Endless Breadsticks, Finite Wine Ambition
Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Italian-American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive Garden Italian Restaurant – Bakersfield’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives laminated, sandwiched between the Never Ending Pasta Bowl insert and a dessert photo spread. It's exactly what you expect: a corporate-approved greatest hits of grocery store staples dressed up with Italian restaurant legitimacy. No surprises here, and that's the whole problem.
Twenty-something wines, all of them names you've seen at a Kroger endcap — Meiomi, Ecco Domani, Santa Margherita, Riunite. The Italy focus is thin at best: a couple of northern Italian Pinot Grigios and a Lambrusco that peaked in the 1980s don't constitute a regional program. California representation leans entirely on nationally distributed brands with zero local or indie producers in sight. There are no real regions to speak of — just a collection of safe, recognizable labels that require zero staff knowledge to sell.
Eight to twelve pours in the $8–$14 range, which sounds accessible until you remember these are bottles retailing for $10–$15 at Total Wine. The glass program functions more as an upsell mechanism than a curated experience — you're paying restaurant markup on wines that require no curation to source. Rotation appears to be nonexistent; this list has looked the same since the Obama administration.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio — $8
At the low end of the glass range, this is the least painful option on the list — light, inoffensive, and at least in the right ZIP code for an Italian-American dinner. Not exciting, but it won't ruin your night.
Castello del Poggio Moscato
Nobody orders this because it feels unsophisticated, but with a table full of breadsticks and a sweet tooth, a lightly sparkling Moscato actually makes sense. It's not a serious wine but it's honest about what it is, which is more than we can say for the rest of the list.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
A $20 retail bottle likely hitting $14 a glass here, and Santa Margherita has been coasting on its 1970s reputation for decades. There's nothing wrong with it, but you're paying a premium for a brand, not a wine. Skip it.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Chicken Parmigiana
Meiomi is soft, slightly sweet, and low on tannin — which actually plays well against the acidic tomato sauce and fried chicken in the Chicken Parm. It's the most food-friendly red on this list, and that counts for something in a room full of Alfredo sauce.
The Bottom Line
Olive Garden's wine list is a corporate afterthought designed to generate margin, not pleasure — and the Bakersfield location is no exception. Order the cocktails, enjoy the breadsticks, and save the wine conversation for a different night.
Downtown Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Latin American / Mexican / Spanish / American
Zama is a fun room with a wine list that plays it safe — the markups are real, the picks are predictable, but Wine Wednesday changes the math considerably if you time your visit right. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Riesling or the Bonanza, and enjoy the patio.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Bakersfield · Bakersfield · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Bakersfield is a reliable wine stop if your expectations are calibrated to 'corporate steakhouse': proper storage, competent service, and a list that will not embarrass you or excite you. Send a friend here for the steak; the wine is a supporting actor that knows its role.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Bakersfield · Bakersfield · American diner, breakfast and comfort food
Black Bear Diner is a genuinely good diner doing genuinely good diner things — the wine list just isn't one of them. Order the pancakes, drink the coffee, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that returns the favor.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ming Avenue · Bakersfield · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination, and its Bakersfield location makes zero effort to pretend otherwise. Order the beer, enjoy the peanuts, and save your wine ambitions for somewhere that has any.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Bakersfield · Steakhouse
Outback's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain: safe, overpriced for what it is, and clearly an afterthought. Order a cocktail or a beer, enjoy your steak, and save the wine drinking for somewhere that gives a damn.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ming Avenue · Bakersfield · Steakhouse / American
Tahoe Joe's is exactly what it is: a dependable casual steakhouse with a wine list that reflects its priorities — comforting, familiar, and not trying to impress anyone. If you want something adventurous, you're in the wrong zip code, but if you just want a reliable Cab with your steak and no drama, this will get the job done.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ocean Casino Resort · Atlantic City · Italian-American
Superfrico is a reliable wine program in a setting designed to get you to spend money — and it mostly delivers without being a total shakedown. Send a friend here for a fun night, not a wine education.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / Broadway · Saratoga Springs · Italian-American
Come to Wheatfields for the house-made pasta — it earns its reputation. But the wine list is a lazy lineup of commercial brands at steep markups, and no one on staff is going to steer you toward anything interesting. Grab a glass of Prosecco during happy hour (50% off Monday through Friday, 3-7pm) and redirect your wine energy somewhere else in town.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Broadway · Idaho Falls · Italian-American
This is the wine list equivalent of unlimited breadsticks — comforting, familiar, and not something you'd brag about to anyone. Come for the pasta, order a cocktail, or bring your own bottle if they'll let you.
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.
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