Arthur's Prime Steakhouse

The Terrace isn't a wine destination, but it's doing the right things on a modest scale — fair prices, a few genuinely good producers, and a list that mostly fits the food. Send a friend here and point them toward the Greywacke or the Albariño.

Oceans at Arthur's is a reliable wine stop if you know what you're walking into — a greatest-hits California list at upscale-restaurant prices, served in a room that earns the splurge on food. Order the Rombauer, skip the Caymus markup, and let the kitchen do the heavy lifting.

Allsopp & Chapple isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the work — fair markups, a few genuinely interesting bottles, and a list that respects the food it's sitting next to. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them toward the Lingua Franca and away from the Cakebread.

The Fold is a converted service station serving solid tacos, and somehow it's also pouring El Enemigo Malbec. We'd send a friend here for the food and tell them to skip the margarita — at least once.

ZAZA is a solid neighborhood spot that treats its wine list like a useful accessory rather than a centerpiece — and at these prices and this vibe, that's the right call. Send a friend here for pizza and a glass of rosé without hesitation; just don't send them here expecting to be surprised.

Riverfront Steakhouse is a dependable, if uninspired, wine destination — the list does exactly what a classic steakhouse list is supposed to do, but it's not going to excite anyone who's eaten at a great wine-forward restaurant. Come for the views and the steak, order Jordan over Caymus, and don't expect to be surprised.