Sweet-leaning sushi list that gets the job done
· Newport News · Japanese / Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Hayashi Sushi & Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Hayashi reads like it was built with the path of least resistance in mind — familiar names, approachable price points, and a heavy lean toward sweet and semi-sweet options. It's not trying to impress anyone with obscure producers, and honestly, for a sushi spot in Newport News, that's a defensible call. The $22–$80 bottle range keeps things accessible without venturing into anything that would raise an eyebrow.
Thirty-seven labels split across bubbles, whites, and reds, with a notable soft spot for sweet and semi-sweet wines — Stella Moscato, Roscato Red Moscato, two plum wines, and multiple Rieslings make up a big chunk of the real estate here. The white side has some decent utility: Clean Slate and Kung Fu Girl both do honest work with sushi, and the three Sauvignon Blancs (Ponga, Rickshaw, Brancott) give you something crisp to chase raw fish with. Reds are thin and predictable — Josh Pinot Noir and Cono Sur Bicicleta are grocery-store staples, and the Spellbound Petit Syrah feels like an odd fit for the menu. There's no Old World depth to speak of, no natural wine curiosity, and no real cellar ambition.
Twenty-five by-the-glass options is genuinely generous for a restaurant this size — most places top out at a dozen. Tiamo Prosecco at $10 a glass anchors the affordable end, and the overall glass pour pricing ($8–$16) is reasonable enough that you won't feel penalized for not committing to a bottle. Rotation doesn't appear to be a thing here; this looks like a static list that changes rarely if ever.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling — $23
Charles Smith's Kung Fu Girl is a legitimately solid Washington Riesling — off-dry, high-acid, made for raw fish — and at $23 a bottle it's priced close to retail. This is the smart order on this list.
Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir
Nobody orders this because it looks like a budget afterthought, and technically it is — but Cono Sur's Bicicleta punches above its price point consistently, and at $26 a bottle it's the most drinkable red on a list that doesn't have much to offer in that department.
Chateau St. Michelle "Mini" Chardonnay
At $30 a bottle you're paying restaurant markup on what is, generously, an entry-level Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay — a wine that retails for well under $15. Spend those dollars on the Kung Fu Girl instead.
Clean Slate Riesling + Spicy Tuna Roll
Clean Slate is off-dry with bright acidity, which is exactly what you want against spicy tuna — the residual sugar tempers the heat and the citrus backbone cuts through the richness of the fish. It's the most natural match on this list.
The Bottom Line
Hayashi's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a neighborhood sushi spot — fair prices, nothing weird, nothing special. Grab the Kung Fu Girl Riesling and call it a night.
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Italian
Carrabba's wine list does exactly what a chain wine list does: it keeps people comfortable and keeps margins high. If you're here for a business dinner or a family birthday, order the TerraMare house pour and move on — but don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Steakhouse / Cocktail Bar
Steak & Tonic is a genuinely surprising find for Newport News — the wine ambitions outpace most steakhouses in its weight class, even if the execution can wobble and the pricing likely skews steep. It earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of place you walk into expecting a cocktail and walk out talking about the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Wine Bar
Vino Noir Social isn't trying to be a Burgundy deep-dive — it's trying to be a good time in Newport News, and at these prices with a fully by-the-glass list, it mostly delivers. Send a friend who's still exploring wine and wants a low-stakes, affordable night out.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Wine Bar / Cheese Bar
Tinto is doing something quietly ambitious for its market, and the Old World tilt on the list is exactly the kind of thing we want to see more of. Send your wine-curious friends here — they'll come back with opinions they didn't have before.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· Portsmouth · Japanese / Sushi
Nichinan's wine list is short but earns its keep — the presence of Pieropan, Grüner Veltliner, and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre tells you someone on staff understands that sushi and Chardonnay is not the only answer. Markups are fair across the board, and the by-the-glass selection is wide enough to keep the table happy without forcing a bottle. If you're in Portsmouth and want something better than the default wine-at-a-sushi-restaurant experience, this delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ogden · Japanese / Sushi
Tona earns its Wild Card badge not because the wine program is remarkable on its own, but because Tuesday half-price wine night at one of Utah's most decorated sushi spots is a genuinely great deal hiding in plain sight. Come for the sushi, stay for the midweek special — just don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · Kingston · Japanese / Sushi
Sushi Makio's wine list is modest but functional, with honest pricing and a smart nod to Japanese wine options that most spots never bother with. We'd happily send a friend here for a low-key sushi night — just order the Yuzu Wine and leave the Cab alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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