The Wine List Phoned It In, Pardner
Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed LongHorn Steakhouse – Bloomington’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at LongHorn Bloomington reads like the beverage aisle at a grocery store that got a Western makeover. You'll recognize every name on here — because you've seen them on end caps at Kroger. There's nothing wrong with that, exactly, but it doesn't exactly inspire confidence when you're about to drop money on a ribeye.
The list leans hard on California with Washington making a token appearance via Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — one of the few genuinely interesting bottles here. Otherwise, it's a parade of mass-market staples: Kendall-Jackson, Josh Cellars, Meiomi. No independent producers, no Old World representation worth mentioning, no deep cuts. The 20-35 bottle range sounds fine on paper until you realize half of it is just different SKUs from the same handful of brands.
Eight to twelve options by the glass in the $8–$14 range, which at least keeps the damage manageable. The pours skew predictably toward California Cab and Pinot Noir crowd-pleasers — great if that's your lane, limiting if it's not. Don't expect any rotation; what's on the menu today was probably on the menu a year ago.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $9
It's the one wine on this list that actually has a sense of place. Chateau Ste. Michelle makes a legitimately good Columbia Valley Riesling at scale, and at chain restaurant glass prices, it's the sharpest pick on the menu — especially if you're ordering the Wild West Shrimp.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
In a room full of Cab drinkers, nobody's reaching for the Riesling — and that's a shame. It's bright, slightly off-dry, and actually holds up to the spice and sweetness on this menu better than anything else on the list.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Josh Cellars is a $12 bottle at your local wine shop marked up to chain restaurant pricing for the privilege of drinking it out of a standard stem. Save yourself the math — it's not a bad wine, but you're paying a steep premium for convenience.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Flo's Filet
Meiomi's soft, fruit-forward style doesn't fight with a tender filet the way a tannic Cab would. It's an easy-drinking match that lets the steak do the talking — which, at LongHorn, is the whole point.
❌ The Bottom Line
LongHorn's wine list exists to check a box, not to elevate your meal. Stick to the Riesling or the Meiomi, enjoy your steak, and don't expect the wine program to be the reason you came.
Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is a perfectly fine place to eat a steak and throw peanut shells on the floor — but the wine list is an afterthought, and the markup makes ordering a bottle feel like a small punishment. Stick to one glass of the Riesling or pivot to a beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bloomington · Bloomington · Steakhouse/American
Jim's isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend otherwise — but the markups are fair, the selections are well-matched to the food, and there's enough range to keep things interesting for a night out. Send a friend here for the steak; the wine will hold up just fine.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bloomington · Bloomington · American
You're not coming to Hy-Vee Market Grille for a wine revelation — but on a Wednesday, with half-price pours and half-price sushi, it's one of the better casual deals in town. Manage expectations, bring cash, and embrace the absurdity.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Bloomington · Bloomington · Upscale Italian
Biaggi's is a perfectly decent dinner out, but the wine list is running on autopilot — familiar brands, steep markups, and zero curiosity. Order the Chianti, enjoy the pasta, and don't expect the wine to be the reason you come back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bloomington · Bloomington · Mexican
Ancho & Agave is not a wine destination, and it knows it — but Wednesday half-price pours at a fun taco spot is a perfectly good reason to skip the cocktail menu for once. Come for the food, grab the Borsao Rosé, and leave the wine nerd hat at home.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown Gulfport · Gulfport · Steakhouse
The Rack House wine list is exactly what a Gulf Coast steakhouse should be — unpretentious, fairly priced, and wide enough by the glass that you don't feel cornered. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, just with the note to skip the Moscato and go straight for the Ste. Michelle.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Island View Casino / Beach Boulevard · Gulfport · Steakhouse
Carter Green is a perfectly competent steakhouse wine list that won't embarrass you on a date or a business dinner — just don't expect it to excite you. The real reason to pay attention: show up Sunday between 5 and 10pm for two-for-one pours, and suddenly the value math gets very interesting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Golden Nugget Biloxi · Gulfport · Steakhouse
Morton's Biloxi is a reliable, if expensive, wine stop for steakhouse classics — the list won't excite you, but it won't embarrass you either. If you're already here for the steak, the Rioja and the dessert wine program give you more to work with than the surroundings might suggest.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.