Monday Night Half-Price Wine? Yes, Really.
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed May 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walk into John's and the wine list doesn't announce itself — the room does. Counter-service energy, intimate scale, polished food. When the list does land in your hands, it reads like it was built by someone who actually drinks wine and wants you to as well.
The focus here is squarely on France and California, and that's a feature, not a limitation — the curation is tight and deliberate. You'll find cru Beaujolais sitting alongside grower Champagne and Loire Chenin Blanc, with California Pinot Noir holding down the New World side. The Txakolina is an outlier that signals the list isn't just playing the hits. There are real gaps in coverage — no obvious deep cellar, no sprawling Old World section — but what's here has been chosen with intention, and a fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2025 backs that up.
Specific by-the-glass counts aren't confirmed, but given the kitchen's counter-service DNA and the wine-forward ethos, expect a rotating selection that mirrors the bottle list's France-and-California backbone. With two sommeliers on staff — Tommy Ryan and Allison Wellborn — the pours are in good hands.
Cru Beaujolais (Gamay) — $62
Cru Beaujolais at this price point typically drinks well above its weight class — structured, serious Gamay that most tables will mistake for something twice as expensive. At a restaurant with fair markups and knowledgeable staff, this is exactly the kind of bottle you want to order.
Loire Valley Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc gets overlooked at most American restaurants because people don't know what to do with it. Here, at $64, it's one of the most versatile bottles on the table — works with vegetables, works with lighter proteins, works by itself. Don't sleep on it.
Champagne (non-vintage, grower or small house)
At $138, the grower Champagne is the biggest ask on the list. Not necessarily a gouge, but without knowing the producer or retail comp, it's the hardest bottle to justify blind. If you're feeling celebratory, sure — but it's the one spot where you'd want to ask the staff exactly what you're getting before committing.
Burgundy Chardonnay (village-level) + Seasonal charred vegetable plate
Village Burgundy Chardonnay has enough texture and acid to stand up to smoke and char without steamrolling delicate vegetable flavors. At $92 it's not cheap, but it's the kind of pairing that makes a vegetable dish feel like the main event.
Monday — Half-price wine night every Monday — applies to bottles.
🎲 The Bottom Line
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.