The Middle East in Your Glass, Jersey City
Journal Square · Jersey City · Mediterranean and Middle Eastern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Solaz Mediterranean Cuisine’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Solaz expecting hummus and maybe a house Chianti, and then the wine list hits you with Assyrtiko from Santorini and Chateau Musar from Lebanon. It's a casual neighborhood spot that has no business being this interesting on the wine front — and that's exactly what makes it worth paying attention to.
The list spans Greece, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Morocco, which sounds chaotic but actually reflects the food's heritage in a way that most Mediterranean spots never bother to execute. The Greek whites and Lebanese reds are the clear stars — Assyrtiko from Santorini is a legitimately serious wine, and having Chateau Musar and Chateau Ksara on a 40-70 bottle list in Jersey City is genuinely unexpected. The Spanish Rioja tempranillo section rounds things out for guests who want something familiar, and the Turkish and Moroccan selections give the list a sense of adventure that most neighborhood restaurants wouldn't even attempt. The gaps are real — Burgundy and Champagne fans will need to look elsewhere — but this list isn't trying to be everything, and it's better for it.
With 8-12 pours available by the glass, there's enough variety to navigate the whole menu without committing to a bottle. The glass program appears to mirror the bottle list's regional ambitions, which means you can actually order a Greek white with your mezze and a Lebanese red with your kebabs without feeling locked in.
Chateau Ksara (Lebanon) — $45
Lebanese reds are chronically undervalued in restaurant settings, and Ksara is one of the most food-friendly bottles on the list — structured enough for grilled meat but not so tannic that it fights the spice. At this price point in a restaurant context, it's a genuine bargain for what's in the glass.
Assyrtiko from Santorini (Greece)
Most tables here order red without thinking twice, but the Assyrtiko is the real reason to pay attention to this list. It's a volcanic-island white with serious backbone and salinity — it cuts through rich, olive-oil-forward dishes and mezze in a way that generic Pinot Grigio simply cannot.
Spanish Tempranillo / Rioja
Nothing wrong with Rioja, but it's the one part of this list that feels like it was added to make nervous guests comfortable rather than because it belongs here. You can get Spanish Tempranillo anywhere — come to Solaz for what you can't get down the street.
Chateau Musar (Lebanon) + Mixed Grill Kebabs
Musar is earthy, funky, and built on a blend of Cabernet, Cinsault, and Carignan — it has the spice and depth to go toe-to-toe with charred, herb-marinated meat without overwhelming it. This is the pairing that makes the whole list click.
The Bottom Line
Solaz is a casual neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant that quietly assembled a wine list with more regional ambition than most places twice its size — if you're willing to trust it and order off the beaten path, it pays off. Send a curious friend here and tell them to skip the Rioja.
· Jersey City · Japanese
For a Japanese lounge with a 21-bottle list, Stingray is doing more work than it has any reason to. The Grüner, the Loire whites, and that Grand Cru Champagne are all legitimate finds at prices that won't sting. If you're nearby and want something better than the usual sushi-spot house white, this is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Italian
Laico's has been doing this for over 30 years, and the wine list isn't why people keep coming back — the Chicken Francese and the neighborhood warmth are. If you're looking for a deep cellar or adventurous pours, this isn't your spot. But if you want a solid glass of something Italian to wash down a classic red-sauce dinner without getting gouged, Laico's delivers exactly what it promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Amanda's isn't going to make a wine lover's heart race, but it's doing the honest work: fair prices, enough variety to match a proper New American menu, and a by-the-glass program deep enough to drink your way through a multi-course meal without getting stuck. If you're in Jersey City and want a reliable bottle without a markup argument, this list delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · American Bistro
Court Street's wine list is functional and fair — no embarrassing markups, a couple of genuinely good pours hiding among the Coastal Ridge, and glass prices that won't wreck your dinner tab. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but it's a perfectly fine neighborhood spot where you can drink the Rioja or the Sancerre and have a good night. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them away from the mystery Champagne.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian
Il Tavolo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a reliable Italian spot with fair pours, sensible pricing, and enough range to keep the table happy. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of Chianti that won't cost you a car payment, this is a safe and honest bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Anthony David's wine list is reliable without being exciting — it does the job for a casual dinner without making you work too hard or feel gouged at the lower price points. The by-the-glass program is legitimately strong for a list this size, and the Crémant de Loire is a smart pour. If you're a wine-first diner, this isn't your destination, but if you're coming for a neighborhood meal and want a decent glass to go with it, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Las Colinas · Irving · Mediterranean and Middle Eastern
A counter-service Mediterranean spot with Lebanese wine on the list is not something you stumble into every day in the DFW suburbs — Andalous earns the Wild Card badge by simply caring enough to stock Chateau Ksara and Domaine des Tourelles while keeping prices honest. Come for the shawarma, order the Bekaa red, and feel slightly smug about it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Macalester-Groveland · St. Paul · Mediterranean and Middle Eastern
Shish is a genuinely good casual Mediterranean spot — the food earns its reputation on Grand Avenue. But the wine list is strictly utilitarian, and you'd be better served ordering a beer or skipping the wine altogether until they decide to put in some effort.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
