Lebanese Food Deserves Better Than This
Gresham · Portland · Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Nicholas Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Nicholas is a genuinely charming family-owned Lebanese spot with food worth crossing town for. But the wine list feels like an afterthought — a short, generic lineup with one nod to Lebanon and markups that make you wince. You come here for the hummus and kibbeh, not the wine.
The list is thin. There's a Lebanese entry in the Chateau Ksara Sunset — a nod to the restaurant's roots and the one genuinely interesting choice on the menu. Beyond that, you're looking at crowd-pleasing imports like a Doña Paula Malbec, and a sparkling rosé that reads more like an afterthought than a curated selection. No regional depth, no producer story, no Old World breadth to match the kitchen's ambition. For a restaurant cooking this well, the wine list is punching well below its weight.
By-the-glass specifics aren't well documented, but the short list suggests limited glass pour options. If the Chateau Ksara Sunset is available by the glass, that's your only interesting move. Otherwise, you may want to consider whether the wine is worth it at all.
Chateau Ksara Sunset NV — $33
It's the one wine on the list with a reason to exist here. A Lebanese producer served at a Lebanese restaurant — that's the move. The retail is $14 so the markup stings, but at least you're drinking something that tells a story.
Chateau Ksara Sunset NV
Most tables will default to the Malbec out of habit. Don't. The Ksara is a Lebanese blend that actually connects to what you're eating — and it's a rare chance to try a wine from the Bekaa Valley without boarding a plane.
Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec NV
A $13 retail bottle marked up to $32 for a grocery-aisle Malbec that has zero relationship to the food on this table. You can get this at Trader Joe's. Order the Ksara or order water.
Chateau Ksara Sunset NV + Kibbeh
A Lebanese red with a Lebanese lamb dish is about as obvious as it gets — and obvious is right here. The earthy, spiced character of kibbeh and the soft fruit of the Ksara blend are from the same culinary universe.
The Bottom Line
Nicholas earns its reputation on the strength of its kitchen, not its wine list — steep markups on forgettable bottles make it hard to recommend ordering much beyond the Ksara. Eat here often; drink wine here cautiously.
Dundee · Portland · Italian, French, American
The official site identifies The Dundee Bistro as closed. The wine selections described here are historical context, not current availability. This notice does not establish a closure date or a future reopening.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Pearl District · Portland · Italian/Mediterranean
A restaurant list with 15 pours by the glass from $11 to $17 and a bottle list from 40 to 1100, split by country. Start with the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Crianza '22 at $12, or the Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Classico '22 at $16 alongside the Radiatore, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Southeast Portland · Portland · Charcuterie/American
A charcuterie restaurant with a natural-leaning wine list and a 12-pour glass list on the dinner menu. Start with the $14/glass Hoppenot gamay, or split the $55 Stick Figurine orange wine across a board, and confirm current availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
King · Portland · Spanish
A Spanish tapas-bar wine page with glass and bottle prices from 13/50 and a ten-sherry list. Start with the Pago del Cielo Celeste Verdejo at 13 a glass, try the chilled Vara y Pulgar Tintilla at 17 if you want something different, and order the Miquel Pons Cava with the croquetas. The page says the posted menu may differ from the restaurant's, so confirm prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Portland · New American with Asian Influences
A long list sorted by style, with glass pours from $9.50 to $20, a Coravin tier above that, and bottles that climb to $750. Start with the A to Z at $13.50 or the Roederer Estate Brut at $20, and confirm current prices because the list isn't dated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Alberta Arts · Portland · Italian
An Italian-leaning bottle list with an Oregon side, and no glass pours posted. Order the $65 Bow and Arrow Gamay, or the $65 Keltis 'Zan White' Slovenian Orange Blend if you want an orange wine, and confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted Spring & Summer ’26 beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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