Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar

The list opens with a clear California-and-France lean, which makes sense for a waterfront spot in a resort town where people want something familiar and drinkable. At 80-120 bottles, it's not trying to be a wine destination — but it's not phoning it in either. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence it's held since 2021 tells you someone here is paying attention.

California dominates, anchored by recognizable names: Caymus Cabernet, Jordan Cab, Stag's Leap, and Duckhorn Merlot cover the crowd-pleaser bases without sliding into total airport-lounge territory. France shows up through Louis Jadot Burgundy, which is the list's most interesting corner and hints at a curator who knows there's a world beyond Napa. The gaps are noticeable — no real depth in Rhône, Italy, or anything remotely off the beaten path — but for Saugatuck in the summer, this is a list that works for its audience. Bottle prices topping out around $120 keep things accessible.

Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is genuinely solid for a lakeside Michigan restaurant, and at $10–$18 a glass, the pricing lands in fair territory. Don't expect the list to rotate aggressively — this feels like a program that finds what works and sticks with it. Meiomi Pinot Noir almost certainly anchors the mid-tier pours, which is fine, though we'd love to see something with a little more personality in that slot.