Great Sushi, Forgettable Wines From The Grocery Aisle
Downtown · Stamford · Japanese/Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Kashi is a genuinely good-looking restaurant — modern, stylish, the kind of place that makes you want to order a round of cocktails before you even sit down. Then you open the wine list and that momentum stalls. Fifteen labels, most of them names you'd recognize from the supermarket end-cap.
The list reads like someone grabbed whatever was available from a mid-tier distributor and called it a day. Angeline Pinot Noir, Mondavi Cabernet, Three Finger Jack Cab, Broquel Malbec — these aren't bad wines exactly, but they're also not wines that belong on a list charging restaurant markups at a destination sushi bar. There's no regional story here, no nod to sake-adjacent wine regions like Alsace or Burgundy that would actually make sense alongside raw fish. Fifteen labels total means the kitchen clearly cares more about the menu than the wine program, and honestly, fair enough — the food earns that attention.
Thirteen of fifteen bottles are available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the selection itself is thin. The glass pour range of $9–$12 is approachable for Stamford, but when the ceiling of the list is Mondavi and Three Finger Jack, a higher pour count doesn't really help. There's no rotation, no seasonal additions — what's on the list is what's on the list.
Broquel Malbec — $9/glass
Broquel is an Achaval Ferrer project and punches above its commercial price point — it's the most food-friendly, structured wine on this list. At the low end of the glass pour pricing, it's the clearest value here, especially alongside richer rolls.
Broquel Malbec
Nobody orders Malbec at a sushi bar, which is exactly why it works — the plummy fruit and firm structure cut through tempura batter and heavier sauced rolls in a way the Cabs on this list can't match. It's the dark horse.
Mondavi Cabernet
Robert Mondavi Private Selection is a $10 retail bottle. Whatever it's priced at here, the math doesn't work in your favor, and it's a hard sell alongside delicate sushi anyway. Order a cocktail instead — this place does those better.
Angeline Pinot Noir + Rock Shrimp Tempura
Angeline is a light, fruit-forward California Pinot that won't stomp on fried shrimp. The low tannin and soft red fruit play off the sweetness of the rock shrimp without competing with the tempura batter. It's not a revelatory pairing, but it's the best this list can offer for that dish.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to Kashi for the sushi and the atmosphere — both deliver. But the wine list is an afterthought, and with a stylish room and serious food, that's a real missed opportunity. Stick to cocktails or sake and save the wine obsession for somewhere that reciprocates.
Downtown · Stamford · Greek
Kouzina is doing the right things with Greek wine in a city that doesn't ask for it, and that's worth something. Pricing runs a little hot, but if you stick to the Greek producers and let the Assyrtiko do its thing, you'll eat and drink well.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Southwestern / Mexican
Geronimo is a tequila bar first and a wine destination never — but for what it is, the wine list punches above its weight class. If you're the one at the table who doesn't want a margarita, you're not stranded here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Classic American Burgers and Malt Shop Fare
Lucky's isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't try to be — but the prices are fair, everything's available by the glass, and a Malbec with a cheeseburger is genuinely a good idea. Come for the malt, stay for the Malbec.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Modern Italian, Tapas-Style Plates, Cocktail Bar
Zaza is a genuinely fun spot to drink wine if you show up on a Monday, when half-price bottles turn a steep list into a reasonable one. Come any other night and you're paying full markup on wines you could pick up at Total Wine on the way home.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Springdale · Stamford · Italian
Table 104 is punching above its Springdale weight class — the Italian selections alone make it worth a visit, and the Barolo by the glass is a straight-up steal. The markups get aggressive on the California side, but stick to the Italian half of this list and you'll drink very well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side/Stillwater · Stamford · Japanese
Fin II is here for the sushi and hibachi, and the wine list makes no bones about that. Come for the food, order sake, and if you must have wine, grab the Riesling and move on.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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