Old-School Milwaukee Cool, Wine Included
Wauwatosa · Milwaukee · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Eddie Martini's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Eddie Martini's and the 1940s supper club fantasy is doing a lot of heavy lifting — dark wood, white tablecloths, the whole bit. The wine list fits the room: approachable, well-curated enough to not embarrass itself, and priced like they actually want you to order a second bottle. It's not trying to be a wine destination, but it knows its lane.
The list runs 80-plus bottles and leans into the greatest hits of a classic steakhouse program — Italian reds, French bubbles, Oregon Pinot, California Chardonnay. The Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva and the Westrey Pinot Noir from Willamette are the real anchors here, giving the list some legitimate credibility beyond generic crowd-pleasers. There's a noticeable gap in domestic Cabernet and aged Bordeaux, which feels like a miss for a steakhouse at this price point. That said, the regional spread — Italy, France, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington, Russian River — shows someone thought about this list rather than just phoning it in.
Fourteen options by the glass is a respectable number, ranging from $8 to $20, which means you can drink reasonably well without committing to a bottle. The Hartford Court Chardonnay from Russian River is the standout pour — a genuine step up from the usual Chardonnay filler you find at most steakhouses. The Devaux Grande Reserve Brut is a nice touch too, giving the bubbly category something worth toasting with.
Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva — $49
Carpineto is a reliable Chianti producer that consistently punches above its weight. A Riserva from them at steakhouse prices is a legitimate deal — this is a food-friendly, structured red that belongs on a much more expensive list.
Westrey Pinot Noir, Willamette, Oregon
Most people at a steakhouse are reaching for a Cab, and Westrey quietly sits there being one of the more serious producers in Willamette. It's an elegant, complex bottle that gets ignored in favor of bolder reds — their loss, your gain.
Washington Hills Riesling
Washington Hills is a mass-market label with nothing interesting to say. There are far better uses of your glass pour budget here, and it feels like a placeholder on an otherwise decent list.
Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva + Steak
Sangiovese's natural acidity and firm tannins are built for red meat. The Carpineto cuts through the fat, lifts the char, and makes you feel like you're doing something right with your Tuesday night.
The Bottom Line
Eddie Martini's is exactly what a neighborhood steakhouse wine list should be — fair prices, enough range to find something interesting, and a couple of genuinely good bottles hiding in plain sight. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they're ordering a steak.
· Milwaukee · Steakhouse
Rare Steakhouse isn't trying to reinvent wine culture — it's a steakhouse that takes its wine list seriously enough to make every bottle pourable by the glass and price things like it wants you to come back. That's enough to make it worth skipping the cocktail menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Milwaukee · Brazilian Steakhouse
Rodizio Grill Milwaukee is a genuinely fun night out if you're there for the meat and the spectacle — but the wine list is coasting on the restaurant's momentum rather than adding anything to it. Order the Gaucho Club, enjoy the picanha, and save your serious wine budget for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk · Milwaukee · Japanese sushi and Asian fusion
Screaming Tuna isn't a wine destination, but it's a sushi spot with a wine list that actually respects the food it's serving — and in Milwaukee, that's worth calling out. Take a chance on the Alsatian whites or the sake program and you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lower East Side · Milwaukee · French and Italian Riviera-Inspired Fine Dining
Lupi & Iris is doing something genuinely rare in Milwaukee — a wine program with depth, a sommelier who runs real events, and markup that doesn't make you feel like a mark. Send your friends here, and tell them to book early for the DRC dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Downtown · Milwaukee · Seafood-focused Contemporary American
Third Coast Provisions has a genuinely thoughtful wine list for a city that doesn't always demand one — the Burgundy focus is earned, the staff knows what they're doing, and the seafood menu gives those whites every opportunity to shine. The markup keeps it from being a destination for wine alone, but if you're already here for the food, you're in good hands.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northwest Side · Milwaukee · Italian, Handmade Pasta, Wine Bar
Ca'Lucchenzo is the kind of place that makes you wonder why every Italian restaurant doesn't just commit to Italy this hard on the wine side. It's not a deep cellar, but it's a focused, honest list that actually fits the food — send your friends here and tell them to skip the cocktail.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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