Dependable pours for a steak night out
North Columbus · Columbus · Steakhouse / Casual · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse – Columbus’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — 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 at Outback Columbus is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain — familiar faces, approachable prices, and zero pretense. It's not trying to impress you, and honestly, that's fine. You know what you're getting before you sit down.
The list leans hard into New World crowd-pleasers: California, Washington State, New Zealand, and a nod to Australia to match the theme. Producers like Josh Cellars, Meiomi, Apothic Red, and Kendall-Jackson anchor the lineup — these are grocery-store names, but they're grocery-store names that people actually like for a reason. There's no real depth here, no regional exploration, no old-world representation to speak of. What you get is a tight, safe, functional list built for people who want a glass of something they already know with their ribeye, and on that front it delivers.
Around 10-15 pours by the glass, ranging from $7-$13, which is genuinely fair for a sit-down steakhouse in 2024. The rotation doesn't appear to change much — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program — but the options cover the basics: a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, a Cab, a Sauv Blanc, even a Riesling. That's enough range for most tables.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $8
Chateau Ste. Michelle is genuinely one of the best QPR Riesling producers in the country, and seeing it on a casual steakhouse list at a fair price is a small win. It's off-dry, bright, and cuts through anything fatty on the menu — a smarter order than most people make here.
14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people reach for Josh Cellars on autopilot, but 14 Hands from Washington State is the quieter overachiever on this list. Washington Cab tends to be darker and more structured than its California counterparts, and at this price point it punches above its weight alongside a steak.
Apothic Red
Apothic Red is a sweetened, blended California red engineered to please everyone, which means it really pleases no one at a steakhouse table. It's fine on a couch. Next to a ribeye, it just goes limp. Pick literally anything else on this list.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Alice Springs Chicken
The Alice Springs Chicken — mushrooms, bacon, honey mustard, melted cheese — is a lot of competing flavors, and a big tannic Cab would bulldoze all of them. Meiomi's soft, fruit-forward Pinot has enough body to hold its own without fighting the dish. It's the move.
The Bottom Line
Outback Columbus isn't a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — but the pricing is fair, the pours are recognizable, and you won't be stuck drinking something terrible with your steak. Order the Chateau Ste. Michelle or the 14 Hands and call it a night.
Midtown Columbus · Columbus · Seafood
Red Lobster 13th St. is not a wine destination — it's a seafood chain where wine exists because a menu has to have one. Order the Riesling with your lobster tail, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and make your peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverwalk / Downtown Columbus · Columbus · American
Denim & Oak isn't going to make anyone's wine pilgrimage list, but for Columbus, Georgia, it's a legitimately decent place to drink — fair prices, a deep BTG program, and Wine Down Wednesday as a reason to come back. Just steer clear of the Concha y Toro and head straight for the Orin Swift or the Oregon section.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
North Columbus · Columbus · American Barbecue and Grill
Smokey Bones is a perfectly fine place to eat ribs and watch a game — just don't come here for the wine. Order a cold beer, save your wine budget for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus / Whittlesey Boulevard · Columbus · Modern American
Ivory & Oak is a reliable wine stop in a city that isn't exactly crawling with serious lists — the room is great, the pours are familiar, and the markup is the main thing holding it back from something better. Go for the steak, order the Merlot, and don't expect to be challenged.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · Hotel Restaurant
If you're stuck at the DoubleTree and the flight is delayed, Houlihan's will keep you fed and adequately watered — but don't mistake that for a wine program worth seeking out. Order the Etude Pinot or the Malbec, skip the sangria, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Airport / East Columbus · Columbus · American Bar & Grill
This is airport-adjacent chain wine, full stop — familiar labels at inflated prices for a captive audience that mostly wants something cold and wet after traveling. Order a cocktail instead, or hit the hotel bar and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
