The Wine List That Phoned It In
Miamisburg/Dayton Mall · Dayton · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse - Dayton’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives and it's basically a laminated greatest hits of your local grocery store wine aisle — Yellow Tail, Cupcake, 14 Hands. There's nothing here you haven't seen at a gas station with aspirations. To be fair, nobody comes to Outback for the Burgundy, but this list still manages to underwhelm.
Fifteen labels, tops, and every single one of them is a nationally distributed, mass-market brand you've encountered at a checkout line. California and Australia dominate by default, not by design. There's no regional curiosity, no small producer, no anything that suggests someone made a deliberate choice beyond calling a Sysco rep. The Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet is the closest thing to a 'serious' bottle on the list, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Eight to ten pours available, ranging from $7 to $11, which is genuinely not offensive pricing for Dayton. The selection reads like a chain restaurant greatest hits: Moscato, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cab — all the usual suspects, none with any surprises. Rotation appears to be nonexistent; this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since 2017.
Mirassou Pinot Noir — $8/glass
Retail is around $9 a bottle, so an $8 glass is practically a rounding error. The markup math barely works in the restaurant's favor, which means you're getting a drinkable, inoffensive Pinot for less than most places charge for a sparkling water.
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
At $10 a glass, this is the one bottle on the list that earns the word 'wine' without air quotes. It's still a commercial Cab, but Coppola's Diamond tier drinks above its station — structured enough to hold up to a ribeye without embarrassing anyone.
Cupcake Moscato
It's Cupcake Moscato. You can buy a bottle at CVS on the way home. Nothing wrong with sweetness, but at restaurant prices, you deserve better than this.
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon + Victoria's Filet Mignon
The Coppola Cab has enough dark fruit and structure to match the richness of the filet without the tannins going to war with the beef. It's the one moment on this list where the food and wine actually feel like they belong at the same table.
The Bottom Line
The wine list is an afterthought dressed up in a laminated card — but the prices are fair enough that ordering a glass won't ruin your night. Come for the steak, drink the Coppola Cab, and don't look at the list too hard.
Dayton Mall/Miamisburg · Dayton · Casual American Restaurant and Brewhouse
BJ's Dayton is a beer restaurant with a wine list stapled to the back, and the wine list knows it. Come for the Pizookie and the craft beers — but if you do drink wine here, show up on a Monday and order something simple.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
The Greene · Dayton · Italian
Bravo is not a wine destination, and it doesn't try to be — but Wednesday nights at the bar with $7 pours of Ruffino Chianti and a pasta dish is genuinely a decent night out in Beavercreek. Skip the wine list the other six nights unless you're okay paying chain markups for supermarket bottles.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
The Greene · Dayton · Upscale American Steakhouse
Fleming's Dayton is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program that does exactly what it promises — it just charges a lot for the privilege. Come for Social Hour, drink smart, and don't let anyone talk you into the Caymus at bottle price.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Dayton Mall/Miamisburg · Dayton · Seafood
Bonefish Grill Dayton is a decent dinner spot for seafood, but the wine list is a national template — not a local program anyone actually thought about. Order the Nobilo, enjoy the fish, and save your wine ambitions for somewhere that has any.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dayton Mall/Miamisburg · Dayton · Italian Chain
Olive Garden's wine list is a corporate checkbox, not a wine program — markups are steep on bottles that retail for under $12, the list never changes, and nobody on the floor is going to steer you anywhere interesting. Stick to the Chianti or the Ste. Michelle Riesling, skip the Moscato upsell, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Water Street District · Dayton · Rooftop Bar
The Foundry Rooftop is not a wine destination, but it's a better wine stop than you'd expect from a hotel rooftop in Ohio. Hit it during happy hour Monday through Thursday and you've got a genuinely good time for not much money.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
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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