Felina Steak
Jersey Red Sauce Attitude With Serious Italian Depth
South Orange · South Orange · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You're expecting a steakhouse wine list built around big California Cabs and not much else — and then the Italy section shows up and resets your expectations. Barolo, Brunello, Amarone, Super Tuscans: this is a list that's clearly been curated by someone who gives a damn. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2023 and, looking at the list, it's not a surprise.
Selection Deep Dive
The Italian spine of this list is genuinely impressive for a South Orange neighborhood spot. Piedmont and Tuscany get serious treatment — Barolo producers from the Langhe sit alongside Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans that could hold their own at a Manhattan steakhouse. France shows up with Burgundy village-level Pinot Noir and Bordeaux classified growths, giving old-world drinkers two strong lanes. California Cab rounds things out on the new-world side, which feels a little expected given the steakhouse context, but it's executed solidly rather than lazily. The gaps are minor — no deep dive into Spain or the Rhône — but for 150-250 bottles, the focus feels intentional rather than neglectful.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a genuinely respectable pour program for a restaurant this size. Prices run $14–$22, which sits in the fair-to-honest range for New Jersey dining. We'd love to see more rotation and a glass program that surfaces some of the more interesting Italian picks from the bottle list, but what's here covers the bases without embarrassing anyone.
Amarone della Valpolicella — $12-$200+ bottle range
Amarone at a Jersey steakhouse often gets marked up into absurdity, but Felina keeps its pricing in check across the list — and Amarone's combination of weight, dried fruit intensity, and savory backbone is exactly what you want next to prime beef. It's the move that looks fancy but doesn't crater your check.
Burgundy Village-Level Pinot Noir
Everyone at a steakhouse gravitates toward Cab or Barolo, but a good village Burgundy from this list is the sleeper pick. The restraint and acidity cut through rich preparations in a way that bigger reds simply can't, and most tables are sleeping on it entirely.
Bordeaux Classified Growths
Classified Bordeaux at American steakhouses almost always carries a premium that the occasion doesn't demand — you're paying for the label as much as the wine. With Barolo and Brunello on the same list at likely friendlier price points, there's no compelling reason to go chasing Bordeaux clout here.
Barolo (Piedmont) + 14 oz Prime NY Strip
Barolo's tannin structure and dried cherry intensity are built for exactly this — a thick, well-marbled strip with a proper sear. The wine's acidity keeps each bite fresh, the tannins match the protein, and you end up with something that tastes better than the sum of its parts. It's the classic reason people fall hard for Piedmont reds.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Felina Steak punches well above its neighborhood weight class with an Italian-forward list that earns its Wine Spectator credential honestly. If you're going for the NY Strip, order the Barolo and don't look back.
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