Spice-forward food, surprisingly globe-trotting pours
Stuyvesant Plaza · Albany · Indian · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bombay Bistro’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You don't walk into an Indian restaurant in a suburban Albany strip mall expecting Achaval Ferrer Malbec and Loire Sauvignon Blanc on the same list, but here we are. The wine program is compact — maybe a dozen bottles — but whoever put it together was at least paying attention. It's a list with a point of view, which is more than you can say for most places in this zip code.
The list swings across four continents without feeling scattered: Austria's Windspiel Grüner Veltliner, a Nord Sud Viognier from Languedoc, Saget's Loire Sauvignon Blanc, and Achaval Ferrer's Mendoza Malbec all show up alongside more predictable Pinot Grigio and Napa Merlot. There's a logic here — aromatic whites and structured reds that can actually hold their own against serious spice. The Bordeaux entry (Chateau Trocard Bordeaux Supérieur) feels a little out of place, and the red side could use more depth, but the white selections are genuinely interesting for an Indian restaurant. Gaps include zero domestic Riesling or Gewürztraminer — classic spice-food grapes that are conspicuously absent.
Pricing runs $14–$18 a glass, which is on the higher end for Albany but not outrageous given the bottle range tops out at $68. We don't have a confirmed glass pour list, but with bottles in the $46–$68 band and a lean list, assume most bottles are available by the glass. The Chandon Brut Classic is a smart opener — bubbles and Indian food is a criminally underrated combination.
Grüner Veltliner, Windspiel 2017, Steinagrund — $46–$68
Grüner Veltliner is basically engineered for spiced food — high acidity, white pepper notes, and enough texture to stand up to a lamb korma. Finding it on an Indian restaurant list at this price range is a genuine win. This is the move.
Viognier, Nord Sud, Chateau Laurent Miquel 2017, Languedoc
Most people see Viognier and skip it, assuming it'll be flabby and over-perfumed. The Laurent Miquel Languedoc version is leaner than California counterparts and has the floral lift to complement aromatic curries without drowning in sweetness. It's the sleeper on this list.
Merlot, Chateau Souverain 2016, Napa Valley
Chateau Souverain is a perfectly fine supermarket Merlot, but at Indian restaurant markup prices it's a bad deal for what you're getting. The Achaval Ferrer Malbec is right there on the same list and will eat this for lunch.
Sauvignon Blanc, Saget la Petite Perriere 2017, Loire Valley + Chicken Tikka Masala
Loire Sauvignon Blanc brings citrus snap and herbal bite that cuts straight through the cream and tomato richness of a Tikka Masala without getting steamrolled by the spice. It's a high-wire act that actually works.
The Bottom Line
For a suburban Indian spot, Bombay Bistro's wine list punches above its weight — the aromatic whites alone make it worth skipping the Kingfisher. If you're willing to lean into the unexpected pairings, this list rewards you.
Loudonville · Albany · New American Steakhouse
A steakhouse wine page with a long glass list and a Coravin group for bigger names, but no prices online, so judge it by phone or at the table. For a steak, try the Jordan Cabernet or the Caymus from the Sommelier Selections; for something different, the Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling. Confirm what is pouring and the prices before you order, since the page is undated and says selections may vary. This unrated guide covers the posted wine page, not service, storage or markups.
West End · Albany · British Pub
A short pub wine list where every one of the 15 wines has both a glass and a bottle price. Order the $27 Gionelli Pinot Grigio, or the $45 Tarani Malbec for a red; both are also poured by the glass, at $9 and $13. Confirm current availability and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Delmar · Albany · American
Normanside's posted drink menu is short and glass-friendly, with 23 wines carrying a glass price from $9 to $15. Order The Wine for Pizza with the $16 pepperoni Detroit-style pie, or take the $12 Pessimist by Daou for a darker red. Confirm current availability and prices before you go; this unrated guide covers the posted drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Albany · Seafood
Jack's is an oyster house first, and its wine lists back that up with French whites by the glass and the bottle. Start with a half dozen oysters and a glass of the Antoine de la Farge Menetou-Salon at 18, or go for the bottle of Reverdy Ducroux Sancerre at 84; for red, the $14 Catena Malbec is the lowest-priced glass. Confirm current lists and prices when you book; this unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Italian
Cafe Capriccio's glass list is short and Italian-led. Try the Scaia Corvina or the Castello di Bossi Chianti before the usual Pinot Grigio, and put the Barolo with the Pork Osso Buco. The posted list shows no prices, so ask what each glass costs and confirm what is open. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
Western Ave · Albany · Mediterranean
Barcelona's bar menu posts more Spanish and Italian range than you might expect, from Rioja Crianza to a $125 Brunello. Try the Albariño at $9 $35 with seafood, or the Juan Gil red blend at $11 $40 if you want something fuller. Most wines show two prices with no unit labels and the page is undated, so confirm which is glass and which is bottle, and today's availability, when you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
· Suwanee · Indian
Mehak is a genuinely nice place to eat — the food draws real praise and the room delivers. The wine program, however, is an afterthought we can't fully assess from the outside. If you're coming for wine discovery, you may want to call ahead and ask what's actually on the list; if you're coming for the chicken tikka masala and a low-key bottle of something drinkable, you'll probably be fine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Indian
Rangeen is worth visiting for the food — the Pani Puri and Butter Chicken have genuine fans, and the atmosphere delivers. But the wine program, as far as we can tell, isn't a reason to show up. Come for the kitchen, order a cocktail or a Lassi, and revisit the wine question if the list ever gets the attention it deserves.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lafayette Street · Canandaigua · Indian
Flavors isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Fox Run Riesling alone justifies ordering a bottle. Come for the food, drink the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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