Pub grub done right, wine list done fine
Downtown / The Commons · Ithaca · Irish pub, Irish-American gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Kilpatrick's Publick House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're walking into a downtown Ithaca Irish pub, not a wine bar — and the list knows it. It's short, recognizable, and designed to complement a pint of Guinness on the next table, not challenge your palate. That said, the price range of $9–$12 a glass and bottles topping out around $100 means nobody's getting gouged here.
The list leans on familiar names from France, Italy, New Zealand, and California — exactly what you'd expect from a pub that wants to keep things simple and sellable. You've got Hugel Riesling from Alsace showing some actual regional thought, and the Jean Jacques Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé adding a touch of Burgundian class that most Irish pubs wouldn't bother with. Stag's Leap Artemis Cab on the high end gives the list a Napa anchor for the celebratory round. Gaps are real — no domestic options outside California, no rosé, and the southern hemisphere starts and ends with Kim Crawford.
We don't have a confirmed glass pour count, but the pricing window of $9–$12 suggests a tight, accessible pour program that covers the basics without much rotation. What's there is approachable and honestly priced for a pub setting — just don't expect anything off the beaten path showing up on the chalkboard. The Mionetto Prosecco by the glass is a solid pub-night opener if you're not starting with a pint.
Hugel Riesling, Alsace, France — $9–$12/glass
Hugel is a benchmark Alsace producer and this Riesling punches well above its pub-list price. Dry, focused, and a genuinely good wine that most people at this bar will walk right past in favor of Kim Crawford.
Jean Jacques Vincent 'Marie Antoinette' Pouilly-Fuissé, Burgundy, France
A proper white Burgundy hiding on an Irish pub list — this doesn't happen often. It's not the flashiest Pouilly-Fuissé out there, but it's real Chardonnay from Mâcon and it earns its spot here. Order it before someone realizes it doesn't belong.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut
Moët is the airport Champagne of Champagne — fine in a pinch, but at pub markup it's a lot of money for a label rather than a wine. The Mionetto Prosecco does the bubbles job at a fraction of the cost.
Hugel Riesling, Alsace, France + Fish and Chips
Alsatian Riesling with fried fish is a textbook call — the wine's bright acidity cuts through the batter and the light petrol note in a good Hugel actually plays well with the malt vinegar. Skip the Chardonnay impulse and go here instead.
The Bottom Line
Kilpatrick's is never going to make a wine list worth traveling to Ithaca for, but it's a fair, unpretentious pour program that respects your wallet and quietly sneaks in a Pouilly-Fuissé and a proper Hugel Riesling. Come for the shepherd's pie, stay for the Alsace.
· Ithaca · Southwestern / New American
Agava's wine program is essentially a placeholder — no producers named, no prices published, no apparent effort to connect the Southwestern-leaning menu to anything interesting in the glass. Ithaca sits in the heart of Finger Lakes wine country, making this omission especially puzzling. Order a cocktail, or bring your own bottle if corkage is an option.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · Hotel bar / seasonal restaurant
For a hotel bar in wine country, this list punches above its category — the Finger Lakes producers are legitimate, the Saperavi alone is worth a detour, and the overall curation signals actual effort. Pricing at a lakeside inn will likely sting, and without confirmed by-the-glass options or staff expertise, you may need to advocate for yourself. Come ready to order by the bottle, pick something local, and enjoy the view.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · New American
The Rook is swinging for something more interesting than its size suggests, and the range of regions and styles — Txakoline, Verdicchio, Barolo rosé, orange Garnacha — earns genuine respect for a 12-bottle list. Pricing skews steep at the top end, and the lack of any documented reds from classic regions is a real hole. If you're an adventurous drinker who's tired of the same wine list at every New American spot, this is worth exploring — just go in knowing you'll probably land in the $45–$56 range to find the value.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · Brasserie / New American
Simeon's wine list does its job without breaking a sweat — it's approachable, reasonably priced, and quietly proud of the Finger Lakes producers it stocks. The by-the-glass selection is the real strength here; if you're in Ithaca and want to explore local wine without committing to a bottle, this is a perfectly decent place to do it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ithaca · Northern Italian
Mercato is a well-regarded local staple with the right regional instincts — Italian roots, Finger Lakes ambition, and a warm room that earns its reservations. We'd feel comfortable sending a friend here for a solid bottle of wine with dinner, but we'd tell them to ask questions at the table, because we can't yet confirm the specifics behind the list. Worth a visit; worth a deeper look once a full wine list is in hand.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Hill / Elmira Road corridor · Ithaca · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Ithaca is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the list is short, the producers are supermarket-tier, and the markups on house pours are quietly aggressive. Come for the bread and the steak; if you need wine, order one glass and make peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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