Beach Town Steakhouse That Actually Tries
· Hilton Head Island · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Crane's Tavern & Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Thirty-one labels and every single one poured by the glass — that's either a bold move or a logistical nightmare, and honestly, at a beach-adjacent steakhouse on Hilton Head, we'll take it. The list skews heavily American with a few smart European ringers tucked in, and the pricing stays remarkably civilized for a tourist-market restaurant. This isn't a wine destination, but it's trying harder than most of its neighbors.
The white wine section punches above its weight: five Chardonnays ranging from the entry-level Matchbook at $8.50 to the Brocard Kimmeridgien Bourgogne Blanc at $15, which is a genuine French Burgundy with a story to tell. The Reverdy Sancerre at $19 a glass is the top of the list and a legitimately credible pour. On the red side, the Pinot Noir lineup deserves credit — Elk Cove, Planet Oregon, and Brandborg all represent the Willamette Valley honestly, covering different price points without padding the lineup with mediocre filler. The Merlot duo and a Sancerre in a steakhouse is a combination we didn't expect to appreciate, and yet here we are.
The by-the-glass program is the entire list, which is unusual and genuinely guest-friendly — nobody gets stuck with a closed bottle they didn't want. Prices run from $6 (yes, there's a White Zinfandel, we see it) to $19 for the Sancerre, with most drinkable options landing in the $9–$16 range. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority, but the core selection holds up.
Brocard Kimmeridgien Bourgogne Blanc — $15/glass
A Burgundy with actual terroir credentials — kimmeridgian limestone, the same soil story as Chablis — for $15 a glass at a South Carolina steakhouse is a genuine find. Elsewhere on this island, that money buys you something forgettable.
Reverdy Sancerre Loire
Most people ordering at a steakhouse aren't thinking Sancerre, but at $19 a glass it's a sharp, mineral Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc that cuts through a rich meal far better than another Chardonnay would. It's the most interesting wine on the list and the one most likely to get overlooked.
Beringer White Zinfandel California
It's $6, it exists, and it will remain our only acknowledgment that it's on this list. Order literally anything else.
Elk Cove Willamette Valley Pinot Noir + a center-cut filet
Elk Cove's Pinot Noir is lighter-bodied with enough red fruit and earth to complement rather than compete with a leaner cut of beef. It's the counterintuitive move at a steakhouse that actually works.
The Bottom Line
Crane's Tavern won't make any top wine lists, but for Hilton Head, the by-the-glass program is unusually honest and the pricing doesn't insult you. If you're eating steak here, you have solid options — and that Brocard Bourgogne Blanc is a legitimate surprise.
· Hilton Head Island · Wine bar & retail
Corks Wine Co. appears to be more of a winemaking kit retailer than a wine bar in the traditional sense, and the list reflects that. If you're on Hilton Head and need an actual glass of wine, keep driving.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilton Head Island · Seafood & American
Poseidon isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that punches above its beach-town weight class. If you're ordering oysters and want something more considered than a generic Pinot Grigio, there are real options here.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Shelter Cove · Hilton Head Island · Seafood / New American
Sea Salt isn't trying to win a wine list award and it shows, but it's not trying to rip you off on selection either — just on price. If you're already there for the scallops and the view, the wine list will serve you fine; just set your expectations to vacation mode and not discovery mode.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Harbour Town / Sea Pines · Hilton Head Island · Resort / American
The Harbour Town Clubhouse wine list is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — familiar, functional, and unlikely to offend anyone in a golf shirt. Just know going in that you're paying resort prices for resort selections, and calibrate your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South End / Forest Beach · Hilton Head Island · American pub and grill
Reilley's is a reliable beach-town bar that happens to have wine — not a wine destination that happens to serve food. Hit it during happy hour for half-off house pours, order the Rosé with your crab cakes, and keep your expectations calibrated to the vibe.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Mid-island · Hilton Head Island · Seafood / Retail-to-Table
Redfish is the kind of wine list that works better than it should for a coastal tourist spot — 400 bottles is nothing to dismiss, even if the selection leans on crowd-pleasing California names and the pricing reflects the zip code. Go in knowing what you want, order the Riesling by the glass, and you'll have a fine night.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilo · Steakhouse
WSW won't make any wine lists' most-wanted lists, but it prices honestly, pours generously, and doesn't embarrass itself in a category where hotel restaurants often do. If you're in Hilo and want a bottle of wine with your steak without getting gouged, this is a safe call.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Biloxi · Steakhouse
The Rackhouse is a reliable dinner out on the Mississippi Gulf Coast — great for a steak and a bottle of something crowd-pleasing, less ideal if you're chasing anything interesting in the glass. Send your friends here for the vibe and the beef; just go in with modest expectations on the wine front.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
Morton's Honolulu gives you a competent, Cabernet-saturated list that will reliably satisfy the guest who came for a big steak and a big red — just don't expect any surprises, and watch the markup on the entry-level bottles. Send a friend here if they want comfort, not if they want discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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