North Fork Local Love in a Victorian Time Capsule
Riverhead · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Tweed's Restaurant & Buffalo Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Tweed's and the pressed-tin ceiling and mahogany bar do the heavy lifting before you even open the wine list. It's the kind of room that makes you want to order something with some age on it. The list, holding a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023, earns its keep without being showy about it.
The focus is California and New York — a smart, honest pairing given the Long Island address. Heavy hitters like Caymus Cabernet, Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, and Far Niente anchor the California side and will keep the crowd happy without making anyone feel adventurous. The real story is the North Fork locals: Bedell Cellars and Pellegrini Vineyards bring genuine regional identity to a list that could easily have ignored its own backyard, and Wolffer Estate bridges the South Fork gap. It's not a deep cellar, but the 100-150 bottle range is edited well enough that there's no obvious filler.
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass at $10–$18 is a solid spread for a mid-sized restaurant in Riverhead — it's not a wine bar, but it's trying harder than most. We'd like to see more North Fork producers make it onto the glass list specifically, since that's the list's strongest differentiator. Rotation doesn't appear to be a feature here, so what you see is what you get.
Pellegrini Vineyards (North Fork of Long Island) — $35–$50 (est.)
Local Long Island wine at a restaurant in Riverhead that doesn't gouge you on it — that's a win. Pellegrini makes honest, food-friendly reds and whites from right down the road, and ordering it here is exactly the right move.
Bedell Cellars (North Fork of Long Island)
Most tables here will gravitate straight to the Caymus and call it a night, but Bedell is making some of the most serious wine on Long Island. Skip the California reflex and go local — you won't regret it.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and wherever it shows up on a restaurant list, the markup tends to reflect the name recognition rather than what's in the bottle. With Stag's Leap and Jordan already on the list as better alternatives, there's no reason to default to the safe pick.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon + Beef steak with Cognac cream sauce
Jordan Cab has the structure to hold up against a rich, cognac-laced cream sauce without bullying it — it's plush enough to harmonize but has enough backbone to cut through the fat. Classic steakhouse move executed well.
The Bottom Line
Tweed's punches above its small-town weight with a legit North Fork wine identity tucked inside a California-forward list, all inside one of the most charming rooms on Long Island. If you're out on the East End and want a proper bottle without a Manhattan markup, this is a very easy yes.
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Back Bay · Boston · Seafood, Steakhouse
A beverage book that covers a lot more than California: 19 glass pours up front, then Napa, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône and Piedmont behind them. If you are spending, look at the Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay at $175; if you are not, the Zlatan Otok Plavac Mali is the lowest-priced full bottle at $39. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Bend · Bend · Seafood, Steakhouse
Brickhouse posts a steakhouse list with a long Washington Cabernet section and 6 oz glass pours from $12. Start with the $12 Green Wing Cabernet by the glass, or step up to the Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir at 85 for a bottle; if you are spending, the Quilceda Creek Cabernets in the Washington section run 425 to 475. Confirm today's availability and prices; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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