Bern’s in Tampa is probably the most impressive I’ve seen in terms of size but it’s definitely not that creative. It has year after year of the “big names” like Caymus and Silver Oak and very little emphasis on lesser known varietals, so I find the list to be boring even if huge.

In Philly, my favorite wine list is probably Ristorante Panorama (Italian focused list with a load of wines by the glass), but Friday Saturday Sunday has all of their bottles at just $10 over cost and a really nice list so, if I had to choose just one in the city, it’d be FSS.

http://www.frisatsun.com/wine.html
http://www.pennsviewhotel.com/ristorante_panorama/menus/flights_of_wine/index.aspx

These restaurant wine list evaluations are just not doing it for me. I don’t think I would go to a restaurant just for a good wine list and I’m pretty sure I also would not NOT go to a restaurant because of a bad wine list. I’m there for the food.

So I’m looking for a wine to complement my food. Since I don’t know if/when I will visit these restaurnat and since I’m not sure what’s on the menu and therefore, what to order, knowing what’s currently on the wine menu is not all that helpful.

However, I’m pretty sure I’ve enjoyed at least 500 of the 547 episodes, so I guess I can’t complain too much. Keep ’em coming.

Not really a wine list guy…I pick restaurants based on the food and good values. Almost always go with the house wine, which tends to be lesser known, good values. In Las Vegas, the one place I wanted to visit but didn’t have time for was the wine cellar room at the Rio…I hear it’s like a cave.

Gary,

Just pay for your meals with after-tax dollars and get back to doing what you do well.

Are you using a mono-pod? I like the effect.

What? No lemon in your water? I thought you said…..

QOTD: Bern’s, Tampa (Bucs 3-1)

Yo G, when it comes to dat Wine List, I think a more appropriate term
ta use in place of “Baller” would be CASTRATION……OOOOOOOOUUCH!!!! 🙂

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I am so glad to see you point out the “standard list” I feel like if the restaurants are not willing to work a little at their list that I will not
work at spending my money on the list. ATTN Restaurants- Wine can be a profit category spend some time on it!!

B.T.W. Gary keep up the reviews. As it makes wineries work harder it
will make restaurants aware of the consumers as well.

Just take your own wine and have them open it for a cork charge, problem solved. Cheaper and you get exactly what you want.

QOTD: At Vineyards in Ottawa (http://www.vineyards.ca). We were sucked in by the $12 fries for dinner (with the side of steak and Caesar salad). Surprised to find over 300 wines, and about 70 by the glass. Also well over 100 beers to choose from. All drinks, including the wine, are served up at the bar, and we were given tastes of several of the by-the-glass wines to help us decide.

QOTD: Bern’s by FAR! Worth a trip for anyone not close by.

QOTD : at 39 pages it is a little lengthy but it is quite a compiliation for a 1.5 year old restaurant. and not too far from the wine lib i might add.

http://primelongisland.com/menu/WineMasterList.pdf

tabla/bread bar in NYC. Creative and diverse. If you love Italian wine – I trulli in NYC. Deep list with a wine store across the street.

The wine list at Osteria L’Intrepido is impressive… of course, not if you actually GO to the restaurant. (Google it)

QOTD: OMG, that’s so funny, b/c I haven’t really been out to any place w/a wine list in QUITE some time. Been traveling, been busy, we have no gas here in the Southeast for little optional trips like going out to dinner…little issues like that. Best one I’ve seen in that timeframe was on an airplane, which should tell you something!!

The best wine list I have come across lately is MY OWN!!!

QOTD: I have not seen a good wine list in several months. A combination of not getting out much and not visiting great places.

By far the best wine list Ive ever seen and enjoyed is the Angus Barn in Raleigh NC.
1000’s of bottles.

QOTD: sadly, haven’t been out many places in the last month so my choices are limited. The Source in DC, which is Wolfgang Puck’s new place would probably be my pick.

QOTD: Comme Ca in LA. They were out of a few things I ordered because they’re in the midst of changing the list over – but that’s always a great sign because they’re not just going with the commodity brands that are constantly available. The list was eclectic, representative and well priced.

QOTD: I just made a wine list for a friend who is opening up a wine bar here in town. It’s nothing enormous but I’m proud of it.

Meritage in East Greenwich, RI has quite the selection of old and new world, and quite a few different choices in each category. All in all a good selection.

QOTD: Park and Orchard Restaurant in East Rutherford, NJ

The Cannery in Newport Beach, CA has a great wine list.

QOTD: Bitro 1245 in Gainesville, FL