Familiar Labels, Unfamiliar Markups
Unknown · Virginia Beach · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated July 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chops Steakhouse & Bar’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 Chops reads like a greatest hits album from the grocery store aisle — Ruffino, Sonoma Cutrer, Quilt — names your aunt recognizes from the holidays. It's not offensive, but it's not trying very hard either. For a steakhouse, you'd hope the bottle list would at least match the ambition of the ribeye.
The list pulls from Italy, California, Paso Robles, Napa, New Zealand, and France, which sounds impressive on paper but lands as a shallow skim across all of them. California dominates the reds with crowd-favorite labels like Bonanza by Caymus and Quilt Cab — dependable, recognizable, and priced for maximum margin. There are a few interesting detours, like the Matthews Cabernet from Columbia Valley and the 1448 Red Blend from Jeff Runquist, but they're more accidental than curated. No serious Rhône, no Barolo, no aged anything — this is a list built for easy sells, not wine lovers.
Twenty-three by-the-glass options is a respectable number, and the $12–$20 range gives you some room to move. The problem is the pours mirror the bottle list — safe, familiar, and marked up aggressively. Don't expect rotation or seasonal swaps; what's on the menu today was probably there six months ago.
Matthews Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley — $68
At 143% markup, it's the least painful option on the list and actually delivers — Columbia Valley Cab punches above its weight, and Matthews is a legit producer most tables will walk right past in favor of the Quilt.
1448 Red Blend Jeff Runquist
Jeff Runquist is a real winemaker doing real work in Amador County, and most diners have never heard of him. The 1448 blend is dense and food-friendly — exactly what you want next to a prime rib — and it's being ignored by everyone ordering the Bonanza.
Freixenet Brut Cava
A 357% markup on a $14 supermarket Cava is almost impressive in its audacity. Freixenet is fine for a New Year's toast at home; it's not worth $64 at a steakhouse. Order a cocktail.
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon by Caymus + Ribeye
Bonanza is built for exactly this moment — it's a fruit-forward, easy-drinking Cab with enough structure to hold up against a well-marbled ribeye without demanding your full attention. It's not the most exciting pairing, but it's the most reliable one on this list.
The Bottom Line
Chops is a solid steakhouse that treats wine as an afterthought — familiar labels, steep markups, and no real evidence that anyone obsessed over the list. Stick to the Matthews or the Runquist if you're ordering a bottle, and maybe let the cocktail menu handle the rest.
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · American, Seafood
Tautog's has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002, and the list earns it — reliably stocked, fairly priced, and well-matched to a serious seafood kitchen. It's not the list you come to Virginia Beach specifically to drink from, but it's absolutely the list you're glad is there when the scallops arrive.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · Indian
Masala Bites is exactly the kind of Wild Card that earns its stripes — a well-considered wine list in a place you'd never think to look for one. Send your friends who claim wine doesn't work with Indian food; the Riesling will change their minds.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · American, Seafood
Becca is doing something genuinely uncommon for Virginia Beach: a real wine program with a credentialed sommelier, fair pricing, and a Virginia section that respects the state's best producers. If you're eating on the oceanfront and want a serious bottle, this is the only address that matters.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · Asian, Sushi
Orion's Roof earned its Wine Spectator badge — the list is genuinely ambitious for what is, let's be honest, a rooftop sushi bar on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. The markups keep this from being a full Rager, but if you order smart, the view and the wine can absolutely justify the trip.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · American, Seafood
Eurasia Cafe is doing something genuinely better than its zip code requires, and the Wine Spectator hardware is earned. If you're in Virginia Beach and you care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Oceanfront · Virginia Beach · Coastal American Bar & Restaurant
The Atlantic Social is punching well above its weight class for a Virginia Beach oceanfront spot — the list has genuine ambition and some real finds. Markup inconsistencies hold it back from a higher tier, but if you're willing to hunt, there's better wine here than anyone is expecting.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fort Worth · American Steakhouse
Del Frisco's Grille Fort Worth has a wine list the same way an airport newsstand has a wine section — technically true, practically limiting. Order the Tokaji for dessert, drink cocktails with dinner, and don't expect anyone to help you navigate the difference.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Carson · Carson City · American Steakhouse
Glen Eagles is a comfortable, classic Carson City steakhouse with a wine list that's essentially coasting — one strong Port section surrounded by a whole lot of nothing. Come for the prime rib, order a Port after, and don't expect much more from the wine side of the menu.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Marcos · San Marcos · American Steakhouse
Outback San Marcos won't embarrass you if you order a glass with dinner, but you're not here for the wine list and nobody pretends otherwise. Stick to the Riesling or the Malbec and spend your energy on the steak.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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