Cheap pours, safe bets, sushi wins
North Melbourne · Melbourne · Japanese / Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Makoto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Fifteen labels isn't a wine list — it's a wine paragraph. But when bottles top out at $38 and glasses pour for $7-$10, you stop expecting Burgundy and start appreciating the honesty of the thing. This isn't a wine destination; it's a Japanese steakhouse in Melbourne, Florida that gets the job done without gouging you.
The list leans hard on California workhorses — Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Hess Monterey Chardonnay, Castle Rock Pinot Noir — with a few international cameos from Ca'Donini and Principato Pinot Grigio out of Italy, Trapiche Malbec from Argentina, and a Madonna Sweet Riesling for the crowd that wants something soft and low-stakes. The wild card here is the Kikkoman Plum Wine, which is exactly as on-brand as it sounds and will absolutely delight half the table. There are real gaps — no Rosé, no Sauvignon Blanc, nothing from the Pacific Northwest beyond 14 Hands Merlot — but at these prices, the gaps are easier to forgive. Think of it less as a curated selection and more as a greatest-hits playlist for a dining room that knows its audience.
Twelve of the fifteen labels are available by the glass, which is quietly impressive for a list this size and a very good sign for tables that can't agree on a bottle. At $7-$10 a pour, you can experiment without wincing at the bill — order the plum wine as a starter, pivot to something red with your ribeye, and nobody gets hurt. Rotation appears nonexistent, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Trapiche Estate Malbec — $26
A bottle of Trapiche for $26 at a restaurant is a genuine steal. This Argentine Malbec is fruit-forward and food-friendly, and at that bottle price you're barely above retail. Order the bottle, not the glass.
Kikkoman Plum Wine
Most people will scroll past this and grab the Chardonnay on autopilot. Don't. Served cold alongside sushi or a light hibachi dish, the Kikkoman Plum Wine is sweet, slightly tart, and genuinely fun — the kind of thing you'd never order at a wine bar but absolutely should order here.
Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
A supermarket staple that you've had a hundred times. Nothing wrong with it, but when the Hess Monterey Chardonnay is sitting right next to it at likely the same price point and actually has some regional character, there's no reason to default to KJ.
Castle Rock Pinot Noir + Hibachi Filet Mignon
Castle Rock Pinot Noir is light enough not to bulldoze the delicate char on a hibachi filet, and the bottle price keeps the whole evening in reasonable territory. The earthiness in the wine plays well against the teppanyaki smoke.
The Bottom Line
Makoto isn't trying to be a wine bar and it knows it — the list is short, the labels are familiar, and the prices are genuinely kind. Send your friends here for sushi and tell them to order the Malbec by the bottle; they'll be fine.
· Melbourne · Seafood Boil
Come here for the crab, the bibs, and the mess — just don't come for the wine. Order a cold beer or the cheapest white pour and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Melbourne · New American
Brevardian Riverfront is a dependable dinner destination where the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting and the wine list gets out of the kitchen's way. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but it won't embarrass itself either — send a friend for the date night, just temper expectations on what's in the glass.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Melbourne · Melbourne · Elevated Regional American
The Landing Rooftop is a reliable spot for a glass with a genuinely spectacular view — hit it on a Wednesday when the wines go half price and the Cambria Chardonnay becomes the best deal on the Space Coast. Don't come here to geek out on wine; do come here to drink something decent while watching a rocket launch.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Floribbean / Key West-inspired American
Hemingway's Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it earns its keep with a list that's wider than the vibe suggests and a Wednesday half-price bottle deal that makes even the steeper markups disappear. Come for the tacos, stay for the Albariño, and thank the calendar for getting you there on Wednesday.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Greek / Mediterranean
It's a counter-service Greek grill in a strip mall that serves Xinomavro and Assyrtiko at fair prices — that's either a minor miracle or a Wild Card, and we're calling it the latter. Don't sleep on the wine list just because you're eating off a paper tray.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Melbourne · Melbourne · Casual steakhouse / Australian-inspired American
Outback's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that treats wine as a revenue line item rather than a program worth caring about. Come for the steak, order the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need a bottle, and save the real wine exploration for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wilson · Jackson Hole · Japanese / Sushi
Start with the $16 Ca' Vittoria Prosecco, or the $17 Pascal Biotteau Anjou Blanc if you want a white by the glass. If you book the omakase, the restaurant says a wine or sake pairing is an additional $50 for four 3 oz pours. Confirm current availability and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted list, not service, storage or retail markups.
· Portsmouth · Japanese / Sushi
Nichinan's wine list is short but earns its keep — the presence of Pieropan, Grüner Veltliner, and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre tells you someone on staff understands that sushi and Chardonnay is not the only answer. Markups are fair across the board, and the by-the-glass selection is wide enough to keep the table happy without forcing a bottle. If you're in Portsmouth and want something better than the default wine-at-a-sushi-restaurant experience, this delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Ogden · Japanese / Sushi
Tona earns its Wild Card badge not because the wine program is remarkable on its own, but because Tuesday half-price wine night at one of Utah's most decorated sushi spots is a genuinely great deal hiding in plain sight. Come for the sushi, stay for the midweek special — just don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
