Pub grub done right, wine list done fine
Downtown / The Commons · Ithaca · Irish pub, Irish-American gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kilpatrick's Publick House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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.
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
Downtown / State Street · Ithaca · Cocktail Bar
The Watershed is a cocktail bar that accidentally has a decent wine list, and we mean that as a compliment. If you're in Ithaca and want a low-key glass of something thoughtfully chosen without paying downtown Manhattan prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West End / State Street · Ithaca · Wine Shop & Tasting Room
The Falls Wine Room is the kind of neighborhood spot that makes you realize how low the bar usually is — thoughtful list, honest prices, and a genuine point of view on what wine should be. If you're in Ithaca and you care even a little about what's in your glass, you owe this place a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown / Aurora Street · Ithaca · Fine Dining / International
Mahogany Grill is a fine restaurant that hasn't extended that care to its wine program — the list is mass-market, the Finger Lakes is a ghost, and the fine dining pricing makes it sting. Order the shrimp cocktail, drink the Bully Hill, and temper your expectations.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East State Street / East Hill · Ithaca · Italian (Tuscan-inspired, inventive Italian)
Gola is punching well above its weight class for an Ithaca side street — the Italian regional depth here would hold up at a serious wine bar in any major city. If you're driving through the Finger Lakes and think you're just stopping for dinner, plan to stay a while.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West End / State Street · Ithaca · Seafood / Cajun
Maxie's is not a wine destination, but it's a genuinely good time with a list that's fair, approachable, and wisely anchored by the Atwater Finger Lakes pour. Show up on a Monday for $10 off every bottle, order the oysters, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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