The Middle East in Your Glass, Jersey City
Journal Square · Jersey City · Mediterranean and Middle Eastern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Solaz expecting hummus and maybe a house Chianti, and then the wine list hits you with Assyrtiko from Santorini and Chateau Musar from Lebanon. It's a casual neighborhood spot that has no business being this interesting on the wine front — and that's exactly what makes it worth paying attention to.
The list spans Greece, Lebanon, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Morocco, which sounds chaotic but actually reflects the food's heritage in a way that most Mediterranean spots never bother to execute. The Greek whites and Lebanese reds are the clear stars — Assyrtiko from Santorini is a legitimately serious wine, and having Chateau Musar and Chateau Ksara on a 40-70 bottle list in Jersey City is genuinely unexpected. The Spanish Rioja tempranillo section rounds things out for guests who want something familiar, and the Turkish and Moroccan selections give the list a sense of adventure that most neighborhood restaurants wouldn't even attempt. The gaps are real — Burgundy and Champagne fans will need to look elsewhere — but this list isn't trying to be everything, and it's better for it.
With 8-12 pours available by the glass, there's enough variety to navigate the whole menu without committing to a bottle. The glass program appears to mirror the bottle list's regional ambitions, which means you can actually order a Greek white with your mezze and a Lebanese red with your kebabs without feeling locked in.
Chateau Ksara (Lebanon) — $45
Lebanese reds are chronically undervalued in restaurant settings, and Ksara is one of the most food-friendly bottles on the list — structured enough for grilled meat but not so tannic that it fights the spice. At this price point in a restaurant context, it's a genuine bargain for what's in the glass.
Assyrtiko from Santorini (Greece)
Most tables here order red without thinking twice, but the Assyrtiko is the real reason to pay attention to this list. It's a volcanic-island white with serious backbone and salinity — it cuts through rich, olive-oil-forward dishes and mezze in a way that generic Pinot Grigio simply cannot.
Spanish Tempranillo / Rioja
Nothing wrong with Rioja, but it's the one part of this list that feels like it was added to make nervous guests comfortable rather than because it belongs here. You can get Spanish Tempranillo anywhere — come to Solaz for what you can't get down the street.
Chateau Musar (Lebanon) + Mixed Grill Kebabs
Musar is earthy, funky, and built on a blend of Cabernet, Cinsault, and Carignan — it has the spice and depth to go toe-to-toe with charred, herb-marinated meat without overwhelming it. This is the pairing that makes the whole list click.
🎲 The Bottom Line
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.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.