Chain Italian, Chain Wine, Chain Expectations
· Laredo · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Johnny Carino's Laredo’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Johnny Carino's Laredo reads like a grocery store shelf organized by someone who hasn't thought about wine since 2007. Twenty-five labels, almost entirely household name brands, with prices that feel optimistic for what's on offer. It's not offensive, it's just deeply uninspired.
The list leans heavily on Cavit, Albertoni, and La Crema as its workhorses, with a smattering of Kendall-Jackson and Francis Coppola to signal 'we tried.' Italian representation is thin — a Bolla Chianti and a Banfi Bellagio Chianti are doing all the heavy lifting for a restaurant that hangs its hat on Italian-American food, which is a little embarrassing. There's no Barolo, no Brunello, no Vermentino, no Nero d'Avola — basically nothing that would make you feel like the wine list and the cuisine are on speaking terms. Stella Rosa Royale Rosso and Sutter Home White Zinfandel sharing a list with La Crema Pinot Noir tells you exactly how wide the target audience is.
Eighteen by-the-glass options sounds generous until you realize they're pulling from a 25-bottle list, which means almost everything is available by the glass — not a curated program so much as a policy. Pours top out at $11.99 for the Lunetta Prosecco, and most options hover in the $6.99–$9.99 range, which at least keeps the damage manageable. Rotation appears nonexistent; this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since the location opened.
Albertoni Pinot Grigio — $29.99
The cheapest bottle on the list and arguably the most honest one. It's a straightforward, inoffensive Pinot Grigio that does exactly what it says. At $29.99 — or roughly $15 on a Sunday or Wednesday half-price night — it's the least painful way to get through dinner here.
Banfi Bellagio Chianti
On a list that barely acknowledges Italy exists, this is the closest thing to a wine that actually matches the menu. Banfi knows Chianti, and at least this bottle gives you something to talk about beyond 'it's red.' Most tables will walk right past it for the Cupcake Merlot, which means your glass arrives faster anyway.
La Crema Chardonnay
At $57.99, this is the most expensive bottle on a budget chain list — and La Crema retails for around $18-20. That's a markup north of 3x for a wine you can grab at any Total Wine on your way home. The restaurant is counting on name recognition doing the work here. Don't let it.
Banfi Bellagio Chianti + Chicken Marsala
A Chianti's bright acidity and cherry fruit cut through the richness of a Marsala sauce better than anything else on this list. It's the one moment where the wine list and the kitchen are actually working in the same direction.
Sunday and Wednesday — Half-price wine bottles offered in the bar and patio every Sunday and Wednesday.
The Bottom Line
Johnny Carino's Laredo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here, go on a Sunday or Wednesday, grab that half-price Albertoni, and keep your expectations parked firmly at 'Italian chain in Laredo.'
· Laredo · Modern Mexican
The wine list at Cantina Laredo Laredo is functional, priced fairly for a casual chain, and completely devoid of ambition — but honestly, you're probably here for the guacamole and a frozen margarita anyway. If you do order wine, grab the Marqués de Cáceres Rosé and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · American steakhouse / ribs
Tony Roma's Laredo is here to serve ribs, and the wine list knows its place in the pecking order. Nothing wrong with it, nothing exciting about it — if wine matters to you tonight, manage expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Laredo · Laredo · Steakhouse / Mexican Grilled Meats
El Rancho isn't a wine destination — it's a meat destination that happens to have wine on the table. The list is basic, the prices are fair, and if you stick to the 14 Hands or Mirassou, you'll drink fine. Just don't show up hoping to discover anything.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Laredo / Mines Road · Laredo · Mexican / Tex-Mex
Maria Bonita is a genuinely fun spot to eat, but the wine program is a non-event — grab a margarita or a cold beer and save the wine conversation for somewhere else. Come for the fajitas, not the Frontera.
Grocery Store
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
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Casual Italian
The wine program here is a placeholder, not a feature — a chain-mandated afterthought designed to upsell, not impress. Drink the Chianti Classico if you must order a bottle, but nobody's coming to Olive Garden Laredo for the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Toledo · Italian
Rosie's is doing what a neighborhood Italian restaurant should do with its wine list — keeping prices honest, leaning into Italian varietals, and giving you enough by-the-glass options that everyone at the table finds something. It's not pushing any boundaries, but it's not trying to either, and that's perfectly fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gilbert · Gilbert · Italian
North Italia Gilbert is a chain that does the bare minimum of interesting things — and sometimes that's exactly what you need on a Tuesday in Gilbert. The Italian regional whites are the real reason to open this list; everything else is serviceable.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nob Hill · San Francisco · Italian
Seven Hills is doing something most Italian restaurants in this city won't — building a wine list that actually reflects the breadth of Italian winemaking rather than the highlights reel. If you're even mildly curious about obscure Italian whites, this is one of the better places in SF to take the leap.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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