A Steakhouse Wine List That Actually Tries
Inman Park · Atlanta · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Kevin Rathbun Steak reads like a steakhouse that did its homework — there's real thought here, not just the usual Cabs-and-Chards safety net. You get sparkling, rosé, white, red, and a dedicated reserve-by-the-glass section, which at least signals someone cared enough to organize this thing. It won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either.
The list leans heavily on the by-the-glass program — 25 options spanning Champagne to Chablis to Napa Cab — which is genuinely impressive for a steakhouse format. There are some legitimately interesting choices tucked in: a Chateau Le Puy Bordeaux blend, a Lemelson Riesling from the Willamette, and a Sancerre from Domaine Des Grosses Pierres give the list some personality beyond the obvious. The Italian contingent is small but decent — De Vinosalvo Levitas Sangiovese 2018 and the Fattoria di Sammontana Chianti keep things honest on that front. Where it falls short is depth: if you want to go deep on Burgundy, Barolo, or explore anything truly off the beaten path, this list hits a wall fast.
Twenty-five by-the-glass options is a lot, and the range from $12 to $80 a glass means there's something for the budget-conscious table and the celebratory splurge alike. The reserve section — anchored by the Shafer Hillside Select 2018 at the high end — gives the program a premium tier that most steakhouses handle with a bottle list instead. That said, without a clear rotation cadence, there's a real risk some of these pours are sitting longer than they should.
Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Chardonnay Chablis 2023 — $18
Long-Depaquit is a legitimate Chablis producer with actual terroir behind it — not some branded negociant juice. If the pour price is anywhere near the low end of their glass range, this is the smartest white on the list for the money.
Chateau Le Puy Bordeaux Blend Cotes de Bordeaux 2023
Le Puy is a biodynamic Bordeaux estate with a cult following in Europe and a low profile stateside — most people at this table will order the Sequoia Grove instead, which is fine, but they're leaving the interesting bottle behind. This is the pick for anyone who wants something with actual story.
Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
It's a perfectly competent Napa Cab, but it's also one of the most over-placed bottles in the American steakhouse circuit. You're paying a steakhouse premium for a wine you can find at your local wine shop for a fraction of the price — skip it and put that money toward the Le Puy.
Domaine Des Grosses Pierres Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre 2024 + Bone-In Filet
A leaner cut like the filet doesn't need a big tannic red to match it — the Sancerre's bright acidity and minerality cut through the fat and let the beef speak. It's the contrarian move that actually works.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Kevin Rathbun Steak's wine program is better than the average Atlanta steakhouse — thoughtful by-the-glass selection, a few genuinely interesting bottles in the mix — but the markups are stiff and the list doesn't have the depth to earn a destination wine reputation. Send a friend here for a solid steak and a decent glass; just don't expect to geek out.
· Atlanta · American / Cajun
Lagarde isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list reflects that honestly — fair prices, familiar pours, and just enough interesting picks (Nebbiolo, Riesling, Albariño) to reward a curious diner. Come for the Cajun food, let the wine support the meal rather than headline it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Wine shop / bottle shop
Elemental Spirits Co. is doing something genuinely rare in Atlanta: a small-format bottle shop with actual conviction behind every label. If you care about drinking something interesting — Jura oddities, Columbia Gorge naturals, old-world Loire — this shelf is worth the trip.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
The Southern Gentleman isn't here to win wine awards, and it doesn't pretend to be. But fair prices, a full glass pour program, and a couple of genuinely smart picks buried in a short list make it more than serviceable — come for the food, order a glass, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Winery Restaurant / American
City Winery Atlanta is a genuine wildcard: a one-producer list shouldn't work this well, but between the Finger Lakes whites, the Rhône-inspired reds, and the live music backdrop, it earns its place on your rotation. Go in curious, not skeptical.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Decatur · Atlanta · Bakery / Café
B-Side at the Bakery is the best argument we've seen for what a café wine list can be when someone actually cares. If you're in Decatur, this is a mandatory stop — come for the coffee, stay for the Morgon.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Atlanta · Bottle Shop / Market
Savi Provisions is a Wild Card because nobody expects to find Quilceda Creek and Joseph Phelps Insignia next to the olive bar — but the narrow focus and market-tier markups mean this is really a stop for collectors on a grocery run, not a destination for curious drinkers. Worth a browse; approach the register with caution.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Abilene · Steakhouse
Cattleman's Exchange isn't a wine destination, but it's not a disaster either — it's a hotel steakhouse doing hotel steakhouse things. If you're in Abilene and need a Cab with your beef, you'll find something that works; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Springfield · Steakhouse
LongHorn Springfield isn't a wine destination — but with markups this low and pours this affordable, it's one of the better casual chain options in Illinois for a simple red with a big steak. Send a friend here for dinner; just don't tell them to geek out over the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Frontera · Round Rock · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Round Rock is exactly what it looks like: a chain steakhouse wine list on autopilot, built around brand names, sweet crowd-pleasers, and markups that assume you're not paying attention. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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