Mr. B's Bistro

Mr. B's wine list feels like it was built in the '90s and hasn't totally caught up — but in New Orleans, that's not always a bad thing. There's depth here, especially in French classics, though the markups lean tourist-zone heavy. This is a place where the wine program takes itself seriously enough to have options, but not so seriously that anyone's updating it regularly.

The list skews Old World with a solid Burgundy and Bordeaux showing, plus a predictable California cab section that feels obligatory. You'll find some Loire Valley entries and a handful of Italian reds that suggest someone cared once upon a time. The gaps are notable: minimal natural wine, thin on the Rhône, and almost nothing adventurous. It's the kind of list that pairs well with gumbo and BBQ shrimp but won't surprise anyone who's been drinking wine this decade.

By-the-glass pours are serviceable but safe — think Sonoma chardonnay, a Sancerre, maybe a Chianti. The selection rotates glacially, if at all, and you're paying $14-18 for wines that should clock in closer to $10-12. Nothing exciting, but nothing offensive either. If you're here for the food and need a glass of something cold and white, you'll be fine.