Pacific Northwest Pride With Italian Backup
Lincoln Square South · Bellevue · Farm-to-Table/New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Lakehouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Lakehouse wine list is compact but clearly curated with intention — this isn't a hotel restaurant that phoned it in. There's a Pacific Northwest backbone with smart Italian cameos, and the by-the-glass count of 15 across just 21 labels tells you they want you drinking, not just browsing.
Washington State rightfully anchors the list, with Red Mountain Syrah from Gorman, Long Shadows showing up in two forms, and Mark Ryan's 'The Dissident' flying the Columbia Valley flag on red. Oregon gets a deserved nod via Nicolas-Jay's Willamette Chardonnay, a label co-founded by Jay-Z that still somehow flies under the radar. Italy fills the gaps intelligently — Jermann Pinot Grigio from Friuli is a serious pick, not supermarket filler, and the Brancaia 'Tre' Super Tuscan adds some muscle. The list is short, but almost every slot earns its place.
Fifteen by-the-glass options on a 21-label list is an unusually high ratio — nearly the whole book is pourable, which we respect. The four sparkling options include Roederer Estate Brut, a legitimate crowd-pleaser that beats most Champagne house entry points for value at the producer level, even if the restaurant price isn't a steal. Glass prices run $11–$25, which is fair for Bellevue's market but watch out at the top end.
2023 Long Shadows 'Cymbal' Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, WA — $15/glass (est.)
Long Shadows is one of Washington's most respected labels and 'Cymbal' consistently overdelivers for what it costs. A local wine with real pedigree on a list that could easily default to California — order it and feel good about it.
1999 Toro Albala Gran Reserva Pedro Ximenez, Spain
A 25-year-old PX from one of the greatest dessert wine producers on earth. Most tables will skip dessert wine entirely and miss this — don't be that table. It's dense, raisined, and ancient in the best way, and nothing else on this list comes close to that age or provenance.
2021 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot, Columbia Valley, WA
At $100/bottle or $25/glass, the Pedestal is priced for the room, not for the wine. It's a good Merlot, but you're paying a significant hotel-restaurant premium here. The wine trades at a fraction of that at retail, and there are better uses of $25 on this list.
2023 Gorman Reserve Syrah, Red Mountain, WA + Wood-fired roasted chicken
Red Mountain Syrah is savory, dark-fruited, and has just enough grip to cut through roasted fat without overwhelming the bird. Gorman's Reserve bottling is the real deal — this is the kind of local match a farm-to-table menu was built for.
The Bottom Line
The Lakehouse is doing more with 21 labels than most restaurants do with 60 — the Washington State focus is genuine, the Italian selections are sharp, and the by-the-glass depth is commendable. Markups lean steep at the top end, but if you're in Bellevue and want a thoughtful pour with dinner, this list earns your business.
Old Bellevue · Bellevue · Wine Bar
Valentina's is a genuinely pleasant neighborhood wine bar that earns its place in Old Bellevue — it's not breaking ground, but it's doing the basics with intention. Send a friend here for a date night glass; just don't expect a rabbit hole of discovery.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · American
13 Coins Bellevue earns its Wild Card badge by being a late-night diner that actually cares enough about wine to stock a geographically diverse list — not groundbreaking, but genuinely unexpected for the format. If Sunday happy hour is your move, this place becomes a legitimately fun spot to drink Washington wine over a Caesar salad at 11pm, which is a sentence we didn't think we'd be writing.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Bellevue · Bellevue · Hotel Lounge
BBellevue is the rare hotel bar that makes a real effort with wine, and it shows in the curation — Pacific Northwest producers, an orange pét-nat, and a Nebbiolo that shouldn't be this affordable. Markups are steep in places and the list won't change your life, but for a lobby bar in Bellevue, this is genuinely worth a stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Brazilian Steakhouse
Novilhos isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that respects your wallet and doesn't embarrass itself next to the meat. Order the Rioja, finish with Port, and let the churrasco do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Steakhouse
STK Bellevue is a reliable place to drink wine you already know at prices you'd rather not think about. If you're entertaining clients or celebrating something and need a list that won't confuse anyone, it gets the job done — just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bellevue · Bellevue · Italian / Pizza
Mercato Stellina is a pizza spot that accidentally built a wine list worth talking about — the Italian backbone is legit, the Washington State picks are well-chosen, and the pricing is honest. If you're expecting a deep white or sparkling program you'll be disappointed, but for a Nebbiolo or a Syrah with your Neapolitan, this place delivers.
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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