Mario's Place

The wine list lands on your table like a small paperback novel — 300 to 400 bottles deep, anchored in California, Italy, and France, exactly what you'd expect from a white-tablecloth Italian institution that's been holding a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2004. This isn't a restaurant that stuck a few Pinot Grigios on the menu and called it a day. Someone here actually cares.

California carries serious weight — Caymus, Stag's Leap, and Opus One represent the blockbuster tier, while the Italian contingent pulls in Sassicaia, Gaja Barolo, and Brunello di Montalcino from Banfi and Altesino, giving the list real depth for a restaurant that isn't in a major metro. France rounds things out with Louis Jadot Burgundy and a solid Bordeaux château section. The list skews classic and crowd-conscious rather than adventurous — you won't find funky natural wines or obscure Jura producers here — but within its lane, it's genuinely well-curated and cohesive.

With 20 to 30 options by the glass, Mario's is more generous than most fine dining rooms at this level. Sommelier Justin Rush oversees the program, which means glass pours aren't an afterthought — expect the same California and Italian focus translated to options you can explore without committing to a full bottle. We'd love to see the pour list rotate more dynamically, but what's there is well-chosen.