Waco's Hometown Steakhouse Keeps It Simple
Downtown · Waco · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed George's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
George's isn't trying to impress anyone with its wine list, and honestly, that's kind of refreshing. This is a Waco institution built on steaks and familiarity, and the wine list reflects that — recognizable labels, no pretension, no surprises. What you see is exactly what you get.
The list leans hard on California and Texas staples, the kind of bottles you'd recognize from a grocery store endcap. There's no deep cellar here, no old-world detours or esoteric producers — just approachable, crowd-pleasing wines that do the job without demanding your attention. The California focus makes sense alongside the steak-forward menu, even if the selections don't venture past the usual suspects. A nod to Texas wines would be a smart move if they ever decide to lean into local pride more seriously.
The by-the-glass program runs 8–14 options and covers the basics — red, white, and something pink if you look hard enough. The Josh Cellars lineup anchors the pour list, which tells you everything you need to know about the ambition level here. Rotation appears minimal, but at these prices, it's hard to complain too loudly.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon — $8.99
At under $9 a glass for a bottle that retails around $12, the markup is genuinely fair — almost shockingly so by restaurant standards. It's a crowd-pleasing Cab that holds its own next to a ribeye without making you do math you'll regret.
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio
Most people at a Waco steakhouse aren't ordering Pinot Grigio, but if someone at the table wants something crisp and light, this Italian import at $8.99 is quietly the best QPR on the list. It's not exciting, but it's clean, honest, and correctly priced.
Josh Cellars Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir deserves better than what Josh Cellars offers, and ordering it at a steakhouse feels like bringing a folding chair to a concert. The Cabernet is the better play at the same price — save the Pinot conversation for a restaurant that takes it seriously.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Ribeye steak
It's not a complicated pairing, but it doesn't need to be. The Cab's dark fruit and soft tannins hold up to a well-seared ribeye without fighting it, and at $8.99 a glass you won't feel bad ordering a second pour.
The Bottom Line
George's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and the genuinely fair pricing means you won't feel punished for ordering a bottle with your steak. Come for the Waco institution experience, drink the Cab, leave happy.
Central Waco / Richland Mall area · Waco · American gastropub / brewery fare
BJ's wine list exists because it has to, not because anyone loves it — this is a beer destination first and everything else is an afterthought. If you're here on a Wednesday during happy hour, grab the $5 Dark Horse and call it honest; otherwise, just drink the beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Central Waco / Loop 340 · Waco · Casual Chain Italian-American
Olive Garden Waco's wine list is a corporate afterthought dressed up with Italian flags — gouge-level markups on supermarket bottles, no staff expertise, and zero ambition. Order the cocktails, drink the endless coffee, or BYOB if they'll let you. The breadsticks don't need wine anyway.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Waco / I-35 corridor · Waco · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a great place for a hand-cut steak, cold beer, and line-dancing servers — but the wine list is essentially a placeholder. Come for the food, order a Lone Star, and leave the wine ambitions at home.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Waco / Valley Mills Drive · Waco · Steakhouse
Outback Waco's wine program is what happens when a corporate chain treats wine as a line item instead of an experience — overpriced grocery store bottles with zero staff expertise and zero reason to explore the list. Order the beer, order the cocktail, or BYOB if they'll let you.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Waco / near Richland Mall · Waco · Steakhouse
Saltgrass is here for the steak, and the steak is genuinely good — but the wine program is an afterthought wearing a price tag. Order the ribeye, split a bottle of Decoy if you must, and don't expect anyone on staff to help you think beyond that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Woodway / Marketplace area · Waco · Steakhouse
135 Prime is doing more with a wine list than Waco has any right to expect from its steakhouse scene, and the weekly specials show genuine curiosity. Just keep your guard up when the dessert wine list arrives — that's where the house cashes in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Costa Mesa is exactly what it is: a well-run corporate steakhouse with a Champagne list that punches above the room's ambition and a Chardonnay section that covers the safe California bases reliably. Markups are steep throughout and the list doesn't take any risks, but if you know what you want — a glass of Hartford Court or a bottle of Schramsberg before your steak — you'll be fine. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Hawaii's wine list does what the brand does everywhere — it's safe, corporate, and priced to capture resort-market margins. The Champagne selection is genuinely deep and includes some worthwhile picks like the Paul Bara and the Llopart Cava, but markups are steep and there's little here to excite anyone looking beyond the obvious. If you're here for a steak and want bubbles, you'll find something that works — just don't expect the list to dazzle you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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