Indian food meets serious California and Burgundy
Flatiron · New York · Indian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Passerine’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into what used to be Sona and finding an Indian restaurant with Ridge Monte Bello on the list is not something you expect. The wine program here leans confidently into California and France, which on paper sounds like a mismatch with Kolhapuri lamb tartare — but stick with us. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2025, and it's not hard to see why.
The list runs 150-250 bottles deep with a clear focus on California heavyweights and French classics. You've got Kistler Chardonnay and Paul Hobbs Cabernet anchoring the California side, while Louis Jadot and Château Meyney Saint-Estèphe hold down the French flank. Domaine Drouhin Oregon is a nice bridge — Oregon Pinot bringing some of that old-world restraint into the new-world column. The list isn't trying to be a natural wine playground or a hyper-regional deep dive, but for what it is — polished, well-chosen, food-friendly — it delivers.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass in the $12-$18 range gives you real room to explore without committing to a bottle. That's a solid spread for an Indian restaurant, where you might want to try different pours against different courses. We'd love to see more rotation, but the price ceiling is reasonable enough that experimenting doesn't sting.
Château Meyney Saint-Estèphe — $XX (bottle)
Saint-Estèphe is reliably the most underrated appellation in Bordeaux, and Meyney is a perennial overachiever at its price point. Against the bold, spiced flavors coming out of the kitchen, this has the structure and dark fruit to hold its own without breaking the bank.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most people at an Indian restaurant reach for something bold or something white — they sleep on Pinot. Drouhin's Oregon bottling has enough earth and acidity to work beautifully against the dry aged lamb loin, and most tables walk right past it for the Kistler or Hobbs.
Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon
Paul Hobbs is great wine, no argument. But at the price point it commands, and up against the complexity of Indian spicing, it's working against itself. The tannins and oak weight don't find a natural home here — you're paying a premium for a bottle that's better suited to a steakhouse.
Kistler Chardonnay + Vadagam blend aged sea bass
Kistler's Chardonnay has the richness and texture to stand up to aged fish without being overwhelmed, and the bright acidity cuts through the Vadagam spice blend cleanly. It's the rare California Chardonnay that's actually doing something useful at this table.
The Bottom Line
Passerine is the kind of place that shouldn't work on paper — serious California and French bottles alongside Indian cooking — but it does, and it does it well enough to earn the Wine Spectator nod. Send a friend here if they think wine and Indian food don't mix; this list will change their mind.
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
· 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
Lafayette Street · Canandaigua · Indian
Flavors isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Fox Run Riesling alone justifies ordering a bottle. Come for the food, drink the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Near Falls · Niagara Falls · Indian
Zaika isn't a wine destination, but the Niagara half of this list is a legitimate reason to skip the mango lassi and explore what's growing 20 minutes away. For Falls-area dining, that's more than we expected.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Duluth · Indian
India Palace is a genuinely solid spot for Indian food in Duluth, but the wine program is collecting dust. Steep markups, a California-only list that ignores everything that actually works with spiced cuisine, and zero signs of anyone caring enough to change it — order a mango lassi and save the wine for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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