Gulf Coast Classics, No Surprises, Decent Pours
East El Paso · El Paso · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Landry's Seafood House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Landry's reads like a greatest hits album you've heard a hundred times — Caymus, Franciscan, Lohr — dependable names that chain restaurant managers know will move. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is: a crowd-pleasing list built for guests who want something recognizable with their crab legs. That's fine, but don't come here hoping to discover anything new.
The list pulls from the usual suspects across California (Napa, Paso Robles, Sonoma), with some welcome detours into Rioja, Mendoza, Tuscany, and even McLaren Vale. Names like El Coto Crianza, Bodegas Breca Brega Old Vine Garnacha, and Prunotto Barbaresco suggest someone at corporate at least glanced at a map of Europe before signing the order sheet. The top end features Caymus Special Selection and Nickel & Nickel State Ranch Vineyard — solid heavy hitters, though they're priced accordingly with chain-level markups that'll make your wallet wince. There's a noticeable gap in coastal whites and lighter styles that would actually complement seafood, which feels like a missed opportunity given the menu focus.
Twelve-plus by-the-glass options priced at $6–$8 is genuinely generous for this part of El Paso, and the range covers whites, reds, and even a Luccio Moscato d'Asti for the dessert wine crowd. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling and Banfi La Pettegola Vermentino are the standouts — both seafood-friendly and priced at a level where the glass pour doesn't feel like a shakedown. Don't expect rotation or seasonal updates; what's on the list is likely what's been on the list.
Bodegas Breca Brega Old Vine Garnacha — $39
Old vine Garnacha from Aragón on a chain seafood list in El Paso? This is genuinely unexpected, and at the low end of the bottle pricing it's the most interesting pour on the list by a mile.
Banfi La Pettegola Vermentino Tuscany
Most people at a seafood house go straight for the Chardonnay out of habit — don't. This Tuscan Vermentino is bright, coastal, and was practically built to drink next to a plate of broiled fish. Most guests will walk right past it.
Caymus Special Selection
At chain restaurant markup, you're paying a significant premium over retail for a wine that's genuinely fine but has become a brand more than a wine experience. Save it for somewhere that treats it with more care.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Pecan Crusted Catfish with cornbread
The slight sweetness and crisp acidity in the Riesling cuts right through the richness of the pecan crust and softens the cornbread's density — it's the most food-friendly pairing on the menu and it costs you almost nothing by the glass.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Landry's wine list does exactly what a mid-tier chain seafood house needs it to do — keeps the table happy without embarrassing anyone. Just don't show up expecting inspiration; show up expecting a cold glass of Vermentino and a solid piece of fish.
Downtown · El Paso · French / European
Pot Au Feu is the kind of place that takes its food seriously and gives the wine list a passing grade — not an A, but enough to hold up its end of the evening. If you're eating French in El Paso, you could do a lot worse; just order smart and don't default to the Jadot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westside / Northwest (The Canyons at Cimarron) · El Paso · Steakhouse
Oak & Antler isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but the Wednesday half-price promotion turns a merely adequate program into a legitimately smart evening out. Come on a Wednesday, order the Jordan, eat a ribeye, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · El Paso · American
Anson11 is a reliable destination for a well-executed California wine experience in a city where that kind of list isn't guaranteed — just don't expect to be surprised. Send your Caymus-loving friends here without hesitation; send your adventurous wine nerd somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
El Paso · El Paso · Regional, Southwestern American
Mesa Street Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it delivers a competent, fairly priced California list that holds up to the food without embarrassing anyone. Send a friend here for a solid dinner — just don't expect to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Anthony · El Paso · Winery
La Viña is a road trip, not a dinner plan — but if you're anywhere near El Paso and you care about American wine history or just want to drink Dolcetto grown in the desert, it absolutely earns the detour. The list is wider and more ambitious than you'd expect, and that alone makes it worth the drive.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Shoreline Village · Long Beach · Seafood, Steakhouse
Queensview earns its Wine Spectator badge by doing the California steakhouse formula well — the setting is legitimately stunning, the list is reliable, and the Daou is a genuine steal in this context. Just don't come expecting anything that'll surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lake Tahoe · South Lake Tahoe · Seafood, Steakhouse
Kalani's wine program is exactly what it should be: polished, California-centric, and dependable for a mountain resort fine dining crowd. No fireworks, but you'll eat and drink well — just go in with eyes open on pricing.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pendleton · Pendleton · Seafood, Steakhouse
Plateau is the kind of place that surprises you — a polished wine program with two named sommeliers, genuine Pacific Northwest depth, and cult producers you don't expect to find east of the Cascades. If you're passing through Pendleton, this is absolutely worth a stop for the wine alone.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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