Big Cabs, Big Steaks, No Surprises
Brookfield · Milwaukee · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Mr. B's – A Bartolotta Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mr. B's reads like a greatest hits album of American steakhouse classics — Caymus, Silver Oak, Opus One, all present and accounted for. It's a list built to impress a table of expense-account diners who know exactly what they want and aren't looking to be challenged. That's not a knock, exactly, but don't show up hoping to discover something off the beaten path.
With 200-350 bottles, there's genuine depth here — the list pulls from the US, Italy, and France, which covers the steakhouse bases reasonably well. California Cabernet is clearly the star: Jordan, Far Niente, Duckhorn, and the inevitable Opus One anchor the red section. The Italian and French selections exist but feel like supporting cast rather than co-leads. If you're a Burgundy or Barolo hunter, this list won't make your pulse quicken.
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options, which is a solid count for a room that's mostly ordering bottles anyway. Expect the pours to skew toward approachable crowd-pleasers rather than anything that'll make you put down your fork. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program that prioritizes consistency over discovery.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently over-delivers for its tier — it's genuinely well-made California Cab that doesn't lean on cult status to justify its price tag. In a list where everything trends expensive, Jordan is often the sweet spot between quality and not needing a second mortgage.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets ignored. That's a mistake — Duckhorn has been making serious Napa Merlot for decades, and it holds its own against anything on this list. Skip the crowd and order this.
Opus One
Opus One is a genuinely great wine, but steakhouse markup turns it into a monument to paying too much. You're not buying wine here — you're buying the logo on the label. The same money gets you more pleasure elsewhere on this list.
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Ribeye
Far Niente has the structure and fruit concentration to stand up to a well-marbled ribeye without either one bullying the other. It's the kind of pairing that makes the steakhouse format make complete sense.
The Bottom Line
Mr. B's is exactly what it promises — a polished, reliable steakhouse wine list that hits all the expected marks without a single surprise. Send a friend here if they want a sure thing; send them somewhere else if they want to be excited.
Story Hill · Milwaukee · American, Regional
A compact 12-wine list with glass and bottle prices posted, half-glass portions, and a bottle shop run by the same business. Order the $11 Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône or the $11 Anjou Chenin Blanc by the glass and confirm current availability, since the menu is linked as 8-22-26. This unrated guide covers the posted beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Milwaukee · American, Steakhouse, Seafood, Contemporary
A very large list with no by-the-glass section posted: 657 priced wines from $30 to $4,450, and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the biggest group at 93 entries. For a starting point, the $50 Jean Marc Martin Haut-Médoc Merlot 2015 is the lowest-priced wine in the "Sommelier's Favorites Reds", and the $70 Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse White Blend 2023 is the South African pick. Prices carry no unit and the page is undated, so confirm both. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Brady Street · Milwaukee · American
A short, varied list: 35 wines, from Lambrusco and Mourvèdre to Napa Cabernet, with paired numbers from 11 to 15 and a Cruvinet box at 11 to 22. Try the 11 | 43 Pirates del Ebro Tempranillo, or the Selbach Riesling with the scallops, and ask which number is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Riverwest · Milwaukee · Pub fare and brewery food
Lakefront is a beer hall with a one-line wine list: three Wollersheim wines at $9. If you want wine, start with the Prairie Fumé alongside the cheese curds and ask about pour size, since the menu does not say. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Brady Street · Milwaukee · Italian-American
A friendly, easy list for a pasta-and-pizza room: 19 pours by the glass from $7 to $13, plus bottles from $36 to $90. Start with the $7 Wollersheim Prairie Fumé, or get the $10 Banfi Chianti Superiore with a bowl of Pomodoro, and confirm prices because the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Historic Third Ward · Milwaukee · Italian-Mediterranean
A bottle list with Greek, Sicilian and Lebanese bottles alongside Napa Cabernet, and Dom Perignon at $550. Start with the $40 Oenops 'Apla' or the $65 Château Musar 'Jeune', and plan around Wine Wednesday, when the restaurant says select bottles are half price from 5pm to 9pm. Confirm vintages and which bottles qualify before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Seaport · Boston · Upscale American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's is a reliable date-night or business-dinner destination in the Seaport, and the wine program is functional enough to get the job done — but markup at this category of steakhouse tends to run steep, and the list probably isn't going to surprise you. If you're here for the Prime ribeye, order a glass of whatever Cab is open and don't overthink it; if you're here specifically to drink well, we'd want to see the actual list before making promises.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · Upscale American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's Columbus is a reliable steakhouse wine experience — well-managed, California-forward, and backed by actual staff expertise. Just know that you're paying steakhouse markups in a steakhouse setting, and the list isn't going to take you anywhere unexpected. If you want a great bottle with a great steak and don't need the wine to steal the show, this works.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Point · Boston · Upscale American Steakhouse
Set your wine budget before opening the list. Greenwing Cabernet at $18 a glass or $72 a bottle is a straightforward red option. This is an unrated menu guide; it does not assess service, storage or glassware.
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