Tandoori Spice Meets Surprisingly Honest Pours
Downtown · Ann Arbor · North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a downtown Ann Arbor institution expecting naan and nostalgia, and the wine list is... actually fine? It's not trying to be a wine bar, but someone thought about what goes with spicy food, and that counts for something. The prices are low enough that ordering a bottle doesn't feel like a gamble.
The list is tight — maybe 12-15 options — and leans heavily on recognizable labels from California, Italy, Argentina, and France. No obscure producers, no funky naturals, nothing to argue about on a first date. The standout is the inclusion of Chateau Grand Traverse Semi-Dry Riesling from Michigan, which shows someone actually thought about what works with North Indian food rather than just phoning in a Pinot Grigio. M. Chapoutier's Côtes du Rhône Belleruche is the only real old-world flex on the list, and it earns its spot. Gaps are obvious — no rosé, no sparkling beyond Prosecco, and the white selection skews sweet or neutral.
Around 12-15 options by the glass, all priced at a very accessible $9.50-$10 flat. That consistency makes ordering easy, and the range covers the basics: a bubbly, a couple whites, a red or two. Rotation appears nonexistent — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program — but at these prices, you can afford to experiment without stress.
M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône 'Belleruche' — $9.50
A Rhône blend from one of the southern Rhône's most reliable producers at under $10 a glass is genuinely hard to beat. Earthy, peppery, and built for food — exactly what you want next to a lamb curry.
Chateau Grand Traverse Semi-Dry Riesling
Most people at an Indian restaurant reach for beer or water and call it a day. They're wrong. This Michigan Riesling — semi-dry, with enough residual sugar to buffer the heat — is the smartest pour on the list and most tables will walk right past it.
Canyon Road Moscato
At $9.50 a glass, you're paying a 36% markup on a $7 retail bottle that tastes like it was designed for a college dorm. There are better sweet options on the menu — including the Riesling — and better uses of $9.50.
Chateau Grand Traverse Semi-Dry Riesling + Tandoori Chicken
The char and smoke from the tandoor get a clean foil in the Riesling's crisp acidity, and the slight sweetness pulls the heat back just enough to let the spices breathe. A Michigan wine making a case for itself alongside a Michigan institution.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Shalimar isn't a wine destination, but it's playing a smarter game than most Indian restaurants in its bracket — fair prices, a Rhône red, and a Michigan Riesling that was practically designed for the menu. Order the Chateau Grand Traverse, get the Tandoori Chicken, and stop being surprised that it works.
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Korean BBQ
Tomukun is a great place to eat Korean BBQ and drink soju with friends — the wine list is just not the reason to come here. Order the Riesling if you must, or do yourself a favor and let the soju do the work.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Asian noodle bar featuring Korean, Japanese, and other East Asian dishes
Come to Tomukun for the ramen — come for the bibimbap — just don't come for the wine list. Order a beer, or lean into the plum wine and have some fun with it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · French-Inspired Café / Bistro
Cafe Zola won't be your next wine destination, but it's a dependable neighborhood bistro where you can drink something decent and French without much risk. Stick to the Rhône or the Jadot Chardonnay, avoid the Cloudy Bay markup, and let the crêpes do the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Depot Town / Near North Campus · Ann Arbor · American Seafood and Steak
Gandy Dancer delivers exactly what it promises — a handsome, safe, California-anchored wine list that holds up fine against the prime rib and seafood platters without ever exciting you. Send a friend here for the room and the food; just set expectations accordingly on the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Italian, Wood-Fired Pizza
Bigalora isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — but its tight, Italy-leaning list with generous by-the-glass coverage earns it a reliable spot in the Ann Arbor rotation. Markups could be friendlier, but the bones are good.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Spanish Tapas
Aventura isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its all-Spain list is focused and fairly priced in a way that makes the wine program feel like an asset rather than an afterthought. Take a date, order the Albariño, and work through the tapas menu.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.