Old New York glamour, serious wine depth
Midtown Manhattan · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Lambs Club feels like stumbling into a 1920s fever dream — all coffered ceilings and Art Deco bones — and the wine list matches the room's ambition. At 300-400 selections anchored in France, Italy, and California, this is a list that means business. Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, and one look at the book tells you why.
The French contingent is the crown jewel here, with names like Château Margaux and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti anchoring the upper end — aspirational, yes, but their presence signals that the rest of the list was curated with genuine intention. Italy comes in strong with Gaja Barbaresco holding court, while California is well-represented across the prestige spectrum: Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay, Caymus Special Selection, and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars all make appearances. Louis Jadot rounds out the Burgundy section for those who want French elegance without the four-figure commitment. The main gap is anything outside these three regions — adventurous drinkers hunting Jura, Ribera del Duero, or Georgian amber wines will need to look elsewhere.
With 20-30 by-the-glass options, the BTG program is one of the stronger ones you'll find in Midtown, where most steakhouse-adjacent rooms give you six options and call it a night. We'd push staff for specifics on what's currently pouring from the Burgundy and California sections, as those are where the real action is. Rotation cadence is unclear, but the depth of the full list suggests there's real material to pull from.
Louis Jadot Burgundy — $80-$100
In a room full of trophy bottles, Jadot is the sensible play — reliable Burgundy producer, approachable price point, and genuinely good wine that holds its own against the Art Deco backdrop without requiring a second mortgage.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
It's easy to get distracted by the DRC and Screaming Eagle on a list like this, but Stag's Leap quietly delivers some of the most historically significant Napa Cabernet you can order — the winery that beat the French at their own game in 1976. Most diners walk right past it chasing bigger names.
Opus One
Opus One is the wine equivalent of a Times Square restaurant — famous, fine, but dramatically overpriced for what's in the glass. In a Midtown room that already carries a location premium, the markup on a bottle that retails at $350+ will make your eyes water. There are better California Cabs on this list for the money.
Gaja Barbaresco + Dry-aged prime ribeye
Barbaresco's structure and acidity were practically engineered to cut through the fat of a well-marbled dry-aged ribeye — the tannins do the heavy lifting while the wine's earthy complexity matches the char and depth of the meat. It's the kind of combination that makes the room feel even more special than it already does.
🔥 The Bottom Line
The Lambs Club is one of Midtown's better arguments for actually ordering wine at dinner — the list is deep, the setting earns it, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Just go in knowing the pricing reflects the address, and steer toward the Burgundy and Italian sections where the real value lives.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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