Chain Steakhouse Plays It Safe, As Expected
Tampa · Tampa · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 21, 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 →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Del Frisco's Grille reads exactly like what you'd expect from a polished chain steakhouse: heavy on California Cabs, a token Malbec, and safe-bet Chardonnays that won't offend anyone at the corporate dinner table. It's corporate wine for corporate dining, competent but utterly predictable. Nothing here will surprise you, for better or worse.
The list leans hard into Napa and Sonoma Cabernets in the $70-150 range, with the usual suspects like Caymus and Silver Oak making appearances at markups that make you wince. There's a handful of Old World options—a Chianti here, a Rioja there—but they feel like afterthoughts rather than thoughtful picks. The selection does what it needs to do: pair with ribeyes and filets without anyone asking questions. But if you're looking for depth, natural wines, or anything remotely adventurous, you're in the wrong building.
The by-the-glass program sticks to the greatest hits: a California Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Cab, maybe a Malbec if you're lucky. We're talking about seven to ten pours max, rotating about as often as the furniture. Pricing sits in the $12-18 range for wines you could grab at Total Wine for half that. It's functional if you just want a glass with your steak, but don't expect discovery.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — $42
Washington State overdelivers at this price point—solid structure, ripe fruit, doesn't break the bank even with the markup
Antinori Pèppoli Chianti Classico
Buried in the Italian section, this Tuscan red has the acidity to cut through butter-drenched steaks better than any fruit bomb Cab
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet
Priced at $140+ with a 3x+ markup, this crowd-pleaser is everywhere and vastly overpriced here—you're paying for the name, not the juice
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon + Bone-In Ribeye
Classic Paso Robles Cab with enough tannin and dark fruit to stand up to charred, marbled beef without overwhelming it
✔️ The Bottom Line
Del Frisco's Grille delivers exactly what it promises: a safe steakhouse wine list with corporate pricing and zero surprises. If you're here on an expense account and just want a decent Cab with your steak, you'll be fine—but you won't be inspired.
· Tampa · Steakhouse
Bern's is a legend for a reason, and even this sparkling-focused slice of its list shows a house that genuinely cares about what's in the glass. The grower Champagne presence alone makes it worth a visit — just steer clear of the Korbel section and spend a few extra dollars where it counts.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
Tampa · Tampa · American
The Rez Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the casino steakhouse thing better than it has any obligation to — a real sommelier, a Thursday half-price night, and a list that knows its lane. Come for the ribeye, order the Jordan, and leave before you hit the slots.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
SoHo · Tampa · American, Seasonal
Élevage is the kind of place that does California wine correctly without doing anything unexpected with it — the list is dependable, the setting earns it, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Send a friend here if they love Napa Cab and a good steak; redirect the wine geeks to somewhere with more range.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Shore · Tampa · American, Steakhouse
Union delivers a reliable, California-heavy wine list that makes sense for a buzzy Tampa steakhouse with rooftop ambitions — just don't come looking for surprises. Send a client here; take a wine-curious friend somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tampa · Tampa · Seafood, Floridian
Ulele is a great restaurant that happens to have a competent wine list — not a wine destination that happens to serve great food. If you're in town for the waterfront, the smoked mullet dip, and a solid glass of California Chardonnay, you'll leave happy; just don't expect the list to keep up with the ambition of the kitchen. Wednesday's half-price wine night is genuinely worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Water Street · Tampa · American, French
Boulon is a reliable wine stop in Tampa's growing Water Street corridor — the list is curated enough to respect, even if it rarely surprises. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just don't send the friend who's hoping to find something they've never heard of.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central / McClain Rd · Bentonville · Steakhouse
River Grille is a solid place to eat a steak in Bentonville, but the wine program — at least what we can verify — stops at dessert and Port while the main event stays in the dark. Order a cocktail with dinner and, if you must, grab a glass of Tawny at the end.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Carson · Carson City · Steakhouse
Casino Fandango Steakhouse delivers a wine list that's safe, California-centric, and marked up the way casino restaurants tend to be. It's not a destination for wine lovers, but if you're already here for the prime cuts, Jordan Cab and a good steak will sort you out just fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
City Center / Bloomingdale Road · White Plains · Steakhouse
Morton's White Plains does exactly what Morton's is supposed to do: pour well-stored, recognizable California Cabernet at prices that sting a little, in a room that feels like it deserves them. If you want to go off-script, the Burgundy and Rhône options buried in the back of the list are worth the detour.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.