Midtown's Bold Red Stronghold Earns Its Stripes
Midtown East · New York · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Empire Steak House lands with the kind of weight you'd expect from a classic Midtown power-dining room — 400 to 600 bottles deep, anchored by Bordeaux and California Cabs that were clearly chosen with intention. It's a list built for the table ordering the Porterhouse for two and a bottle of something serious. No surprises, but absolutely no apologies either.
The backbone here is exactly what a Best of Award of Excellence recipient should look like: Château Margaux and Château Latour anchoring the French side, Sassicaia and Tignanello flying the Italian flag, and a California contingent that reads like a greatest hits — Opus One, Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Jordan. Brunello di Montalcino producers round out the Italian depth, giving the list legitimate old-world credibility beyond just the trophy names. The gaps show up in lighter styles — if you're not here for a bold red, the list thins out considerably. But if bold reds are the mission, this list delivers at every price point from accessible to obscene.
With 15 to 25 pours available, the by-the-glass program is above average for a steakhouse of this caliber — enough range to let a table of mixed drinkers find their footing before committing to a bottle. The quality of what's being poured by the glass isn't fully detailed in the program intel, but given the cellar they're pulling from, expect the pours to punch well above the typical steakhouse glass. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect anything surprising to show up mid-season.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$100 range
Jordan is the smart play at a room full of three-figure Napa bottles. It's polished, food-friendly, and consistently reliable — the kind of Cab that doesn't need to prove itself but does anyway. In a list where Opus One is lurking, Jordan is how you drink well without the receipt regret.
Tignanello
Most tables here are locked in on Bordeaux or Napa Cab, which means Tignanello often gets overlooked. That's a mistake. This Super Tuscan brings Sangiovese structure with Cabernet Sauvignon muscle — a genuinely different experience that holds its own against any Porterhouse on the menu and typically sits at a more reasonable price point than the Bordeaux first-growths flanking it.
Opus One
Opus One is a great wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles at every upscale steakhouse in America. You're paying a serious premium for a label that everyone recognizes, in a restaurant that will extract maximum margin from that recognition. The wine itself won't disappoint — the bill will.
Sassicaia + Dry-aged prime ribeye
Sassicaia's Cabernet-dominant blend brings enough structure and savory depth to stand up to the intense fat and char of a dry-aged ribeye without overwhelming it. The wine's backbone cuts through the richness, its earthy notes echo the crust on a properly aged cut, and the finish lingers long enough to bridge bites. It's the kind of pairing that makes the whole meal feel like it was planned.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Empire Steak House is doing exactly what a serious Manhattan steakhouse wine program should do — deep cellar, prestigious producers, proper storage, and a list that rewards the guest who knows what they're looking for. Markups are steep, but this is Midtown and you knew that walking in; the Wine Spectator credential is earned, not just displayed.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Hanes Mall / Strickland Rd · Winston Salem · American Steakhouse
Firebirds isn't trying to reinvent anything, and the wine list reflects that — it's a dependable, California-forward selection that does its job without embarrassing itself. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a solid bottle with a good steak in a comfortable room, this gets you there.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City Waterfront · Jersey City · American Steakhouse
Fire & Oak is a hotel steakhouse wine list that does exactly what it's supposed to do: make business travelers feel at home and move bottles that everyone recognizes. If you're expecting something beyond that, you're in the wrong restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nob Hill / Van Ness Corridor · San Francisco · American Steakhouse
House of Prime Rib is one of San Francisco's great dining institutions and the wine list knows its assignment — California Cabs to drink with California beef, no fuss. It won't thrill anyone looking for adventure, but it won't embarrass anyone either, and for a night built around tableside carving and Yorkshire pudding, that's probably enough.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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