Old-School Steaks Need a Wine List Update
New Orleans · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chophouse New Orleans – Prime Steaks’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 reads like steakhouse central casting—big Cabs, bigger Barolos, names you've seen a thousand times. It's functional and predictable, the kind of list built to not offend anyone, which also means it won't surprise anyone. For a city as dynamic as New Orleans, this feels like missed opportunity.
You're looking at the usual suspects: California Cabernet from Napa's heavy hitters, a token Malbec from Argentina, maybe a Châteauneuf-du-Pape if you're feeling Continental. The Italian section leans hard on Tuscany and Piedmont—safe bets that pair well with ribeyes but don't venture beyond the comfort zone. There's little regional exploration, no natural wines, no orange curiosities. It's a list designed for expense accounts and people who order the same bottle every time they visit a steakhouse. Nothing here screams New Orleans.
Expect a handful of pours—probably six to eight options total. You'll find a domestic Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Cab, maybe a Malbec. They rotate seasonally at best, but more likely they stick with what moves. Service temperature tends to run warm on reds, which is frustrating when you're paying $18 for a glass that should be cellar temp.
Louis Jadot Bourgogne Rouge — $65
Solid Burgundy at a reasonable steakhouse markup—red fruit and earth that won't overpower a filet but holds its own with a ribeye
Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese
Often overlooked for flashier Italians, but this Veneto blend has the dried cherry and spice to complement char without the Amarone price tag
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Marked up to $140+ when you can find it for $80 retail—it's a crowd-pleaser, but you're paying an extra $60 for name recognition
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet-Shiraz + Bone-In Ribeye
Australian muscle meets American beef—the Shiraz adds peppery kick while Cabernet structure cuts through the marbling
The Bottom Line
It's fine. You won't drink badly here, but you also won't discover anything new or get excited about value. If you're here for the steak and just need a dependable bottle, it delivers—but don't make this a wine destination.
· New Orleans · Restaurant
Emeril's wine list punches above its size with smart French selections and a genuine commitment to aged bottles — but the markup is real and the by-the-glass story is unclear. Go in knowing what you want and you'll drink well; go in blind and your wallet may feel the consequences.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
New Orleans · New Orleans · American, Steakhouse
Chemin a La Mer is a solid steakhouse wine list wearing a French accent — dependable, occasionally exciting, and priced for the occasion rather than the adventurous drinker. If you're here for the river views and a bone-in cut, the wine list will take care of you without surprises.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Bywater · New Orleans · American, Creole
The Country Club is a genuinely wild New Orleans experience that happens to have a respectable, fairly priced wine list attached — and that's more than most places with a pool and a clothing policy can say. Send a friend here for the vibe, tell them to order the Riesling with the shrimp and grits, and let the afternoon take care of itself.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
French Quarter · New Orleans · Creole, French
Tableau is a reliable, well-curated stop for serious wine drinkers who also want one of the better dining rooms in the French Quarter. The list earns its Wine Spectator nod — just keep an eye on which bottles you're reaching for if the check matters.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
French Quarter / Riverfront · New Orleans · Creole
Miss River earns its Wine Spectator nod — this is a genuinely thoughtful list tucked inside a hotel restaurant, with a real sommelier and real producers backing it up. Markup keeps it from being a destination for the wine alone, but paired with the food, it's one of the better all-in dining experiences on the river.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Warehouse District · New Orleans · Regional
Meril is a reliable wine destination in a city that doesn't always take its wine lists seriously — with a real sommelier, a credible California-France selection, and fair pricing, it earns its Award of Excellence the honest way. Send a friend here, tell them to look past the obvious Napa picks, and let Lauren Briley's list do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Plano · Steakhouse
Steve Fields clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — and at these price points, that imbalance is hard to ignore. Order the Evesham Wood if it's still there, and otherwise come for the steak, not the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Greystone is a reliable, if predictable, steakhouse wine list — the kind where you can always find something decent but you'll rarely be surprised. Skip the Opus splurge, order the Paradigm, and you'll walk out satisfied.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Morton's San Diego is spending more energy on the wedge salad than the wine list, and it shows. Come for the steak, order carefully, and don't expect much beyond the obvious.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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