Skip the Wine, Order a Milkshake Instead
Palm Beach · Palm Beach · American Diner · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed February 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Surfside Diner feels like an afterthought stapled to the back of a menu designed for pancakes and burgers. We're talking the kind of selections you'd find in the corner store wine aisle—safe, boring, and priced like they're doing you a favor. This is a diner that knows its lane, and wine isn't in it.
The list reads like someone Googled 'popular wines' and called it a day. Expect the usual suspects: a California Chardonnay that could be from anywhere, a Pinot Grigio that tastes like water with a wine label, and maybe a Cabernet that's been sitting since the Obama administration. There's no regional focus, no interesting producers, and certainly no one curating with any passion. It's the vinous equivalent of a frozen patty—it'll do the job, but you won't remember it.
By-the-glass options are limited and uninspired—probably the same three wines that have been on the list since opening day. You're looking at house pours that come from industrial producers, served in whatever glass is clean. No rotation, no seasonal changes, no signs of life. If you're here for breakfast or a late-night burger, stick with coffee or a Coke.
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay — $38
Not because it's good value—it's not—but because at least you know what you're getting: reliable, if boring, California fruit
There isn't one
This list has no gems, hidden or otherwise—just safe, mass-market selections marked up for tourists
Any bottle over $50
You're paying beach-town markup on grocery store wine—don't do it to yourself
House Rosé + Classic Cheeseburger with Fries
Cold, pink, and forgettable—it won't compete with the greasy comfort food, and that's probably for the best
❌ The Bottom Line
Surfside Diner knows what it is: a casual spot for comfort food and ocean views. Wine isn't the reason you're here, and the list makes that abundantly clear. Save your wine budget for somewhere that 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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.