The Fish Is Fresh, The Wine List Isn't
West Side · Manchester · Japanese
Reviewed April 19, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Sushi Joy’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The sushi looks great. The wine list looks like it was typed up in five minutes and never revisited. A handful of by-the-glass pours, no bottles worth hunting, and the kind of selection that makes you wonder if anyone in the building has thought about wine since the place opened.
We're looking at a short list anchored by Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and house sake — which is fine for what it is, but there's no depth here. New Zealand and California get the nod by default, not by design. No sake flight, no junmai, no interesting regional options that might actually complement the kitchen. For a sushi bar, this is a missed opportunity.
Four to six pours, priced $9–$14, which sounds reasonable until you realize the range tops out at Kim Crawford. There's no rotation, no seasonal swap, nothing to indicate anyone is actively curating this program. You're paying mid-range prices for grocery-aisle wines.
House Sake — $9
At the low end of the glass pour range, the house sake is the most honest drink on the menu — it belongs here, it works with everything on the table, and it won't make you feel robbed.
House Sake
Most people default to whatever white wine they recognize, but sake is the right call at a sushi bar — even a house pour. It's not exciting, but it's the most intentional choice available.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
At $14 a glass you're paying restaurant markup on a bottle that retails for $12. It's everywhere, it's fine, and you can do better with a beer or the sake for less money.
House Sake + Rainbow Roll
Sake doesn't fight with raw fish the way most whites do — it sits alongside it, lets the fish lead, and doesn't bring competing fruit or oak to the table. It's the right call with the Rainbow Roll.
The Bottom Line
Come for the sushi, skip the wine list. This is a beer-and-sake situation and there's nothing wrong with that — just don't expect the wine program to add anything to your night.
Manchester · Manchester · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Vine Thirty Two is doing the most credible wine program in Manchester, and by a comfortable margin. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Whispering Angel and ask questions.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester · Manchester · Mexican
Margaritas Manchester is a fun night out, and the bar program clearly gets the attention. The wine list is not the reason to come here — order the cocktails, enjoy the room, and don't overthink the glass pours.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Millyard · Manchester · Casual American
Come here for the burgers and maybe a beer — the wine list is an obligation, not an attraction. If wine matters to your night out, this isn't your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester · Manchester · Modern American Grill
110 Grill Manchester is the wine equivalent of a reliable friend — not the most exciting person in the room, but they always show up and they never let you down. Send your friends here if they want a decent glass with dinner and zero stress; just don't send the Burgundy nerds.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow · Manchester · Mexican
Shorty's is a margarita bar that happens to have wine on the menu — and the wine knows it. Come for the frozen drinks and the fajitas; leave the wine list to collect dust.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow · Manchester · Tex-Mex
Cactus Jack's is a fun place to eat Tex-Mex and throw back a margarita, and that's exactly the order of operations we'd recommend. The wine list is an afterthought dressed up as a menu section — don't send a friend here for wine unless the friend truly doesn't care about wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Japanese
Haru Ichiban is not a wine destination, and that's fine — plenty of great Japanese restaurants aren't. But if wine matters to you at dinner, this list gives you nothing to work with: no producers, no prices, no effort. Come for the food, skip the wine, and maybe order the Choya Plum Wine if you want something that at least fits the vibe.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Roswell · Japanese
Tanaka's wine list is functional in the same way a vending machine is functional — it technically dispenses what you need, but no one's excited about it. The pricing is fair and the Umeshu is a genuine bright spot, but seven bottles at a sit-down Japanese restaurant in 2024 signals that wine just isn't a priority here. Order the sake, or bring your own if corkage allows.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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