Solid Seafood Pours With a River View
Downtown Providence · Providence · American, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Hemenway's Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Hemenway's reads like a greatest hits album — you know every track, none of them are surprises. It's comfortable and approachable, which fits the room, but don't come here expecting to discover anything new. What it does do is pair without friction: familiar bottles for fresh New England seafood.
California dominates the proceedings, with France and Oregon making supporting appearances and New Zealand filling the white wine gap. The list runs 80 to 150 bottles deep, which sounds impressive until you notice how much of that real estate goes to household names. Far Niente and Sonoma-Cutrer anchor the whites, which is a solid call for a seafood-forward menu, but there's little here to excite anyone who spends time in a wine shop. Oregon shows up but the list doesn't lean into it the way a place with this much salmon and shellfish really should.
The by-the-glass program offers 12 to 20 options, which is a decent spread for a mid-range seafood spot. You'll find the usual suspects — Whispering Angel for the rosé crowd, a couple of Chardonnays, probably a safe Pinot Noir. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; what you see is what you get, season after season.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — null
In a room full of inflated California whites, this one at least delivers genuine Russian River character — stone fruit, restrained oak, enough acidity to cut through chowder. It's a known quantity that earns its place on the table.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay
Most people at a seafood restaurant in Providence will default to whatever's cheapest by the glass. This one is worth the upgrade — it's a legitimately vineyard-specific wine in a list that doesn't offer many.
Whispering Angel Rosé
The markup on Whispering Angel at restaurants like this is almost always punishing, and you're paying heavily for the pink bottle and the brand recognition. There's almost certainly a better rosé value hiding somewhere on this list.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay + New England Clam Chowder
The wine's bright acidity and stone fruit cut through the cream without fighting the briny clam notes. It's the obvious move here, and the obvious move is obvious for a reason.
The Bottom Line
Hemenway's wine list is the responsible sedan of wine programs — it gets you where you're going without incident, but you're not telling anyone about it later. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't overthink it.
· Providence · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Providence is a steakhouse first, and the wine list reflects exactly that priority — it's serviceable, accessible, and won't embarrass anyone, but it's also not trying very hard. If you're here for the churrasco experience, grab the Jorjão Malbec or the Garzón Albariño and let the meat do the heavy lifting. Don't come expecting discovery; do come knowing exactly what you're getting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Federal Hill · Providence · Mediterranean with American flair, rotisserie-focused bistro
A glass-led list with a fair spread: 18 pours from $10 to $21, most reds at $14 or under, and a half-bottle section for when two people want different things. Start with the $15 Stoller Pinot Noir if you are ordering the short ribs, or the $13 Riesling with the choucroute, and confirm prices since the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Fox Point · Providence · American Brasserie
A compact list with three pour sizes: 17 wines come as 6 oz, 9 oz or bottle, and bottles run from $30 to $125. Start with the $10 Chateau Roc de Segur Bordeaux or the $11 Marqués De Valor Albariño, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian
A big Italian-leaning list: 41 Italian reds, 25 Cabernets and 22 wines by the glass. For a glass, the $14 Bonanza Cabernet by Caymus or the $11 Dante Di Fiorenza Super Tuscan are the easy picks; for a bottle, the $44 Carpineto Chianti Classico with the Mafaldine Bolognese is a safe, honest match. The menu says vintages can change with availability, so confirm before ordering. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian
A large Italian-American list with enough by-the-glass range to cover a big table. Start with the Fratelli Cozza Montepulciano d'Abruzzo at $10 a glass, or the Silvan Ridge Willamette Pinot at $13 if you want something lighter, and come on a Monday if you want to buy bottles at half price. The wine pages are undated, so confirm prices when you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
College Hill · Providence · American, French
A Cabernet-heavy list from autumn 2025, with glass pours from 10 and bottles up to a 450 Opus One. Start with the 10 Château du Petit Thouars Cabernet Franc, or the 16 Fontanafredda Nebbiolo if you want something from Piedmont, and check that the list is still current since it is marked September 2025. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Rice Village · Houston · American, Seafood
Start with the Simonsig Chenin Blanc ($16 for 6oz, $55 per bottle) or the $70 Mâcon-Bussières, and look at the October Bordeaux page if you're ordering seafood. Confirm vintages and prices when you order, since the list is linked as 10.07.26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
North Fremont / Beachfront · Monterey · American, Seafood
The Lantern Room is what happens when a hotel restaurant actually tries — a locally anchored wine list, a sommelier in the building, and enough interesting producers to make the steep markup sting a little less. Send a friend here if they love Central Coast wine; warn them to skip the Cab and lean into what this coast actually grows.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scott's Addition · Richmond · American, Seafood
Lillian is the rare spot where the wine list is more ambitious than the address suggests — a focused, France-and-Italy-forward program with legit producers, a knowledgeable floor lead, and bottle prices that don't feel punitive. Send a friend here, tell them to sit at the counter, order oysters, and ask PJ what's open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
