Chain Steakhouse Plays It Safe, As Expected
Tampa · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed February 21, 2026 · How we review
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
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.
Water Street · Tampa · Seafood, Steakhouse
Driftlight is doing something real here — a dedicated sommelier, a properly sized list, and a Wine Spectator credential earned in its first year of eligibility. Pricing will run hotel-restaurant steep, but if you're eating on Tampa's Water Street and want a bottle that was actually chosen by someone who cares, this is your best bet in the neighborhood.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· 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
· Round Rock · Steakhouse
Double Cut is a resort steakhouse wine list doing exactly what it was designed to do: keep guests comfortable and keep bottles moving. The markups are real, especially at the top end, and the list won't surprise anyone who's eaten at a hotel restaurant in the last decade. If you're here, order the Norton Malbec or the Mer Soleil Silver, skip the Caymus, and don't expect a wine revelation — that's not the point.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Fleming's Irvine delivers exactly what it promises: a wide, competent, California-forward wine list that covers all the bases for a steakhouse crowd. The markup is real — this is not a list for value hunters — but the by-the-glass depth is genuinely good and the Loosen Bros. Riesling at $11 is the rare honest deal hiding in plain sight. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your ribeye in Irvine, this gets the job done.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Plano · Steakhouse
Del Frisco's Plano delivers a wine list that does its job without doing anything exciting — it's competent, recognizable, and priced for a room where the company card is doing the heavy lifting. If you're here for the steak and want a bottle that won't embarrass you, the list handles that. If you're here to drink well on your own dime, the markup will sting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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