Best Wine Lists in New Jersey

Frankie is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a casual downtown spot, and the Italian-leaning natural wine list punches well above the Grove Street zip code. If you're in Jersey City and care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.

House of 'Que is a genuinely fun spot for barbecue and live music — just don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience. Order a beer, eat the brisket, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.

Edward's is a reliable steakhouse wine list for guests who want Napa Cabs with their dry-aged beef and aren't looking to be challenged. Send a friend here who loves Jordan and Stag's Leap; don't send the one who's been on a natural wine kick.

Orale isn't a wine destination, but it's a casual Mexican spot that earned a Wild Card badge by putting a Bonny Doon orange wine and a proper Albariño on a short, accessible, fairly priced list. Send a friend here who thinks Mexican restaurants don't do wine — they'll leave surprised.

Mathews is a reliable neighborhood pour — fair prices, familiar bottles, and a by-the-glass selection that works well enough for a casual dinner on Grove Street. Don't come here to geek out on wine, but don't skip the Montepulciano either.

Come for the skyline, order a cocktail, and if you're committed to wine, the Il Poggione is your move and the Louis Jadot at $118 is your warning sign. This list has the energy of a hotel bar that knows guests are too distracted by the view to notice.

Fire & Oak is a reliable port in a storm — decent bottles, familiar names, prices that sting but won't shock you. If you're already staying at the Westin or catching a meal before the PATH, you could do worse; just don't make a special trip for the wine list.

Ani Ramen isn't a wine destination, but it's a wildcard worth knowing: fair prices, enough variety to find something that works, and the rare ramen spot that actually put some thought into the glass. Send your wine-curious friends here — just make sure they order the tonkotsu too.

Porta isn't a wine destination, but it's a dependable neighborhood spot with an Italian list that does right by the food — and Monday half-price bottles make it genuinely worth planning around. Come for the pizza, drink the Montepulciano, skip the Pinot Grigio markup.

Maritime Parc is a genuinely beautiful restaurant with a wine list that coasts entirely on its zip code. Unless you're here for the Thursday oyster-burger-wine deal or a glass of Veuve with the raw bar, your money is better spent on cocktails.

The Life of Reilly is a cocktail bar first and a wine destination never — but the pricing is so honest and the Albariño so well-chosen that wine drinkers won't feel like an afterthought. Come for the cocktails, stay for a glass of something Spanish.

Solaz is a casual neighborhood Mediterranean restaurant that quietly assembled a wine list with more regional ambition than most places twice its size — if you're willing to trust it and order off the beaten path, it pays off. Send a curious friend here and tell them to skip the Rioja.