Johnny's Bar
Old-School Cleveland Hiding a Serious Wine List
Old Brooklyn · Cleveland · Northern Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You walk into leopard print carpet and Art Deco wood paneling expecting a wine list that tops out at Pinot Grigio and calls it a day. Then the list lands and it's 100-plus bottles deep with Kosta-Browne, Far Niente, and a 2003 Dom Pérignon sitting at the bottom of the page. This neighborhood joint on Fulton Road is playing a different game than its exterior suggests.
Selection Deep Dive
The backbone is exactly what you'd want from a Northern Italian kitchen: Tuscan and Piedmontese reds doing the heavy lifting, with some smart French Burgundy (Louis Jadot Meursault, Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet) rounding out the white side. California gets serious real estate too — Jordan, Kosta-Browne, Far Niente, and Miner all show up, which tells you someone here actually cares about the Chardonnay program. The Italian angle is reinforced by the Antinori Vermentino Guado al Tasso 2011, a producer-driven pick that feels intentional rather than accidental. The list doesn't go especially deep on by-the-glass natural wine or anything cutting-edge, but for a classic Italian-American room in Cleveland, the range earns real respect.
By the Glass
Ten to sixteen pours on offer, which is a healthy spread for this kind of spot. We'd love to see more rotation and a few more Italian-focused options to match the kitchen, but what's here covers the bases without leaning on the usual suspects. The Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir at $40 by the bottle suggests the glass program has at least one interesting move.
Antinori Vermentino Guado al Tasso 2011 — $55
A producer-pedigreed Italian white from one of Tuscany's great estates at a price that doesn't insult you. Vermentino at this level is rare on Cleveland lists, and $55 for Antinori's coastal Maremma program is an honest deal.
Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir
Most tables are going to walk right past this and order the Dom at $250. Don't. The Chandon Blanc de Noir is a versatile, food-friendly sparkler that works across the whole menu and won't leave you staring at your credit card statement.
Kosta-Browne Chardonnay Russian River
At $160, you're paying a premium for a name that's already priced aggressively at retail. It's a great wine, but the markup here makes it a tough sell when you've got Far Niente on the same list for $95.
Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet + Linguini with White Clam Sauce
Burgundian Chardonnay with its mineral edge and restrained fruit is the classic call against briny clam sauce. The acidity cuts through the butter, the texture holds up to the pasta, and Jadot's Puligny won't overshadow the dish the way a bigger California Chardonnay might.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Johnny's Bar is the kind of place that surprises you — a neighborhood institution with a wine list that punches well above its leopard-print weight class. If you're in Cleveland and eating Italian, this is where you want to be drinking.
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