Great Mezcal List, Forgettable Wine Program
Downtown · Waco · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walk in and the agave spirits list is doing the heavy lifting — it's long, it's interesting, and it's clearly where the love went. The wine list feels like an afterthought stapled to the back, stocked with names you've seen at every chain Italian restaurant in America. Nothing offensive, nothing exciting.
The list leans on familiar California brands and a smattering of Spanish and Mexican-adjacent producers, which at least makes thematic sense for the concept. But thematic sense doesn't excuse the execution — we're talking Josh Cellars Cabernet and Cono Sur as the backbone, not exactly a curated exploration of Baja wine country or Rioja's hidden corners. There's a gesture toward regional identity here, but it never fully commits. If you came hoping to find a Cannonau from Sardinia or even a decent Valle de Guadalupe bottling, you'll leave disappointed.
By-the-glass specifics aren't well documented, but based on the bottle list, expect the usual suspects poured in predictable rotations. If the Accidental Sauvignon Blanc and Cono Sur Carmenere are any indicator, your pours will be drinkable but unremarkable. Don't expect the glass program to surprise you the way the mezcal menu will.
Cono Sur Bicicleta Carmenere 2022 — $22
It's the least bad deal on the list. Cono Sur Bicicleta retails around $12, so you're still paying a premium, but Carmenere has enough dark fruit and smoky character to hold its own against bold Mexican flavors. Relative to the other options here, it's your best bet.
Accidental Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Nobody orders Sauvignon Blanc at a mezcaleria, which is exactly why it might be your move. It's the lightest, brightest option on a list that skews heavy, and with spicy, acidic food it can actually do some work. Underordered, which means it's probably fresher than whatever red has been open since Thursday.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
At $26, you're paying nearly double retail for a wine that's ubiquitous, anonymous, and built for grocery store shelves, not a restaurant list. Josh Cellars Cab is the wine equivalent of ordering a Bud Light at a craft beer bar — it exists, but you shouldn't.
Cono Sur Bicicleta Carmenere 2022 + Carnitas Tacos
Carmenere's smoky, slightly herbaceous profile mirrors the char on slow-cooked pork without fighting it. It's not a sophisticated pairing — it's just one dark, savory thing playing well with another.
❌ The Bottom Line
Maria Mezcaleria is a genuinely fun spot, but the wine list is here because it has to be, not because anyone wanted it. Order a mezcal cocktail, save the wine night for somewhere that actually cares.
Central Waco / Richland Mall area · Waco · American gastropub / brewery fare
BJ's wine list exists because it has to, not because anyone loves it — this is a beer destination first and everything else is an afterthought. If you're here on a Wednesday during happy hour, grab the $5 Dark Horse and call it honest; otherwise, just drink the beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Central Waco / Loop 340 · Waco · Casual Chain Italian-American
Olive Garden Waco's wine list is a corporate afterthought dressed up with Italian flags — gouge-level markups on supermarket bottles, no staff expertise, and zero ambition. Order the cocktails, drink the endless coffee, or BYOB if they'll let you. The breadsticks don't need wine anyway.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Waco / I-35 corridor · Waco · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a great place for a hand-cut steak, cold beer, and line-dancing servers — but the wine list is essentially a placeholder. Come for the food, order a Lone Star, and leave the wine ambitions at home.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Waco / Valley Mills Drive · Waco · Steakhouse
Outback Waco's wine program is what happens when a corporate chain treats wine as a line item instead of an experience — overpriced grocery store bottles with zero staff expertise and zero reason to explore the list. Order the beer, order the cocktail, or BYOB if they'll let you.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Waco / near Richland Mall · Waco · Steakhouse
Saltgrass is here for the steak, and the steak is genuinely good — but the wine program is an afterthought wearing a price tag. Order the ribeye, split a bottle of Decoy if you must, and don't expect anyone on staff to help you think beyond that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Woodway / Marketplace area · Waco · Steakhouse
135 Prime is doing more with a wine list than Waco has any right to expect from its steakhouse scene, and the weekly specials show genuine curiosity. Just keep your guard up when the dessert wine list arrives — that's where the house cashes in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Odessa · Odessa · Mexican
Mi Casa is a place you go for the food — and the food is probably earning its keep. The wine list is purely functional, a last-minute add-on that no one's tended to in a while. Stick to the margaritas.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Polk Parkway / South Lakeland · Lakeland · Mexican
Abuelo's wine program is an afterthought, and the food is good enough that it doesn't need to be. Get the margarita, get the fajitas, and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
CityPlace / Downtown · West Palm Beach · Mexican
Rocco's Tacos is a great tequila bar with a wine list that exists only because restaurants feel obligated to have one. Order a margarita and be happy about it — if you insist on wine, keep it simple and keep it cheap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.