California classics done right in Wisconsin
Eau Claire · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed May 1, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Johnny's Italian Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Johnny's reads like a California greatest hits album — and honestly, for a steakhouse in Eau Claire tucked inside a Holiday Inn, that's not a bad thing. It's a focused, unpretentious collection that knows its audience and delivers. Wine Spectator has been handing them an Award of Excellence since 2018, and you can see why they keep earning it.
This is a California-forward list built for steak — Caymus, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Silver Oak, Duckhorn, and Opus One cover the cabernet and merlot side with confidence. On the white front, Rombauer and Far Niente anchor the Chardonnay section, which is exactly what most guests here are ordering anyway. Don't come looking for Burgundy or Barolo — this list isn't trying to be adventurous, it's trying to be reliable. At 100-150 bottles with a $30-$150 price ceiling, it threads the needle between accessible and respectable without overreaching.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options is genuinely strong for this market — most steakhouses in mid-sized Midwest cities barely crack ten. The $8-$14 glass price range is reasonable and won't make you do the uncomfortable bottle math mid-dinner. There's no evidence of a rotating program, but the lineup appears consistent enough that you won't be stuck choosing between two bad options.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $30–$60 range (bottle)
Jordan is one of the most consistently reliable Napa-adjacent Cabs on the market and routinely gets marked up into oblivion elsewhere. At Johnny's pricing ceiling, it's a genuine value play that outperforms its price point — especially next to a Steak DeBurgo.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone on this list reaches for the Cabs, but Duckhorn's Merlot is quietly one of the best-made wines in the Napa Valley and gets overlooked every time Silver Oak or Caymus is on the same menu. It's richer and more interesting than most people expect, and it's criminally underordered.
Opus One
Opus One at a hotel steakhouse is going to come with a significant markup, and it's not the right context to appreciate what you're paying for. Save that bottle for somewhere with the cellar program and service team to match the price tag.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Steak DeBurgo
The herbed butter and garlic in the DeBurgo sauce needs a Cab with enough structure to hold its ground but enough elegance not to bulldoze the dish. Stag's Leap hits that mark — it's refined without being timid, and it's the most classically correct pairing on this list.
The Bottom Line
Johnny's isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to make sure you drink well with your steak, and it succeeds. Send a friend here if they want reliable California pours at fair prices without having to think too hard about it.
· Eau Claire · New American
The Lakely is a genuinely likable neighborhood anchor in a hotel package that punches above its weight for Eau Claire. The wine program is modest and not fully transparent online, but the vibe, the food — that Friday fish fry especially — and the fair pricing keep this squarely in the worth-a-visit column. We'd go back for the burger and whatever's pouring by the glass. We'd hold off on building a whole evening around the wine list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Eau Claire · American Steakhouse & Bar
Cowboy Jack's wine list is what happens when a bar treats wine as an afterthought — fine for someone who just wants a glass of something red, but there's no reason to make a wine decision here. Order a whiskey instead.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Eau Claire · Italian & Mediterranean
Mona Lisa's wine list is a Champagne wall bolted onto a very thin foundation — great if you're popping Cristal for a birthday, but there's almost nothing to recommend for a normal dinner out. Order the Chablis or the Chianti and don't look too hard at anything else.
Plays It Safe
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Water Street · Eau Claire · Pizzeria / Chain
This is not a wine program — it's a liability hedge so they can say they serve wine. Come for the pizza, order the beer.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northside / Hwy 53 riverfront · Eau Claire · Supper club / American steakhouse
The Edge isn't going to win any awards for wine ambition, but it's honest, fairly priced, and perfectly calibrated for what it is — a classic supper club where the wine list supports the meal without getting in the way. Send a friend here for the prime rib, and tell them to order the Borgonero.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northside / Oakwood Mall area · Eau Claire · Pizza / Italian
Johnny's Pizza Shop is a solid neighborhood pizza spot that treats wine as a beverage category, not a program. Come for the pizza, order a beer or a $10 glass of Mark West if you need wine, and save the serious bottle for the steakhouse next time.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North End · Boston · Italian, Steakhouse
A broad list with 29 glass pours, Italian and American bottle sections, and a From the Vault section that goes well into four figures. Start with the 2021 Mauro Molino Barolo at $26 a glass or the Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi at $15, and confirm vintages, since the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian, Steakhouse
Terra Nostra's posted list is built around Napa Cabernet, Brunello, Barolo and Super Tuscans, as its own header says, and its 20 glass pours start at $8. Start with the $12 J. Lohr Cabernet or the $13 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva by the glass, or step up to the $110 Paulo Scavino Barolo if you want a bottle. Confirm today's availability and prices, since the list says both are subject to change; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
Madison · Madison · Italian, Steakhouse
Draper Brothers Chophouse is a dependable, California-forward wine list in a genuinely beautiful room — it won't blow any minds, but it will reliably get out of the way of a good steak. Send your friends here for the beef and the atmosphere; just temper expectations if they're hoping for a wine list that matches the ambition of the building.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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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