A Full Bar Where Wine Is the Last Priority
Downtown · Clayton · American Grill · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Friends Clayton Grill’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Friends Clayton Grill has a full bar, which means wine is technically available. The selection is minimal and basic: a handful of entry-level labels served by the glass. The bar leans beer and liquor, and the wine list reflects that priority. Prices are fair for what you get.
A full bar with minimal wine effort. Friends is a grill and a bar, and the wine list is an afterthought. No variety, no curation, no attempt to do anything interesting. The beer and cocktails are the way to go here.
The Bottom Line
Friends Clayton Grill is a bar-and-grill with a full bar. The wine is basic and forgettable. Order a beer or a cocktail instead.
LaPrade's Marina · Clayton · Pizza / Quick Service
Billy Goat Island once had a bottle list that punched way above its weight class for a marina pizza counter. Ownership changes and a winter closure leave the wine program in limbo. We will update when it reopens.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Red Flag
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Clayton · Cajun / Creole
Bleu Canoe brings Harry Bissett's wine sensibility to Cajun food in the mountains. Extensive selection, fair pricing, and a kitchen that knows how to match spice with the right pour. A genuine surprise.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Clayton · Comfort Food / American
Clayton Cafe is comfort food at fair prices. The wine list is minimal but cheap. Come for the food, not the wine.
Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Clayton · Pizza / Burgers
Fortify pairs local Georgia wines with pizza and burgers in a fun, casual setting. The Road Town Rum Bar downstairs adds range. Solid for what it is.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Lake Burton · Clayton · Dive Bar / American
Lake Burton Cafe is a lakeside dive bar. The beer is cold, the setting is great, and the wine is irrelevant. That's not a criticism.
Grocery Store
Fair
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Clayton · Sicilian / Italian
Mama G's delivers Sicilian comfort food with a wine list that matches: simple, Italian-leaning, fairly priced. Order the house red and the eggplant.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 64 / Outskirts · Canandaigua · American Grill
Lock Stock isn't a wine destination, but Wednesday's half-price Wine Down with Dr. Frank's Riesling in your glass and $1 wings on the table is genuinely hard to argue with. Come for the deal, stay for the surprise.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Tahoe Donner · Truckee · American Grill
The Grille has a wine program that would hold its own in a proper city restaurant, which makes it a legitimate reason to seek out this lodge beyond just the mountain access. Markups are real and the Dom can stay on the shelf, but the Coravin program and the depth of California selections make this a genuine Wild Card worth your attention.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Downtown · Portsmouth · American Grill
Skip the Gas Light on any night but Wednesday — half off all bottles turns a steep list into a genuinely solid deal and makes this a legitimate downtown Portsmouth option. The rest of the week, order a beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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