Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
Sky-high list, sky-high views, sky-high tabs
Bellevue · Bellevue · Asian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Ascend lands like the room itself — ambitious, polished, and fully aware of how good it looks. We're talking 400-600 selections anchored by France, California, Oregon, Washington, and Italy, backed by two named sommeliers who clearly built this thing with intention. This is not a list assembled by a restaurant that threw wine on as an afterthought.
Selection Deep Dive
The regional spread is genuinely strong: California heavyweights like Caymus, Silver Oak, Kistler, and Opus One share shelf space with Washington loyalists like Quilceda Creek and Leonetti Cellar — two bottles that deserve more attention than they get outside the Pacific Northwest. France holds its own with Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet and Chateau Margaux, and Italy checks in with Sassicaia. Oregon isn't forgotten either — Domaine Drouhin pins down that corner nicely. If there's a gap, it's that the list leans heavily into the greatest hits; adventurous drinkers looking for grower Champagne or left-field Italian varieties will have to dig. But for a high-end steakhouse-sushi hybrid perched on the 31st floor, the depth is real.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a serious commitment at this price point, with options running $14-$30. That range gives you genuine flexibility — you're not stuck choosing between one white and one red. The program reflects the broader list's strengths, so expect California Cabs and solid French options to dominate the pour list.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir — null
In a list loaded with California muscle and French prestige bottles, Domaine Drouhin is the quiet overachiever. It's serious Willamette Valley Pinot at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage, and it's the kind of wine that actually plays well with both the sushi and the steakhouse side of this menu. Order it before your table defaults to Caymus on autopilot.
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Most tables here go straight for Silver Oak or Opus One because the names are comfortable. Quilceda Creek is a Washington state Cab that belongs in the same conversation — cult status in the Northwest, cult-level quality, and still somewhat under the radar for guests flying in from out of town. If you're sitting 31 floors above Bellevue, drink the wine that comes from the dirt you're looking at.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
At $225 on the list, you're paying a significant premium for a wine that retails at a fraction of that price and has become essentially ubiquitous on every steakhouse list in America. It's not a bad wine — it's just not a good deal, and the list around it offers far more interesting places to put your money.
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon + Wagyu Filet Mignon
Leonetti is structured enough to stand up to the richness of Wagyu without steamrolling it, and there's something fitting about pouring a Washington icon alongside one of the menu's marquee plates. This is the local bottle that earns its place at the table instead of just riding a famous label.
Monday — Half-price wine night every Monday — the single best reason to rearrange your week.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Ascend is the real deal — a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence recipient with the list to back it up and sommeliers who actually know it. The markups are steep across the board, so come with a strategy: lean into the Washington producers, grab a glass program pour before committing to a bottle, and let Monday's half-price deal do the heavy lifting if your schedule allows.
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