Steak-first, wine-second — but not bad
Naperville/Warrenville · Naperville · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives and it feels exactly like the room — polished, confident, and unapologetically corporate. Two hundred-plus bottles sounds impressive until you realize a good chunk of that real estate belongs to California Cabs and the house private label. Still, for a steakhouse in the western suburbs of Chicago, this is a serious effort.
Eddie Merlot's leans hard into the California playbook, with Caymus anchoring the prestige end of the list. The private label program — a Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a St. M Riesling — does the heavy lifting for mid-range drinkers, and the Riesling is a genuinely interesting inclusion on a steakhouse list. Don't come looking for Old World depth or anything from the Rhône; the list is built to sell to the table ordering a bone-in ribeye, not to the Burgundy obsessive hoping for a surprise. Gaps in natural wine and smaller producers are real, but within its lane, the list is well-curated and properly stored.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is a strong count for a steakhouse, and the range covers enough ground to keep the whole table happy without forcing a bottle commitment. The private label pours give the kitchen a captive audience at accessible price points, though we'd love to see more rotating selections to keep regulars on their toes. Glasses start at $10, which is fair entry for the format.
Eddie Merlot's Private Label St. M Riesling — $10
A Riesling on a steakhouse list is already a minor miracle; the fact that it's priced accessibly makes it the smartest pour in the room. It cuts through rich sauces and gives the lobster bisque crowd something to work with beyond Chardonnay.
Eddie Merlot's Private Label Merlot
Everyone sleeps on the house Merlot because the room is full of people flexing on Caymus, but the private label Merlot is a quietly solid, food-friendly pour that won't punish your bill or your palate. Underordered, underappreciated.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere — Total Wine, Costco, your neighbor's garage. At steakhouse markups you're paying a significant premium for a bottle you could easily find at retail. It's not a bad wine; it's just a bad deal in this context.
Eddie Merlot's Private Label Chardonnay + Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
The crab cakes need something with enough body to match the richness but enough freshness to not flatten the seafood flavor. The house Chardonnay, priced to not sting, does exactly that without the oak sledgehammer you'd get from something bigger.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Eddie Merlot's is a reliable steakhouse wine program that does its job without surprising you — solid storage, knowledgeable staff, and a big enough list to find something worth drinking. Just don't expect discovery; expect competence, and bring your own enthusiasm for anything outside California.
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · American pub / burgers
Jackson Avenue Pub is not a wine destination, but Wine Wednesdays at half-price make it a legitimately smart stop if you're already there for a burger and a game. Come for the beer, stay for the deal.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Freedom Commons / I-88 Corridor · Naperville · Seafood and Steakhouse
Hugo's Naperville is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program that will not let you down and will not excite you. Come for the prime beef and oysters, order the Jordan or the Duckhorn, and don't look too hard at the markup on the Pinot Grigio.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Mexican
Fat Rosie's is a genuinely fun taco and tequila spot that has no business being reviewed for its wine — and that's kind of the point. If your table wants wine, order cocktails instead and save everyone the disappointment.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Mediterranean
Vasili's isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the Greek-focused list has enough genuine producers and interesting grapes to reward curious drinkers — especially on Tuesdays when the bottles go half-price. Watch the markups on the Agiorgitiko, lean into the northern Greek reds and the Malagousia, and you'll eat and drink very well along that riverwalk.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Naperville · Naperville · Chicago-style pizzeria / Italian-American
Lou Malnati's is a legitimately iconic pizza destination — but the wine list is an afterthought, marked up on cheap bottles with zero curation or ambition. Come for the deep dish, drink beer, and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hotel Arista / CityGate Centre · Naperville · Italian
Che Figata is the rare suburban hotel restaurant with a wine list worth actually engaging with — Italian-focused, sommelier-guided, and broad enough to reward exploration. The markups sting on a few bottles, but the range and program depth make this the best wine bet in Naperville's CityGate orbit.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ridgeland / Jackson Suburbs · Jackson · Steakhouse
Kathryn's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a classic rock radio station — you know every song, there are no bad choices, but you're not going to discover anything new. Send a friend here if they want a reliable Napa Cab with their ribeye and zero decision fatigue.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North McAllen / 10th Street corridor · McAllen · Steakhouse
LongHorn McAllen isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and the pricing is honest enough that you won't feel robbed. Order the Riesling, enjoy your steak, and save the deep-dive wine conversation for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bridgeport · Steakhouse
Joseph's is a dependable, no-surprises steakhouse wine list that serves its room well — if you're a Napa Cab loyalist dropping $60 on a steak, you'll be comfortable here. Just don't expect the list to challenge you, and watch the markup on the headline bottles.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.