Biscuits and Burgundy in the Suburbs
Arlington Heights · Arlington · Breakfast & Brunch / Southern-inspired all-day restaurant · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 27, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into what looks like a cozy neighborhood brunch spot — wood-burning hearth, families, biscuits — and then the wine list arrives with Champagne Coutier Grand Cru Ambonnay and a 2016 Volnay Premier Cru. Nobody warned you about this. It's the kind of pleasant surprise that makes you immediately question your lunch plans.
Thirty-nine labels for an all-day Southern spot is ambitious, and Ruthie's earns the ambition. The list leans French — Chablis, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire — but there's real range with a Mosel Riesling from Saarstein, a Txakoli from Natural Wine Co, and Antinori's Guado al Tasso Vermentino from Bolgheri showing up alongside Illahe Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. Half-bottle options for both Champagne Devaux and a Napa Cabernet from Mount Veeder suggest someone put actual thought into this. The one gap: the red wine side is thinner than the whites, and if you're looking for anything outside Europe and the U.S. West Coast, you're out of luck.
The glass program runs roughly 8-12 options with pour prices sitting between $10-$16, which is reasonable for the area. You can get the Gran Vinum Albariño from Rías Baixas or the Saarstein Riesling by the glass, which tells you the list isn't just dumping the cheap stuff into pours. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a set-and-hold program than one that changes with the season.
Txakoli, Natural Wine Co 'Balea' 2025 — $10-$16/glass
Txakoli by the glass at a Southern brunch restaurant is genuinely rare, and Balea from Natural Wine Co is a lively, low-alcohol pour with that signature slight fizz and citrus snap. It cuts right through anything fried on the menu and at glass-pour pricing, it's the move.
Garganega, Roccolo Grassi 'Broia', Soave 2020
Roccolo Grassi is one of the serious names in Soave — their Broia bottling is rich, textural, and built to age, which is not what most people expect when they see 'Soave' on a menu. Most guests will scroll right past it looking for a Chardonnay. Don't be most guests.
Torre Oria Cava Brut NV
A 280% markup on a $10 retail bottle of Cava is a hard no. This is the kind of filler bottle that exists to anchor the bottom of a sparkling section and exploit anyone who just wants bubbles without a big commitment. Step up to the Roederer Estate sparkling Pinot Noir instead — you'll thank yourself.
Riesling, Saarstein, Mosel 2022 + Southern-style fried chicken
Mosel Riesling and fried chicken is a classic match for a reason — the wine's natural acidity and off-dry fruit cut the richness of the crust while the slight residual sugar plays against any heat or spice. Saarstein makes clean, precise Riesling that won't get lost next to bold Southern flavors.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Ruthie's has no business having a Volnay Premier Cru and a Grand Cru Champagne on the menu, but here we are, and we respect it. The markups are steep enough to sting on the lower end, but the overall curation punches well above its weight for a neighborhood all-day spot in Arlington.
Shirlington · Arlington · American Brasserie
Carlyle won't change your relationship with wine, but it won't ruin it either — and on Tuesday, when everything on the bottle list is half off, it briefly becomes one of the better deals in Shirlington. Come for the prime rib, order the Jordan, and call it a good night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Westover · Arlington · Turkish and Mediterranean
Maya Bistro isn't a wine destination, but Monday half-price bottles and legitimately interesting Turkish pours make it a Wild Card worth knowing about. Come for the pide, stay for the Angora — just don't touch the Oyster Bay.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · New England–inspired seafood & raw bar
Salt Line Ballston isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list is smarter and more purposeful than most seafood spots in this price range. Send a friend here for oysters and Muscadet and they'll thank you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Landing / Pentagon City · Arlington · Southern & Korean-influenced American
Succotash Prime's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a polished upscale Southern spot in a hotel-adjacent dining corridor — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. We'd send a friend here for a reliable night out, not a wine destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
National Landing / Crystal City · Arlington · Modern Italian
Corso is a dependable Italian wine list in a neighborhood that could easily get away with doing much less — it doesn't dazzle, but it doesn't disappoint either. If the Wednesday half-price bottle rumor holds up when you call ahead, it might just tip into genuinely great value territory.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clarendon · Arlington · Retail Wine & Takeout
Liberty To-Go is a genuine wild card — a tavern wine shop hybrid with a fortified wine section that would embarrass most dedicated wine bars, all priced without the usual Arlington markup. Come for the Barolo, stay for the Sherry flight you didn't know you needed.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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