Montgomery's French Escape Is the Real Deal
Cloverdale · Montgomery · French Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Frenchie's’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Frenchie's feels like someone imported a Parisian bistro and quietly dropped it into a Cloverdale strip mall — leather banquettes, candlelight, and a wine list that leans hard into France. It's the kind of place that makes you sit up straighter without anyone asking you to. The room sets high expectations for what's in the glass.
The list is France-forward, which makes sense given the concept, but the question is whether it digs past the obvious appellations or just hits the familiar notes — Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Rhône. A wine bar billing itself as French in the Deep South is a bold move, and the bones are there; what we can't confirm is whether the list has the depth to back up the attitude. Montgomery doesn't have a lot of competition in this lane, which could mean Frenchie's is playing it safe knowing they don't have to try harder. We'd love to see more grower Champagne and natural-leaning Loire producers, but that remains to be verified on a return visit.
By-the-glass specifics weren't available during our research pass, which is itself a mild concern for a wine bar — a strong BTG program is table stakes for the format. If they're rotating thoughtfully through the French regions, that's a win; if it's the same four pours week after week, that's a missed opportunity in a room this charming.
The Bottom Line
Frenchie's is doing something genuinely rare for Montgomery — committing to a French wine bar identity in a city that mostly plays it safe — and that alone earns them the Wild Card. Come for the duck confit and the atmosphere; just go in ready to explore rather than expecting a deep, curated cellar.
· Montgomery · New American
La Jolla isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's putting in more effort than most restaurants in Montgomery. Fair prices, a surprising Loire pick hiding in plain sight, and enough glass options to keep the table happy all night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Alley Entertainment District · Montgomery · Upscale American, Contemporary Southern
Central is the kind of place where the wine list supports the meal without stealing the spotlight — which is exactly what a restaurant like this needs. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them toward the Rhône white or the Pinot Gris and away from the Rombauer markup.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hampstead · Montgomery · Casual American bar food and café fare
The Tipping Point is a solid neighborhood spot that happens to have wine, not a wine destination that also serves food — and that's okay. If you're here for the patio, the burgers, or a casual weeknight out, grab the rosé or the Malbec and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Montgomery · Montgomery · Steakhouse / Wine-Focused American
Cork & Cleaver is quietly one of the better wine lists in Montgomery — international range, fair pricing, and actual producer curation hiding behind a Southern gastropub front door. Send your wine-curious friends here and tell them to skip the Prisoner.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Boulevard / Dalraida · Montgomery · Italian
This is a wine program by committee, for volume, not for pleasure. If someone at your table insists on wine, grab a glass while you're waiting to be seated and enjoy the half-price benefit — but don't plan your evening around what's in the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
East Boulevard · Montgomery · Steakhouse
Outback Montgomery's wine program is a formality, not a feature — it checks the box without breaking a sweat or a single new grape variety. If wine matters to you tonight, order the Riesling, keep expectations grounded, and save the serious bottle for a restaurant that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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