Small list, solid picks, zero pretense
Lakewood · Cleveland · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Forage Public House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Fifteen labels sounds like barely trying, but Forage earns it — this isn't a list that got lazy, it's one that got edited. Someone made real decisions here, and that shows. The price ceiling of $56 a bottle means nobody's getting gouged on a Tuesday night out in Lakewood.
The list touches Washington, Mendoza, Mosel, Languedoc, California, and Champagne without feeling like a world tour thrown together by a distributor's rep. Dr. Loosen Riesling and Le Charmel Pinot Noir signal that whoever built this list has at least passing interest in wines that aren't on every chain restaurant menu. That said, 15 labels is 15 labels — serious wine drinkers will hit the bottom of this list in about 90 seconds, and there's no depth to explore once you've made your pick. No deep cellar, no aged bottles, no surprises waiting on page two — because there is no page two.
Eight pours out of fifteen labels is a strong by-the-glass ratio, meaning most of the list is accessible without committing to a bottle. The $10–$14 glass range is genuinely fair for a casual neighborhood spot — you're not getting squeezed just because you ordered one glass with dinner. Rotation appears minimal, so don't expect to find something new every visit.
Dr. Loosen Riesling (Mosel, Germany) — $10
Dr. Loosen is one of the most respected names in German Riesling — consistently well-made, food-friendly, and at $10 a glass it's the kind of pour that makes you feel like you got away with something.
Le Charmel Pinot Noir (Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France)
Most people at a casual American spot are going to reach for the Malbec or the Cab, which means this Languedoc Pinot sits quietly and waits for someone paying attention. Lighter, earthier, and more interesting than anything else on the red side of this list.
G.H. Mumm Brut (Champagne, France)
Mumm is fine Champagne in the way that a airport hotel is fine lodging — technically correct, zero excitement. At a 15-bottle list with a $56 ceiling, the markup on Champagne almost always hurts, and you're paying for the name more than the wine. Save the bubbles for somewhere that has better options.
Dr. Loosen Riesling (Mosel, Germany) + Seasonal vegetable plate
Forage leans into fresh, seasonal ingredients, and a good Mosel Riesling — with its balance of stone fruit and bright acidity — plays well with herb-forward, vegetable-driven dishes without competing for attention.
The Bottom Line
Forage isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be one — but the list is honest, fairly priced, and better than most neighborhood spots have any obligation to offer. Send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; just tell them to order the Riesling.
University Circle · Cleveland · Regional
Table 45 is a dependable hotel wine list that punches above its Cleveland zip code — it's not adventurous, but it's not embarrassing either. Send a friend here if they want recognizable, quality bottles in a proper setting; steer them toward Jordan and Drouhin and away from the obvious crowd-pleasers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Flats East Bank · Cleveland · Italian
Lago East Bank is a legitimately strong Italian wine program in a city that doesn't always get credit for having them — the WS Award of Excellence since 2023 is earned. Markups keep it from being a great value play, but if you're going to drop money on a bottle of Barolo anywhere in Cleveland, this is the room to do it.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Shaker Square · Cleveland · French
Edwins is one of the most genuinely interesting restaurant stories in Cleveland — a fine-dining French program run by people earning their place in the industry — and the wine list is good enough to stand on its own merits, mission aside. Send a friend here and tell them to order French across the board, from the escargot to the bottle.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Woodmere · Cleveland · American Steakhouse
J. Gilbert's is a reliable, well-stocked steakhouse list that plays it safe with California heavyweights and charges accordingly — nothing groundbreaking, but the Sunday wine deal is one of the better recurring specials in Cleveland and reason enough to plan around it. Come for the filet, drink better than you expected to.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Gateway District · Cleveland · Italian, American, Steakhouse
The Centro is a reliable pour for downtown Cleveland — the list won't surprise you, the prices will sting a little, but it's a competent wine program for a hotel steakhouse anchored in a beautiful room. Send a friend here if they want familiar bottles and a good steak; steer them elsewhere if they're looking for anything off the beaten path.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Cleveland · American Grill
J. Alexander's has no business having this good of a markup on their wine list, but here we are. It's a chain, it's comfortable, and it's offering pours like Austin Hope Cabernet at prices that would embarrass half the independent restaurants in Cleveland — send a friend here without hesitation.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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