Neighborhood Solid, Nothing to Write Home About
Grove Street · Jersey City · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Mathews Food & Drink’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mathews is exactly what you'd expect from a lively Grove Street neighborhood spot — short, familiar, and built to move quickly on a busy Friday night. It's not trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be. What you get is a tight roster of crowd-friendly bottles that won't embarrass anyone at the table.
Fifteen to twenty bottles doesn't leave much room for adventure, and this list plays it safe with recognizable names across Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and California. The Painted Wolf Chenin Blanc from South Africa is the most interesting call on the list — everyone else went Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. There's a Jacques Dumont Sancerre that gives the list a little credibility in the French column, but beyond that it's Raeburn Chardonnay and Cloudy Bay territory. Gaps are obvious — no Pinot Noir, no Rosé, no bubbles spotted — but for a casual American bistro, the list covers the basics without embarrassing itself.
Eight to ten options by the glass is genuinely decent for a neighborhood restaurant at this price point, with pours running $11–$18. The glass program mirrors the bottle list almost entirely, so what you see is what you get — no rotating surprises or special pours. At $11 for the Vigneti del Sole Montepulciano, the red side of the by-the-glass menu is where the value actually lives.
Vigneti del Sole Montepulciano — $11/glass
At $11 a glass for a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, this is the easiest call on the list. It's an approachable, food-friendly red that holds its own against a burger or the fried chicken sandwich without asking you to think too hard about it.
Painted Wolf Chenin Blanc
South African Chenin Blanc is chronically underordered in the US, and most tables will walk right past this to grab the Cloudy Bay. Don't. Painted Wolf makes a lively, textured Chenin that's more interesting than anything else on this list and worth seeking out.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Cloudy Bay was exciting in 2005. Now it's a $25 retail bottle that restaurants charge a premium for because the name still moves. The Haymaker Sauvignon Blanc from the same region does a comparable job for less — order that instead.
Raeburn Chardonnay + Fried Chicken Sandwich
Russian River Chardonnay has enough richness and bright acidity to cut through the fat on a well-made fried chicken sandwich. Raeburn keeps things fruit-forward without going full butter bomb, which means it actually refreshes between bites rather than weighing you down.
The Bottom Line
Mathews is a reliable neighborhood pour — fair prices, familiar bottles, and a by-the-glass selection that works well enough for a casual dinner on Grove Street. Don't come here to geek out on wine, but don't skip the Montepulciano either.
· Jersey City · Japanese
For a Japanese lounge with a 21-bottle list, Stingray is doing more work than it has any reason to. The Grüner, the Loire whites, and that Grand Cru Champagne are all legitimate finds at prices that won't sting. If you're nearby and want something better than the usual sushi-spot house white, this is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Italian
Laico's has been doing this for over 30 years, and the wine list isn't why people keep coming back — the Chicken Francese and the neighborhood warmth are. If you're looking for a deep cellar or adventurous pours, this isn't your spot. But if you want a solid glass of something Italian to wash down a classic red-sauce dinner without getting gouged, Laico's delivers exactly what it promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Amanda's isn't going to make a wine lover's heart race, but it's doing the honest work: fair prices, enough variety to match a proper New American menu, and a by-the-glass program deep enough to drink your way through a multi-course meal without getting stuck. If you're in Jersey City and want a reliable bottle without a markup argument, this list delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · American Bistro
Court Street's wine list is functional and fair — no embarrassing markups, a couple of genuinely good pours hiding among the Coastal Ridge, and glass prices that won't wreck your dinner tab. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but it's a perfectly fine neighborhood spot where you can drink the Rioja or the Sancerre and have a good night. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them away from the mystery Champagne.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian
Il Tavolo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a reliable Italian spot with fair pours, sensible pricing, and enough range to keep the table happy. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of Chianti that won't cost you a car payment, this is a safe and honest bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Anthony David's wine list is reliable without being exciting — it does the job for a casual dinner without making you work too hard or feel gouged at the lower price points. The by-the-glass program is legitimately strong for a list this size, and the Crémant de Loire is a smart pour. If you're a wine-first diner, this isn't your destination, but if you're coming for a neighborhood meal and want a decent glass to go with it, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Roswell · Roswell · American
Canton St. Social is a solid neighborhood restaurant in historic downtown Roswell, and the wine program appears to be built for exactly that — supporting a good night out without overcomplicating things. We don't have enough sourced wine data to tell you what to order, which means your best move is to ask your server what's pouring well that night and go from there. Worth a visit for the food and atmosphere; the wine list is a work in progress as far as our research goes.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Worcester · American
The Boynton is a great neighborhood spot for a cold beer, a burger, and a game — and that's exactly what it should be. The wine program is along for the ride, not driving the car. If wine matters to you tonight, this isn't your destination; if you're here for the food and the vibe, order a beer and enjoy it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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