The Fish Market
Great Fish, Forgettable Bottles
Southside · Birmingham · Seafood, American, Greek · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Fish Market is a Birmingham institution — a converted warehouse with a working seafood counter, an oyster bar, and enough character to carry a neighborhood. The wine list, though, reads like an afterthought stapled to a great menu. You're here for the shrimp, not the Chardonnay, and the list knows it.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard on California and Pacific Northwest standbys — Kendall Jackson, Clos Du Bois, Walnut Crest — which tells you everything you need to know about the ambition level here. There's no real depth, no interesting producers, and nothing that suggests anyone spent more than an hour curating it. The Greek influences on the menu are genuinely exciting; the wine list doesn't return the favor with a single Greek bottle, which feels like a missed layup. If you're hoping for something to complement the Shrimp Saganaki beyond a grocery-store Chardonnay, you're going to have to look harder than this list allows.
By the Glass
We couldn't confirm a formal by-the-glass program beyond what's on the bottle list, which is already thin. Wednesday's half-price bottle night at $10 a bottle is the real play here — that's the best reason to engage with the wine program at all. Come midweek, order a bottle of Clos Du Bois, and call it a win.
Clos Du Bois Chardonnay — $17.99
The most reasonable markup on the list at 38% over retail, and at least a step up from the Walnut Crest crowd. On a Wednesday when it's half-price, it's almost a no-brainer with the fried shrimp.
Schmitt Sohne Riesling
It's the most food-friendly bottle on the list and nobody's ordering it. A touch of sweetness and bright acidity are exactly what you want against the briny, garlicky notes in the Greek dishes — it works harder than anything else here.
Walnut Crest Pinot Grigio
A 75% markup on a $8 retail bottle is the worst deal on the list. There is nothing here that justifies $14 — not the wine, not the occasion, not the vibes.
Schmitt Sohne Riesling + Shrimp Saganaki
The Riesling's off-dry character and citrus snap cut right through the tomato-feta richness of the Saganaki. It's the one pairing on this list that actually feels intentional, even if it wasn't.
Wednesday — Wine bottles for $10 on Wednesdays — the single best reason to drink wine here.
❌ The Bottom Line
The Fish Market earns its reputation on the plate — the seafood is the reason to come, full stop. The wine list is functional at best, and the only reason to engage with it seriously is Wednesday's half-price bottles, which rescue an otherwise lazy program.
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