Old Hollywood glam meets Cab country
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed BLVD Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at BLVD reads exactly like the room looks — polished, confident, and built around what steakhouse regulars already know they want. California Cabs anchor everything, with France showing up as the respectable supporting cast. It's not going to surprise you, but it's not trying to.
Between 150 and 250 bottles, the list leans hard into the California-France axis that Wine Spectator flagged when they handed out the Award of Excellence back in 2019 — and it's earned. Napa heavyweights like Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, Far Niente, and Opus One hold down the red column, while Chateau Lynch-Bages and Louis Jadot represent France with enough credibility to keep things honest. What's missing is any real depth in Italy, Spain, or the Southern Hemisphere — if you're not a Cab or Burgundy person, the list thins out fast. Chateau Montelena showing up is a nice nod to history, but the overall selection plays it safe and knows its audience.
Somewhere between 12 and 20 pours by the glass, priced $12–$22, which is reasonable for a West Loop steakhouse at this level. Don't expect anything adventurous in the glass program — this is Cab and Chardonnay territory, built to match what's on the plates. Rotation appears minimal; this list was set and it stays set.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $50s
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — it's approachable, well-structured, and won't require a second mortgage the way the Opus One will. In a list full of Napa trophy bottles, this is the smart order.
Chateau Montelena
Most tables here are racing straight to Caymus or Silver Oak, which means Montelena gets overlooked. It shouldn't — this is the Napa winery that put California on the map at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, and it still delivers restrained, age-worthy Cabernet that stands apart from the jammy crowd on this list.
Opus One
Opus One is a great wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles at any steakhouse in America. You're paying heavily for the name recognition here — the Jordan or Far Niente will drink beautifully alongside your ribeye without the sticker shock.
Chateau Lynch-Bages + Dry-aged ribeye
Lynch-Bages is a Pauillac built for red meat — the structure, the graphite edge, the dark fruit. Against a dry-aged ribeye's concentrated beefy intensity, it locks in perfectly. This is the one bottle on the list that earns its French passport at a steakhouse.
The Bottom Line
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Capitol Square · Madison · Steak house
Rare is a reliable wine destination for Napa devotees visiting Madison — the list is familiar by design, the WS Award of Excellence is well-earned, and the setting delivers. Just don't come here looking for natural wine or anything that strays from the California playbook.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Brookfield · Brookfield · Steak house
Mr. B's is a reliable, well-kept steakhouse wine list that knows its audience and serves them well — just don't expect any surprises. If you're a California Cab loyalist heading out for a serious steak dinner in the Milwaukee suburbs, this is your spot.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Glen Allen · Glen Allen · Steak house
Hondos is exactly what it is: a reliably solid California-focused steakhouse wine list that's been doing this long enough to earn its Wine Spectator credential. Don't come here looking for surprises — come here knowing what you want and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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