Gratzzi Italian Grille

The wine list at Gratzzi reads like it was assembled by someone who's been to Italy once and really liked it. It's the expected regional tour—Tuscany, Piedmont, maybe a Veneto sparkler—with prices that won't make you wince but won't make you jump either. Monday's half-price bottle deal is the real headliner here.

We're looking at a standard Italian trattoria playbook: Chianti Classico, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, maybe a Barbera d'Asti for the red drinkers, and the obligatory Pinot Grigio and Gavi lineup for the white wine crowd. The presence of Riunite Lambrusco signals they're not afraid of the frizzante life, which is actually a smart move for a place slinging pasta. The list doesn't dig deep into lesser-known regions like Campania or Sicily, and you won't find any natural wine experiments or garage producers. It's safe, it's familiar, and it pairs just fine with the veal saltimbocca without demanding much brain power.

The by-the-glass program is likely limited to four or five standards—your Chianti, your Pinot Grigio, maybe a Prosecco if you're celebrating making it through traffic on 2nd Street. Don't expect weekly rotations or adventurous pours. The glasses probably stay static for months, which is fine if they're decent bottles, less fine if they're grabbing the bottom shelf.