Rockefeller power lunch, solid wine game
Midtown · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Del Frisco's Grille’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Opening the wine list at Del Frisco's Grille feels like a greatest-hits playlist of California cabernet — familiar, crowd-tested, and built for the business expense account crowd at 50 Rock. That's not a knock; it's just honest. What surprises you is that the prices aren't trying to rob you in a neighborhood that absolutely could get away with it.
The 200-300 bottle list leans hard into California with supporting roles from France and Italy — exactly what Wine Spectator flagged when they handed out the Best of Award of Excellence back in 2015, and the list has held that standard. You've got the full California cabinet: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Beringer Private Reserve, and Opus One for when someone's closing a deal. Louis Jadot represents France without much depth behind it, and Italy feels like an afterthought. The gaps are real — if you want Rhône, Willamette, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you're out of luck.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is genuinely strong for a steakhouse format, and the range at $14–$30 a glass covers everything from a La Crema Pinot for the table skeptic to a Far Niente Cabernet for someone who means business. The Wednesday half-price wine night is a legitimately good deal — drop in mid-week and a $28 Far Niente glass becomes $14, which is the kind of math that makes dinner feel justified.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma 2020 — $22
Jordan by the glass at $22 in Midtown Manhattan is a genuine win. This is a $40+ bottle retail, from one of Sonoma's most reliable names, and it holds its own against anything on this list twice the price.
Château St. Jean Cinq Cépages 2019
Most people here are chasing the Opus One flex or defaulting to Caymus, which means Cinq Cépages at $16 a glass gets overlooked. It's a Bordeaux-style Sonoma blend with actual structure and age-worthiness — the most interesting pour on the list that nobody orders.
Opus One 2018
At $65 a glass it's not egregious for Opus One, but you're paying for the name on a busy Tuesday night in a lively dining room. The wine deserves better than ambient noise and a rushed pour — save it for somewhere that will actually let it breathe.
Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 + Dry-Aged Bone-In Ribeye
Duckhorn's Napa Cab at $24 a glass has the dark fruit and structured tannins to stand up to a dry-aged ribeye without either one bullying the other. It's the kind of pairing that doesn't need explaining — it just works.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — applies to wine pours and potentially bottles; confirm with staff on your visit.
The Bottom Line
Del Frisco's Grille isn't pushing boundaries, but it's doing the fundamentals right — fair prices, a solid California-forward list, and a Wednesday half-price program that's worth putting in the calendar. Send a friend here if they want reliable, accessible wine without getting gouged in Midtown.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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