Concert Night Wine, Nothing More
Downtown Newark · Newark · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nico Kitchen + Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Nico Kitchen + Bar — tucked inside NJPAC — reads exactly like what it is: a captive-audience list built for people who need a glass before the curtain goes up. Eleven labels, nearly all of them available by the glass, and every single one a name you've seen at a grocery store end cap. There's nothing offensive here, but there's nothing to get excited about either.
The list leans almost entirely on major commercial producers — Meiomi, Ruffino Lumina, Hess Shirtail, Conundrum — names that move volume and generate zero curiosity. There's a token nod to bubbles with Domaine Chandon and Moët, and the Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé is technically the most interesting producer on the list, though it's the entry-level Rhône blend rather than anything from their serious portfolio. The McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc is a nice touch for representation, but the overall selection makes no effort to reflect the diverse Newark dining scene or introduce guests to anything new. Gaps are everywhere: no domestic Pinot that isn't Meiomi, no old-world reds, no skin-contact wines, no local New Jersey producers.
Ten of eleven bottles are available by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize the list is only eleven bottles deep — so this is basically just the whole list poured one glass at a time. Prices run $11 to $16 a glass, which is fair for Newark, and the Domaine Chandon Brut at $16 is the top-end pour. Rotation appears nonexistent; this list feels like it hasn't changed since opening night.
Chapoutier Belleruche Rosé — $13/glass
Chapoutier is a legitimate Rhône producer, and even their entry-level Belleruche is better-made than most rosés that share shelf space with it. At $13 a glass, it's the one pour on this list that has a real winemaker behind it.
Highlands 41 Black Granite Red Blend
It's the cheapest red on the list at $12 a glass and most people will skip right past it for the Hess Cab, but a red blend at this price point often over-delivers on fruit and body — worth a try if you want something to sip through a long intermission.
Moët Chandon Imperial Brut
At $33 a bottle — which appears to be the only bottle price on the menu — you might think this is a deal. It's not. Moët Imperial is a volume-production NV Champagne that retails for around $45-55, meaning you're essentially paying close to retail while someone else does the pouring. The Domaine Chandon at $16 a glass is a smarter play if bubbles are the move.
Conundrum White Blend + Charcuterie Board
Conundrum's white blend — Chardonnay, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier — is a crowd-pleaser precisely because it's slightly aromatic and off-dry. That plays well against salty cured meats and any fruit accents on a charcuterie spread, making it one of the more useful pours on an otherwise one-note list.
The Bottom Line
Nico is a pre-show pitstop, not a wine destination — the list exists to get a glass in your hand before you head into the auditorium, and it does exactly that and nothing more. Order the Chapoutier Rosé, enjoy the show, and don't expect the wine program to be part of the evening's highlight reel.
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese and Brazilian
Tony da Caneca isn't a wine destination in the traditional sense, but it's the kind of place where the wine list actually makes sense with the food — and in the Ironbound, that's a quiet form of excellence. If you love Portuguese wine and grilled seafood, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese Seafood, Iberian
Allegro isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely rare: building a list that actually matches the food and the neighborhood. If you're in the Ironbound and want to drink well with serious Portuguese cooking, this is where you go.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese
Campino isn't coming for any wine awards, but it's doing something genuinely useful: serving honest Portuguese wine at honest prices alongside food that actually matches what's in the glass. In the Ironbound, that's exactly what you need, and it earns its wildcard status by being a taco-joint-level surprise in the best possible way.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese and Spanish
Valença isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable one — and in a room this fun, eating this well, a fairly priced Alentejo red or a cold Vinho Verde is all you really need. Send your friends here for the food, tell them to stick to the Iberian side of the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese/Steakhouse
Pic-Nic is the kind of place that earns a Wild Card not because it's trying to be a wine destination, but because a Portuguese neighborhood joint with Quinta do Crasto and Anselmo Mendes on the list is genuinely rare. Come for the rodizio, stay for the Douro.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ironbound · Newark · Portuguese and Spanish
Iberia Peninsula is a reliable anchor for Iberian wine in the Ironbound — fair prices, a focused list that respects the food, and bottles you'll actually want to drink. Send your friends here before a big family-style seafood dinner and tell them to order the Esporão.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Tucson · New American
The Monica is a reliable neighborhood brunch spot with a wine list that gets the job done without ever trying to be anything more. Send a friend here for a casual Saturday — just steer them toward the Cava and the Rioja.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Wichita · New American
First Mile Kitchen's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal. The pricing is honest and a few bottles are quietly decent, but if wine is important to your night out, you'll want to eat somewhere with more than eight options.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
7th Ave / Dolores · Carmel By The Sea · New American
Seventh & Dolores isn't a destination wine list, but it's a respectable one that at least knows where it is geographically. Come for the steak, order the Wrath, and don't expect to go down any rabbit holes.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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