Solid pours, no surprises, job done
Chelsea · New York · American Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 25, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Wilson’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Wilson's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a neighborhood American bistro on West 27th — approachable, recognizable, and designed to not scare anyone off. It's not trying to be a wine bar, and it doesn't pretend to be. What you see is what you get, which is fine.
The bottle list leans heavily on reliable New World workhorses — Elouan Pinot Noir from Oregon, Raeburn Cabernet from California, Boen Chardonnay from the Central Coast. There's a nod to Europe with Burgans Albariño from Rías Baixas and La Gioiosa Prosecco from Italy, plus Champagne in the form of Lanson and Moët & Chandon. The geographic spread sounds impressive on paper, but the depth within each region is thin — one or two bottles per grape variety with no serious exploration of terroir or small producers.
Ten by-the-glass options in the $15–$18 range is a respectable count for a neighborhood spot. The selection mirrors the bottle list — all familiar names, nothing adventurous, but nothing embarrassing either. If you're looking to try something unexpected, you won't find it here by the glass.
Albariño Burgans, Rías Baixas — $16/glass, $64/bottle — $64
Burgans is a solid, widely distributed Albariño from Martín Códax that reliably over-delivers at its price point. At $64 a bottle — roughly 4x retail, which is on the lower end for NYC — it's the most interesting wine on the list and the one most likely to make your table happy.
Champagne Lanson Père & Fils Brut — $95/bottle
Moët gets all the attention at the table next to you, but Lanson is the smarter order. It's a house that doesn't get enough credit outside of the UK, and at $95 versus Moët's $150, the value gap is real. Drier, more mineral-driven, and frankly more interesting for the money.
Champagne Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut — $150/bottle
At $150 you're paying for the name, full stop. Moët Impérial retails around $40–$45, making this one of the steeper markups on the list. It's fine Champagne, but Lanson is right there on the same menu for $55 less and does the job better.
Albariño Burgans, Rías Baixas + Seafood or lighter appetizers
Burgans has the citrus acidity and salinity that cuts through rich seafood dishes and brightens lighter starters. In a neighborhood bistro context, it's the wine most built for versatility at the table.
Day not specified — Half-price bottles of wine available — day not confirmed. Check with the restaurant directly.
The Bottom Line
The Wilson won't blow any minds, but it won't embarrass you either — it's a dependable neighborhood list with fair prices and just enough range to get through dinner without overthinking it. Send a friend here for a casual weeknight bottle, not a wine-focused dinner.
Midtown · New York · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie earns its place as a reliable stop for wine in Midtown, especially if you're leaning French. The glass list is genuinely wide and has some smart picks buried in it — the Fleurie and the Wiemer Riesling both punch above their price points. Markups trend steep as you climb the bottle list, so your money works hardest in the by-the-glass section. If you're here for the brasserie experience, the wine program holds up its end of the deal.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Steakhouse
BLT Prime's wine program is glass-only, which limits your options if you came for a big bottle moment, but the pricing is honest and the selection is more thoughtful than most steakhouses bother with. If you're keeping it casual and ordering by the glass, you can drink well here without feeling taken advantage of — and that's not nothing in this city.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
The Palm Midtown is not where you'd expect to find Puzelat and Ruth Lewandowski sitting next to each other on a wine list — which is exactly what makes it worth a second look. Six bottles is a short menu, but all six are defensible picks at prices that don't insult you. If you're in the mood to trust the list and not overthink it, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Murray Hill · New York · Classic American Steakhouse
Wolfgang's is a reliable steakhouse wine experience in the sense that you know exactly what you're getting: a list built around the bottle you already know, priced for the room you're sitting in. If you're here to close a deal over a Porterhouse for Two, the wine list will do its job without embarrassing anyone — but it's not going to surprise you, and it's almost certainly going to cost more than it should. Go in with eyes open and a strong second-choice red in mind.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is a rare thing in New York: a focused, regionally coherent program that commits hard to Greek and Eastern Mediterranean varieties without making you feel like you need a flashcard to order. The by-the-glass selection alone — 18 options, all under $18, featuring producers most wine lists wouldn't touch — makes this worth visiting even before the food arrives. If you eat here and order a Cabernet, that's on you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Italian
A long bottle list with Italian, Burgundy and Champagne sections, fronted by a 22-wine glass page. For a glass, try the Skerk Orange Wine from Friuli at 25/95, and for a bottle on a lighter budget, the Volpaia Vermentino at 60; upstairs in the café, the labeled list pours Palistorti di Valgiano's orange Tuscan blend at Glass $22. Confirm prices before you order, because the site's Upstairs Café dinner menu and the beverage PDF do not match. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Hampden · Baltimore · American Bistro
The Food Market's Hampden list is short and approachable, with most wines posted between 10 / 38 and 15 / 56. Start with the Saverio Faro Nero d'Avola at 11 / 40, or the Saumur Chenin Blanc at 12 / 46 if you want a white that isn't Chardonnay; with the crab cake, try the Cune Rioja at 12 / 46. Confirm current availability and prices, since the site's separate Drinks page lists different wines; this unrated guide covers the posted Hampden wine list, not service, storage or markups.
· Jersey City · American Bistro
Court Street's wine list is functional and fair — no embarrassing markups, a couple of genuinely good pours hiding among the Coastal Ridge, and glass prices that won't wreck your dinner tab. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but it's a perfectly fine neighborhood spot where you can drink the Rioja or the Sancerre and have a good night. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them away from the mystery Champagne.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
