Monday Bottles Make This Worth Bookmarking
Downtown · Rochester · American, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
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One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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