Skip the Wine, Order a Margarita
West Lansing · Lansing · Casual American / Tex-Mex
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chili's Grill & Bar – Lansing’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Chili's West Lansing isn't really a wine list — it's a laminated afterthought tucked behind the cocktail menu. You're here for a margarita or a beer, and the beverage program knows it too.
What's on offer is essentially a curated shelf from your local Kroger: Barefoot Moscato, Yellow Tail Chardonnay, Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon, and a house red blend that changes depending on what the distributor dropped off. There's no regional focus, no attempt at discovery, and zero depth — this is a list designed to check a box, not to serve wine drinkers. The California and Australian commercial brands are fine for what they are, but that's the ceiling here. If you came in hoping to find something interesting between the ribs and the fajitas, you're going to be disappointed.
Roughly six to eight pours available, all in the $6–$9 range, which at least means you won't feel robbed when you inevitably switch to a Modelo. Rotation is nonexistent — these are permanent chain-standard listings that haven't changed since the Obama administration. There's no seasonal program, no weekly feature, nothing to make coming back for the glass pours feel worthwhile.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon — $8
Dark Horse is a $10 bottle at the grocery store, so a glass pour in the $7–$9 range is about as fair as a chain restaurant gets. It's fruit-forward and uncomplicated, which actually holds its own against the baby back ribs.
House Red Blend
Nobody orders it, but the house red blend — whatever it happens to be regionally — is usually poured generously and priced at the floor. At a place where wine is an afterthought, low expectations are your friend.
Barefoot Moscato
It's $5 at any grocery store in Michigan. Ordering it here at restaurant pricing feels like a personal decision you'll want to revisit.
Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon + Baby Back Ribs
The smoky, sticky-sweet rib sauce needs something with enough fruit weight to stand up to it without clashing. Dark Horse Cab isn't subtle, but neither are the ribs — it works because both are playing the same game.
The Bottom Line
Chili's is a perfectly good place to eat a burger and drink a margarita — we mean that sincerely. But if wine is your thing, this list will let you down every single time, and you deserve better than a $8 Barefoot pour.
East Lansing · Lansing · Mexican
El Azteco is a beloved college-town institution, and the wine list knows its place — it's there so you can technically order wine, not because anyone thought hard about it. Stick to the margaritas; they're the real program here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Lansing · Lansing · American, Brew Pub, Bar
Beggar's Banquet is a beloved East Lansing institution and the wine list reflects that — it's comfortable, familiar, and a little overpriced. Come on a Wednesday when half-price bottles make the steep markups survivable, order the bubbles, and remember that the beer list is probably the real reason everyone keeps coming back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
East Lansing · Lansing · American bar & grill
Peanut Barrel is a beloved East Lansing institution and a genuinely great place to grab a burger and a beer — emphasis on the beer. The wine list is a placeholder, not a program, and no one at the table or behind the bar is pretending otherwise.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Lansing · Lansing · Hotel Restaurant
If you're staying at the Crowne Plaza or just need a reliable glass of wine before a meeting in Lansing, Kindred Table won't let you down — prices are fair, the producers are legitimate, and nobody's trying to fleece you. Just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town Lansing · Lansing · Gastropub
Zoobie's isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but if you're meeting friends for dinner in Old Town and someone at the table insists on a glass, you won't be stuck with regret. Grab the Malbec or the Mawby rosé, let everyone else argue about the beer list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Okemos · Lansing · Seafood and American
Real Seafood Company Okemos is a dependable neighborhood anchor where the wine list won't embarrass you or excite you — fair prices and familiar faces make it easy, just don't come expecting discovery. Order the La Marca with the oysters and leave the wine nerd hat at home.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
