Springfield

Outback Springfield isn't where you go to geek out on wine, and it doesn't pretend to be — the list is honest, the prices are reasonable for a chain sit-down, and the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling alone is worth knowing about. If you're here for a steak and you want something decent in your glass, you'll be fine.

We wouldn't send anyone to Applebee's specifically for the wine, and we won't start now. If you're here, you're here for the food, the vibe, or the company — and that's perfectly fine. Just know that the wine list is purely incidental.

The markup is shockingly fair, but you're paying near-retail for wines you could grab at Walgreens on the way home. Order a cocktail, order a beer, and save the wine night for literally anywhere else.

LongHorn Springfield isn't a wine destination — but with markups this low and pours this affordable, it's one of the better casual chain options in Illinois for a simple red with a big steak. Send a friend here for dinner; just don't tell them to geek out over the list.

Olive Garden Springfield isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disaster either — fair markups, a couple of genuinely decent pours, and prices that won't sting. Order the Chianti Classico, enjoy your breadsticks, and don't overthink it.

Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steak and ribs destination with a wine list that exists because it has to. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine drinking for somewhere that cares.

If you're here for the seafood, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling has your back and the prices won't hurt. But calling this a wine bar sets an expectation the list can't come close to meeting — order your glass, enjoy the crab cakes, and don't think too hard about what's in the bottle.

Chesapeake Seafood House is a genuinely charming Springfield institution with a kitchen that earns its regulars — but the wine list is on autopilot and has been for a while. Order the Riesling, enjoy your prime rib, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.

Nick & Nino's is the kind of place where the wine list exists to serve the occasion, not the other way around — and for a 30th-floor steakhouse in Springfield, that's not a condemnation. Come for the views and the beef, order the Emmolo, and don't overthink it.

Red Lobster is not a wine destination, and the Springfield location makes no pretense of being one. Order the Riesling, enjoy your Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and save the real wine conversation for somewhere else.

Cooper's Hawk Springfield is a well-run, fairly priced winery restaurant that delivers exactly what it promises — just don't expect anything outside the family. If you're dining with a group that wants wine without drama, the pricing alone makes it worth the stop.