A restaurant’s food-and-wine pairing is an extremely delicate matter, put in the hands of only the best sommeliers in the U.S. Annually, Wine Enthusiast magazine puts out its list of the Top 100 wine restaurants in the country, covering a number territories. RealClearLife has boiled down the list to our six favorite spots below.
The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, New York – The 37-seat restaurant’s extensive wine list makes this an easy choice for the list. Look out for its stacked cheese and charcuterie plates, inventive small plates like black bass crudo, and large plates like tilefish and bavette steak. To make a reservation, click here.
Commander’s Palace, New Orleans, Louisiana – A mainstay on any wine-connoisseur’s list, the restaurant has scored four Wine Spectator grand awards (50+ staffers have passed “Court of Master Sommeliers” courses). Chef Tory McPhail’s Creole-based menu—rife with Southern seafood options like crispy soft-shell crab and pecan-crusted gulf fish—pairs up well with its extensive wine offerings. Learn more about Commander’s Palace here.
Kindred, Davidson, North Carolina – Family-run Kindred favors a seasonal menu—along with spring choices like Beaujolais and Riesling, with reds for the fall, according to Wine Enthusiast. Try the spit-fired BBQ pork shoulder (lunch) and crispy oysters (dinner). For more on North Carolina’s Kindred, click here.
The Lark, Santa Barbara, California – Named for a Southern Pacific Railroad train, the 130-seat restaurant is located in the Santa Barbara Fish Market building. Its wine list centers on California wineries, of course, with Santa Barbara County producers and other artisanal winemakers from across the state. For more information, click here.
The Catbird Seat, Nashville, Tennessee – Wine Enthusiast added this restaurant to its “Standout Tasting Menu Experience.” At just 22 seats, its ever-changing, inventive menu is paradise for wine lovers. To book a reservation, click here.
Bateau, Seattle, Washington – Of course, RealClearLife had to tease out at least one steakhouse on this curated list. All steaks are butchered in house and are sold by their weight. Try the five-course Chef’s Tasting Menu for your entire table, along with beverage pairings. Click here for more on the restaurant’s offerings.
To read Wine Enthusiast‘s full list, click here.
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