The Wine List That Forgot to Try
East Rapid City · Rapid City · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Applebee's Grill + Bar – Rapid City’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You open the menu and there it is — a laminated half-page of wines that could have been pulled from the checkout aisle at your nearest grocery store. Sutter Home. Barefoot. The whole gang's here. This isn't a wine list so much as a wine suggestion from someone who's never really thought about wine.
Six to ten wines, all California, all mass-market, all deeply familiar to anyone who's ever attended a college potluck. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon is the ceiling here, and even that's squarely in supermarket territory. There are no surprises, no regional curiosities, no small producers — just a standardized national chain program that's been copy-pasted from corporate HQ and will look identical at every Applebee's from here to Tallahassee. The list doesn't reflect Rapid City, the region, or any actual curation — it reflects a spreadsheet.
Four to eight options by the glass, priced between $5 and $10, which is honestly the most generous thing we can say about this program. The BTG list is essentially the entire list, so what you see is what you get — no bottle-exclusive surprises lurking deeper in. Rotation appears nonexistent; these pours have likely been the same since the location opened.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon — $9
It's the most serious wine on the list by a wide margin — and at under $10 a glass in a sit-down restaurant, it clears the bar for a casual weeknight red. Low bar, but cleared.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is everywhere, but if you're stuck here and you want something that at least gestures toward fruit complexity, this is your move. It's crowd-pleasing and sweeter than a true Pinot should be, but it's the closest thing to an interesting pour on this list.
Sutter Home White Zinfandel
It's 2024. There is no reason. Order a soda.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon + Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp
The Cab's dark fruit and mild tannin actually hold up against the smoky, slightly sweet Cajun seasoning on the chicken better than you'd expect. It's not a wine dinner moment, but it works.
The Bottom Line
This is a wine list that exists purely because restaurants are expected to have one. Don't come to Applebee's for wine — but if you're already here and you need a glass, the Mondavi Cab won't embarrass you.
North Rapid City · Rapid City · Hotel Lounge
Timbers Lounge is a place to have a drink after a long drive to Mount Rushmore, not a destination for wine. Order a cocktail or a beer and save your wine energy for somewhere that's put in the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Rapid City · Rapid City · Mexican
Mi Mexico is not a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — order a margarita, enjoy your meal, and don't expect the wine list to surprise you. If you absolutely must have wine with your tacos, the Sangria is $6.25 and nobody will judge you.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
LongHorn Rapid City is exactly what it is — a reliable chain steakhouse with a wine list that was built by committee and hasn't changed much since. If you're here for the steak, you'll be fine; just aim for the Joel Gott and don't expect the staff to talk you through it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
There is no version of this wine list that warrants a special trip or even a deliberate order — it's a functional corporate program designed to move bottles, not to impress. If you're at Outback for the steak, grab the Alamos Malbec and call it a night; if wine actually matters to you, this is a cocktail dinner.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Seafood
Red Lobster Rapid City's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Riesling if you must, but honestly, a cocktail or a cold draft will serve you better here.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
This is a corporate wine list in a corporate steakhouse, and it does exactly what it was built to do: keep wine on the menu without anyone having to think too hard. Come for the Dallas Filet and the bread — and if you must drink wine, hit it on a Wild West Wednesday when it's half off and the math actually makes sense.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
