Big Steakhouse Energy, Monday Gets Interesting
Ballston · Arlington · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 27, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar – Arlington’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Fleming's arrives with confidence — a thick, polished wine list that leans hard into California and screams 'expense account.' The '100 Wines' program is the headline act, and it delivers exactly what you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain that takes wine seriously enough to put 'Wine Bar' in its name. It's not groundbreaking, but it's not embarrassing either.
The list is essentially a greatest hits of American wine: Napa Cabs, Sonoma Chards, and a predictable supporting cast from Champagne, Bordeaux, and a handful of Italian reds. You'll find Caymus, Jordan, Rombauer, Stag's Leap — the names every steakhouse in America stocks because they reliably close deals and impress clients who equate brand recognition with quality. What you won't find is much adventure: no Willamette Valley Pinot to speak of, no Spanish Tempranillo, no skin-contact curiosities. This is a list built for people who already know what they want, not for people who want to be surprised. France shows up respectably with Champagne and some Bordeaux, but it's clearly a supporting act to the California main event.
With 20+ options by the glass, Fleming's does better here than most steakhouses. Prices run $13–$25 a glass, which is in line with the room's energy and entree prices. The glass list mirrors the bottle list — California-dominant, recognizable producers — so don't expect anything off the beaten path, but you won't get stuck nursing a bad pour either.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Alexander Valley) — $185
Still steep at $185, but Jordan is the most honest bottle on the list — consistent, food-friendly, and genuinely enjoyable with a ribeye. Compared to the Caymus at $230 or the Stag's Leap Artemis at $210, you're getting a better drinking experience for less money. Retail is $75, so the markup still stings, but this is the best relative value in the Cab lineup.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (Napa Valley)
Everyone reaches for the Caymus because the label is familiar, but the Artemis is a more structured, serious wine with better aging potential and more complexity in the glass. At $210 it's still a markup gut-punch, but if you're spending steakhouse money anyway, the Artemis is the smarter Napa Cab on this list.
The Prisoner Red Blend 2021 (Napa Valley)
At $120 a bottle, you're paying a 167% markup on a wine that retails for $45 and is available at every Total Wine in America. The Prisoner is a perfectly decent grocery-store-tier red blend that punches well below its restaurant price tag here. Save your money.
Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay 2022 (Napa Valley) + Lobster Mac & Cheese
Cakebread's Chard is rich, buttery, and oak-forward — exactly what you want cutting through the cream and richness of lobster mac. It's a classic California Chardonnay doing exactly what it was built for. The $120 price tag is hard to love, but at least you're spending it on a combination that actually makes sense.
Monday — Fleming's 'Monday Wine' program offers 50% off select bottles every Monday in the dining room and bar. The discount applies to a curated list of higher-end bottles — details vary slightly by location. This is genuinely the best reason to visit on a weeknight; it makes the otherwise steep pricing much easier to stomach.
The Bottom Line
Fleming's Arlington is a reliable execution of the upscale steakhouse wine formula — well-stored, properly glassed, and deep enough to keep a table happy, but the markups are aggressive and the list won't challenge anyone. Come on a Monday, cut your bottle cost in half, and order the Jordan with your ribeye.
National Landing · Arlington · Asian street food
Hawkers gets credit for leaning aromatic and lighter on the whites, which at least shows someone thought about what people are actually eating. But with no pricing data, an unclear by-the-glass situation, and a red wine section that reads like a filler order, this list doesn't inspire confidence. Order the Crémant or the Alvarinho and move on — the food is doing the heavy lifting here anyway.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Crystal City · Arlington · Wine Shop / Tasting Bar
Crystal City Wine Shop is the kind of low-key, staff-driven wine spot that most neighborhoods desperately want and rarely get — especially one with the nerve to stock Ukrainian bottles in the shadow of the Pentagon. We'd send a curious friend here without hesitation; just don't come in expecting a full restaurant experience.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Clarendon · Arlington · New American
CIRCA Clarendon isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend otherwise — but the all-BTG format, fair prices, and a few genuinely interesting whites make it a solid call when you want wine that works without overthinking it. Send a friend here, just steer them away from the Unshackled.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Bottle Shop
Flight Wine Shop is doing something genuinely rare in the DC suburbs: a tightly curated, fairly priced bottle shop that treats obscure regions and natural producers as the main event, not a novelty section. If you're tired of the same ten wines and want a shop that will actually teach you something, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Arlington · Wine Bar / Café
Oby Lee is not a destination for serious wine drinkers, but it is a genuinely fun, low-pressure spot where the prices are fair and the vibe is unapologetically playful. Send your friends who think they don't like wine — they'll order a mango slushy and have a great time.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ballston · Arlington · Neapolitan Pizza
Pupatella isn't trying to be a destination wine program, and it doesn't need to be — it's a pizza place with a focused, fairly priced, Italian-centric list that actually makes sense with the food. Send a friend here for the pizza and tell them to order the Lambrusco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Seaport · Boston · Upscale American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's is a reliable date-night or business-dinner destination in the Seaport, and the wine program is functional enough to get the job done — but markup at this category of steakhouse tends to run steep, and the list probably isn't going to surprise you. If you're here for the Prime ribeye, order a glass of whatever Cab is open and don't overthink it; if you're here specifically to drink well, we'd want to see the actual list before making promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · Upscale American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's Columbus is a reliable steakhouse wine experience — well-managed, California-forward, and backed by actual staff expertise. Just know that you're paying steakhouse markups in a steakhouse setting, and the list isn't going to take you anywhere unexpected. If you want a great bottle with a great steak and don't need the wine to steal the show, this works.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Point · Boston · Upscale American Steakhouse
Set your wine budget before opening the list. Greenwing Cabernet at $18 a glass or $72 a bottle is a straightforward red option. This is an unrated menu guide; it does not assess service, storage or glassware.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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