Midtown's Bold Red Stronghold Earns Its Stripes
Midtown East · New York · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Empire Steak House’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
· Norcross · American Steakhouse
The evidence here points to a wine dinner feature list, not an actual wine program — and even by wine dinner standards, five bottles with no pricing and a mystery sparkling wine isn't inspiring. If you're eating at J. Alexander's Peachtree Corners on a regular Tuesday, we genuinely don't know what's on the wine list, and that's not a great sign. Order a cocktail, ask your server what's actually available, and don't plan your evening around the wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Rochester · American Steakhouse
CHAR makes it easy to try Finger Lakes wine alongside the steakhouse standards. Our move is Hosmer Cabernet Franc at $16/glass, with Panizzi Vernaccia at $14 for anyone leaning white. Check the per-ounce pricing before ordering a Coravin pour.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fort Worth · American Steakhouse
Del Frisco's Grille Fort Worth has a wine list the same way an airport newsstand has a wine section — technically true, practically limiting. Order the Tokaji for dessert, drink cocktails with dinner, and don't expect anyone to help you navigate the difference.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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