Lebanese wine country, right on Fifth Avenue
Flatiron/NoMad · New York · Lebanese · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ilili NYC’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open a wine list at a Lebanese restaurant in Flatiron and expect the usual suspects — a Sancerre, a California Cab, maybe a token rosé. What you get instead is 470 bottles, a dedicated section of Lebanese producers, and the creeping feeling that you've been underestimating this cuisine's relationship with wine for years. It's a genuine gut-check moment.
The Lebanese section anchors the whole thing, and it's not a novelty — Chateau Musar alone could justify a visit, and ilili even hosts dedicated Musar wine dinners. Beyond Lebanon, the list pulls from France, Italy, and California with enough depth to satisfy the old-world purists and the new-world explorers at the same table. At 470 selections, there's real range here, and it doesn't feel padded — this list has a point of view. The only gap worth noting is that Eastern Mediterranean coverage beyond Lebanon could go deeper, but that's a stretch complaint given what's already here.
Fifteen to twenty pours by the glass is a healthy number for a list this focused, and the glass program appears to rotate enough that you won't find the same tired Chardonnay every visit. The presence of Lebanese producers by the glass — not just buried in the bottle list — is the differentiator; that's a commitment most restaurants wouldn't bother making. Pour prices are reasonable given the NYC context.
Paul Buisse Cremant de Loire NV — $17
A 68% markup on a solid sparkling wine in Manhattan is practically an act of charity. This is your aperitif opener — bright, food-friendly, and priced like they want you to actually order it.
Ixsir Altitudes White 2018
Most tables walk right past Lebanese whites and reach for the Chablis out of habit. The Ixsir Altitudes is a high-elevation Lebanese white that holds its own against anything French on this list — and at $14 a glass, it's the kind of discovery that makes a dinner memorable.
Laurent Perrier Champagne Brut NV
A hundred percent markup lands it at $25 a glass, which is technically 'fair for NYC Champagne' — but Laurent Perrier Brut is a grocery store splurge bottle dressed up in restaurant clothes. When the Cremant de Loire is right there at $17, this one doesn't earn its keep.
Chateau Musar Red + Lamb chops with garlic sauce
Musar's signature blend of Cabernet, Cinsault, and Carignan has that savory, slightly oxidative character that was basically made to sit next to charred lamb and aggressive garlic. It's a regional handshake — both the wine and the dish come from the same culinary tradition, and it shows.
The Bottom Line
Ilili is the rare restaurant where the wine list actually teaches you something — specifically that Lebanon makes serious wine and you've been sleeping on it. With fair markups, a sommelier who clearly cares, and 470 bottles anchored by one of New York's best Lebanese selections, this is absolutely worth a detour.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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