Come for the Beer, Not the Wine
East El Paso · El Paso · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at BJ's East El Paso is less a list and more a footnote — two options, both Dark Horse, both $6 a glass. This is a brewery that knows what it is, and wine is clearly not part of the identity.
Two wines. That's it. Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon and Dark Horse Chardonnay — a mass-market California label you can grab at any grocery store for ten bucks a bottle. There's no regional story here, no attempt at curation, and no depth whatsoever. To be fair, BJ's is a craft beer destination, so the wine program feels like an afterthought tacked on for the table member who 'doesn't really drink beer.' If you're hoping to explore anything beyond the most basic red-or-white binary, you will be disappointed.
Two pours, zero surprises. Dark Horse Cab or Dark Horse Chard — that's your universe. Tuesday nights do bring a 50% discount on both, which at least makes a $3 glass of grocery-store wine a reasonably painless concession.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon — $6
At full price it's fair — Dark Horse retails around $10 a bottle, so a $6 glass isn't a rip-off. On Tuesday it's $3, at which point it's basically a rounding error on your tab.
Dark Horse Chardonnay
If you're skipping the craft beers entirely, the Chardonnay is the quieter of the two and unoffensively drinkable — especially on half-price Tuesday when the stakes drop even lower.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon
At full price on any night that isn't Tuesday, you're paying glass-pour markup on a bottle you could grab at the supermarket on your way home. Order a Brewhouse Blonde instead.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon + Deep Dish Pizza
The Cab's straightforward dark fruit and soft tannins don't fight the rich tomato sauce and cheese load of the deep dish — it's not a revelation, but it holds its own well enough for a casual weeknight.
Tuesday — 50% off wine glasses and bottles with $5 Pizookies (excludes Trio & Platter)
The Bottom Line
BJ's is a legitimately great spot for craft beer and Pizookies — the wine program exists only technically. Come on a Tuesday if you insist on wine, grab the $3 glass, and spend the rest of your energy on the beer menu where this place actually shines.
Downtown · El Paso · French / European
Pot Au Feu is the kind of place that takes its food seriously and gives the wine list a passing grade — not an A, but enough to hold up its end of the evening. If you're eating French in El Paso, you could do a lot worse; just order smart and don't default to the Jadot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westside / Northwest (The Canyons at Cimarron) · El Paso · Steakhouse
Oak & Antler isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but the Wednesday half-price promotion turns a merely adequate program into a legitimately smart evening out. Come on a Wednesday, order the Jordan, eat a ribeye, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · El Paso · American
Anson11 is a reliable destination for a well-executed California wine experience in a city where that kind of list isn't guaranteed — just don't expect to be surprised. Send your Caymus-loving friends here without hesitation; send your adventurous wine nerd somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
El Paso · El Paso · Regional, Southwestern American
Mesa Street Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it delivers a competent, fairly priced California list that holds up to the food without embarrassing anyone. Send a friend here for a solid dinner — just don't expect to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East El Paso · El Paso · Seafood, Steakhouse
Landry's wine list does exactly what a mid-tier chain seafood house needs it to do — keeps the table happy without embarrassing anyone. Just don't show up expecting inspiration; show up expecting a cold glass of Vermentino and a solid piece of fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
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
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