Great food, wine list phoning it in
West End · Portsmouth · Global Street Food / Eclectic American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed STREET Portsmouth’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The menu at STREET is doing a world tour — bibimbap, falafel burgers, tikka masala — but the wine list didn't bother to pack a bag. Six labels, all of them recognizable from the grocery store aisle, sitting alongside a beer and cocktail program that clearly gets all the love.
There's no regional ambition here, no interesting producers, and no attempt to match the adventurous spirit of the food. You've got Kris Pinot Grigio, Joel Gott Chardonnay, Seaglass Pinot Noir, Dark Horse Cab — these are the wines of airport lounges and chain restaurants, not a kitchen cooking Bibimbap and Tikka Masala. Rose All Day is the lone nod toward anything with personality, and even that's a branded crowd-pleaser. The list isn't curated; it's populated.
Every bottle on the list is also available by the glass, which sounds generous until you do the math — $13–14 a glass on wines that retail for $8–12 a bottle. All six pours are available, nothing rotates, and there's no evidence anyone has touched this list since it was first written.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon — $12/glass
The cheapest pour on the list and the most honest about what it is. If you're drinking wine here, spend the least — Dark Horse at $12 is the only glass that doesn't sting.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc
Matua is a legitimate New Zealand producer with real acidity and citrus drive. It's not exciting, but it's the most food-friendly bottle on this list and will actually hold its own against the spiced, herbaceous flavors coming out of the kitchen.
Rose All Day
At $50 a bottle, you're paying premium for a brand built entirely on its name. Rose All Day retails around $10–12 and brings nothing to the table that justifies the markup. Skip it.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc + Falafel Burger
The bright acidity and herbaceous edge in the Matua cuts through the richness of the falafel and echoes the tahini and fresh herbs without getting steamrolled. It's the one pairing on this list that actually makes sense.
The Bottom Line
STREET is a genuinely fun, globe-trotting neighborhood spot that deserves a wine list as curious as its food — instead it has six grocery-store staples marked up steep and left on autopilot. Order a cocktail, enjoy the Bibimbap, and don't overthink the wine.
· Portsmouth · Upscale New American
Salt Kitchen & Bar has the bones of a resort wine list built to move recognizable bottles at comfortable margins — not to educate, excite, or reward the curious drinker. If you're staying at Wentworth by the Sea and want a glass of wine with dinner, you'll find something drinkable here, but we wouldn't plan a night around the list. Order the Red Newt Riesling, tip your server well, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's actually trying.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Seafood & American
The Oar House wine list is a workmanlike effort — short, safe, and priced fairly for what it is. If you're coming for the seafood and want a glass of Albariño or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc to go with it, you'll be well served. Just don't come here expecting to be wowed by the wine program.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Portsmouth · New American / Tapas-Style
Moxy earns its Wild Card badge not because we can confirm every pour, but because the bones of the wine program — an intentional regional focus, a menu built for wine-friendly snacking, and a room that draws people back — suggest genuine effort. If you're in Portsmouth and want something more interesting than a safe Napa Cab next to your tapas, this is worth the reservation. Come in curious, ask the staff what they're excited about, and let the list surprise you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Japanese / Sushi
Nichinan's wine list is short but earns its keep — the presence of Pieropan, Grüner Veltliner, and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre tells you someone on staff understands that sushi and Chardonnay is not the only answer. Markups are fair across the board, and the by-the-glass selection is wide enough to keep the table happy without forcing a bottle. If you're in Portsmouth and want something better than the default wine-at-a-sushi-restaurant experience, this delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Italian-American
The Rosa isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve its room well, and largely succeeds. Twenty-five by-the-glass options with Italian producers mixed alongside California staples makes this one of the more thoughtful pours in Portsmouth. If you're after wine-bar ambition, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your gnocchi without any drama, The Rosa delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Steakhouse
The Library Restaurant is a Wine Spectator award holder that plays it very, very safe — heavy California Chardonnay, a prestige Champagne tower, and markups that favor the house. If you're here for a special occasion and want to pop a Pol Roger at $125 or a Veuve at $155, it's a fine room for that. But if you're hoping to find something unexpected or feel like the wine program is working hard for you, this list isn't going to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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.
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