Bloomin' Onion, Wilting Wine List
North Prospect · Champaign · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 11, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You open the laminated wine menu tucked behind the steak sauces and immediately recognize every single bottle from your local supermarket's $10-and-under shelf. This isn't a wine list — it's a grocery run with a 260% surcharge. The Australian theming promises something interesting; the list does not deliver.
The selection leans heavily on workhorse brands — Apothic Red, Cupcake Chardonnay, Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Jacob's Creek Moscato — the kind of lineup you'd expect at an airport bar, not a sit-down steakhouse. The one legitimately interesting entry is the Kangaroo Court Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon by Mollydooker, an Australian producer that actually has credibility behind it. Everything else is chain-wide filler with zero regional character or producer depth. If you came hoping the Australian branding meant serious Barossa or Clare Valley representation, temper those expectations immediately.
There are 8-12 pours available, which sounds generous until you realize they're all the same brands you've seen at every chain in America. Rotation appears nonexistent — this is a set-and-forget program managed by corporate, not by anyone at this specific location. The Little Boomey house pours at $7 are the volume play here, but you're essentially paying bottle price for a 5-ounce glass.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio — $9/glass
At a 223% markup it's the least offensive math on the menu — still steep, but comparatively the closest thing to a fair deal in a list that otherwise charges 260%+ across the board.
Kangaroo Court Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon by Mollydooker
Mollydooker is a legitimate Australian producer with a real following, and this blend is the only bottle on the list that didn't come from a supermarket endcap. Most tables will order Apothic Red out of habit — don't be those tables.
Little Boomey Merlot
A $7.99 retail bottle poured in a 5-ounce glass for $7. You're paying full bottle price for a third of the wine, and the wine itself is a non-vintage house label designed to taste like as little as possible.
Kangaroo Court Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon by Mollydooker + Outback Special Sirloin
The Shiraz-Cab blend brings enough dark fruit and weight to stand up to a charred sirloin without demanding your full attention — which is about as much as you can ask of anything on this list.
The Bottom Line
Outback's wine program is a corporate afterthought dressed up in Australian branding, and Champaign is no exception. Order the Mollydooker if you must drink wine, but honestly, the cocktail menu will treat you better.
South Champaign · Champaign · Farm-to-Table / American
Harvest Market Farmhouse is a perfectly fine neighborhood wine program that punches above its weight exactly once a week — on Mondays, when half-price bottles turn a predictable list into a genuinely good deal. The rest of the week, it's a reliable pour with fair markups, just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
South Champaign · Champaign · Italian
Napoli's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is honest, the prices are fair, and the Italian bottles genuinely complement the food. Send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Champaign · Champaign · Diner / Cafe
Lazy Daisy has no business having a wine list this thoughtful, and that's exactly why it earns a Wild Card. Four bottles, zero pretension, and at least two genuinely interesting pours — we'd absolutely tell a friend.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Champaign · Champaign · Mexican
Fiesta Café is a genuinely fun spot for margaritas and big burritos, but the wine list is purely ceremonial — it exists so they can say they have one. Come for the drinks menu, not the wine list.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Champaign · Champaign · Steakhouse
LongHorn Champaign has a wine list that exists so you can say you had wine with dinner — not much more than that. If you're here for the steak, grab the J. Lohr and move on; if you came for the wine list, recalibrate your evening immediately.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Champaign · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a perfectly good place to eat a steak and destroy a basket of rolls — just do yourself a favor and drink a beer or a bourbon instead. The wine list is grocery-store inventory at chain-restaurant markups, and no amount of country music can dress that up.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
STK San Diego is a vibe-first, wine-second operation — the list exists to support the scene, not the other way around. If wine is actually important to your evening, you can do better in San Diego without breaking a sweat.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jackson · Steakhouse
Jackson's Steakhouse has a wine list that takes Champagne seriously — rare for Mississippi and worth noting. The markups are steeper than we'd like, but the range and quality of producers means you can still find a smart bottle if you know where to look.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
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.
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