California All-Stars, Served With Steak
Boca Raton · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chops Lobster Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Chops Lobster Bar reads like a greatest hits album of California wine — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, all present and accounted for. It's polished, it's confident, and it knows exactly who it's serving: Boca Raton regulars who want the Napa they know without any surprises. Wine Spectator has been handing out Awards of Excellence here since 2023, and that tracks.
With somewhere between 350 and 500 selections, there's real depth on this list — just don't come looking for Burgundy rabbit holes or orange wine detours. California is the star, full stop, with heavy hitters like Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Far Niente, and Rombauer holding down the fort. Chardonnay and Cabernet carry the bulk of the real estate, which makes sense given the steakhouse-and-lobster mandate. If you're hoping for a Rhône deep cut or a Finger Lakes Riesling, look elsewhere.
Twenty to thirty glass pours is a genuinely solid by-the-glass program for a steakhouse of this type, and the $12–$25 range gives you room to land on something worth drinking without committing to a bottle. The selections skew California-heavy — no surprises there — but the breadth means you can match a white to the bisque and a red to the ribeye without much hassle. Rotation appears limited; this is a steady-state list, not one that changes with the seasons.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $45
Jordan consistently punches above its price in the secondary market and brings that Alexander Valley polish — cassis, cedar, restrained oak — that works as well with a dry-aged steak as anything on this list. At the entry end of the bottle range, it's the play.
Duckhorn Merlot
In a room full of Cab drinkers, the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked — and that's a mistake. It's plush, structured, and genuinely versatile across the menu, from the lobster bisque to the filet. Most tables blow past it on their way to Silver Oak and miss a wine that often drinks more elegantly than wines at twice the price.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine. It is also a wine you are paying a significant restaurant premium on at a Boca steakhouse, on top of an already elevated retail price. The markup here is doing heavy lifting, and unless someone else is signing the check, this is a bottle that costs you considerably more than it needs to.
Far Niente Chardonnay + Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
Far Niente's Chardonnay has the weight and richness to hold up to a butter-forward crab cake without steamrolling the crab itself. The wine's stone fruit and toasty oak give you contrast; the natural acidity keeps the whole thing from going sideways. It's a classic move for a reason.
The Bottom Line
Chops Lobster Bar is exactly what it promises: a well-run, California-focused list in a clubby setting where the wine program supports the food rather than competes with it. Send your Cab-loving friends without hesitation; just remind them to skip the trophy bottles and drink the Jordan instead.
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Boca Raton isn't a destination wine list, but it's a functional and fairly priced one that does its job without embarrassing the restaurant. If you're here for the steak, the wine program won't let you down — just know what you're walking into.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Boca Raton is a dependable choice if you want a proper glass of Napa Cab with your dry-aged ribeye and aren't going to sweat the markup. Just don't come here expecting discovery — this list is built for comfort, not adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Boca Raton · Seafood
Send a friend here for the fish, not the wine. If you care at all about what's in your glass, pre-game at a wine bar down the street and just order water with dinner.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · New American / Health-focused
Farmer's Table isn't a wine destination, but the by-the-glass program is genuinely strong and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel punished for ordering a second pour. Send a friend here? Yes — especially if they're already going for the food.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Josephine's is the kind of place where the wine list exists to complement a very good meal, not to be the reason you showed up — and that's fine, because it does its job without embarrassing itself. Send a friend here for a date night, just tell them to skip the obvious Napa Cab and dig a little deeper.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Armando's has a wine list that actually reflects the food it's serving — Italian-centric, solid by the glass, and wide enough to satisfy most tables. The markups are South Florida standard (read: steep), but the selection quality keeps this squarely in reliable territory.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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
