Fried fish and Finger Lakes in perfect harmony
Downtown · Syracuse · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Fish Friar’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
Walking into a counter-service fish shack and finding Chablis on the list is exactly the kind of pleasant surprise that makes this job worth doing. The Fish Friar is tiny, loud, and decidedly not precious — which makes the fact that someone clearly thought about the wine list feel like a small act of defiance. It's not deep, but it's deliberate.
Twenty to forty selections sounds modest, and it is, but the list punches above its weight class by leaning into wines that actually make sense next to fried seafood. White Burgundy and Chablis anchor the old-world side, while Finger Lakes dry Riesling gives the list a local identity that most casual spots wouldn't bother with. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (think Cloudy Bay territory) and Oregon Pinot Gris round things out on the new-world end. The red options are almost beside the point here — this is a white wine list wearing a fish shack's clothes, and that's exactly right.
Six to twelve pours by the glass at $9–$15 is a solid spread for a spot where your entree might run $14. The glass program skews white and coastal, which tracks with the menu entirely. We'd love to see more rotation — right now it reads like a set-it-and-forget-it situation — but what's there is genuinely drinkable and well-matched to the food.
Finger Lakes Dry Riesling — $36
At the low end of their bottle range, a dry Finger Lakes Riesling brings bright acidity, zero residual sweetness, and laser focus that cuts straight through fried batter. It's local, it's food-friendly, and it's priced like they want you to actually order it.
Oregon Pinot Gris
Most people at a fish counter are grabbing a beer or defaulting to Sauvignon Blanc, which means the Oregon Pinot Gris just sits there waiting for someone to notice. It's rounder and more textured than the SB, which makes it a better call for anything fried or creamy — and almost nobody orders it.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Look, it's fine. It's always fine. But Cloudy Bay has become the Häagen-Dazs of wine lists — you're paying for the name recognition, and at a counter-service spot where markups can be unpredictable, there are smarter bottles on this same list.
Chablis + Fried clams
Chablis is basically the ur-pairing for briny shellfish — that flinty, mineral backbone and high acidity cut the oil and echo the oceanic salinity of the clams. It's almost textbook, except the classroom is a tiny fish shack on East Genesee and that makes it better.
The Bottom Line
The Fish Friar has no business having a wine list this well-considered, and we mean that as a compliment. If you're eating fried fish in downtown Syracuse and you're not ordering the Chablis or the Finger Lakes Riesling, you're leaving something on the table.
East Syracuse / Carrier Circle · Syracuse · Italian-American
Joey's is clearly a beloved Syracuse institution doing right by its food and its new space — but the wine list is running on autopilot and charging you for the privilege. Come for the Chicken Riggies, just don't come for the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Syracuse · Italian / New American
A Mano isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — fair prices, Italian focus that matches the food, and enough by-the-glass options to drink well without overthinking it. Send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; just don't promise them a cellar tour.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Skaneateles / Greater Syracuse · Syracuse · French
Joelle's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a French bistro that takes its wine list seriously enough to match the food, and that's exactly what it delivers. If you're eating here and drinking French, you'll leave satisfied.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Skaneateles · Syracuse · American, regional tavern fare
The Sherwood Inn is a reliable wine stop, not a destination one — the Finger Lakes selections are genuinely good, but the markups on crowd-pleaser bottles are hard to forgive. Stick to the local producers, skip the California staples, and you'll drink well enough in a room that earns its keep on atmosphere alone.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Skaneateles · Syracuse · Modern American, Fine Dining
The Krebs is a genuinely special place to eat — the setting, the food, the occasion of it all — but the wine program is coasting on the restaurant's reputation rather than earning its own. Until someone with real passion takes over that list, treat the wine budget as a tax and order accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Skaneateles · Syracuse · Italian, Tuscan
Rosalie's Cucina is a genuinely lovely spot to eat Italian in the Finger Lakes, and the wine list is coherent enough that you won't be stranded — but the markups are consistent and unkind, so come in with eyes open. Order the Di Majo Norante, skip the Jermann, and let the pasta do the heavy lifting.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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