Old-school steakhouse, no surprises, no regrets
Bakersfield · Steakhouse / Supper Club
Reviewed June 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed KC Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
KC Steakhouse hands you a wine list that feels exactly like the room — reliable, unpretentious, and built for people who are here to eat a ribeye and have a good time. There's no ambiguity about what this place is going for, and honestly, we respect the honesty. The list won't challenge you, but it also won't embarrass you.
The list runs 30 to 60 bottles deep and leans hard into mainstream California — J. Lohr, Kendall-Jackson, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, and Copper Ridge holding down the house wine slot. There's no real regional diversity to speak of, no Old World representation, and zero attempt at anything adventurous. That said, the producers they've chosen are crowd-tested and food-friendly, which in a steakhouse context isn't nothing. If you're hunting for a Barolo or a skin-contact Chenin, you're in the wrong room — but if you want a solid Cab to go with your prime rib, they've got you covered.
The glass program runs six to ten options, priced between $9 and $15, which is refreshingly fair for a sit-down steakhouse. You're not getting a rotating flight of small-production gems here — it's the greatest hits — but at these prices, a second pour feels like a smart move rather than a splurge. Don't expect much rotation; this list has the feel of something that gets updated annually, if that.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon — $12
At $12 a glass for a Cab that retails around $14 a bottle, KC is essentially charging you bar markup on a wine that punches well above its price point. It's a legitimate glass of Paso Robles Cabernet for the price of a fancy soda.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
Most people sleep on KJ Chard because it's everywhere, but at $11 — right at retail — it's a legitimate value pour with enough oak and fruit weight to hold its own against the butter-forward dishes on this menu. Don't be a snob about it.
Copper Ridge
The house wine is there for a reason, and that reason is not your enjoyment. Step up one rung on the list and you're already in significantly better territory for just a dollar or two more.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon + Ribeye Steak
Paso Robles Cab and a ribeye is about as no-brainer as it gets — the wine's dark fruit and soft tannins match the char and fat of the steak without fighting it. At $12 a glass, you're getting a classic combo without the classic steakhouse markup.
The Bottom Line
KC Steakhouse isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its near-retail pricing on recognizable California bottles makes it one of the more honest wine programs in Bakersfield. Send a friend here for the steak, tell them to skip the house wine, and order a second glass of the J. Lohr without guilt.
· Bakersfield · Wine bar + brewpub
BottleShock has a great name and a wine list that hasn't caught up to it yet. Four labels — including a Prosecco and a Chianti Classico you've seen a hundred times — isn't enough to earn the wine bar designation. Until the list grows up, come for the brew side of the menu and treat the wine as an afterthought.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bakersfield · Hotel lounge
MI Greatroom is doing exactly what a Marriott convention hotel bar is designed to do — serve recognizable, inoffensive wines to people who aren't thinking about wine. There's no shame in that, but there's no reason to come here specifically for what's in the glass. Order the Maso Canali, catch up with whoever you're meeting, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · American
Yard House Bakersfield is a beer hall that happens to sell wine, and the list makes no effort to hide that. Markups are aggressive, selections are safe to the point of being anonymous, and the only reason to open a bottle here is if your table voted against another round of IPAs. If you're wine-focused, redirect your budget to the Jean-Luc Colombo Rosé by the glass and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · Steakhouse and Seafood
This is a wine program that exists only because restaurants are expected to have one. If you're at Sizzler Bakersfield, order a beer, a lemonade, or whatever they're mixing at the bar — the wine list is not the reason to be here, and it's not trying to be.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · Hotel bar and small plates
Brimstone Bar isn't trying to be a wine destination — but whoever put Terre Rouge on the menu made a real choice, and that's more than most hotel bars can say. If you're in Bakersfield and you want something other than a mass-market Cab, this is the move. Just don't come expecting options.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Latin American / Mexican / Spanish / American
Zama is a fun room with a wine list that plays it safe — the markups are real, the picks are predictable, but Wine Wednesday changes the math considerably if you time your visit right. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Riesling or the Bonanza, and enjoy the patio.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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