Cute Room, Grocery Store Wines, Full Price
Brady Street · Milwaukee · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Dorsia’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Dorsia looks the part — a stylish Brady Street hang with the kind of chic interior that makes you want to order something interesting. Then the wine list arrives and it's basically the rack at your local Woodman's, priced like you're at a hotel bar. The vibe says 'hidden gem'; the wine list says 'we didn't really think about this.'
The list leans California commercial with a Kim Crawford cameo for Marlborough representation — that's about as adventurous as it gets. For an Italian-American restaurant on Brady Street, the absence of any verifiable Italian producers is a missed layup. No Vermentino, no Nero d'Avola, no Barbera — nothing that would actually complement the lasagna flights or truffle cacio e pepe they're clearly proud of. This is a wine list assembled by someone who stocked it once and hasn't revisited it since.
The by-the-glass program runs the full gamut of brands you already know from every chain restaurant you've ever been to: Meiomi, Josh Cellars, Kim Crawford, La Marca. Glass pours range from $10 to $12, which sounds reasonable until you realize retail on most of these bottles is $11–$18 and you're getting a 5-ounce pour. No evidence of any rotation or seasonal additions — what you see is what you get, indefinitely.
Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc — $10
At $10 a glass it's the lowest entry point on the list, and Joel Gott is at least a step above the cheapest options at this price point. It's not exciting, but it's clean, crisp, and won't fight the food.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
Not hidden in any meaningful sense, but among the crowd-pleaser options here it's the most food-friendly — the Marlborough acidity actually plays well against richer pasta dishes in a way the California whites don't. If you're stuck on this list, it's your best move with the truffle cacio e pepe.
Bogle Chardonnay
Ten dollars for a glass of Bogle Chardonnay — a bottle you can grab at the grocery store for $11 — is the single worst value on this list. The markup is nearly 191% on a wine with a retail price barely above a glass pour. Hard pass.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Lasagna Flight
Meiomi is soft, fruit-forward, and low on tannin — which is actually a reasonable match for a meaty, cheesy lasagna where a bigger red would bully the dish. It's not a thrilling pairing, but it works, and at $12 a glass it's the red with the most flexibility on the table.
The Bottom Line
Dorsia is a genuinely fun spot for drinks and Italian-American comfort food, but the wine program is a placeholder — familiar commercial labels at markups that don't reflect any real curation or care. Lean into their cocktail program instead, and hope they eventually give the wine list the same attention they gave the interior design.
Downtown · Milwaukee · Brazilian Steakhouse
Rodizio Grill Milwaukee is a genuinely fun night out if you're there for the meat and the spectacle — but the wine list is coasting on the restaurant's momentum rather than adding anything to it. Order the Gaucho Club, enjoy the picanha, and save your serious wine budget for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk · Milwaukee · Japanese sushi and Asian fusion
Screaming Tuna isn't a wine destination, but it's a sushi spot with a wine list that actually respects the food it's serving — and in Milwaukee, that's worth calling out. Take a chance on the Alsatian whites or the sake program and you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lower East Side · Milwaukee · French and Italian Riviera-Inspired Fine Dining
Lupi & Iris is doing something genuinely rare in Milwaukee — a wine program with depth, a sommelier who runs real events, and markup that doesn't make you feel like a mark. Send your friends here, and tell them to book early for the DRC dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown · Milwaukee · Seafood-focused Contemporary American
Third Coast Provisions has a genuinely thoughtful wine list for a city that doesn't always demand one — the Burgundy focus is earned, the staff knows what they're doing, and the seafood menu gives those whites every opportunity to shine. The markup keeps it from being a destination for wine alone, but if you're already here for the food, you're in good hands.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northwest Side · Milwaukee · Italian, Handmade Pasta, Wine Bar
Ca'Lucchenzo is the kind of place that makes you wonder why every Italian restaurant doesn't just commit to Italy this hard on the wine side. It's not a deep cellar, but it's a focused, honest list that actually fits the food — send your friends here and tell them to skip the cocktail.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Brookfield · Milwaukee · Upscale American Steakhouse
Mr. B's is exactly what it promises — a polished, reliable steakhouse wine list that hits all the expected marks without a single surprise. Send a friend here if they want a sure thing; send them somewhere else if they want to be excited.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Ocean Casino Resort · Atlantic City · Italian-American
Superfrico is a reliable wine program in a setting designed to get you to spend money — and it mostly delivers without being a total shakedown. Send a friend here for a fun night, not a wine education.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / Broadway · Saratoga Springs · Italian-American
Come to Wheatfields for the house-made pasta — it earns its reputation. But the wine list is a lazy lineup of commercial brands at steep markups, and no one on staff is going to steer you toward anything interesting. Grab a glass of Prosecco during happy hour (50% off Monday through Friday, 3-7pm) and redirect your wine energy somewhere else in town.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Broadway · Idaho Falls · Italian-American
This is the wine list equivalent of unlimited breadsticks — comforting, familiar, and not something you'd brag about to anyone. Come for the pasta, order a cocktail, or bring your own bottle if they'll let you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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