Italy's Greatest Hits, Done Right
Burlingame · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cafe Figaro’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cafe Figaro feels like it was built by someone who actually loves Italian wine — not just someone who ordered a case of Pinot Grigio and called it a day. It's focused, confident, and earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence without trying too hard. You're in a cozy Burlingame neighborhood spot, and the list knows exactly what it is.
The list runs 80-plus bottles and stays almost entirely in Italy, which is exactly the right call for a place serving osso buco and pasta carbonara. Piedmont shows up strong with Barolo, Tuscany covers all the classics from Chianti Classico Riserva to Brunello di Montalcino, and the Super Tuscans — Sassicaia and Tignanello — give the list genuine prestige without turning it into a flex. Amarone della Valpolicella rounds out the northern Italy contingent for those who want something big and brooding. The Veneto gets a token nod with Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, which feels appropriately humble given how dominant the reds are.
Ten to sixteen options by the glass is a healthy pour program for a neighborhood Italian, and the price range of $10–$18 keeps things accessible without scraping the bottom of the barrel. Will Akkaya, the sommelier on staff, likely has a hand in keeping the glass pours relevant rather than just dumping house wine on people who didn't bring a group.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $45
Chianti Classico Riserva is one of the most food-friendly wines on the planet and tends to carry fair markups at Italian spots that respect the region. At this price range, it's the kind of bottle that drinks well above its weight next to a plate of pasta.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
Most people gloss past Pinot Grigio on an Italian-heavy list, assuming it's filler. At a place with a proper wine program, though, a well-chosen Pinot Grigio delle Venezie can be a crisp, mineral-driven pour that actually competes with the room — especially if you're starting with something lighter before moving to the Barolo.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a genuinely great wine, but it's also one of the most widely distributed Super Tuscans in the world, which means restaurants can — and often do — charge a significant premium on name recognition alone. Unless you're celebrating something, the restaurant's other Tuscan options will drink nearly as well for considerably less.
Brunello di Montalcino + Osso buco
Osso buco needs a wine with structure, earthy depth, and enough acidity to cut through the richness of the braised veal shank. Brunello di Montalcino is basically built for this moment — the Sangiovese tannins and dried cherry fruit lock in with the savory braising liquid in a way that makes both the food and the wine better.
The Bottom Line
Cafe Figaro is the neighborhood Italian you hope is walking distance from your house — a focused, Italy-first wine list, knowledgeable staff, and fair prices that won't make you do math before ordering a second bottle. Send a friend here without hesitation.
Old Town · Key West · Italian
La Trattoria isn't trying to reinvent anything, but it's putting in more wine effort than most of its neighbors on Duval Street. Fair prices on Italian bottles, a usable by-the-glass program, and real depth in the Italian reds make it a reliable choice — just don't order the La Marca Prosecco.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ogden · Italian
La Ferrovia is the kind of neighborhood Italian that Ogden is lucky to have — solid food, easygoing atmosphere, and a wine program that seems content to stay in its lane. We'd love to get eyes on an actual list before making a stronger call, so check their website or call ahead if wine is a priority for your visit. Good enough for a weeknight dinner with a carafe of something red; not the destination if wine is the main event.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · Italian
If wine matters to you at dinner, Laredo has better options than this. Olive Garden's wine program is a corporate formality — two labels do not a wine list make. Order the cocktail, enjoy the breadsticks, and save the bottle for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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