Solid seafood house, wine list does its job
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Coastal Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Coastal Grill reads like it was built to not offend anyone — and largely succeeds on those terms. You'll recognize most of the names, prices skew higher than they should, but it's a real list with actual options. For a Virginia Beach seafood spot doing $25-$40 entrees, the effort is there even if the ambition isn't.
The list leans heavily California and Pacific Northwest, with a nod to New Zealand and a gesture toward Burgundy — a respectable lineup for a coastal American kitchen. The producer roster (Meiomi, Kim Crawford, Sonoma-Cutrer) signals a list built for recognition over discovery; these are brands people order by name, not by vintage. There's nothing wrong with that approach, but it does mean the list plateaus early — you won't find much to surprise you past page one. Burgundy representation is a nice touch on paper, though without more detail it reads more like a selling point than a deep commitment.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a generous range for this type of room, and it means you can graze through the menu without committing to a bottle. The selection mirrors the list — crowd-facing, approachable, built around names people trust. Don't expect a rotating seasonal program here; what's on the glass menu today is probably what was on it six months ago.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — null
This is a genuinely good Chardonnay — restrained oak, real tension, actual terroir from one of Sonoma's better appellations. It's a step above the usual restaurant Chard and makes a natural match for the seafood-forward menu. If the markup is in line with the rest of the list, this is where your money goes the furthest.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay
In a room full of people ordering Kim Crawford on autopilot, this bottle quietly outclasses the competition. Most guests walk past it for something they already know — their loss.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a $15 grocery store bottle that shows up on restaurant lists at a significant markup. It's sweet, soft, and engineered for mass appeal — not what you want next to a plate of seared tuna or soft shell crabs. Pass.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Peppered Seared Tuna
Kim Crawford's sharp citrus and herbal snap cut right through the crust on that seared tuna and don't fight the pepper. It's not a sophisticated pairing, but it works — clean, bright, and out of the way of the food.
The Bottom Line
Coastal Grill is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that won't embarrass you or thrill you — steer toward the Sonoma-Cutrer, avoid the Meiomi markup, and let the seafood do the heavy lifting. Send a friend here if they want a reliable night out; send them somewhere else if wine is the point of the evening.
Downtown Norfolk · Norfolk · American
Mermaid Winery is a genuine wine destination that happens to be in Norfolk — and yes, that still surprises us a little. The pricing leans steep and the staff isn't running a Master Sommelier class, but the list is deep where it counts and Wednesday half-price night is one of the better wine deals in the region.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Virginia Beach · Norfolk · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach won't surprise you on wine, and a few markups are hard to forgive, but the depth is real and the by-the-glass program is better than most steakhouses at this price point. If you're here for a special occasion steak and want a bottle that won't embarrass the meal, you'll find it — just avoid the house pours and do a little homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Norfolk · Norfolk · Gourmet Market & Wine Shop
Taste Unlimited is a gourmet market that quietly outclasses most sit-down restaurants on wine curation and blows them out completely on price. If you're in Norfolk and haven't figured out that this is also a wine stop, you've been leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Governors Pointe · Norfolk · Southern American
Vintage Tavern has no business having a wine list this serious in a suburb of Norfolk — and we mean that as a high compliment. The markups take some of the shine off, but a sommelier on staff, 400 bottles, and a genuine Virginia section make this the best wine destination for miles around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Norfolk · French
Todd Jurich's Bistro is the most serious wine list in Norfolk, full stop — but you'll pay for that seriousness, especially on the French side. Go for the sommelier's guidance, order the Barboursville, and enjoy the fact that a room this focused on wine exists in downtown Norfolk at all.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ghent · Norfolk · New American
Varia is doing something genuinely rare in a mid-sized market — building a wine program that would hold its own in Chicago or D.C. The markup isn't always charitable, but the depth, the cruvinet by-the-glass program, and the evident expertise on staff make this one worth the trip across town.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· San Jose · Seafood
The Sea runs one of the more unexpected wine programs in the South Bay — a tightly focused list built around dessert wines and fortified pours that would feel at home at a serious wine bar, not a seafood restaurant. If you're coming for a tasting menu and want to surrender to a glass-by-glass journey through Sauternes, Port, and Madeira, this list was designed exactly for you. If you need a full-dinner wine list with something interesting at every course, you'll feel the gaps on the dry side. Come knowing what it is, and it delivers.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Seafood
The Fish Market's wine list is a workhorse, not a showpiece — it covers the basics for a seafood crowd without asking too much of anyone, including itself. If you're looking for a thoughtful wine experience to match the kitchen's seafood focus, you'll want to adjust your expectations; if you just want a cold glass of Albariño with your fish tacos, you're in fine shape. Seek out the Martín Códax and let the rest of the list do its thing for the table next to you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · Seafood
Chesapeake's Gatlinburg isn't trying to win a wine award, and it doesn't need to — the list is honest, the pricing is fair for what it is, and the white wine depth is genuinely appropriate for a seafood restaurant. If you're in Gatlinburg and want a bottle that won't break the bank or embarrass you, you can do a lot worse than landing on that Dry Creek Chenin Blanc.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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