Hawaiian Soul, German Riesling, Zero Pretension
East Village · New York · American, Hawaiian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
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.
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
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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