Chain Italian Done Decently, No Apologies
· McKinney · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Bravo! Italian Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list reads exactly how you'd expect from a polished chain Italian concept — familiar names, safe bets, and a layout that makes it easy to order without thinking too hard. Nothing here is going to surprise you, but nothing is going to embarrass you either. It's the wine equivalent of a clean parking lot: not exciting, but functional.
Thirty-four labels split across bubbles, whites, rosé, reds, and a luxury-by-the-bottle tier that tops out at Moët. The Italian representation is thinner than you'd hope from a restaurant with 'Italian Kitchen' in the name — Cecchi Sangiovese, Sartori Pinot Grigio, Bottega Vinaia, and Tormaresca are doing most of the heavy lifting. The California contingent (Sonoma-Cutrer, Mer Soleil, Wente) fills out the white side, and the reds lean heavily on Pinot Noir with very little Nebbiolo, Barbera, or anything adventurous from the peninsula. For an Italian restaurant, the Old World depth is surprisingly thin.
Twenty-nine by-the-glass options is a genuinely impressive number for a chain of this caliber, and the house Picco pours at $11/glass give budget-conscious tables a landing pad. The Rosé Maschio Sparkling Rosé at $10 is the entry point for bubbles, which is a nice touch — most chains ignore affordable sparklers entirely. Rotation doesn't appear to be a feature here; the list feels static.
Mandrarossa Chardonnay (unoaked) — $25
Mandrarossa is a solid Sicilian producer and an unoaked Chardonnay at this price point is a genuine find on a chain list. It's the most interesting white on the menu and costs the same as the entry-level Sartori Pinot Grigio. Take it.
Cecchi Sangiovese
It's easy to scroll past the one Italian red that actually connects to the cuisine, but Cecchi is a reputable Tuscan producer and Sangiovese is exactly what you want with a tomato-forward pasta dish. Most tables will default to the Pinot Noir — don't.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut
At $72 a bottle, you're paying a steep markup on a label you can find at any grocery store for well under $40. If you want bubbles, the Mionetto Prosecco DOC at $39 does the job for half the prestige tax.
Cecchi Sangiovese + Pasta Weezie (or any tomato-based pasta)
Sangiovese and tomato sauce are built for each other — the grape's natural acidity cuts through the richness and mirrors the fruit in the sauce. This is the most Italian move you can make on this list.
The Bottom Line
Bravo! is a competent chain wine program — wide by-the-glass selection, a few Italian producers worth noting, and prices that are steep but not insulting. You're not coming here for the wine list, but you won't regret ordering either.
· McKinney · Southern American
Ida Claire isn't a wine destination, but it's a solid place to drink wine — especially if you time it for happy hour. Show up between 3 and 6, order the shrimp and grits, and let someone else worry about the cellar.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Taverna Rossa's wine list gets the job done for a casual dinner out, but the markups on familiar bottles make it hard to recommend going beyond a glass or two. Stick with the Barbera or the Guigal and save the splurge for the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Mexican
Mi Cocina McKinney put exactly zero thought into their wine program, and it shows in every predictable bottle on that nine-label list. Order a margarita and don't look back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Seafood & Steakhouse
Truluck's isn't a destination wine list, but the nightly happy hour deals and an actual sommelier on staff mean you can drink well here without too much pain — just lean on the bar specials and let the secret wine surprise you. Send a friend who cares more about stone crab than obscure growers, and they'll leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
· McKinney · Italian
Brio McKinney's wine list won't win any awards and the markup will sting if you reach for the California heavyweights, but there are a few genuinely Italian picks buried in there worth finding. Come for the food, order thoughtfully, and stick to the Old World side of the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · New American
Gather isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's okay — but the $63 Syrah by the glass and the static, California-heavy list suggest the program hasn't been pushed in a while. Stick to the mid-tier pours, order the Chianti, and enjoy it for what it is: a casual neighborhood spot where the wine won't derail the evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· West Palm Beach · Italian
Sant Ambroeus Palm Beach is a reliable, if unambitious, wine experience — Italy and France, done cleanly, priced for Royal Poinciana Way. If you're here for the scene, the truffle pizza, and a glass of something Italian and uncomplicated, it delivers. Just don't come looking for value or discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newark · Italian
Five Corners has stocked four respectable Italian reds and essentially stopped there. Without pricing, pour options, or a list that can accommodate the full table, it's hard to call this a wine program — it's more like a wine shelf. Come for the Italian cooking; manage your expectations on the wine side.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Decatur · Decatur · Italian
Sotto Sotto is a genuinely Italian wine list in a city that usually settles for Italian-American approximations — the Timorasso, the Lambrusco di Sorbara, the Franciacorta all signal real intent. The glass program is accessible, markups are reasonable, and the bubbles section alone justifies a visit. If you want depth across all of Italy, you'll hit the edges fast at 68 labels, but what's here is well-chosen. Send a friend who likes to drink something they've never heard of.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.
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