California-Obsessed Steakhouse With a Wednesday Secret
Melbourne · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ember & Oak’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Ember & Oak, you get the immediate sense that someone here actually cares about wine — there's a sommelier on staff (Jonathan Costanza) and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the wall since 2023. The list leans hard into California, which fits the upscale-casual steakhouse energy of the place. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's clearly trying harder than most restaurants on the Space Coast.
The list is a California greatest-hits parade — Caymus, Silver Oak, Duckhorn, Cakebread, Rombauer — the kind of bottles that sell themselves and make people feel safe. That's not a knock, exactly, but it does mean you're not discovering anything new here. The Napa Cab through-line is strong, and there are some Paso Robles and Sonoma options rounding things out. What the list lacks is depth outside California — if you're hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or even a solid Rhône, you may be disappointed.
We don't have a confirmed glass pour count or rotation, but with a sommelier steering the ship and a Wednesday half-price wine night that implies some intentional program thinking, the BTG situation is likely serviceable. Expect the usual California suspects — a Rombauer Chard, something Napa-adjacent in red — poured properly and at prices that sting a little less mid-week.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros 2021 — $90
Rombauer is a crowd-pleaser that genuinely delivers — rich, ripe, and crowd-approved. At $90 it's the most accessible bottle on the list for what you're getting, and on a Wednesday it drops to $45, which is a legitimate steal.
Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2020
Most tables at a steakhouse like this reach straight for the Caymus or Silver Oak on autopilot. Austin Hope is the move — bigger and bolder than you'd expect, at $110 versus $195 for the Caymus. Most people walk right past it.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2020
At $195, you're paying a serious premium for a label that's become the Applebee's of cult Napa Cab. It's fine wine. It's also everywhere, and the markup here doesn't justify it when the Austin Hope or even the Silver Oak Alexander Valley gives you more character per dollar.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 2019 + Pork belly and scallops
The Duckhorn Merlot has enough plush fruit and soft tannins to handle the richness of the pork belly without bulldozing the scallops. It's one of the more versatile reds on this list, and this dish needs exactly that kind of give-and-take.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night — applies to bottles on the wine list. Best night of the week to upgrade your pour without the markup sting.
The Bottom Line
Ember & Oak is a legitimately good wine destination by Florida steakhouse standards — sommelier on staff, a real WS credential, and Wednesday half-price wine night that makes the steep markups suddenly very interesting. The list won't surprise anyone, but it'll satisfy you, especially if California Cab is your happy place.
North Melbourne · Melbourne · Japanese / Sushi
Makoto isn't trying to be a wine bar and it knows it — the list is short, the labels are familiar, and the prices are genuinely kind. Send your friends here for sushi and tell them to order the Malbec by the bottle; they'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Melbourne · Melbourne · Elevated Regional American
The Landing Rooftop is a reliable spot for a glass with a genuinely spectacular view — hit it on a Wednesday when the wines go half price and the Cambria Chardonnay becomes the best deal on the Space Coast. Don't come here to geek out on wine; do come here to drink something decent while watching a rocket launch.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Floribbean / Key West-inspired American
Hemingway's Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it earns its keep with a list that's wider than the vibe suggests and a Wednesday half-price bottle deal that makes even the steeper markups disappear. Come for the tacos, stay for the Albariño, and thank the calendar for getting you there on Wednesday.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Greek / Mediterranean
It's a counter-service Greek grill in a strip mall that serves Xinomavro and Assyrtiko at fair prices — that's either a minor miracle or a Wild Card, and we're calling it the latter. Don't sleep on the wine list just because you're eating off a paper tray.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Melbourne · Melbourne · Casual steakhouse / Australian-inspired American
Outback's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that treats wine as a revenue line item rather than a program worth caring about. Come for the steak, order the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need a bottle, and save the real wine exploration for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination and makes zero pretense of being one — we respect the honesty, even if we can't respect the list. Order the rolls, order the ribs, order a beer, and let the wine page collect dust.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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