Steak House Wine List That Actually Surprises
· Atlanta · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 18, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Clarks’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Twenty-three labels is a tight list, but the first scan tells you someone put real thought into this — there's Burgundian Aligoté, a Sicilian Sauvignon Blanc, and a Girondan-style Super Tuscan all sharing the same page. For a steakhouse, that's not what we expect, and that's exactly the point.
The list skews European with smart picks across Alsace, Burgundy, Tuscany, and the Southern Rhône, then supplements with a handful of California heavyweights for the crowd that came specifically for Faust. The Sylvaine & Alain Normand Aligoté 2023 and the Notre Dame des Pallières Grenache Blend 2019 signal someone on the wine side actually has opinions. The reds lean predictably toward Cabernet — Quattro Theory, Faust, Stag's Leap's 'The Investor' — but the Domaine Michel Juillot 'Le Meix Juillot' Pinot Noir 2023 and the ForteMasso Nebbiolo 2023 give the list genuine range. The gaps are real: no Spanish wines, nothing from the Southern Hemisphere beyond the Zaha Malbec, and the Champagne section at two labels is more placeholder than statement.
The entire list — all 23 bottles — is available by the glass, which is ambitious and genuinely useful. Pour prices run $18–$34/glass, with the entry-level tier at $18 covering everything from the Hugel Riesling to the Domaine Ott Rosé to the ForteMasso Nebbiolo, which is a solid deal. The top of the by-the-glass range includes the Faust Cab at $34/glass and the Juillot Pinot Noir at $28/glass — both reasonable if you're not committing to a bottle.
The Bottom Line
Clarks runs a leaner-than-average wine list for a steakhouse, but the curation punches above its size — the presence of the Normand Aligoté, the Juillot Pinot Noir, and the Pallières Grenache on the same list as Faust and Stag's Leap tells you the buyer has range. The full-list by-the-glass program at mostly fair markups makes this worth exploring beyond the obvious Cabernet order. If you're eating steak in Atlanta and want something more interesting than your usual Napa pour, this list rewards curiosity.
Buckhead · Atlanta · Wine Bar
Vine & Tap earns its Wild Card badge by doing something rare in Buckhead: pointing the list toward places most wine bars won't bother with, like Lebanon and Friuli, and keeping entree prices under $20 so the wine spend can actually shine. If you're in the neighborhood on a Wednesday, the half-price flight situation makes this an easy yes — show up, explore something you've never heard of, eat some octopus, and leave having learned something.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Midtown · Atlanta · French-inspired American
Apres Diem earns its Reliable badge on atmosphere and regional intent alone — a Euro-leaning, food-friendly wine program in a room built for exactly that kind of drinking. We need more sourced detail on specific bottles and pricing before we can point you to the right pour, but the directional story here is good. If you're catching a film next door and want something thoughtful in the glass without a lot of ceremony, this is a safe and genuinely pleasant bet. Go, order the French onion soup, and ask what's open.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · Mediterranean
Brassica might be hiding a thoughtful, Spain-forward wine program behind that Waldorf lobby — but we can't confirm it, and hotel dining rooms rarely earn the benefit of the doubt on pricing. If you're eating here for the butter-poached lobster or the rack of venison, go for it. Just keep your wine expectations measured until someone puts the actual list online.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mexican
Chicheria is not a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be. The $38 bottle price is fair for what L.A. Cetto delivers, and the $10 glass keeps things accessible. But if wine matters to you on a given night, you'll want to either call ahead about corkage or make peace with a margarita.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Castleberry Hill · Atlanta · Southern
Paschal's earns its reputation on the plate — the fried chicken alone justifies the trip to Northside Drive. But the wine list isn't doing the food any favors, and there's no evidence of a serious program behind the bar. Order a cocktail, ask for sweet tea, or bring your own if corkage allows — and focus on what this kitchen actually does well.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Atlanta · Atlanta · American
Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta's wine list is a Lazy List by every measure — grocery store brands, steep markups, no specials, and a rotating staff with little incentive to know what's in the glass. If you're here for the memorabilia and the atmosphere, lean into a cocktail or a beer. If wine is non-negotiable, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling or Columbia Crest Cab will get you through the night without regret.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Naperville · Steakhouse
Capital Grille Lombard is a reliable execution of a familiar formula — known producers, full by-the-glass access, and enough range to keep the table happy even if the list doesn't take many risks. Markup is steep across the board, but the Prüm Riesling at $11 and Substance Cab at $13 are genuine value plays hiding in plain sight. If you're here for a business dinner or a celebration and want wine without surprises, it delivers. Just don't expect the list to challenge you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Six wines at a chophouse is a wine program in name only. The Bordeaux-leaning selections suggest someone has taste, but with no pricing, no confirmed glass pours, and a list that could fit on a cocktail napkin, there's not enough here to send a friend for the wine experience. Order your steak, pick whatever red sounds least risky, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
University Area · Gainesville · Steakhouse
Shula's is a competent hotel steakhouse wine program — it won't embarrass you in front of a client, but it won't thrill you either. The regional framework is solid, the pricing almost certainly reflects the hotel setting, and the list is designed for comfort over curiosity. If you're in Gainesville and need a reliable red with a serious steak, it gets the job done; just don't show up expecting a deep dive.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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
