California's Greatest Hits, Done Right
Waco · American, French · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 29, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed One Thirty Five Prime 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 One Thirty Five Prime reads like a California greatest hits album — if you know Caymus, Silver Oak, and Opus One on sight, you're going to feel right at home. It's a polished, well-curated list that matches the room: dim lighting, white tablecloths, serious steaks. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, held since 2015, feels earned rather than decorative here.
With somewhere between 150 and 250 bottles, this is a proper steakhouse cellar built almost entirely around California Cabernet and Chardonnay — and it leans into that identity without apology. Caymus, Jordan, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, and Far Niente form the backbone, with Opus One anchoring the top of the list as the aspirational splurge. Christopher Wolfe on staff as sommelier gives the list a human touch that most Texas steakhouses can't claim. What's missing: anything adventurous — no Burgundy depth, no Rhône detour, no Texas producers making a cameo on their home turf.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass in the $12–$20 range is a respectable spread for a fine dining room in Waco. Rombauer Chardonnay almost certainly anchors the white side of the pour list, and that's not a complaint. We'd love to see a bit more rotation and range here, but for a Cal-forward steakhouse, the glass program does the job.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $40s-$50s
Jordan consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and one of the most honest Cabs in Sonoma. At a steakhouse where bottle prices skew high, Jordan gives you a polished experience without requiring a second mortgage.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot
In a room full of Cabernet maximalism, the Duckhorn Merlot is the quiet overachiever. Most tables will walk right past it chasing the bolder names, but this is a genuinely sophisticated, age-worthy wine that holds its own against any steak on the menu.
Opus One
Opus One is a legitimately great wine — and at a restaurant with 3–4x markup, you're paying a premium on top of an already premium price. Buy it at retail if you want to celebrate with it. Here, it's mostly a table status signal.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Braised Akaushi Short Rib Gnocchi
The Stag's Leap Cab has the structure to cut through rich braised beef fat while its dark fruit and subtle earthiness complement the Akaushi's depth. It's the kind of pairing that makes you slow down and actually taste what's in your glass.
The Bottom Line
One Thirty Five Prime is the best wine list in Waco and it's not particularly close — a knowledgeable sommelier, a well-kept California cellar, and a room that actually respects the bottle. Just go in knowing you're paying steakhouse prices for steakhouse selections, and you'll have a great night.
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
Midtown East · New York · American, French
A Park Avenue restaurant whose posted wine list is a 21-wine glass list. Start with the $18 Leitz Riesling or the $19 Ogier Saint-Joseph. No bottle list is posted online, so ask the restaurant what is available by the bottle. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
College Hill · Providence · American, French
A Cabernet-heavy list from autumn 2025, with glass pours from 10 and bottles up to a 450 Opus One. Start with the 10 Château du Petit Thouars Cabernet Franc, or the 16 Fontanafredda Nebbiolo if you want something from Piedmont, and check that the list is still current since it is marked September 2025. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Dupont Circle · Washington · American, French
Start with the Minuty Prestige rosé at 20 or the Château de Saint-Cosme Syrah at 22 by the glass, and save the Dagueneau for the table that wants a bottle. The glass page is the cheaper way in, with thirteen wines between 20 and 34. The file is linked as 9-26, so confirm today's pours and prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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