Hawaiian Soul, German Riesling, Zero Pretension
East Village · New York · American, Hawaiian · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Noreetuh’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a casual East Village spot serving Hawaiian-inflected American food and the wine list hits you like a left hook — 400-plus bottles anchored by serious German Riesling and white Burgundy that would look right at home at a Michelin-starred tasting room. This is not what the neighborhood promises, which is exactly why it works. Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator since 2021, and it's not a vanity trophy.
The list is stacked for Riesling obsessives — Egon Müller Scharzhofberger, J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Dönnhoff Nahe, and a healthy spread of Mosel Spätlese and Auslese producers make this one of the more serious German programs in the city at any price point. France holds its own on the other side: Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Burgundy, and Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune for the Alsace heads in the room. The pairing logic is tight — high-acid, off-dry whites are exactly what you want next to soy, pineapple, and bright Hawaiian flavors. Gaps elsewhere in the list are easy to forgive when the core thesis is this well executed.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options landing between $12 and $25, which is remarkably civilized for Manhattan. Expect rotating pours that mirror the list's German and French strengths rather than defaulting to the usual Pinot Grigio-and-Malbec filler. It's the kind of BTG setup that makes you want to come back on a Tuesday just to see what changed.
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling — $55
Dönnhoff is one of Germany's benchmark producers and it regularly gets ignored in favor of flashier names. At this price point you're getting precision winemaking that plays brilliantly against anything on the savory, umami-forward menu.
Domaine Weinbach Alsace Riesling
Most people at this table are going straight for the Mosel bottles, which means Domaine Weinbach gets overlooked. That's a mistake — Alsace Riesling brings more body and richness, and it's a different animal entirely with the kitchen's richer, sweeter preparations.
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet
Leflaive is a legendary address but Puligny-Montrachet in a Hawaiian-American restaurant is a wine in search of a reason. You're paying a premium for a name that doesn't play to the kitchen's strengths the way the Rieslings do — save it for a room where it's the star.
J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese + Bruleed Hawaiian Pineapple
Off-dry Mosel Riesling and caramelized pineapple is the pairing this list was built for. The Prüm Spätlese has enough residual sweetness to mirror the fruit without being cloying, and its electric acidity cuts right through the brulee char. It's the whole point of this wine program in a single glass.
The Bottom Line
Noreetuh is the rare casual neighborhood spot that genuinely earns its wine credibility — it's a taco joint logic applied to Hawaiian food and German Riesling, and it absolutely works. If you care about white wine, especially German whites, this is a destination, not an afterthought.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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