Gulf Coast Vibes, No Fuss Wine List
Downtown · New Braunfels · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 6, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at McAdoo's is exactly what you'd expect from a casual Gulf Coast seafood spot — short, approachable, and built to get out of the way of the food. It's not trying to impress anyone, and honestly, that's fine. You're here for oysters and shrimp, and the list knows its lane.
Twenty to forty labels covers the bases without breaking any ground — California Chardonnay anchors the whites, Italian Pinot Grigio shows up as the token Old World nod, and California Cab holds down the red side for anyone who insists on going that route with seafood. The list skews New World and crowd-friendly throughout, which tracks for a downtown Texas tourist-adjacent spot. There's no depth to speak of — no interesting regions, no producer names worth calling out — but the selections are competent for what they are. If you walked in hoping to find a Muscadet or a Vermentino to go with those oysters, keep walking.
Six to ten glass pours, priced $9–$14, which is reasonable for the market and the setting. The California Chardonnay and Italian Pinot Grigio are the workhorses here, and they pull the expected seafood-friendly shift without complaint. Don't expect much rotation — this reads as a set-it-and-forget-it glass program.
Italian Pinot Grigio — $11
At mid-range by-the-glass pricing, a clean Pinot Grigio is the smartest move on this list — crisp, light, and it won't fight anything coming out of the kitchen.
Prosecco
Listed mainly as a brunch mixer for mimosas, but order a glass straight and you've got one of the better seafood wines on the menu — bubbles and brine are a classic combination that most people here walk right past.
California Cabernet Sauvignon
A big Cab at a Gulf seafood restaurant is a square peg in a round hole. The food will make it taste flat and the wine will make the food taste worse. There's no version of this that ends well.
Italian Pinot Grigio + Oysters on the Half Shell
Cold, briny oysters need something lean and high-acid to cut through — the Pinot Grigio does exactly that without introducing any competing flavors. Simple and effective.
✔️ The Bottom Line
McAdoo's isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either. The list is fair-priced and functional — order the Pinot Grigio or the Prosecco, eat your oysters, and enjoy downtown New Braunfels.
Creekside / IH-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Creekside is not a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — the list exists to sell bottles alongside steaks, and it does that competently enough. If you stick to Jordan or Stag's Leap and skip the grocery-store bottles, you'll drink fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Creekside / IH-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · American Casual
We wouldn't send anyone to BJ's Creekside specifically for the wine list — but if you're already there for the Pizookie and a Tuesday lands on your calendar, those half-price bottles are a legitimate deal. Come for the beer, and if you must drink wine, come on a Tuesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Creekside / I-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · Steakhouse
Saltgrass New Braunfels serves a wine list that was assembled by a committee in Houston and hasn't been questioned since. It functions — you'll find something drinkable — but if wine matters to you tonight, manage expectations before you sit down.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · New Braunfels · From-scratch American comfort food with Hill Country influences, brunch and brewery
The Root Cellar is a brewery first and a wine destination never — but the list earns its keep with fair prices, a Texas wine you should actually try, and the quietly baffling joy of prosecco on tap next to a craft IPA. Come for the biscuits, stay curious about the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Creekside / I-35 Corridor · New Braunfels · Asian Bistro
P.F. Chang's New Braunfels isn't a wine destination, but if you know what to order, you won't be stuck drinking something bad. Stick to the by-the-glass whites, avoid the trophy-label markups, and you'll have a fine night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West New Braunfels · New Braunfels · Seafood
The Reel isn't a wine destination, but it earns serious respect for sneaking Dutton Goldfield onto a po'boy menu and running Wine Wednesday like it means it. Come on a Wednesday, order the Pinot, and be pleasantly confused about where you are.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Billings · Billings · Seafood
The prices are shockingly low, and credit where it's due — but a steal on mediocre wine is still mediocre wine. Come for the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, skip the wine list, and save your real bottle for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ambassador Caffery · Lafayette · Seafood
Bonefish Grill Lafayette isn't a wine destination, but it's not an embarrassment either — it's a reliable corporate list that plays defense, not offense. Order the Riesling, enjoy your fish, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Texas Ave. · College Station · Seafood
This is not a wine destination, and Red Lobster isn't pretending otherwise. If someone in your group insists on wine with their Cheddar Bay Biscuits, point them toward the Riesling and move on.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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