Wednesday saves you; the rest is negotiable
Palomar / Beaumont · Lexington · Steakhouse, American, Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Malone's Palomar reads exactly like you'd expect from a polished suburban steakhouse: familiar names, safe regions, and zero surprises. It's not embarrassing — it's just not trying very hard. The list exists to complement a ribeye, not to challenge anyone's palate.
You're looking at 100–150 labels that lean heavily on California, with the predictable roster of Caymus, Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson, Sonoma-Cutrer, and Louis M. Martini doing most of the heavy lifting. There's no meaningful Old World presence to speak of, and the list doesn't venture much beyond the American aisle at a well-stocked grocery store. To its credit, the range does cover the bases — reds, whites, and a few mid-tier options for the table that just wants something drinkable with their Prime beef. But if you're hoping for a Burgundy, a Barolo, or anything that requires explanation, keep looking.
The by-the-glass program runs 12–18 options, which is respectable for a steakhouse in this category, but the anchor is Canyon Road — a house pour that retails for about $7 a bottle and gets poured at $8 a glass. That math is not your friend. The better move is to step up to a bottle, especially on a Wednesday.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2018 — $39
At $39, this is the most honest bottle on the list. Martini's Sonoma Cab is a legitimate, food-friendly wine from a historic producer, and it doesn't feel like you're paying a penalty for wanting something real with your steak.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay 2020
Most people at a steakhouse skip the Chardonnay entirely, which is their loss here. Russian River Ranches is one of Sonoma-Cutrer's better bottlings — more restrained and site-specific than their standard fare — and $44 is reasonable enough for a white worth ordering.
Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon (by the glass)
An $8 glass pour on a wine that retails for $7 a bottle is the kind of math that should make you set the glass down. This is a house wine that belongs at a wedding buffet, not on a steakhouse menu where entrees run $40+. Order literally anything else.
Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2018 + USDA Prime Ribeye
Sonoma Cab and a well-marbled Prime ribeye is not a complicated equation. The wine has enough structure and dark fruit to stand up to the fat and char without the price tag making your eyes water.
Wednesday — Bluegrass Hospitality Group runs a half-price wine bottle night on Wednesdays across its concepts, including Malone's. Most bottles under a set price cap qualify, though specific inclusions at the Palomar location aren't fully published — ask your server which labels are in play.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Malone's Palomar is a perfectly functional steakhouse wine list that won't embarrass you in front of a client, but it's not doing anyone any favors on pricing — Canyon Road by the glass being the most egregious example. Show up on a Wednesday with a group, grab a bottle of the Martini Cab, and order the ribeye. That's the move.
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
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.