Italian Neighborhood Gem With a Wednesday Secret
Park Avenue · Rochester · Italian
Reviewed April 13, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Olio & Ivy’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Olio & Ivy lands with the comfortable warmth of a neighborhood Italian spot that actually cares about its wine list — at least regionally. The focus on Italy, Finger Lakes, Sicily, Tuscany, and Piedmont signals real intention, even if the execution leans toward crowd-pleasing labels over genuine discovery.
The regional anchoring is the strongest thing going here — Italian and Finger Lakes wines are a smart pairing for Rochester, and leaning into Sicily, Tuscany, and Piedmont gives the list some backbone. The problem is the bottles we can verify skew heavily toward big American commercial names: Cakebread, La Crema, Meiomi, Duckhorn. That's not a wine list with a point of view, that's a wine list with a distributor. We'd love to see the Italian side carry more of the load and push past the safe harbor of familiar labels.
We don't have a confirmed glass pour count or rotation, which is frustrating for a restaurant that markets itself on its wine program. What we can say is that with a list leaning this commercial, the by-the-glass program is unlikely to surprise you — but Wednesday changes the math entirely, which we'll get to.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Napa Valley 2021 — $65
At 71% over retail, this is the most fairly priced bottle we can verify on the list. It's a crowd-pleaser, sure, but it's a well-made one — and on a Wednesday, that $65 becomes $32.50, which is a genuinely good deal for Napa Chardonnay.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2021
Most people overlook Washington State on an Italian restaurant list, and that works in your favor. At $42 it's the lowest price point on the verified list, and Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Cab punches well above its weight — structured, dark-fruited, and a better match for a rich pasta or wood-fired meat than most people expect.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2023
A 100% markup on a bottle you can grab at any grocery store for $18 is a tough ask. Kim Crawford is fine wine — nobody's saying otherwise — but there's no reason to pay $36 for it at a restaurant when the list presumably has more interesting Italian whites at similar prices.
La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022 + Wood-fired pizza
La Crema's Sonoma Coast Pinot is bright and acid-forward with enough red fruit to hold up to tomato sauce and char from the wood fire without overpowering the pizza. It's a safe call that actually works.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles of wine all day and night every Wednesday.
The Bottom Line
Olio & Ivy is a genuinely pleasant neighborhood Italian spot with a wine list that leans too commercial for its own good — but Wednesday half-price bottles all day long makes almost any bottle worth ordering. Go on a Wednesday, order Italian if they have it, and enjoy Park Avenue.
Downtown · Rochester · Spanish & Mediterranean
A list of 14 wines posted with paired, unlabeled numbers and 14 bottles from $40 to $100, two of them from the Finger Lakes. Start with the Columna Albariño alongside the patatas bravas, or order the $40 Mille Reves Vouvray if you want a bottle for the table, and ask what the paired numbers in the Wine section stand for. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Park Ave · Rochester · Gastro-pub
A short, familiar 11-wine list for a gastro pub, with every price between $10 and $13 and no unit posted. Pair the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or The Show Malbec with the Jumbo Chicken Wings, and ask whether those prices are per glass. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
South Wedge · Rochester · Italian
A one-page, Italy-first list of 31 wines where the two-price house pours run $10 to $12 and $36 to $42, and the top price is $90 for The Prisoner Cabernet. Start with the $40 Brancher Valdobbiadene Prosecco, and ask which price on the slash entries is the pour. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list is undated.
Woodcliff Hotel & Spa · Rochester · New American
A broad online list with a real Finger Lakes section and a few friendly glass pours. Order the $10 Hahn Pinot Noir or the $15 Apollo's Praise Scheurebe by the glass, or pick a New York bottle like the $35 Thirsty Owl Dry Riesling, and confirm current prices because the list is a live online menu. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Pittsford / Monroe Ave Corridor · Rochester · Upscale Steakhouse and Seafood
A steakhouse list built on familiar names, with a few surprises like a Finger Lakes Riesling, and no prices posted online. Order the 14 oz ribeye with the Jordan Cabernet from the Coravin list, or open with the Riesling, and ask for prices before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine program, not service, storage or retail markups.
Pittsford Plaza · Rochester · Sushi and Japanese-inspired contemporary dining
Start with the $15 glass of Bandol rosé or Green Rows Pinot Noir, and keep the $55 Green Rows bottle in mind if the table wants red. Confirm current availability and prices, since the menu is stamped 8-14-26. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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