine Mexican anchor. Come for the mole, stay for the Barden Brut Rosé.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Public Market / Downtown · Santa Barbara · Thai and Taiwanese-inspired noodle bar
Empty Bowl is a genuinely excellent noodle bar that deserves a better wine program than this — come for the Khao Soi, grab a sake, and don't let the wine list talk you into a $36 Chardonnay. The kitchen is working hard; the wine list is not.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Woodinville · Woodinville · Seafood, American
Big Fish Grill isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — it's a solid neighborhood seafood grill in the middle of wine country that gives you enough local options to drink well without overthinking it. Send a friend here if they want good fish and an easy bottle; don't send them if they want to explore what Woodinville's wine scene is actually capable of.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Harbor · Santa Barbara · Seafood, American
Brophy Bros. isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely good wine experience for a casual harbor dinner — local producers, fair prices, and a list that doesn't embarrass itself. Send your friends here with confidence, just steer them toward the Gainey Riesling and away from the house Chard.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Port · Portland · Seafood, American
Scales is playing a different game than the tourist-trap seafood spots on either side of it — the wine list is genuinely Old World-focused and well-matched to the food, which is rare and worth noting. If you're eating clams and mussels on the Portland waterfront, this is where you want to be doing it with a glass in hand.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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