Three Thousand Bottles of Steakhouse Markup
North Loop 1604 · San Antonio · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list hits you like a phonebook — 3,000 bottles strong, housed in a showpiece cellar visible from the dining room. It's impressive until you start doing the math, and then it's just depressing.
The breadth is undeniable: California cabernets dominate, but there's proper French representation (Gigondas from Domaine de Cassan, Lucien Albrecht Cremant Rosé) and Italian selections including Barone Fini Pinot Grigio. You'll find serious Napa names like Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot alongside solid workhorses like Alexander Valley Vineyards. The problem isn't what they stock — it's what they charge for it. This is a cellar built to wow your expense account, not to help you drink well.
Twenty to thirty by-the-glass options sounds generous until you see the prices. Sonoma Cutrer RRR Chardonnay and Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc anchor the white side, while SaLia Syrah represents the reds. The selection rotates seasonally, but there's no evidence of adventurous pours or value-driven programming — just the usual steakhouse suspects at steakhouse prices.
Alexander Valley Vineyards Merlot — $59
Still overpriced at double retail, but at least you're getting a solid California Merlot that won't embarrass you next to a ribeye
2004 Gigondas from Domaine de Cassan
Southern Rhône with age that most diners will skip for Napa cab — if the markup is reasonable, this could be the most interesting wine on the table
Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc
A $15 retail wine marked up to $50 is insulting, even in a steakhouse — this is a 233% gouge on a grocery store staple
Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot + Prime Ribeye
If you're already spending $80 on beef, the structured elegance of this single-vineyard Merlot will cut through the fat better than another cab
❌ The Bottom Line
Kirby's has the cellar and the sommelier to be great, but the markup strategy is pure greed. Save this one for the company card, or just order a cocktail and enjoy the steak.
Pearl District · San Antonio · Farm to Table
Isidore is doing more with wine than San Antonio's dining scene typically demands, and the farm-driven menu gives every bottle on this list a genuine reason to exist. Send your wine-curious friends here — they'll leave impressed without knowing exactly why, and that's the mark of a list done right.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Cantera · San Antonio · American, French
Signature is a reliable, polished wine experience for a resort restaurant — not a destination list, but one that won't let you down with the right order. Stick to France and Jordan, skip the Opus One markup, and let the Krug do something interesting with the meat.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Antonio · San Antonio · American, Seasonal
Landrace is a reliable, California-first wine destination that does what it promises — no surprises, no let-downs, and a big enough glass pour selection to keep everyone at the table happy. Send your friend here if they love Napa Cab; steer them elsewhere if they're looking for adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown San Antonio · San Antonio · American Steakhouse
Bohanan's is doing real work on the wine side — a deep, well-curated list in a room that deserves it, even if the pricing leans on the premium end and the staff isn't quite sommelier-level yet. If you're in San Antonio and want a proper bottle with a proper steak, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Stone Oak · San Antonio · Asian Fusion BBQ
Come for the inventive Thai-Texan BBQ mashup, but stick to beer or cocktails. The wine program feels like an afterthought at a restaurant that deserves better.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Central · San Antonio · Southern
Ida Claire isn't trying to blow anyone's mind with wine—and that's fine. Fair pricing, decent variety by the glass, and a list that won't confuse your wine-curious friends. You won't find anything exciting, but you won't get gouged either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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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