Local restaurants honored by Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator, a leading authority on wine, has unveiled the winners of the 2026 Restaurant Awards, which honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. “The restaurant industry is rapidly transforming as diners become more selective about when, how and what they drink,” Marvin R. Shanken, chairman and CEO of Wine Spectator, said in the announcement. “As wine drinkers grow more mindful, restaurants are adapting with creative wine programs.” Launched in 1981, the Restaurant Awards are judged on three levels— the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award.  In the metro Detroit area, 16 restaurants earned honors in 2 different categories. Wine Spectator’s criterion for the Award of Excellence goes to restaurants which offer at least 90 selections and feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. The Best of Award of Excellence is given to restaurants with wine lists that display excellent breadth across multiple wine growing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team. This year’s Best of Award of Excellence honors local restaurants which include: Prime + Proper, Detroit; San Marello, Detroit; and The Capital Grille, Troy. The Award of Excellence recognition goes to: Adelina, Detroit; Antidote, Detroit; Big Rock Italian Chophouse, Birmingham; Brentwood Grille, Novi; Cantoro Trattoria, Plymouth; Eddie Merlot’s, Bloomfield Hills; Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Troy; Five Steakhouse, Plymouth; Morton’s-The Steakhouse, Troy; Season’s 52, Troy; Streetside Seafood, Birmingham; Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Detroit; and The Wine Grotto, Plymouth.