Supper Club Charm, Wine Program Doesn't Match
West Akron · Akron · Italian, Steak & Seafood
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Papa Joe's Iacomini's’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
Papa Joe's has been a West Akron institution long enough to earn genuine affection, and the room delivers that warm, white-tablecloth supper club energy that makes you want to linger. Then the wine list arrives and the mood shifts a little — it reads like someone grabbed the top sellers off a grocery store shelf and called it a program. Nothing offensive, nothing inspiring.
Thirty to fifty labels sounds like a decent foundation, but when the roster leans this hard on Josh Cellars, La Marca, and Santa Margherita, you're essentially looking at a greatest-hits compilation from the supermarket wine aisle. California dominates, with some Italian and Washington representation that feels more accidental than intentional. There's no real regional storytelling here, no small producers, no surprises — just the safe, recognizable names that cruise control on auto-reorder. For a restaurant serving prime rib and Southern Italian pasta that clearly takes its food seriously, the wine list is a missed opportunity.
Eight to twelve by-the-glass options is a reasonable count, and the $9–$13 price point keeps things accessible. The problem is the selection mirrors the same familiar faces as the bottle list — Mission Grove Pinot Noir, Josh Cellars Cab — so there's no real discovery to be had in the glass program either. What you see is what you get, every time.
Mission Grove Pinot Noir — $10/glass
At $10 a glass with a retail price of $8, this is the one spot on the list where markup stays honest. It's not a complex wine, but it's a fair pour for the money and won't embarrass you at the table.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Most people at a steak-and-pasta joint skip right past Riesling, but Chateau Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley bottling has enough structure and bright acidity to cut through a cream sauce or complement the seafood menu. It's an easy underdog pick that consistently overperforms.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
At $38 on the bottle, you're paying a 171% markup on a $14 retail wine that's fine but entirely unambitious. This is the wine equivalent of charging steakhouse prices for a fast-casual burger — the value just isn't there.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Seafood specialties
The Riesling's zippy acidity and subtle fruit profile work hard against buttery, rich seafood preparations — it refreshes the palate between bites in a way that a California Chardonnay simply wouldn't.
The Bottom Line
Papa Joe's earns its loyal following on atmosphere and food, but the wine list is an afterthought dressed up in a nice room. Order a glass of the Mission Grove if you're watching your tab, or spring for the Riesling — just steer clear of anything with a celebrity-chef-level markup on a grocery store bottle.
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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Prime 93 is a perfectly serviceable steakhouse wine list that won't thrill anyone but won't embarrass the table either — fair prices, California-forward, and honest about what it is. Send a friend here for the steak; just don't send them expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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