Solid Western pours in a sleek downtown room
North Columbus / Whittlesey Boulevard · Columbus · Modern American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list reads like someone built it around what sells in a nice airport lounge — Duckhorn, Sonoma-Cutrer, La Crema — all names your parents recognize and your date won't argue with. It's polished, approachable, and completely predictable. Not a problem if you know what you're getting into.
California dominates here, with some Pacific Northwest representation and a nod toward Burgundy that feels more decorative than committed. The producers are bankable crowd favorites — Duckhorn Merlot and La Crema Pinot Noir show up like reliable regulars, and Sonoma-Cutrer anchors the Chardonnay side without much competition. What's missing is anything left of center: no natural wine, no skin-contact experiment, no small-production discovery hiding on page two. The list does its job, but it won't surprise you.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a respectable spread for Columbus, and the program seems purpose-built for a bar-forward room where guests linger over cocktails and want a decent pour without committing to a bottle. Rotation appears minimal — this feels like a static list that gets refreshed seasonally at best, not a by-the-glass program that's actively curated.
La Crema Pinot Noir — Unknown
La Crema is widely distributed and retails around $20-$22 — if Ivory & Oak is pricing bottles in a reasonable range for this tier, it's the list's most drinkable option and the one most likely to actually match the food. Note: exact pricing was not available in our research, so confirm at the table.
Duckhorn Merlot
Merlot gets ignored at most tables because the word still carries Sideways baggage, but Duckhorn's version is genuinely good — structured, fruit-forward, and built for exactly the kind of steak-forward menu Ivory & Oak runs. Most guests are ordering Pinot or Cab by reflex. Don't be most guests.
Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay
A perfectly fine wine at the grocery store for $22. At an upscale restaurant with steep markup, you're likely paying $14-$18 a glass for something you could grab at Costco on the way home. If Chardonnay is your move, push the staff to see if there's anything more interesting hiding on the list.
Duckhorn Merlot + Butcher's Cut Steak
Duckhorn Merlot has enough structure and dark fruit to hold up against a properly seasoned piece of beef without the tannin aggression of a big Cab. It's the kind of pairing that just works without requiring any explanation.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ivory & Oak is a reliable wine stop in a city that isn't exactly crawling with serious lists — the room is great, the pours are familiar, and the markup is the main thing holding it back from something better. Go for the steak, order the Merlot, and don't expect to be challenged.
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · Hotel Restaurant
If you're stuck at the DoubleTree and the flight is delayed, Houlihan's will keep you fed and adequately watered — but don't mistake that for a wine program worth seeking out. Order the Etude Pinot or the Malbec, skip the sangria, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · American Bar & Grill
This is airport-adjacent chain wine, full stop — familiar labels at inflated prices for a captive audience that mostly wants something cold and wet after traveling. Order a cocktail instead, or hit the hotel bar and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Columbus · Pub
The Rail Pub is not here to advance your wine education, and that's fine — it's a pub, it sells beer, and the wine list exists as an afterthought for the table that didn't want beer. Order the J. Lohr if you need a glass of something real; otherwise, get a pint and stop looking at the wine menu.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Columbus · Upscale American Sports Bar
The Office is a solid sports bar with a real food program, but the wine list is an afterthought at best — two house pours do not constitute a program. Come for the pork chops and live music, order a cocktail or a beer, and don't expect anyone on staff to talk you through a vintage.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus · Columbus · American and Tex-Mex chain restaurant
Chili's Columbus is not a wine destination — it's a margarita destination that happens to stock two anonymous house wines for guests who forgot to order a cocktail. Drink accordingly.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus · Columbus · Steakhouse / Casual
Outback Columbus isn't a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — but the pricing is fair, the pours are recognizable, and you won't be stuck drinking something terrible with your steak. Order the Chateau Ste. Michelle or the 14 Hands and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greenbrier · Chesapeake · Modern American
Yard House Chesapeake is exactly what it is: a polished chain bar with a wine list built for broad appeal, not wine nerds. Show up on a Monday, grab a half-price bottle of Meiomi or La Crema, and enjoy the vibe without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Las Colinas / Toyota Music Factory · Irving · Modern American
The Henry Las Colinas isn't a destination for wine lovers, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood option with fair pricing and a Tuesday half-price program that makes the whole conversation more interesting. Show up on a Tuesday, order the Jordan, and stop overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Chandler · Chandler · Modern American
Cooper's Hawk Chandler is what it is: a reliable, brand-controlled wine experience that prioritizes accessibility over adventure. If you're with a group that just wants good glasses of wine without a homework assignment, this works — just don't come expecting to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.