Half-Price Wednesdays Hide Behind Art-World Drama
Corona del Mar · Irvine · New American and Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed CdM Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
CdM hits you as a place that invested heavily in atmosphere — the art-driven room, the speakeasy downstairs, the romantic lighting — and the wine list feels like it exists to serve that mood rather than stand on its own. It's the kind of list that complements a date-night setting without asking too much of anyone. Whether that's a feature or a flaw depends entirely on what you came for.
The program leans into California, which makes geographic sense given the zip code, but we don't have enough sourced detail to tell you how deep or adventurous it actually runs. A Newport Beach-adjacent crowd skews toward familiar names and safe appellations, and lists built for that demo tend to prioritize comfort over discovery. What's clear is that the wine program isn't the headline act here — the room, the food, and the cocktails are. We'd love to see them push harder on the selection side to match the ambition of everything else going on.
Glass pour specifics aren't documented in our research, so we can't tell you exactly what's rotating or how many options you're working with. Given the California focus and the upscale-casual positioning, expect a serviceable handful of by-the-glass pours — enough to get you through dinner, probably not enough to get you excited.
Wednesday — Wine Wednesday: 50% off wine every Wednesday night.
The Bottom Line
CdM is genuinely worth your Wednesday. Half-price wine on an already polished dinner menu is a real offer, and the room alone justifies a reservation. We just can't tell you which bottle to order yet — the wine program is opaque enough that you'd be flying blind without a server who actually knows the list. Come for the Dirty Pasta and the vibe; if the wine follows, consider it a bonus.
· Irvine · New American
Reunion Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list proves it. Three by-the-glass pours from mass-market California producers, priced at a premium — this is a wine program on autopilot. Order a cocktail or a beer and save the wine for somewhere that actually thought about it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irvine Business Complex · Irvine · Northern Italian Steakhouse
Davio's Irvine is the wine list equivalent of a reliable business-class seat — comfortable, well-organized, and priced at a premium you'll notice. The by-the-glass program is the real strength here; thirty options with some genuinely good producers mixed in means you can eat well and drink reasonably well in the same visit. If you're hoping to geek out on the bottle list or find anything that'll make you lean forward in your chair, keep looking — but for a weeknight dinner or a client meal, this gets the job done without embarrassing anyone.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Coast Plaza · Irvine · Seafood
Water Grill South Coast Plaza has built a white-wine-forward list that's genuinely well-suited to what's on the plate — smart European picks alongside reliable California anchors, and enough BTG options to keep things interesting across a long meal. Markups run steep in places, especially on the recognizable names, but the value plays are there if you know where to look. For a seafood-focused dinner in Irvine, this is one of the better wine programs you'll find without driving to the coast.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Eclectic American
Rutabegorz isn't trying to be a wine destination — and that's fine, because the pricing is honest enough that wine actually works here as a casual add-on rather than a line item you regret. If you're eating here, order the Rancho Sisquoc Riesling and feel slightly smarter than the table next to you ordering the Josh.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Health-focused New American
True Food Kitchen Irvine's wine list won't offend anyone, but it also won't excite anyone. It's a safe, corporate-approved selection built for wide appeal — which fits the brand but leaves real wine drinkers doing a lot of the heavy lifting. If you're here, order the Tablas Creek and move on with your evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
