Western Steakhouse Wine List, No Surprises
I-90 / North Rapid · Rapid City · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Dakotah Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Forty-four labels at a Western steakhouse near I-90 — the list isn't trying to reinvent anything, and it knows it. You open it expecting Cabs and Chards and that is exactly what you get, assembled with the quiet confidence of a restaurant that's fed a lot of hungry travelers and locals for a long time. It's not exciting, but it's not embarrassing either.
California dominates from top to bottom: Josh Cellars, Sean Minor, Meiomi, J. Lohr, Woodwork — names you've seen on every grocery store endcap in America. Oregon gets a token nod via A to Z Wineworks, Italy shows up with Barone Fini Pinot Grigio and a couple of sparkling options, and there's apparently a Chilean Pinot lurking somewhere on the list. The Dakotah house label fills the entry-level slots with California-grown wine that exists primarily to keep ticket averages manageable. There are no serious old-world bottles, no skin-contact wines, no producers worth Googling — this is a list built for the ribeye crowd, not the wine crowd.
Twenty-six by-the-glass options is genuinely generous for a steakhouse in Rapid City, and the $7–$12 glass range keeps it accessible. The problem is that the pours skew heavily toward familiar, safe names — Meiomi, Proverb, Latransa Prosecco — so volume is there but depth is not. Happy hour Monday through Friday shaves a dollar off each glass, which at least makes the middle tier a little easier to stomach.
J. Lohr Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir, Central Coast — Not listed — by the glass
J. Lohr's Falcon's Perch is a legitimately solid, consistently made Pinot at an honest price point. In a list full of brands that coast on name recognition, this one actually delivers some red fruit and structure worth ordering. It's the closest thing to a thoughtful pick on the board.
Barone Fini Pinot Grigio, Italy
Almost everyone at this table is going to order a California Chard on autopilot. Barone Fini is a Trentino producer making clean, mineral-edged Pinot Grigio that actually tastes like somewhere — a rarity on this list. It's easy to overlook next to the Proverbs of the world, but it's the better glass.
Meiomi California Pinot Noir
At $44 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium for a wine that retails around $14 and tastes like it was designed by committee to offend no one. The sweetness works as a party trick once; it doesn't hold up through a $50 ribeye.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir + Elk Ravioli
Elk is leaner and more mineral-forward than beef, and it needs a wine with some structure and earthiness rather than something heavy. Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot has the acidity and dark fruit to handle the gamey depth of elk without overwhelming it — and at $100 on the list, it's the one bottle here that actually earns its price tag.
Monday–Friday — Happy Hour 4PM–6PM: $1 off wine by the glass
✔️ The Bottom Line
Dakotah Steakhouse is a competent neighborhood steakhouse wine list doing exactly what it was designed to do — keep the table happy without anyone having to think too hard. If you're chasing serious wine, drive past it; if you want a decent pour with your buffalo ribeye without drama, it'll get the job done.
North Rapid City · Rapid City · Hotel Lounge
Timbers Lounge is a place to have a drink after a long drive to Mount Rushmore, not a destination for wine. Order a cocktail or a beer and save your wine energy for somewhere that's put in the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Rapid City · Rapid City · Mexican
Mi Mexico is not a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — order a margarita, enjoy your meal, and don't expect the wine list to surprise you. If you absolutely must have wine with your tacos, the Sangria is $6.25 and nobody will judge you.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
LongHorn Rapid City is exactly what it is — a reliable chain steakhouse with a wine list that was built by committee and hasn't changed much since. If you're here for the steak, you'll be fine; just aim for the Joel Gott and don't expect the staff to talk you through it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
There is no version of this wine list that warrants a special trip or even a deliberate order — it's a functional corporate program designed to move bottles, not to impress. If you're at Outback for the steak, grab the Alamos Malbec and call it a night; if wine actually matters to you, this is a cocktail dinner.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · American
This is a wine list that exists purely because restaurants are expected to have one. Don't come to Applebee's for wine — but if you're already here and you need a glass, the Mondavi Cab won't embarrass you.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Seafood
Red Lobster Rapid City's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Riesling if you must, but honestly, a cocktail or a cold draft will serve you better here.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
This is a corporate wine list in a corporate steakhouse, and it does exactly what it was built to do: keep wine on the menu without anyone having to think too hard. Come for the Dallas Filet and the bread — and if you must drink wine, hit it on a Wild West Wednesday when it's half off and the math actually makes sense.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Central Rapid City · Rapid City · Steakhouse
Sear is a perfectly competent steakhouse wine list in a market that probably doesn't demand more — it covers the California classics, marks them up accordingly, and calls it a night. Send a friend here if they want a reliable Cab with their steak; tell them to skip it if they're hoping for anything remotely adventurous.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse
LongHorn's wine list exists to check a box, not to elevate your meal. Stick to the Riesling or the Meiomi, enjoy your steak, and don't expect the wine program to be the reason you came.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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