Dependable pours in a classic downtown oyster house
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Market Street Grill & Oyster Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Market Street Grill reads exactly like the room looks — polished, traditional, and comfortable without taking any real risks. You're in a bustling downtown seafood house with white tablecloths and a raw bar doing serious business, and the wine program reflects that energy: reliable names, familiar labels, nothing that's going to surprise you. If you came here hoping for a deep-cut Muscadet or a grower Champagne to go with your oysters, recalibrate your expectations now.
The list runs 80 to 120 bottles, leaning hard on California with some Pacific Northwest representation and a nod to France that doesn't go much further than the surface. Producers like Sonoma-Cutrer, Meiomi, and Kendall-Jackson are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here — recognizable names that sell themselves and require zero explanation from the floor staff. There's nothing wrong with that strategy, but it does mean you're working with a list that prioritizes comfort over discovery. A seafood-focused restaurant of this caliber could be doing far more with white Burgundy, Muscadet, or Chablis to complement the oyster program — that gap is noticeable.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 18 options, which is a reasonable count for the format, though the selections mirror the bottle list's greatest-hits approach. Expect the usual suspects — a Chardonnay or two, a Pinot Noir, maybe something rosé in warmer months — at prices that feel a tick high for what's in the glass. It's functional, not inspiring.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $55
It's the most credible bottle on a list that otherwise trends toward mass production. Sonoma-Cutrer's Russian River Ranches is a genuinely good Chardonnay — restrained oak, real acidity — and it earns its place on a seafood table better than most of the alternatives here.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay
Most people at this restaurant are reaching for the Kendall-Jackson out of habit. The Sonoma-Cutrer is the same price neighborhood but a meaningfully better wine, with the kind of structure that actually holds up against briny oysters and rich chowder. It's the best-kept secret on a list that doesn't have many.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
KJ Vintner's Reserve retails for around $14 at your local grocery store. Whatever they're charging for it here, the markup is doing serious damage to your wallet for a wine that's soft, slightly sweet, and built for a supermarket shelf — not a proper oyster house.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay + Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell
The Russian River Ranches has enough acidity and mineral character to cut through the brine without steamrolling the delicate oyster flavor — it's the closest thing to a classic seafood pairing this list can offer.
The Bottom Line
Market Street Grill is a solid, dependable restaurant that deserves a more adventurous wine list — the oyster program alone could support something far more interesting than what's here. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't spend too much time staring at the bottle list hoping it changes.
· Salt Lake City · Steakhouse
STK Salt Lake City has the bones of a wine program but none of the follow-through — three by-the-glass options and a bottle list built around brand recognition rather than quality. Order a cocktail, or spring for the Veuve if you want to feel good about what's in your glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Springfield · Springfield · Seafood and Steakhouse
Chesapeake Seafood House is a genuinely charming Springfield institution with a kitchen that earns its regulars — but the wine list is on autopilot and has been for a while. Order the Riesling, enjoy your prime rib, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Freedom Commons / I-88 Corridor · Naperville · Seafood and Steakhouse
Hugo's Naperville is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program that will not let you down and will not excite you. Come for the prime beef and oysters, order the Jordan or the Duckhorn, and don't look too hard at the markup on the Pinot Grigio.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · St. Paul · Seafood and Steakhouse
Kincaid's is exactly what it is — a reliable business-dinner wine list that keeps the table happy without taking any risks. If Monday's half-price bottle promotion holds at this location, it becomes a legitimately solid deal; otherwise, manage expectations and lean into the Port.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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