Mystery List in a Vacation Town
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Contemporary American
Reviewed February 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Sexy Kitchen, we're immediately skeptical about the wine program. The name suggests ambition, but without visible wine intel or staff engagement, this feels like a resort-adjacent spot where wine is an afterthought. The list, if there is one, isn't doing the talking.
Based on Palm Beach's tourist-driven restaurant scene and the complete absence of wine program details, we're looking at what's likely a safe, corporate-approved selection. Expect the usual suspects: mass-market California Chardonnay, predictable Napa Cab, maybe a Meiomi Pinot Noir or La Crema something-or-other. No regional focus, no sommelier curating, no story being told. This is wine as checkbox, not wine as craft. The gaps? Everything interesting.
The glass program probably exists in the most minimal sense—four whites, four reds, maybe a Prosecco. Likely poured from bottles that have been open since the weekend rush, served in whatever stemware came with the restaurant supply order. Rotation means replacing empties with the same SKUs. If you're lucky, there's a rosé in summer.
House White Wine — $12
In a markup environment like this, the cheapest option is usually the least offensive financially
Any Beer on the Menu
Seriously—when wine intel is this thin and the program this neglected, switch categories
Any Bottle Over $60
Resort town pricing without resort-quality curation means you're paying vacation premiums for grocery store selections
Whispering Angel Rosé + Whatever's Fresh and Light
If they have it, this crowd-pleaser pairs with Palm Beach vibes better than trying to force a wine program that doesn't exist
❌ The Bottom Line
Without visible wine intelligence, knowledgeable staff, or any program details, Sexy Kitchen reads like a place where wine is purely transactional. Order a cocktail, enjoy the scene, and save your wine drinking for a restaurant that actually cares.
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · French
La Goulue is a reliable, well-curated French wine list with real sommelier care behind it — just go in knowing the prices reflect the zip code. If you're here for classic Bordeaux and Burgundy with your duck confit, you're in exactly the right place.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Mediterranean
Florie's is a reliable, well-run wine program with a knowledgeable sommelier and a list that knows its strengths — just don't expect adventure or aggressive pricing. If you're in Palm Beach and want a glass of something good with excellent food, Sam Scales has your back.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Italian
Sant Ambroeus Palm Beach is the real deal — a focused, deeply stocked Italian and French list with producers serious enough to justify the Best of Award of Excellence on the wall. The pricing is steep, as you'd expect in Palm Beach, but the quality of what's in the cellar earns it.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Italian
Renato's is the kind of Italian wine list that reminds you why Italy is the greatest wine country on earth — Biondi-Santi, Gaja, Sassicaia, and Ornellaia in one room is not an accident, it's a program. Bring an expense account or a very good reason to celebrate.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · Steak House
Flagler Steakhouse is exactly what it promises — a serious, well-stocked wine program built for the Palm Beach crowd, with a sommelier who can guide you through it and enough bottle depth to reward the curious. The markups run steep, but the credentials are real and the execution is tight.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · French, European
Café l'Europe is one of the most serious wine programs in South Florida, full stop — the cellar depth alone justifies the trip, even if the pricing reflects its zip code. Send your friends here if they want to drink well in Palm Beach; just tell them to skip the Caymus.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Contemporary American
Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.
Solid Range
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.