America's Oldest Restaurant Still Swings Hard
Financial District · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Delmonico's lands with the kind of weight you'd expect from a restaurant that's been feeding New York since 1837 — physically thick, classically organized, and unapologetically serious. This isn't a list that's trying to be cool; it's a list that doesn't need to be. When Domaine de la Romanée-Conti shows up early in the Burgundy section, you know exactly what kind of night you're in for.
Eight hundred to twelve hundred selections sounds like a flex, but at Delmonico's it feels earned — California and France do the heavy lifting, with deep verticals in Bordeaux (Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour) and Burgundy (Louis Jadot, DRC), plus serious Italian coverage through Gaja Barbaresco, Sassicaia, and Antinori Tignanello. The Rhône gets proper respect with Chapoutier Hermitage and E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie, while Spain shows up with Vega Sicilia Unico — not just a token international section. California reads like a greatest hits of the region: Caymus, Opus One, Ridge Monte Bello, Chateau Montelena, and Peter Michael all make appearances, which will please the steak crowd immensely even if it's not the most adventurous curation. The gaps? Natural wine fans and anything from the Southern Hemisphere should lower their expectations accordingly.
With 20 to 35 pours available by the glass, there's enough range to build a proper meal around without committing to a bottle — a genuine win for solo diners and business lunches in the Financial District. The selections skew classic and crowd-pleasing, which fits the room, but we'd love to see a bit more ambition in the rotating pours. No formal by-the-glass program that changes frequently, so what you see is largely what you get.
Louis Jadot Burgundy — $60
In a list where four-figure bottles are common, Jadot's entry-level Burgundy offers genuine Côte d'Or character at the low end of the pricing spectrum — an honest pour at a restaurant where it's easy to spend multiples of this without blinking.
Chapoutier Hermitage
Most tables here go straight for the California Cabs to match the Delmonico Steak, which means the Northern Rhône section gets underordered. Chapoutier's Hermitage — serious Syrah from a serious producer — is exactly what this kitchen's red meat deserves, and you won't be fighting anyone for the last allocation.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is competent, recognizable, and wildly overrepresented at steakhouses nationwide. At Delmonico's prices and with this much competition on the list, you're paying a premium for a brand name when genuinely more interesting options sit a few pages over.
Ridge Monte Bello + Delmonico Steak
Ridge Monte Bello is one of California's most structured Cabernet-based blends — earthy, age-worthy, and built for exactly this kind of serious red meat moment. The Delmonico Steak has enough marbling and weight to stand up to Monte Bello's tannin and complexity, and the result is the kind of pairing that makes you understand why people come to restaurants like this in the first place.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Delmonico's wine list is a monument to the classic American fine dining tradition — deep, serious, professionally managed by a named sommelier team, and deserving of its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Just walk in knowing the markups reflect the address and the history, and order accordingly.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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