Cute Room, Grocery Store Wines, Full Price
Brady Street · Milwaukee · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 9, 2026
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
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian-American
The wine list at Olive Garden Toledo is a corporate afterthought dressed up as a selection — overpriced relative to quality, built to please no one in particular, and completely interchangeable with every other location in the country. Order the Chianti if you must, drink the Moscato if you want something fun, and save your real wine curiosity for a restaurant that earns it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Grafton Hill · Worcester · Italian-American
Dino's isn't a wine destination — it's a red-sauce neighborhood classic that happens to have an unexpectedly serious Port program tucked at the back of the menu. Come for the Chicken Parm, stay for the Taylor Fladgate.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Multiple Plano corridors · Plano · Italian-American
The Col d'Orcia Brunello and Bertani Amarone suggest someone, somewhere, tried — but the surrounding list is chain-restaurant autopilot and the markups don't reward your loyalty. Order the breadsticks, nurse the Amarone, and keep your expectations exactly where the laminated menu set them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.