Napa's Greatest Hits, Akron Edition
Bath / Merriman Valley · Akron · Steakhouse / Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Lanning's hands you a wine list that reads like a California greatest hits album — Caymus, Jordan, Rombauer, Stag's Leap. If you've been to any white-tablecloth steakhouse in the last 20 years, you already know these names. That's not a knock, exactly, but it does tell you everything you need to know about who this list is built for.
The 75-150 bottle range covers California and Napa heavily, with some French representation to give the list a little Old World credibility. Expect the usual Cab Sauv-forward lineup — Jordan and Stag's Leap for the classics crowd, Caymus for the people who learned about wine at a Cheesecake Factory. There's a Piatelli Malbec nod to Argentina and an Antinori Chianti Riserva keeping Italy from being completely shut out, but don't come here looking for a Beaujolais deep cut or anything off the beaten path. This is a list built to comfort, not to challenge.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-18 options and, credit where it's due, the pricing is surprisingly reasonable for a fine-dining room. At $10-$18 a pour, you're not getting gouged on glasses the way many steakhouses like to — Belle Glos 'Clark & Telephone' at $18 a glass is practically a gift compared to what other places charge. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a set-it-and-forget-it program rather than something that changes with the seasons.
Belle Glos 'Clark & Telephone' Pinot Noir — $18/glass
This is a $45 retail bottle being poured at $18 a glass — that's a 140% glass markup, which by restaurant standards is almost charitable. Rich, fruit-forward Santa Maria Valley Pinot that holds its own against a filet. Drink two glasses and you're still ahead of where most steakhouses would have you.
Antinori Chianti Riserva
In a list dominated by California Cabs, this Chianti Riserva is the quiet outlier most tables walk right past. Antinori knows what they're doing — this is a proper Sangiovese with structure and acidity that actually cuts through a rich steak better than another jammy Napa Cab will. At $14 a glass it's undersold and underordered.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine. It's also the most ordered, most marked-up, most aggressively allocated wine in American steakhouses, and you're almost certainly paying a premium for the name recognition. Jordan and Stag's Leap are sitting right next to it on this list and will give you a more interesting pour for your money.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Filet Mignon
Jordan Cab is built for exactly this moment — it's structured without being overwhelming, and its Sonoma backbone doesn't bulldoze a delicate filet the way a bigger Napa Cab might. Classic move, yes, but classics become classics for a reason.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Lanning's isn't trying to reinvent the wine list wheel, and honestly it doesn't need to — the glass pricing is fair, the producers are reliable, and the Belle Glos pour alone is worth a visit. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a confident Cab with your prime rib in a room that knows what it is, Lanning's delivers.
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Come for the seafood — the Shrimp & Grits and Crab Cake have genuine fans — but come on a Tuesday when the bottles are half off, because that's the only time the wine program makes financial sense. Any other night, order a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
East Akron · Akron · Japanese / Hibachi
Hibachi Japan's wine list isn't going to make anyone's bucket list, but it's priced fairly, covers the basics, and won't embarrass you on date night. Order the Riesling or Pinot Gris, enjoy the show, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Bonefish Grill Fairlawn won't give you a wine moment worth texting about, but it won't rip you off either — and in the chain restaurant landscape, that clears the bar. Show up during Social Hour, grab a Kim Crawford, and focus on the fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Family American
Yours Truly is a solid diner doing diner things — the wine list is an afterthought, and that's fine, because you're probably here for the eggs anyway. Order the Prosecco or a Riesling, skip the red blends, and put your energy into the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wadsworth · Akron · Steakhouse, American
Circle L is a genuine wine-list overachiever hiding in plain sight off I-76 — the Thursday bottle discount night alone is worth putting in your calendar. Send your wine-curious friends here; just make sure they don't show up on a Wednesday.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Wadsworth · Akron · American Upscale
Galaxy's Wine Room is the best wine program in the Akron orbit, and it's not particularly close — but the steep markups and thin by-the-glass selection hold it back from true destination status. Come with a budget, order a bottle, and skip the sticker shock on the Napa end of the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.