Sun-drenched Italian with serious bottle cred
Fort Lauderdale · Italian, Floridian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed La Fuga’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list lands with confidence — California and Italy front and center, a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence already in the bag for 2025. It reads like a restaurant that takes wine seriously enough to stock Tignanello and Sassicaia, even if the pricing reminds you this is Fort Lauderdale waterfront real estate. The midcentury-cool courtyard vibe sets expectations high, and the list mostly delivers.
The Italian spine is the real story here: Antinori Tignanello, Sassicaia, Brunello di Montalcino, and Barolo from Gaja or Ceretto give the list genuine gravitas on the Old World side. California holds its own with Caymus and Opus One anchoring the heavy-hitter tier, though that lane skews predictable and crowd-pleasing. The gaps show up in the mid-range — there's a jump from approachable Santa Margherita and Ferrari-Carano territory straight to the prestige bottles, with not much interesting in between. A few more adventurous producers from Piedmont or Sicily would round this out nicely.
Twelve to twenty pours is a respectable by-the-glass program, and the $12–$18 price range is reasonable for the market. We'd expect the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay to anchor the glass list — reliable, crowd-friendly, and appropriate for a seafood-forward menu. Rotation doesn't appear to be a strong suit here, so don't count on discovering something new on a return visit.
Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay — $14
By the glass, this is your workhorse — well-made, food-friendly, and won't drain your wallet before the osso buco arrives. It punches above its price point in this context.
Barolo (Gaja or Ceretto)
Most tables at a place like this default to the Caymus or Opus One — which means the Barolo often gets overlooked. Either producer on this list represents serious Piedmont, and it's a far more interesting conversation than another Napa Cab.
Opus One
A fine wine, sure — but at Fort Lauderdale waterfront markup, you're paying a premium for the label. The same money buys you a much more interesting experience elsewhere on this list.
Antinori Tignanello + Osso buco
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet backbone has the structure to cut through braised veal and the earthy depth to match the gremolata. This is exactly the pairing the list was built for.
The Bottom Line
La Fuga earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a focused Italian-California list that does right by the food — just be prepared for steep markups on the prestige bottles. Send a friend here when they want serious Italian wine with their pasta and a view.
· Fort Lauderdale · American Steakhouse Grille
What we can see from the available data is a six-bottle California-only snapshot tied to a wine dinner event — not enough to call this a real wine program. Del Frisco's Grille may have more going on behind the scenes, but until we see the full list, we'd recommend ordering a cocktail or asking your server what's actually available by the glass before committing to a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Las Olas · Fort Lauderdale · Brazilian Churrasco Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Fort Lauderdale is a great place to eat a lot of excellent meat; the wine list appears to be a functional but uninspired supporting cast. If you're a serious wine person, do your homework before you go — call ahead and ask what's on the list, because we couldn't nail it down from publicly available sources. The food will carry the night regardless.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Mediterranean
The Terrace Grill isn't where you go to chase down rare bottles or get your mind blown by an unexpected producer — it's where you go to drink well without overthinking it. For waterfront Mediterranean dining in Fort Lauderdale, that's a perfectly respectable offer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian
Anthony's Runway 84 is a Fort Lauderdale institution that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: big Napa names, old-school Italian comfort, and no surprises. Wine-forward diners may find the list a little safe, but the Italian highlights and the fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence signal that someone here is paying attention — even if the list isn't ready to take risks.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ft. Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Steak House
Steak 954 is a legitimately strong wine program for a beach hotel steakhouse — deep on the producers that matter, proper storage, and a by-the-glass count that punches above its weight. Markups are what they are at this address, but if you pick smart, this is a great place to drink wine with a serious piece of beef.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · French, Japanese
MAASS is the real thing — a sommelier-driven program with genuine depth, proper glassware, and staff that actually knows what's in the cellar. Markups run steep at the top end, but this is a Best of Award of Excellence list for a reason, and it earns every bit of the credential.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
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