Casino Steakhouse Markups That Should Be Criminal
Horseshoe Casino · Baltimore · Steakhouse
Reviewed March 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Jack Binion's arrives looking confident — 150+ labels, a Dom Pérignon at the top, plenty of Napa heavyweights to anchor the steakhouse fantasy. But flip past the trophy bottles and you start noticing something: this list is built to extract money, not deliver value.
California dominates here, which is fine for a steakhouse — but the selection leans hard on recognizable brand names rather than any actual curation. Caymus, Silver Oak, The Prisoner, Rombauer: these are wines people order because they've heard of them, not because they're the best bottles at the price point. There's a gesture toward France and Italy, and some token representation from New Zealand, Germany, and Chile, but nothing that suggests anyone thought hard about it. The 150-label count sounds impressive until you realize it's mostly safe commercial producers with a celebrity bottle or two sprinkled in to justify the room.
Twelve pours by the glass at $12–$16 is a reasonable range on paper, but we'd want to know what's actually in those glasses before getting excited. Given the retail markups on the bottle list, expect the pours to follow the same logic: familiar names at prices that quietly hurt you. Nothing here suggests the BTG program gets rotated with any intention.
Caymus Conundrum White Blend, Napa Valley — $45
At 80% over retail it's the least offensive markup on the list — which is a low bar, but here we take what we can get. It's an easy-drinking white that can handle a rich menu without drama.
Frei Brothers Reserve Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
At $45 with a 125% markup it's not a steal, but Dry Creek Zinfandel alongside braised short ribs is a genuinely good move that most tables ordering Caymus will miss entirely.
Mark West Pinot Noir
A $12 retail bottle priced at $85 — that's a 608% markup on a mass-market Pinot that belongs at a grocery store checkout, not a steakhouse wine list. This is the list's most embarrassing moment.
Silver Oak, Alexander Valley + Braised Short Ribs
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab has the fruit and structure to match the richness of braised short ribs without bulldozing them — it's the one bottle on this list that earns its keep on the table.
❌ The Bottom Line
Jack Binion's is a casino steakhouse that wines by the numbers: recognizable labels, brutal markups, and a list that nobody passionate about wine put together. Order a cocktail, or spring for the Silver Oak and make peace with the markup.
Clipper Mill · Baltimore · American, Farm to Table
True Chesapeake is a Wild Card in the best possible sense — a working waterfront oyster spot with a Wine Spectator-recognized list helmed by a sommelier who clearly cares. Go for the oysters, stay for the Weinbach, and don't skip the Muscadet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Horseshoe Casino · Baltimore · Steak house, European
Gordon Ramsay Steak isn't going to surprise you, but it delivers a solid, award-backed California-and-France wine list in a setting where you'd half-expect to be handed a laminated card with three options. For a casino steakhouse in Baltimore, that's genuinely worth something.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Harbor East · Baltimore · Steak House
The Ruxton is the rare steakhouse where the wine list is a genuine reason to show up, not just a formality next to the beef. Send a friend here, tell them to skip the Caymus, and let Patrick Owens point them somewhere better.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Baltimore · Baltimore · American
Bygone is the kind of wine list that makes Baltimore dinner reservations worth planning around. The markups are real, but the depth, the sommelier, and the setting make this one of the better places to spend money on a serious bottle on the East Coast.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Little Italy · Baltimore · Italian
La Tavola isn't a wine destination, but it earns its keep as a solid neighborhood Italian with a list that at least respects where the kitchen is coming from. Order the Vermentino, enjoy the Shrimp & Calamari, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mount Vernon · Baltimore · Afghan
The Helmand isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card worth betting on — a 30-year-old Afghan institution that's put enough thought into its list to make the right bottle genuinely accessible. Go for the Cigare Volant, order the lamb, and enjoy the fact that this place still exists.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.