Washington Wine Done Right, Lake Views Included
Lake Union · Seattle · Seafood
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Chandler's Crabhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Chandler's leans hard into Washington state, which is exactly what you want at a crabhouse sitting on Lake Union. It reads like a confident regional statement rather than a safe corporate hedge — there's real intention here. The presence of an actual sommelier in a restaurant that could easily coast on the view is a good early sign.
The list is a focused tour of Washington's best — Avennia, Woodward Canyon, SIXTO, Abeja, Sparkman Cellars, Baer, Tamarack — producers that serious Washington wine fans will recognize and casual drinkers will discover. The Chardonnay section alone gives you five distinct expressions, from the leaner, mineral-driven Baer 'Shard' to the richer Abeja. Two Vintners Zinfandel adds a bit of left-field personality that keeps things interesting. The gap is that we'd love to see more red depth and any serious representation from outside Washington — Burgundy or northern Rhône would fill out the seafood pairing options nicely.
By-the-glass specifics weren't available during our visit, which is a mild frustration given the sommelier on staff — there's real potential here for a tight, rotating glass program. What we can say is that with bottles starting around $35 (the Tamarack Chardonnay), the floor is accessible. We'd push staff for any pours they're pulling from open bottles.
2013 Baer 'Shard' Chardonnay — $40
The lowest-priced bottle on the Chardonnay roster still brings serious Washington Chardonnay credentials. At $40 on-list, it's the entry point that actually makes sense — you're not sacrificing quality to save money here.
Two Vintners Zinfandel
Most people don't come to a Seattle crabhouse thinking Zinfandel, and that's exactly why you should order it. Two Vintners is a boutique Columbia Valley producer doing things their own way, and this bottle will surprise anyone who thinks Zin begins and ends in Sonoma.
2014 Abeja Chardonnay
Abeja makes a genuinely good Chardonnay, but at $80 on-list against a $40 retail price, you're paying a clean 2x markup on a bottle that's widely available. Save the $80 for a second round of crab and order the Baer instead.
2014 Sparkman Cellars 'Birdie' Riesling + Dungeness Crab
Sparkman's 'Birdie' brings bright acidity and a touch of stone fruit that cuts right through the sweetness of Dungeness crab. At $38 it's the most food-friendly bottle on the list, and it's the kind of pairing the sommelier would steer you toward if you asked.
The Bottom Line
Chandler's is a corporate seafood restaurant that takes its wine program more seriously than it has to — and that earns real respect. The all-Washington focus is a genuine strength, but the across-the-board 100% markups mean you're paying for the zip code as much as the wine.
Downtown · Seattle · Brazilian Churrascaria
The real headline here is the half-price South American bottles — available Monday through Thursday, all day, on bottles under $150 — which turns a polished steakhouse into a legitimately reasonable wine night. The list won't excite anyone who came for the wine, but if you came for the meat and want a solid regional bottle at a fair price, this deal is worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballard · Seattle · Italian
A short, Italian-leaning list with most of its bottles in the Old World red section. Order the $11 Montepulciano by the glass, or the $69 Travaglini Gattinara if you want to splurge a little, and confirm prices on the day. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menus, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Seattle · Pacific Northwest / New American
A hotel wine list with a Pacific Northwest page up front, Champagne, Bordeaux and Italian sections behind it, and a separate glass list on the drink menu. Start with the $12 Treveri Blanc de Blancs at happy hour or the Mark Ryan 'Goldfinch Tavern Red Blend', and check the current list before you go, since the restaurant says menus are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list and drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Lake Union · Seattle · Steakhouse
A long, Northwest-first steakhouse list with plenty of bottles under $100 as well as a $300-to-$550 tier of Leonetti and Quilceda Creek Cabernets. Start with the $20 Five Star Cellars “Prime” Cabernet by the glass, or the same wine at $55 on the bottle pages, and confirm prices because the list says vintages and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Italian
An all-Italian list that is easy to navigate: 11 wines by the glass from $13 to $30, a bottle list sorted by region, and $8 house wine during Apericena. Order the Soave at $13 or the $17 Kerner by the glass, or the Villa Venti Sangiovese with the tagliatelle al ragu, and confirm prices because the page says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central District · Seattle · Seafood
A mostly natural, mostly French bottle list that stretches from $60 Muscadet to a $455 Champagne, with a deep run of Jura, Savoie and Loire bottles. Start with the $60 Hautplanty Muscadet or the $72 Laurent Herlin Cabernet Franc, and ask about the list’s ◆ and ◉ key if you want help choosing between classic and wild. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
· Flowery Branch · Seafood
Fish Tales is on Lake Lanier, which should be a natural setting for a thoughtful selection of cold, crisp whites. Instead, the wine program is a single bottle of heavily buttered California Chardonnay. We'd recommend sticking to whatever's on tap and revisiting the wine situation if anything changes.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Perimeter Center · Dunwoody · Seafood
Louisiana Bistreaux is genuinely worth visiting for the food — the seafood is the draw, full stop. But if wine is part of your evening, don't come here expecting the list to match the kitchen's ambition. Order the crawfish ravioli, get a cocktail or a cold beer, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's put in the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Cartersville · Seafood
Maine Street Coastal Cuisine is a seafood spot that doesn't take wine seriously, and the five-label, all-$7, no-producer list makes that clear without apology. If you're here for the food, drink the cocktails or crack a beer — the wine list isn't worth the conversation.
Grocery Store
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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