Newark's Casual Steakhouse Pours a Familiar Game
Downtown · Newark · Steakhouse (American) · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mr. Adams Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mr. Adams reads exactly like the room looks — comfortable, unpretentious, and built around crowd favorites. You're not getting any surprises here, but you're also not getting embarrassed. California reigns supreme, and if you've ever been to a steakhouse in the last decade, you already know most of these names.
The list runs 75 to 150 bottles with a heavy lean on California Cabernet and a nod toward Bordeaux and Burgundy for the table that wants to sound fancy. Caymus, Silver Oak, and Jordan anchor the red section like they're paying rent — reliable, crowd-approved, and priced accordingly. There's no real adventurous play here, no grower Champagne hiding in the back, no under-the-radar Rhône to discover. What you see is what you get, and what you get is exactly what you'd expect at a neighborhood steakhouse with TVs on the wall.
The by-the-glass program runs 10 to 16 options, which is respectable for a spot in this category. Meiomi Pinot Noir and Rombauer Chardonnay almost certainly anchor the pour list — both are beloved by casual wine drinkers and hated by no one. Don't expect frequent rotation; this list is set and unlikely to surprise you on your third visit.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) — null
Jordan is the understated sibling in this lineup — less hype than Caymus or Silver Oak, but it consistently delivers a polished, food-friendly Cab that punches above what most people expect from it. At a steakhouse, it's the move.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Most people dismiss Rombauer as basic, and sure, it's not exactly a Burgundy. But with a grilled salmon or shrimp entree at a casual steakhouse, that big buttery California Chard is doing exactly what it's supposed to do — and it does it well.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
Caymus is a fine wine, but it's also the most marked-up bottle on every steakhouse list in America. You're paying a serious premium for the name recognition here, and at a $$$$ price point in a sports-bar-vibe room, the value equation just doesn't hold up. Jordan does the same job for less.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley) + Ribeye steak platter
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab has enough dark fruit and structure to stand up to a thick ribeye without overwhelming it. It's a classic steakhouse pairing for a reason — the wine's softer tannins than its Napa counterpart make it actually drink well with a properly cooked piece of beef.
The Bottom Line
Mr. Adams isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — this is a casual Newark steakhouse that stocks the hits and pours them in proper glasses. Come for the ribeye, order the Jordan, leave happy.
Newark · Newark · Spanish
Spanish Tavern is a Newark institution worth visiting for the atmosphere and the paella, but the wine program doesn't quite match the room's ambitions. Drink something Spanish, keep it simple, and let the food carry the night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Newark · Newark · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Consigliere is one of Newark's most interesting wine rooms precisely because it's not trying to be a conventional wine bar — the African diaspora focus and soundtrack-first atmosphere make it a genuine Wild Card worth the trip. If you can handle some ambiguity on the list and lean into the experience, it punches well above its weight.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Newark Liberty International Airport · Newark · Wine Bar / Light Bites
Oeno is a legitimately surprising wine program stranded inside one of America's least glamorous airports — the Champagne depth is real, the grower selections are credible, and it earns its Wild Card badge just by existing here. Markups are steep and the setting undercuts the wine, but if you've got a long layover and a taste for grower Champagne, this is where you should be.
Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newark · Portuguese / Steakhouse
Fernandes Steakhouse II isn't a wine destination, but the Portuguese section of the list gives it a genuine identity that most neighborhood steakhouses completely lack. Come for the grilled meat, order something from Portugal, and leave the Dom Pérignon for someone else's table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese / Seafood
Sol Mar isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — Portuguese-focused, reasonably priced, and built to serve food that actually needs wine alongside it. Send a friend here for the whole experience; just tell them to order a bottle of something white and cold from the Douro.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newark · Newark · Italian tapas / wine bar
Spuntino earns its Wild Card badge by building a genuinely interesting dessert wine and port program inside what looks like a casual Italian tapas spot — that Vin Santo lineup alone is worth the trip. If you're bringing someone who wants to explore wine without committing to a full bottle, the flights make this one of the better low-stakes wine education stops in the area.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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