Solid steak list, no surprises, no regrets
· Austin · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at ALC Steaks reads like a greatest hits album — you've heard every track before, and honestly, some of them still slap. It's a 69-label program built to please a broad room of steak-and-red-wine diners without anyone breaking a sweat. No surprises, no wildcards, but nothing embarrassing either.
The list leans heavily on familiar names that move well in steakhouse settings — Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Château de Sancerre, Veuve Clicquot. The sparkling section is surprisingly well-stocked with options across price points, from La Marca to Pommery to Veuve. Whites get a nice international nod with Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner and Pighin Pinot Grigio sitting alongside the usual California suspects. The gaps are predictable: thin on anything adventurous, and the red program data wasn't available for full analysis, which limits the picture on what's presumably the backbone of the list.
The by-the-glass program covers the key categories — sparkling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and other whites — and leans on solid, recognizable pours like Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Juggernaut Sauvignon Blanc. That's a respectable glass lineup for a steakhouse, though the rotation looks static rather than seasonal. Exact prices weren't available, so we can't vouch for the value play here.
Domäne Wachau Terrassen Federspiel Grüner Veltliner — null
In a sea of California Chardonnay, this Wachau Grüner is the smartest order on the white side of the list — crisp, food-friendly, and typically underpriced relative to its quality on steakhouse lists. It's the kind of bottle that makes people say 'what is that?' in a good way.
Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut
Everyone's ordering the Veuve at triple the price, but the Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace is a genuinely excellent Champagne alternative from one of Alsace's most reliable producers. Fine bubbles, toasty depth, fraction of the cost — and almost nobody at a steakhouse is reaching for it.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut
Veuve Clicquot is a perfectly good Champagne. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles in any restaurant in America. You're paying a hefty premium for the orange label recognition at a steakhouse, and the Lucien Albrecht or Pommery Brut Royale give you a far better return on your money.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay + Lobster tail
Flowers walks the line between richness and freshness better than most California Chardonnays at this price tier. Against a butter-finished lobster tail, that cool coastal acidity cuts right through the fat without fighting the dish — it's the kind of pairing that makes the whole table quiet for a moment.
✔️ The Bottom Line
ALC Steaks plays it safe and plays it competently — this is a wine list that serves the room without challenging it. If you know what you're looking for, there are smart picks buried in here; if you don't, you'll still drink fine.
Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Sammie's is a genuinely fun room with a wine list that's earned its Wine Spectator hardware — the Italian depth is real, the sommelier knows her stuff, and Monday half-price bottles might be the best deal in Austin. Just go in knowing the markups lean steep, and let Jenny point you toward the plays that aren't on the tourist track.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown Austin · Austin · Latin Steakhouse
Ciclo is a reliable, well-run California-centric wine program that does exactly what it says on the menu — it just charges you for the privilege. If you're here for the steakhouse experience and want a Cab that won't embarrass you, Joe Pena's list delivers. Just don't expect to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Lake Austin · Austin · Italian
68 Degrees is doing something genuinely rare in Austin: an Italian wine list with real depth, honest pricing, and a Wednesday deal that should be on your calendar. We'd send anyone here who wants to drink well without a fight.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
East Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Birdie's has no business being this good at wine for a neighborhood spot on East 12th — and that's the highest compliment we can give it. Send your friends here, tell them to order Burgundy, and let them figure out on their own that this place is a wild card worth knowing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Austin · Austin · Italian
Siena's wine list is a genuine Italian-focused program with some serious names and a half-price Monday that should be on every Austin wine drinker's calendar. Markups run steep at the high end, but the bones are good enough that we'd send a friend — especially on a Monday.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
South Lamar · Austin · Italian, Seafood
A neighborhood Italian spot with a better wine list than it has any obligation to have — and Wednesday half-price wine night is one of the better deals in Austin. Come for the pasta, stay for the Barolo.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.