PNW beef meets a globe-trotting bottle list
Unknown · Tacoma · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cuerno Bravo is short — we're talking one page — but it doesn't read like an afterthought. Someone here clearly made intentional choices: Washington State producers sit alongside Uruguayan Tannat and Spanish Mencía in a way that signals actual curiosity, not just an auto-populated import list.
The backbone of this list is Pacific Northwest Cabernet Sauvignon, and they've done well there — Betz Family Winery's 'The Untold Story,' Long Shadows 'Feather,' and Mark Ryan 'Dead Horse' give you real range from plush to structured without venturing off-brand. The South American angle is smart for a Latin-inflected steakhouse: Zolo Malbec and Garzón Tannat are logical companions to grilled meat. What really earns points, though, is the inclusion of Descendientes de José Palacios Mencía from Bierzo and the CasaSmith Barbera — two wines that have no business being on a steakhouse list in the best possible way. The gaps are real: no Syrah, no Pinot Noir, and the white selection leans heavily on crowd-pleasing grapes without much regional depth.
The by-the-glass program is genuinely generous for a room this size — nearly the entire list is available by the glass, which is rare and welcome. Pours range from $8 for entry-level whites up to $18 for the better Washington reds. The Simpatico Albariño and Poets Leap Riesling at the lighter end are solid patio-pour territory; we'd like to see those top-shelf Cabs available by the glass too, but they're bottle-only.
Isenhower 'I' Series Malbec, Columbia Valley — $40
At $40 a bottle, it's marked up but not egregiously so for a Washington producer with real craft behind it — retails around $20 but drinks considerably above that tier. Against the Zolo at $25 (which retails for $12), this is actually the better spend per quality dollar.
Descendientes de José Palacios Mencía, Bierzo, Spain
Most people at a steakhouse are reaching for Cabernet on autopilot. The Mencía from Descendientes de José Palacios is one of Spain's most compelling red grape varieties — bright, earthy, and iron-tinged in a way that absolutely cuts through fatty beef. It's the sleeper pick on this list.
Montaña Rioja Tempranillo
At $25 a bottle with a retail price around $10, you're paying 150% over what this wine is worth. It's a perfectly fine entry-level Rioja, but there's nothing here that justifies the markup when better bottles are only $15 more.
Betz Family Winery 'The Untold Story' Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley + Prime Ribeye
Betz is one of Washington's benchmark Cab producers — structured tannins, dark fruit, and enough backbone to stand up to a heavily marbled prime cut without getting steamrolled. This is the pairing the list was built around.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Cuerno Bravo punches above its weight class on wine selection — the Mencía and Betz picks alone set it apart from your average steakhouse list — but the markups across the board are steep enough to sting. Come for the bottle you'd never order anywhere else; just don't expect restaurant-week pricing.
Sixth Avenue · Tacoma · Mediterranean and Northwest-inspired, wood-fired grill
Primo Grill is doing more with its wine list than it gets credit for — especially in a city where 'solid restaurant wine program' often means a wall of Meiomi. It's not flashy, but the Pacific Northwest depth is real and the European picks show genuine curiosity. We'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sixth Avenue · Tacoma · Argentinian-inspired wood-fired steakhouse and Latin cuisine
Asado is a reliable neighborhood wine pick for red meat lovers who want Argentine bottles done with some care and without getting gouged. It's not a wine destination, but it's a solid companion to one of Tacoma's better wood-fired kitchens.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Tacoma · Tacoma · Mediterranean
The Adriatic Grill is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that earns a loyal following by doing the right things quietly — a thoughtful wine list, fair pricing, and a Wine Wednesday program that is frankly one of the better deals in Tacoma. If you can get there on a Wednesday with a group and a hunger for lamb, you're having a great night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Tacoma Mall · Tacoma · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Texas de Brazil Tacoma is a terrific place to eat a lot of meat. It is not a place to drink interesting wine. The list is corporate, the markups are real, and the effort put into the wine program is a fraction of what goes into the gaucho service. Order strategically, go on a Thursday if that promo holds locally, and spend your wine dollars carefully.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Tacoma · Tacoma · Steakhouse
El Gaucho Tacoma is a reliable wine destination if you know what to order and when to show up — Wednesday's half-price program changes the math considerably. The Argentine depth is the real story here; lean into Zuccardi and let the sommelier do their job.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown Tacoma · Tacoma · Southern and Soul Food
Pacific Southern isn't a wine destination, but it's got a list that respects you — and in a soul food spot in Downtown Tacoma, that's worth something. Come for the chicken and waffles, stay for the Fowles.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stonebriar · Frisco · Steakhouse
Silver Fox is a reliable steakhouse wine program that doesn't embarrass itself — just don't expect to discover anything new. Come on a Wednesday, order the Paraduxx, and you'll have a perfectly good time.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Government Street / Mid City · Baton Rouge · Steakhouse
Doe's is genuinely worth visiting for the steak — the wine list is not the reason. Order the porterhouse, grab a glass of the Cab to get through dinner, and don't spend another minute thinking about the wine program here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Baton Rouge · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Baton Rouge delivers a competent, if entirely predictable, wine experience — you'll drink well, pay more than you should, and never be surprised by anything. If Wednesday's half-price bottle night in the bar catches you, that changes the math considerably.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.