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✔️The Reliable

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse

Big cellar, bigger markups, undeniable selection

Back Bay · Boston · Northern Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗

deep-cellarold-world-focussplurge-worthydate-night

Reviewed March 23, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupSteep
GlasswareVarietal Specific
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempProper

First Impression

Three hundred and sixty-three labels. That number lands like a Brunello at a Wednesday dinner — serious, a little intimidating, and hard to ignore. The list skews Italian and Californian, which makes perfect sense for an upscale steakhouse that bills itself as Northern Italian, and the depth on both fronts is genuinely impressive.

Selection Deep Dive

Tuscany and Napa are the twin anchors here, and they hold. You've got Gaja's Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello in magnum, Opus One in a 3-liter format if you're feeling theatrical, and a solid mid-tier Chablis Grand Cru from Domaine Vocoret et Fils for the table that actually wants to eat food with their wine. The Champagne selection hits the expected luxury notes — Krug Brut Rosé, Veuve Clicquot — without venturing anywhere adventurous. What's missing is any meaningful Old World depth outside of Italy; there's no serious Burgundy rabbit hole to fall into, no Rhône worth getting excited about, and the by-the-glass options won't surprise anyone who's been to a nice steakhouse before. Still, for the restaurant's identity, the list delivers.

By the Glass

Eighteen pours, priced $12–$20, covering the expected steakhouse bases — a Cabernet, a Chardonnay, something sparkling. It's a functional program that won't embarrass anyone, but there's no real rotating energy here; this feels like a list that gets reviewed once a year and left alone. If you're drinking by the glass, manage your expectations accordingly.

💰Best Value

Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 — $180

At roughly 80% over retail, Silver Oak is actually the least punishing markup on the list for a bottle people recognize and genuinely enjoy. Not a steal, but relative to what surrounds it, it's the move for a table that wants to drink well without getting completely wrecked on the check.

💎Hidden Gem

Domaine Vocoret et Fils Vaudesir Chablis Grand Cru 2020

Everyone at a steakhouse is reaching for the Napa Chardonnay. Don't. This Chablis Grand Cru from a reliable Vocoret is the more interesting, more food-friendly pick — laser-focused minerality that will actually cut through whatever richness lands on your plate.

Skip This

Frank Family Chardonnay Napa Valley 2018

A 209% markup on a $55 retail bottle is hard to justify when the Vaudesir Grand Cru is sitting right there on the same list. Frank Family is fine wine, but at $170 you're paying for familiarity, not quality.

🍽️Perfect Pairing

Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta 'Rennina' Brunello di Montalcino 2016 1.5L + Dry-aged prime steak

A Brunello from Gaja's Montalcino estate in magnum format next to a properly dry-aged prime steak is the whole point of a room like this. The wine's structure and dark fruit complexity stand up to the beef without steamrolling it — and a magnum means no one at the table feels shortchanged.

✔️ The Bottom Line

Davio's is a serious cellar wrapped in steep markups — the selection earns respect, but your wallet will feel it. Go in knowing what you're paying for, pick strategically, and the wine experience holds up.

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