Napa Heavy, Steak Ready, No Surprises
Downtown Amarillo · Amarillo · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Basin Street leans hard into the classic steakhouse playbook — white tablecloths, dim lighting, New Orleans ambiance — and the wine list follows suit. You open it expecting Napa Cabs and that's exactly what you get. No curveballs, no apologies.
The list runs 30-60 bottles deep and is firmly anchored in Napa Valley, with Sonoma and Washington State making token appearances. The big names are all present: Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak — reliable crowd-pleasers that belong on a steakhouse list but don't exactly signal a wine director losing sleep over the selections. There's no meaningful Old World presence, no grower Champagne, no aged Barolo to speak of. If you came here hoping to discover something, you may leave a little flat.
The by-the-glass program runs 8-12 options, which is respectable for Amarillo. Expect the usual suspects — a house red, something approachable and Cabernet-forward, maybe a Chardonnay for the table holdout. Rotation appears minimal; this is not a list that changes with the season.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently punches above its price point relative to the bigger Napa names on this list. It's food-friendly, approachable right now, and doesn't require a second mortgage the way some of its neighbors do. At a steakhouse in this price tier, it's the play.
Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon
Whatever Washington bottle they're pouring tends to get overlooked when Caymus and Silver Oak are on the same page, but Washington Cabs often bring more structure and freshness — and typically at a friendlier price. Worth asking the server what they have from up there.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and restaurant markup on it is almost always punishing. You're paying for the brand recognition at this point, not the juice. The wine is fine, but at steakhouse prices you can almost certainly do better on this same list.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon + Bone-in Ribeye
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley expression has enough fruit weight and soft tannin to stand up to a well-marbled ribeye without steamrolling the meat. It's the most classically correct pairing on the list, even if it's not the most exciting.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Basin Street is a comfortable, competent steakhouse wine list that serves its room well — you're not here to be challenged, you're here to eat a great steak with a reliable Cab. Just know you're paying a premium for the comfort of familiar labels.
Downtown Amarillo · Amarillo · Italian Steakhouse
Toscana is doing the most with wine in a city that doesn't ask much of its restaurants on that front. The markups sting and the list plays it relatively safe, but if you're eating in Downtown Amarillo and want a real wine experience, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
South Georgia / Soncy · Amarillo · American
Send a friend here for wine? Only if they lost a bet. Order a margarita, enjoy the riblets, and save the wine night for somewhere that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-40 West · Amarillo · Southern / Country
Cracker Barrel is doing exactly what it set out to do — serve comfort food at highway speed — and wine is an afterthought by design. Come for the biscuits, skip the wine list entirely, and nobody gets hurt.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-40 East · Amarillo · Southern / Country
Would we send a friend here for wine? Only if that friend had wronged us. Order the sweet tea, enjoy the rocking chairs, and revisit the wine question at your next stop.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Amarillo · New American / Fine Dining
OHMS is doing real cooking, and the wine list hasn't kept up — steep markups on grocery-store names don't match the ambition on the plate. Go for the duck confit, order a cocktail, and save the wine night for somewhere that's actually trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Amarillo · Cajun & Creole, Seafood
The Drunken Oyster is a genuinely fun place to drink wine with oysters in a city that doesn't offer a ton of alternatives — just go in knowing the markup is working against you on the bubbles. Stick to the still wines, order something from California, and let the French Quarter vibes do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
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.