Monday Bottles Make This Worth Bookmarking
Downtown · Rochester · American, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at CRAVE reads like a greatest hits album from every grocery store end-cap in America — Meiomi, Rombauer, Kim Crawford front and center. That's not an insult exactly, it's a strategy, and in downtown Rochester it probably moves a lot of bottles. What redeems it is the Monday half-price promotion, which quietly turns a mediocre markup situation into a genuinely good deal.
Forty to sixty labels spread across California, New Zealand, Washington, and France — the usual suspects holding their usual positions. California dominates, with crowd-favorite producers like Rombauer anchoring the Chardonnay section and Meiomi doing the heavy lifting on Pinot Noir. There's no adventurous detour into Grüner Veltliner or Côtes du Rhône here; the list is engineered for broad recognition, not discovery. The French and Washington presence hints that someone made a mild effort at range, but don't expect anything that requires explanation.
Somewhere between 12 and 18 pours by the glass, which is a solid count for a restaurant at this price point — enough that you won't feel trapped ordering a bottle. The selections mirror the bottle list: recognizable names, reliable styles, nothing that will challenge or surprise. Rotation appears limited, so don't count on finding something new on a return visit.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — Unknown — check menu
On a Monday with the half-price bottle promotion applied, this becomes a no-brainer. It's a clean, high-acid Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that cuts right through the sushi rolls and lighter seafood dishes. You're not drinking for prestige, you're drinking for function — and it delivers.
Washington State selection
CRAVE's Washington bottles tend to get overlooked by guests reaching for the California names they already know. Washington Syrah or Cabernet from this region often punches well above its menu price and suits the steaks and heartier dishes better than the Meiomi crowd realizes.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Rombauer is a fine wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles in the American restaurant industry. At full price here, you're paying a serious premium for a label that retails around $22–$25. Unless it's Monday, put it back.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Sushi rolls
The bright citrus and grassy snap of a Marlborough Sauv Blanc is exactly what you want against the rice, nori, and raw fish in CRAVE's sushi lineup. It cleanses between bites without competing with the flavors — a genuinely useful pairing, not just a convenient one.
Monday — Half-price bottles of wine every Monday. Confirmed for the Rochester Downtown location via OpenTable. The broader happy hour $2 off beer and wine (Mon–Fri, 3–6 PM) does not apply at the Rochester location.
✔️ The Bottom Line
CRAVE isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent place to drink on a Monday when those bottle prices get cut in half. Show up any other night and you're paying full markup on a list that doesn't earn it.
Northwest / 55th Street · Rochester · Italian-American
Olive Garden's wine list exists to check a box, not elevate a meal — it's priced above its station and assembled without much curiosity. Order the Chianti, eat the breadsticks, and don't come here expecting the wine to be the point.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Apache Mall · Rochester · American
The Cheesecake Factory's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a high-volume mall chain: safe, recognizable, and marked up enough to make you wish you'd ordered a cocktail. Come for the Chicken Madeira, skip the wine hunt.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South / near Hwy 63 · Rochester · Casual American bar & grill
Ground Round is a solid spot for a burger and a beer — lean into that and don't look at the wine list. If someone at your table insists on wine, point them toward the Kim Crawford and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South · Rochester · American bar and grill, burgers
Newt's South is not a wine destination — it's a great burger bar that happens to sell wine at suspiciously cheap prices. Come for the food, order a beer, and if you must have wine, hit it on a Wednesday when the glasses drop to under four bucks.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Rochester · Thai
ThaiPop isn't a wine destination, but its list is smarter than the size suggests — just stick to the aromatic, low-tannin options and leave the Cab to someone else. If you're in downtown Rochester and want Thai food with a decent glass of something cold and food-friendly, you won't be disappointed.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Northwest / West Circle · Rochester · American Contemporary
Five West is a perfectly competent neighborhood spot where the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone. Don't come here chasing something rare — come for the patio, order The Beach Rosé, and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Palm Desert · Palm Desert · American, Sushi
Mitch's has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2013, and the list earns it on reliability — not ambition. If you're a California Cab loyalist dining on El Paseo, you'll be perfectly comfortable here; just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lake Forest · Lake Forest · American, Sushi
The English Room is doing real work on its wine program for a North Shore hotel dining room, and the Best of Award of Excellence is earned. The markup stings and there's no sommelier to guide you, but if you know what you're looking for — or trust our picks above — this list rewards the curious diner.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Sea Island · Sea Island · American, Sushi
The Georgian Room is a resort wine list that punches above its category — serious depth, credentialed staff, and a France-Italy-California trifecta that Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence (2024) reflects accurately. Markup is what it is at a property like The Cloister, but the quality of curation and service earns its place on the list.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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