Italian soul, Pacific Northwest ambition, lakeside swagger
· Kirkland · Italian lakeside · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Como’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The list opens with a clear identity: Italian at its core, but with a confident nod to the Pacific Northwest that doesn't feel forced. Sixty-eight labels is a serious commitment for a lakeside restaurant in Kirkland, and the $40–$115 bottle range suggests they're trying to serve actual wine drinkers, not just upsell tables. The Passing Time custom labels — made specifically for Como — are the first thing that stops you in your tracks.
The Italian throughline is real and well-executed: Pieropan Soave Classico, Fratelli Borgogno Barolo, Villa Travignoli Chianti Rufina, and a Viberti Barbera d'Alba give the list genuine regional credibility without leaning on the same tired Super Tuscans every Italian-American spot defaults to. The bubbles section earns its own gold star — Berlucchi Franciacorta Brut, Gustave Lorentz Crémant d'Alsace, and a Balan Millesimato Brut at $40 show real range across price points and styles. Northwest representation is handled through Passing Time's custom Como Bianco and Como Rosso, plus Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah and Lachini Pinot Noir — local picks that actually mean something rather than token gestures. The gaps are minor: Nebbiolo beyond the Barolo, more southern Italian, and a deeper orange or natural wine section would round this out nicely.
Nineteen pours by the glass is generous, and the $11–$29 range keeps the program accessible without dumbing it down. The Marco Scolaris Sauvignon Blanc and Pietramore Pecorino Superiore by the glass are smart, food-friendly choices you rarely see on lists in this zip code. Rotation doesn't appear to be a major feature here — the program feels curated but static, which isn't a dealbreaker when the selections are this considered.
Balan Millesimato Brut — $40
A bottle of bubbles at $40 that doesn't apologize for itself — this is the move for the table that wants to start with fizz without committing to a $70 Franciacorta. Solid QPR, no brainer.
Villa Travignoli Chianti Rufina
Everyone at the table will order the Barolo or the Passing Time Red Blend, and that's fine. But Chianti Rufina is Chianti's cooler, higher-altitude cousin — more structure, more energy — and Villa Travignoli is a proper estate that actually cares. At $50 it's the smartest glass of Sangiovese you'll have in Kirkland.
Passing Time Red Blend
At $115 it's the priciest bottle on the list, and the Passing Time name carries real cachet in Washington wine circles — but the custom Como Rosso at $65 gives you the same collaboration story for nearly half the price. Unless you know exactly what you're getting, the Red Blend feels like paying for the label.
Viberti La Gemella Barbera d'Alba + Handmade pasta with red sauce
Barbera is Italy's answer to 'what do I drink with tomato?' — high acid, low tannin, plays perfectly with anything tomato-forward. The Viberti at $55 is the kind of pairing that makes you feel like you figured something out.
The Bottom Line
Como isn't trying to be a wine bar, but it's wine list punches well above its weight for a lakeside Italian in the suburbs — fair pricing, genuine Italian depth, and a few local picks that earn their spot. Yes, send a friend here for wine.
· Kirkland · Wine bar & small plates
The Melody Lynne Vineyard is doing something genuinely unusual — a fully estate-only wine bar with real varietal ambition and prices that don't punish curiosity. It's not the deepest list in Washington, but it might be the most specific, and specific is underrated.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kirkland · American café & wine bar
Mia is a neighborhood wine bar that earns its stripes by championing a hyperlocal producer alongside an accessible, well-priced lineup — the 425 Cellars section alone makes it worth a stop if you're in Kirkland. The Wild Card badge is there for a reason: on paper this list looks ordinary, but the local angle and nearly unlimited by-the-glass flexibility make it quietly one of the better casual wine spots on the Eastside.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kirkland · French Brasserie
Le Grand is doing something genuinely thoughtful inside a tight 21-bottle format — the bubbly selection alone beats most full-sized lists in the area, and the pricing stays honest throughout. Send a friend here, tell them to skip the Rombauer, and work their way through the glass pours.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Kirkland · French brasserie with Pacific Northwest influences
Feast is a reliable, well-intentioned wine list that serves the room without embarrassing itself — just don't come expecting discovery. Send a friend here for a solid French brasserie night out; tell them to ask about the Riesling.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Downtown-adjacent · Kirkland · French-American Bistro
Le Grand Bistro Americain is a genuinely lovely spot to watch the sun drop over Lake Washington — but the wine list is coasting hard on that view. Until the markups come down or someone builds a list that actually reflects the French-American ambition of the kitchen, we'd say order a cocktail and save the wine budget for somewhere that earns it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Kirkland · American
The Heathman isn't going to make you rethink your relationship with wine, but it's a genuinely decent hotel list anchored by wines worth drinking — and the Monday/Wednesday half-price bottle deal turns a steep markup into something actually worth your time. Show up on a deal night, order the Col Solare, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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