Cote Fort Lauderdale

Cote brings its upscale Korean BBQ concept to Fort Lauderdale, and while the butcher's feast is the main event, the wine list feels like an afterthought designed to complement the high-ticket meat experience. The list skews safe and familiar, built for expense accounts rather than wine explorers.

Based on Cote's other locations, expect a straightforward selection heavy on big-name California Cabernets, mainstream Burgundy, and a handful of crowd-pleasing bottles from Argentina and Spain. The list is designed not to offend: think Silver Oak, Caymus, and Josh Cellars rubbing shoulders with a few token Old World entries. There's no real depth in any region, and the Korean cuisine's complexity deserves more adventurous pairings than what's likely on offer. Missing: aromatic whites, skin-contact wines, or anything from Korea's emerging wine scene.

Glass pours likely lean heavily on the usual suspects—a Sonoma Chardonnay, a Paso Cab, maybe a Malbec. Rotation is probably minimal, with the same lineup sitting there month after month. For a restaurant at this price point, the by-the-glass program should be more dynamic and offer better entry points for the menu's bold flavors.