Three Wines. That's the Whole List.
Downtown Hilo · Hilo · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Coco Cantina’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Coco Cantina fits on a napkin — because it basically is a napkin. Three labels, two of them Hess, and a Spanish Cava rounding things out. This is a restaurant that has technically offered wine and moved on with its life.
We've seen wine lists this short before, usually at places that specialize in something else — craft beer, cocktails, whatever — but Coco Cantina doesn't appear to be making that trade-off strategically. It's California and Spain, full stop: a Hess Chardonnay from Monterey, a Hess Cab, and a Poema Cava Brut. Hess Shirtail is a perfectly drinkable entry-level line, but leading your entire wine program with two bottles from the same mid-tier California producer isn't a curation strategy, it's a grocery run. There are no regions to explore, no contrast, no depth — just a list that someone filled out and forgot about.
All three bottles pour by the glass, so the BTG program and the bottle program are the same program — because there is no other program. At $7.50 for the Cava and $9.50 for the still wines, the pricing is at least honest. Don't expect rotation or seasonal swaps; what you see today is almost certainly what you'll see next year.
Poema Cava Brut — $7.50/glass, $24.00/bottle
At $24 a bottle, the Poema Cava is the only pick here that feels like a genuinely good deal. Cava punches above its price point by design, and this one is no exception — it's crisp, food-friendly, and miles more interesting than either of the Hess options on offer.
Poema Cava Brut
Most people ordering wine at a casual New American spot in Hilo are reaching for the Cab or the Chard on autopilot. The Cava is the smarter move — it works with nearly everything on a menu like this, and at $7.50 a glass it's the kind of quiet win that feels earned.
Hess Cabernet Sauvignon
Hess makes perfectly fine wine, but the Shirtail Cab at $9.50 a glass is the most forgettable thing on this list. It's not offensive, but you're paying restaurant markup on a bottle you could find at a CVS. Save your money or order the Cava twice.
Poema Cava Brut + Unknown — menu data not available
Without confirmed dish data we're not going to invent a pairing. What we can say: the Cava is your best bet with anything light, fried, or seafood-forward — all reasonable guesses for a New American spot in Hilo.
The Bottom Line
Coco Cantina is almost certainly a fine place to eat, but it has opted out of the wine conversation entirely. Order the Cava, enjoy your meal, and don't come here expecting more than three options.
· Hilo · Steakhouse
WSW won't make any wine lists' most-wanted lists, but it prices honestly, pours generously, and doesn't embarrass itself in a category where hotel restaurants often do. If you're in Hilo and want a bottle of wine with your steak without getting gouged, this is a safe call.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bayfront · Hilo · Hotel Restaurant / Bar
This is a wine list that exists because hotels have to have wine lists. If you're serious about what's in your glass, order a cocktail — the bartender probably cares more about that anyway.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilo · American / Seafood
Ponds Hilo has a setting that deserves a wine list to match, and this isn't it. Grab the Prosecco split, enjoy the view, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilo · Contemporary American / Seafood
Jackie Rey's wine list is a genuine surprise for a neighborhood seafood joint in Hilo — thoughtful picks, fair prices, and enough range to keep a wine-curious table happy. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, just tell them to ask about the glass pours before they sit down.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hilo · Hilo · Craft American / Bar
Temple Kitchen + Bar keeps things safe and recognizable, which is either reassuring or boring depending on your mood. If you're in Hilo and want a decent glass without any homework, you'll be fine — just don't come here expecting to discover anything.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilo · Contemporary American / Seafood
Hilo Bay Cafe isn't a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely thoughtful one for where it sits — geographically and price-wise. Send a friend here if they want a solid pour with their fish without getting taken for a ride.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · New American
Brooklyn Cafe's wine list is doing more than it has to for a Sandy Springs neighborhood restaurant — the white selections alone, from Rudi Pichler to Merry Edwards, show real editorial intent. Pricing transparency is a question mark without confirmed figures, and the glass program is a mystery we couldn't resolve. Worth a visit if you're eating in the area; just go in ready to ask questions.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Eau Claire · New American
The Lakely is a genuinely likable neighborhood anchor in a hotel package that punches above its weight for Eau Claire. The wine program is modest and not fully transparent online, but the vibe, the food — that Friday fish fry especially — and the fair pricing keep this squarely in the worth-a-visit column. We'd go back for the burger and whatever's pouring by the glass. We'd hold off on building a whole evening around the wine list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Decatur · Decatur · New American
Fork & Vine earns its Wild Card badge by doing something most casual New American spots don't bother with: stocking wines that require a little explanation and trusting their guests to be curious. Markup is fair, the by-the-glass selection is genuinely generous, and the list skews European in ways that reward adventurous drinkers. If you're eating in Decatur and want a glass of something you haven't had before, this is where to go.
Small but Thoughtful
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
