Classic Italian Comfort With Serious Wine Cred
Midtown · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Pasta Lovers Trattoria’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Pasta Lovers reads like it was built by someone who actually likes wine — California and Italy, done with intention, no filler regions bolted on to look ambitious. For a mid-block Midtown trattoria, that kind of focus is refreshing. The $40–$120 bottle range keeps things accessible without feeling like a tourist trap.
The list leans hard into the Italy–California axis, which makes total sense given the menu and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence they've held since 2019. On the Italian side, you've got real heavyweights: Antinori Tignanello, Gaja Barbaresco, and Banfi's Brunello di Montalcino give the list genuine depth, not just Chianti Classico filler. Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva rounds out the approachable end. California holds its own with Caymus Cab, Far Niente Chardonnay, and Stag's Leap — crowd-pleasing names, yes, but they're crowd-pleasing for a reason. The list won't surprise wine geeks, but it's genuinely well-matched to the food.
Ten to twenty options by the glass is a solid spread for this format, and the $12–$18 range is reasonable for Midtown Manhattan. We'd like to see more rotation to keep regulars engaged, but what's here covers the bases without forcing anyone into a full bottle commitment.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva — $40
Sits at the lower end of the bottle range and punches well above it — Sangiovese backbone, real structure, and it's built for exactly the kind of red-sauce and braised-meat cooking that defines this menu. Easy call.
Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
Most tables order the Tignanello because it sounds impressive, but the Banfi Brunello is the sleeper. It's a more patient wine — earthy, structured, and a genuine expression of Montalcino that most diners walk right past.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine, but it's also everywhere — and Midtown markup on a brand this recognizable means you're paying a premium for a label, not a discovery. You're in an Italian trattoria. Order Italian.
Antinori Tignanello + Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragù
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend has the weight and dark fruit to stand up to a rich wild boar ragù without steamrolling the pasta. It's a textbook match — and one of those rare cases where the obvious answer is actually the right one.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Pasta Lovers isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to feed you well and pour something worth drinking alongside it, and it largely succeeds. Send a friend here if they want a reliable Italian night in Midtown without worrying about the wine.
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
Rainbow Curve / I-49 Corridor · Bentonville · Italian
The Bertani Amarone and Col d'Orcia Brunello sitting on this list are like finding a Rolex in a vending machine — impressive that they exist, but the surrounding context makes the whole thing feel absurd. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Square · Bentonville · Italian
Tavola Trattoria isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it has enough going on — solid Italian depth, fair pricing, reasonable glass options — to earn your business on a date night in Bentonville. Stick to the classics and let the balcony do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Central Ave · Bentonville · Italian
Sestina is doing something genuinely interesting for Bentonville — an Italian-focused, bubble-forward list with real producers and regional ambition tucked into a small but considered 26-bottle program. The red wine gap and unknown by-the-glass program hold it back from greatness, but if you're in Northwest Arkansas and want to drink better than average, this is the spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.