Tandoori Spice Meets Surprisingly Honest Pours
Downtown · Ann Arbor · North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Shalimar Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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 / Campus · Ann Arbor · New American / Hotel Restaurant
Eve is a dependable, well-kept hotel wine list that earns its place as Ann Arbor's go-to for faculty dinners and anniversary meals — just don't come expecting to be surprised. Order the Merry Edwards, skip the Stag's Leap markup, and let someone else handle the tab.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Upscale-casual Italian
Bravo! is a chain doing chain things with its wine list — predictable, approachable, and not particularly exciting. But the markup is fairer than most chains, the by-the-glass range is functional, and if you show up on a Wednesday, $7 Provençal rosé on the patio is a genuinely good time.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · American Gastropub
The Ravens Club isn't a wine destination — it's a late-night Ann Arbor institution that happens to have a functional wine list. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Gruet for $6, and let the spirits program do its real job.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Japanese-inspired ramen, noodle dishes, and izakaya-style small plates
Slurping Turtle is a genuinely fun spot to eat, and the ramen deserves your full attention — but the wine list is on cruise control and nobody seems to mind. Stick to a glass of Riesling or grab a beer, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Sushi / Japanese
Nagomi is the rare sushi spot that made an actual choice with its wine program instead of just phoning it in with grocery store staples — a focused BC lineup at fair prices is exactly the kind of unexpected that earns a second look. If you're curious about Canadian wine and want a low-stakes way to explore it, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
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