Middle Eastern food, Israeli wine, zero apologies
Lincoln Park · Chicago · Farm to Table, Middle Eastern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Galit Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a Michelin-starred Middle Eastern spot in Lincoln Park and the wine list is... actually Israeli-forward and serious about it. That alone earns your attention. This isn't a list that wandered in from the nearest steakhouse — it was clearly built with intention.
Galit's list runs 120-160 bottles with a genuine focus on Israel, Lebanon, and California — a trifecta you won't find anywhere else in Chicago. Domaine du Castel and Yatir Winery anchor the Israeli side with real credibility, while Chateau Musar and Massaya bring Lebanese depth that most wine directors in this city wouldn't even attempt. Recanati and Clos de Gat round out the Israeli section nicely, giving you options at different price points rather than just trophy bottles. California shows up through Covenant Winery, which fits the kosher-friendly ethos of the list and adds a familiar entry point for guests nervous about venturing into Bekaa Valley territory.
With 12-18 pours in the $14-$22 range, the by-the-glass program is solid and unusually adventurous for a Lincoln Park dining room. Expect to see Israeli whites and Lebanese reds on the pour list — not just token appearances but genuine picks that actually reflect the bottle list. Rotation feels curated rather than reactive, which is a good sign.
Massaya (Lebanon) — $12-$40 range
Lebanese wine at a Michelin spot where it belongs — Massaya offers smoky, sun-baked Rhône character that drinks well above its price point and plays perfectly against the shawarma and mezze on the table.
Chateau Ksara (Lebanon)
Most guests reach for something familiar and walk right past Ksara, one of Lebanon's oldest operating wineries. These bottles carry real history and a savory, earthy quality that makes them fascinating alongside roasted eggplant or lamb — don't sleep on it.
California options (general)
Covenant is a fine producer but if you're sitting in front of the most interesting Israeli and Lebanese list in Chicago, ordering California is like flying to Tokyo and eating at a Cheesecake Factory. The California bottles are here as a safety net — don't use it.
Domaine du Castel (Israel) + Lamb neck shawarma
Castel's reds are Bordeaux-influenced but carry a distinctly Eastern Mediterranean warmth — dark fruit, cedar, a little earth. Against the slow-roasted, spiced lamb neck shawarma, it's the kind of match that makes you put down your fork mid-bite and just think for a second.
The Bottom Line
Galit is doing something almost no one else in Chicago is doing with a wine list, and they've got a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023 to show it's not accidental. If you care at all about Israeli or Lebanese wine, this is your excuse to make a reservation.
· Chicago · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Chicago's wine list is built for throughput, not discovery — it's reliable, reasonably ranged by the glass, and anchored by South American selections that at least make thematic sense with the food. The markups are steeper than we'd like and the list won't excite anyone who drinks wine as seriously as they eat meat, but the Catena Malbec and the Bodega Garzón Albariño are legitimate picks that rise above the crowd-pleaser baseline. Come for the churrasco, drink the Catena, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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A 38-pour glass list with unpriced Champagne and Burgundy-heavy bottle pages behind it. Start with the $14 Tiberio Trebbiano or the $15 Thymiopoulos Assyrtiko, and ask for bottle prices because the posted bottle pages carry none. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks menu, not service, storage or markups.
Fulton Market · Chicago · Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
A Mediterranean list built around Greece and Lebanon, with 18 wines on the by-the-glass pages. Start with the Kalokaíri rosé (16 / 64) or the Chateau Musar "Jeune Rouge" (19 / 76), and confirm current vintages and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River North · Chicago · American
A short 14-wine list, with most price pairs between $13 and $15 and four single-price wines at $72 to $80. Order the Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling at $13 | 50, or the Provence rosé if you want the one French wine, and ask which number is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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