Italy-first wine list with an ocean view
Atlantic City Boardwalk · Atlantic City · Italian, Seafood
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Linguini by the Sea’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Linguini by the Sea, the Atlantic Ocean does a lot of the heavy lifting before you even open the wine list. But the list itself earns some attention too — it's focused, Italian all the way through, and priced in a range that won't make you choke on your oyster. This is a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence holder since 2021, and the Italian depth shows.
The list runs 150-250 bottles and stays almost exclusively in Italian territory, which is exactly the right call for a restaurant of this stripe. You've got serious producers like Gaja in Barbaresco, Antinori's Tignanello pulling weight in the Super Tuscan corner, and Mastroberardino's Taurasi representing Campania with authority. Southern Italy gets a real seat at the table — Feudi di San Gregorio's Fiano di Avellino and Planeta's Nero d'Avola are both legit inclusions that signal someone actually cares about the peninsula below Rome. The weak spot is everything outside Italy: it's basically not there, which is a fine choice as long as you came here for Italian, and you should have.
Ten to twenty by-the-glass options keeps things manageable without feeling like you're stuck choosing between two bad options. The $10-$18 glass price range is reasonable for a boardwalk fine dining spot in a casino market where operators can and do gouge freely. We'd love to see a little more rotation here — right now it reads more like a static menu than an active glass program.
Feudi di San Gregorio Fiano di Avellino — $35–$50
Southern Italian whites are chronically underpriced relative to their quality, and Feudi's Fiano is a textbook example — mineral, structured, genuinely interesting — sitting at the low end of a list that goes much higher. Order it before the Blue Point Oysters and don't look back.
Mastroberardino Taurasi
Most tables at a boardwalk Italian spot are reaching for the Tignanello or the Amarone because the names ring a bell. Taurasi from Mastroberardino — the family that essentially preserved Campanian winemaking — is the serious drinker's pick. Aglianico-based, built for long haul, and routinely overlooked by anyone not already hunting for it.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is the wine that taught a generation of Americans that Pinot Grigio costs $40, and it's been coasting on that reputation ever since. It's fine — it's always fine — but on a list with Fiano di Avellino on it, spending money here is a missed opportunity dressed in a familiar label.
Planeta Nero d'Avola + Handcrafted Pasta
Nero d'Avola from Planeta is dark-fruited and warm without being heavy, which makes it a natural fit for a rich pasta — think something with a tomato-braised meat component. Sicily and Southern Italian pasta are essentially the same cultural conversation, and this pairing feels earned rather than engineered.
The Bottom Line
Linguini by the Sea isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's a genuinely solid Italian list in a setting where it could easily be much worse. If you're eating here — and the ocean view alone is reason enough — the wine program will take care of you.
· Atlantic City · Cocktail Lounge
Nola's is a genuinely fun place to spend a late night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk — the atmosphere earns its stripes. But if wine is why you're sitting down, you're in the wrong seat. Order a cocktail, enjoy the music, and save your serious wine budget for somewhere that's thought harder about the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlantic City · New American / Wine Bar
The Iron Room is the kind of wine-forward bar Atlantic City doesn't know it needs — cozy, staffed by people who care, and refreshingly serious about what's in the glass. If you're in AC and want something other than $14 Pinot Grigio at a casino bar, this is your move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Golden Nugget Casino · Atlantic City · Steakhouse
Vic & Anthony's is a competent casino steakhouse wine list — it won't embarrass you and it won't thrill you. If you're already there for the steak, grab the Siduri by the glass and don't look too hard at the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Margate City · Atlantic City · Seafood / New American
Steve & Cookie's isn't a wine destination, but it's a solid spot to drink reasonably well alongside excellent seafood and a live jazz soundtrack. If you're going Monday through Thursday, get there early and hit the bar before your table.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Atlantic City · Atlantic City · Mediterranean / Italian
Sofia isn't a wine destination, but it's a better-than-expected list for the Shore — especially if you lean into the Greek selections that nobody else around here is bothering with. The markups on the California staples will sting, so go Greek and drink smarter.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlantic City · Italian
Café 2825 is a celebration restaurant with a wine list to match — trophy Champagnes, premium California whites, and a few smart Italian picks that reward anyone who looks past the obvious. Prices likely reflect the occasion more than the liquid, but if you're in Atlantic City for a big night, there are worse places to pop a bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Georgetown · Washington · Italian, Seafood
A very large list that is easier to navigate than it looks, because the glass page is clearly labeled in ounces. Start with the Il Monticello Vermentino (18 for 6 oz) or the Etna Rosso (19 for 6 oz) instead of reaching for the Sancerre at 26, and skim the Sommelier Selections page before you open the 60 pages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Anthem/Seven Hills · Henderson · Italian, Seafood
Ventano is a reliable date-night option when you want a wine that sounds impressive to your table without requiring anyone to think too hard. The list won't challenge you, but it won't embarrass you either — just watch the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lamar · Austin · Italian, Seafood
A neighborhood Italian spot with a better wine list than it has any obligation to have — and Wednesday half-price wine night is one of the better deals in Austin. Come for the pasta, stay for the Barolo.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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