Seafood Shack

The wine list at Seafood Shack feels like an afterthought stapled to the back of a menu that's clearly focused on fried platters and boiled shrimp. It's the kind of selection you'd find at a beach resort gift shop — safe, predictable, and marked up like sunscreen in July.

We're looking at a bare-bones list that leans heavily on the usual suspects: Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Barefoot Pinot Grigio, and maybe a Cavit if you're lucky. There's likely a token red section with a Meiomi Pinot Noir and a Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet, both sitting at prices that make you wince. The Gulf Coast has access to great seafood, but this list treats wine like a checkbox item rather than a complement to what's coming out of the kitchen. No regional exploration, no interesting producers, just brands you'd grab at Publix for half the price.

The by-the-glass program appears to mirror the bottle list: mass-market wines in heavy-handed pours served in whatever glass is closest. Expect three whites, two reds, maybe a sparkling option if you're at the nicer location. Rotation seems nonexistent — these are the same wines that were on the list last summer and will be there next summer too.