Neighborhood Pours That Get the Job Done
· Jersey City · American Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Court Street’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Court Street's wine list is a one-page snapshot of what a neighborhood bistro thinks its regulars want — and honestly, it's not wrong. Twenty-one wines, all by the glass, priced between $10 and $17, with nothing too weird or too pretentious. This is a wine list built for the table that says 'just bring us something good,' not the table that argues about appellations.
The list skews heavily toward accessible crowd-pleasers: Coastal Ridge shows up three times (Chardonnay, White Zinfandel, Merlot), which tells you a lot about the programming philosophy here. That said, there are a few genuine bright spots — the Bodega Lanzaga Corriente Rioja 2022 is a legitimate Rioja from a solid producer, and the Argiano Non Confunditur 2024 is a Tuscan blend that punches well above its genre. The Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc and the JM Crochet Sancerre give the white wine side some real credibility. The gaps are predictable: no Riesling, no natural wine, nothing from Portugal or the Southern Hemisphere beyond the Malbec.
Every single wine on the list is available by the glass, which is the whole program. Prices run $10 to $17 with most clustering in the $13–$15 range — that's reasonable for Jersey City without being a steal. There's no rotating selection or weekly feature evident, so what you see is what you get, week after week.
The Bottom Line
Court Street's wine list is functional and fair — no embarrassing markups, a couple of genuinely good pours hiding among the Coastal Ridge, and glass prices that won't wreck your dinner tab. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but it's a perfectly fine neighborhood spot where you can drink the Rioja or the Sancerre and have a good night. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them away from the mystery Champagne.
· Jersey City · New American
Amanda's isn't going to make a wine lover's heart race, but it's doing the honest work: fair prices, enough variety to match a proper New American menu, and a by-the-glass program deep enough to drink your way through a multi-course meal without getting stuck. If you're in Jersey City and want a reliable bottle without a markup argument, this list delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian
Il Tavolo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a reliable Italian spot with fair pours, sensible pricing, and enough range to keep the table happy. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of Chianti that won't cost you a car payment, this is a safe and honest bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Anthony David's wine list is reliable without being exciting — it does the job for a casual dinner without making you work too hard or feel gouged at the lower price points. The by-the-glass program is legitimately strong for a list this size, and the Crémant de Loire is a smart pour. If you're a wine-first diner, this isn't your destination, but if you're coming for a neighborhood meal and want a decent glass to go with it, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Omakase
The food concept at Sushi by Bou deserves a wine list that actually thinks about raw fish, delicate flavors, and how wine interacts with a progression of courses — and this list doesn't come close to that. Seven bottles, mostly supermarket staples, with no pricing transparency and no clear by-the-glass program. If you're going for the omakase experience, consider asking about corkage or ordering Champagne and leaving it at that.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Cocktail Bar and New American
Dullboy is a cocktail bar first and a wine program second, but the eight pours it stocks are more considered than anything you'd expect given the setting. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of something genuinely interesting — not just Malbec or Pinot Grigio — this list earns a detour. Wild Card badge, fully deserved.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Wine Bar and New American
Grand Vin is doing the right things for a neighborhood wine bar — honest markup, a deep by-the-glass program, and a few quietly good bottles tucked into an otherwise crowd-pleasing list. It's not the destination you plan a special night around, but it's absolutely the place you walk into without a reservation and leave happier than you arrived.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Memorial Boulevard / Bellevue Avenue · Newport · American Bistro
Jo's is the neighborhood bistro wine list you already know — safe, fair, and perfectly matched to its cozy Newport setting. Send a friend here if they want a decent glass with clam chowder and no pressure; send a wine-obsessed friend somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Kirkland · Kirkland · American Bistro
Purple Kirkland is the rare suburban wine bar that earns the description without asterisks — deep list, knowledgeable staff, and enough Washington heavyweights to justify a dedicated trip. Send a friend here and tell them to skip the Kosta Browne.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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Glassware
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