Carson Kitchen

The wine list at Carson Kitchen reads like a greatest hits of recognizable names — nothing that's going to make a wine nerd stop scrolling, but nothing that's going to embarrass anyone at the table either. Prices are honest, topping out around $60 for a bottle, which in today's restaurant landscape deserves actual credit. This is a list built for accessibility, not exploration.

The range spans California, Washington, Argentina, France, Italy, New Zealand, and even a sparkling from Lower Austria — so at least someone glanced at a map of the world before printing this thing. That said, the producers skew heavily commercial: 14 Hands, Estancia, Castle Rock, Crane Lake. These aren't bad wines, they're just the kind of bottles you've probably already met at a grocery store. The Caparzo Sangiovese and Banshee Mordecai Red Blend are the most interesting entries, but the list never fully commits to anything beyond approachable crowd-pleasers. No single-vineyard moments, no grower Champagne, no real curveballs.

Twelve options by the glass is a respectable count, running $11 to $17 — and that ceiling is refreshingly low. The spread covers sparkling, white, rosé, and red, which means most tables will find something that works. The problem is rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; what you see is likely what you'll always see.