Insignia Prime Steak: Sushi
Long Island's Most Ambitious Wine Program, Full Stop
Smithtown · Smithtown · Steakhouse, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You're in Smithtown, New York — not Napa, not Manhattan — and the wine list reads like someone with very serious intentions built it from scratch. Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate sitting alongside Chateau Margaux and Sassicaia is not something you expect off a bypass road. This is a list that wants to be taken seriously, and it earns it.
Selection Deep Dive
The 300-500 bottle list leans hard into the California-France-Italy trifecta that Wine Spectator recognized when handing out the Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, and the depth in each column is real. California is stacked with the heavy hitters — Opus One, Caymus Special Selection, Silver Oak, Peter Michael, Duckhorn, Far Niente — covering the spectrum from approachable to cult. France punches in with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour anchoring the Bordeaux section, and Italy shows up with Sassicaia and Tignanello doing exactly what you'd hope. The one gap: if you're hunting for Burgundy or Rhône depth, the list tilts unmistakably Californian and Bordelais, which suits the steakhouse format but may leave certain guests wanting more.
By the Glass
With 20-35 options by the glass, this is one of the more generous pour programs on Long Island — and for a room split between wagyu and omakase, that range matters. The glass list appears to rotate within the same premium tier the bottle list inhabits, so you're not stuck sipping second-tier stuff while everyone else orders bottles. Sommelier Ross Piazza is on staff, which means someone is actually curating these selections rather than just defaulting to whatever the distributor pushed last week.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot — $50–$80 (est.)
In a room full of three-digit Cabernets, Duckhorn Merlot is the play. It's a serious wine from a serious producer, it works with both the steak and the sushi side of the menu, and it won't blow up your dinner budget the way the cult Cabs will.
Peter Michael Winery
Everyone at the table is going for Opus One or Caymus — understandably — but Peter Michael is doing some of the most interesting work in California and tends to fly under the radar next to the brand names. Worth a conversation with Ross to see what's available.
Screaming Eagle
It's here, and yes, it's Screaming Eagle. It's also a wine that commands a massive premium everywhere it's poured, and in a steakhouse setting you're paying for the name as much as the glass. Unless this is a genuine special occasion, the money goes further elsewhere on this list.
Sassicaia + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Sassicaia's Cabernet Sauvignon backbone and that signature coastal Tuscan grip were made for a heavily marbled dry-aged cut. The structure cuts through the fat, the wine doesn't get steamrolled by the beef, and you remember the bottle long after the check arrives.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Insignia is the rare suburban steakhouse where the wine list genuinely competes with what you'd find in a serious New York City dining room. Sommelier on staff, Wine Spectator credentials earned, and a list deep enough that you'll want to come back to work through it — just bring a bigger budget.
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