Great Eggs Benedict, Forgettable Wine List
Downtown Bloomington · Bloomington · Eclectic Cafe / Breakfast & Brunch · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Runcible Spoon’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Runcible Spoon is a genuinely charming Bloomington institution — cozy, book-lined, full of character. The wine list, however, reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at the grocery store and called it a day. At $6–$9 a glass, the prices are hard to argue with, but the selection makes you wonder why you'd bother.
Eight wines, and Woodbridge shows up four times. That's not a wine program — that's a brand loyalty pledge. The full list is Woodbridge Merlot, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel, and Moscato, plus Tavernello Sangiovese, Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon, Graffigna Malbec, and Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio. To be fair, these are mass-market but drinkable bottles, and the price point reflects that honestly. There's no depth, no regional exploration, no small producers, and nothing that would make a wine-curious person linger on the list for more than fifteen seconds.
All eight wines are available by the glass, which at least gives you options — even if those options are all variations on the same theme. At $6–$9 a pour, this is firmly in 'house wine with brunch' territory, not 'let's talk about what we're drinking' territory. Rotation appears nonexistent; this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since 2019.
Graffigna Malbec — $9
Graffigna is a legitimate Argentine producer with actual winemaking chops, and their Malbec punches above the price point. On a list this thin, it's the one pour that has some personality — fruit-forward, not flimsy, and the best reason to order wine here instead of coffee.
Tavernello Sangiovese
Tavernello is Italian box wine royalty — unpretentious, food-friendly, and honest about what it is. On a brunch list dominated by California commodity labels, this Sangiovese is the most food-compatible wine in the bunch. Bright acidity, easy tannins, and it actually makes sense with savory egg dishes in a way that Moscato and White Zin simply don't.
Woodbridge White Zinfandel
It's 2025. Woodbridge White Zinfandel on a wine list is a choice, and not a good one. There is no brunch scenario that calls for this over a glass of water, coffee, or frankly anything else on the menu.
Graffigna Malbec + Eggs Benedict
The richness of hollandaise and a poached egg actually want some fruit and body to cut through — and the Malbec delivers just enough of both without overwhelming the dish. It's not a transcendent pairing, but it's the best match available on this list, and it works.
❌ The Bottom Line
Come to the Runcible Spoon for the atmosphere, the eggs, and the coffee — the wine list is an afterthought and the restaurant knows it. If you need something in a glass, the Graffigna Malbec won't embarrass you, but don't build your evening around the wine program.
West Side · Bloomington · American / Comfort Food
Cheddar's Bloomington is a perfectly fine place to eat a big plate of comfort food, but the wine program is an afterthought at best and a quiet ripoff at worst. Order a cocktail, order a beer, or bring your own if they allow it — just don't come here expecting wine to be part of the night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bloomington · Modern Mexican
La Una Cantina is a genuinely fun night out — order the mezcal, order the tacos, and don't overthink the wine list because the restaurant clearly didn't. If wine is your thing, this is a cocktail night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bloomington · Turkish / Mediterranean
Anatolia is a Wild Card not because the list is adventurous top to bottom — it's mostly not — but because a Turkish restaurant in a college town with 27 glass pours, a Gigondas, a Jadot Pouilly Fuissé, and an actual Turkish wine from Kavaklidere is doing something more interesting than the Caymus-heavy lineup suggests. Come for the food, skip the safe American blockbusters, and let the Kavaklidere or Gigondas do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bloomington · Indian (Northern and Southern), Halal-friendly
Taste of India is clearly beloved for its food, and it should be — but the wine list is an afterthought that no one has revisited in a while. Order a mango lassi, a Kingfisher if they have it, or save the wine for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Bloomington · Japanese (sushi, hibachi, and classic Japanese dishes)
Mori is swinging bigger on wine than any casual Japanese spot in Bloomington has a right to, and we respect the effort. The markups and the California-red tunnel vision hold it back from being a destination wine stop, but if you're already there for sushi, there's a genuinely interesting bottle or two worth finding.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Near Campus · Bloomington · Southern / American
Southern Stone is the rare casual restaurant where the wine pricing actually respects your wallet — the list is about as exciting as a supermarket aisle, but at these markups, we're not complaining. Send a friend here if they want an honest glass with their shrimp and grits and don't want to think too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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