Retail Wine Prices in a Restaurant? Yes, Really.
Downtown Akron (Bowery District) · Akron · Eclectic / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Crave is modest — somewhere in the 30-to-60-label range — but the pricing structure is genuinely unusual in the best possible way. Two nights a week, they sell their entire wine collection at retail with zero corkage. That alone is worth paying attention to.
The list leans toward approachable Italian and South American labels, with names like Villa Barbi Orvieto Classico and Wapisa Malbec anchoring the selection. It's not a deep cellar, and you won't find obscure natural producers or old-world cult bottles here — but that's not the point. The range runs from entry-level bottles around $14–$17 up to $200, which suggests at least some attempt to offer range beyond the obvious crowd-pleasers. We'd love to see more regional exploration, but for downtown Akron, this is a thoughtful starting point.
By-the-glass specifics weren't confirmed during our research, which is a gap. What we do know is that $4.50 glass pours exist, which is either a very good happy hour or a sign that the pour quality matches the price. We'd ask your server before committing to a full glass at that tier.
Wapisa Malbec — $14–$17
On a Tuesday or Wednesday retail night, a bottle of Argentine Malbec at grocery store prices with no markup is a genuinely hard deal to beat. Bring friends.
Villa Barbi Orvieto Classico
Most people at a New American spot head straight for the reds, but this crisp central Italian white is the move with a charcuterie board — and it's priced low enough that you can order a second bottle without doing the math.
Any bottle near the $200 ceiling
We don't have enough intel on what's sitting at the top of this list to recommend pulling the trigger on a high-dollar bottle. On non-retail nights, that markup could sting. Stick to the sweet spot Tuesday through Wednesday.
Villa Barbi Orvieto Classico + Charcuterie Board
Orvieto's light acidity and subtle almond finish cuts right through cured meats and aged cheeses without fighting them. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing call that feels smarter than it looks.
Tuesday & Wednesday — Retail Wine Nights run Tuesday and Wednesday, 11am–10pm. Crave's full wine collection is sold at retail prices with no corkage fees. Entry-level bottles start around $14–$17.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Crave isn't a destination wine list — but the Tuesday and Wednesday retail wine nights are one of the better deals in Akron, full stop. If you can time your visit right, it punches well above its weight.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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Crowd Pleasers
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Basic Stemmed
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Occasional
Acceptable
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Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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