Lincoln Ristorante

148 labels at an Italian restaurant in Lincoln, Nebraska is not what you're expecting — and that's the whole point. This list opens with Kerner from Alto Adige and Greco di Tufo from Campania before most lists in much larger cities would even consider leaving Pinot Grigio territory. Someone here cares, and it shows immediately.

The list leans hard into Italy — correctly — but doesn't use that as an excuse to get lazy. You've got Fontodi Chianti Classico 2021 and Vietti Castiglioni Barolo 2021 anchoring the reds with credibility, while the whites span from a Pacher Hof Kerner (a grape most diners have never heard of) to a San Salvatore Fiano from Paestum. The Gaja RossJ-Bass at $172 is the splurge flex, and the Altesino Brunello at $105 is genuinely competitive pricing for that producer and vintage. There are gaps — the French presence is thin beyond the Riffault Sancerre and a Rully from Michael Briday — but for a list that's this Italy-focused, that's a feature, not a bug.

Twenty-four by-the-glass options is a serious commitment, and the range doesn't embarrass itself. You can pour a G.D. Vajra Nebbiolo Rosé for $19 or step into the Castello della Sala Bramito Chardonnay for $22 — that's legitimate depth for a pour program. The floor starts at $18 with options like the I Ottella Lugana and the Tenuta Regaleali Grillo, which is fair entry pricing for this caliber of list.