Steak Done Right, Wine List Done Safe
Cool Springs · Franklin · Steakhouse Chain · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse Franklin’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list here reads like a grocery store endcap — familiar labels, zero surprises, and the distinct feeling that nobody agonized over it. It exists to sell bottles, not to excite anyone. If you came for the Outback Special Sirloin, great call; if you came for the wine, recalibrate.
The list leans hard on California and Washington with a nod to Australia that feels more cosmetic than intentional — this is an Australian-themed chain, after all, but don't expect any serious Barossa Shiraz or Clare Valley Riesling lurking around. What you get are the greatest hits of the supermarket wine aisle: Josh Cellars, Meiomi, Kim Crawford, Beringer. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is arguably the most interesting thing on here, and that's a $12 bottle at Total Wine. Regional depth is essentially nonexistent, and there's no old-world presence to speak of.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-16 options, which sounds generous until you realize it's the same names rotating on pour duty every night — Josh Cab, Meiomi Pinot, Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc, and so on. There's no rotation, no seasonal interest, and no sense that anyone is curating this. It's a functional list, not an exciting one.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $9
Columbia Valley Riesling from one of Washington's most consistent producers. Off-dry, food-friendly, and genuinely underpriced relative to everything else here. It's the only pour that actually makes sense at a steakhouse if you want something lighter.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Everyone at this table is ordering the Josh Cab on autopilot, but this Washington Riesling is quietly doing the real work. It can cut through rich, sauced dishes and offers actual complexity — skip the crowd and grab this one.
Beringer California Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Beringer California Collection is a mass-produced, entry-level Cab that retails for under $10. Whatever Outback is charging you for it at the table, it's too much. This is a bottle that belongs at a weeknight cookout, not a $30+ steakhouse dinner tab.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Outback Special Sirloin
Josh Cab is approachable, fruit-forward, and has just enough structure to stand up to a grilled sirloin without overwhelming it. It's not a sophisticated pairing, but it's the most honest one on this list — both the wine and the steak know exactly what they are.
The Bottom Line
Outback Franklin's wine list is competent in the way a rental car is competent — it gets you where you're going, but you're not going to talk about it later. Order the steak, consider a cocktail, and save the serious bottle for somewhere that actually cares.
· 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
· Franklin · Asian Street Food
Hawkers Franklin is doing more with twelve bottles than most casual chains do with thirty. The white-heavy, aromatic-leaning list is clearly built with the food in mind — even if it was done at the corporate level rather than by someone in this specific kitchen. If you're eating here, lean into the Gamay or Vinho Verde and skip the impulse to order Cab. It won't change your life, but it'll make dinner better.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Seafood
If you're here for wine, you're at the wrong restaurant — but the pricing is honest and the Sauvignon Blanc won't ruin your dinner. Order a cocktail and save your wine energy for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Italian
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do — keeping it safe, keeping it recognizable, and marking it up just enough to pad margins. Drink here because you're having dinner, not because you're having wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Franklin · Franklin · Hotel Restaurant / Southern
1799 is a solid option when you're already staying at The Harpeth or dining for the atmosphere — the Southern food looks genuinely good and the room earns its upscale-casual reputation. But if wine is your reason for going out, Franklin has better options; this list is there to serve the food, not the other way around.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Franklin · Italian
Pelato Franklin isn't going to make wine pilgrims drive down from Nashville, but it's doing more than the Italian-suburban average — an orange wine, some solid regional Italian whites, and a few California names that earn their spot. Come for the food, stay curious about the list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Steakhouse Chain
The prices are fair but there's almost nothing to choose from — four labels is not a wine program, it's a placeholder. If wine matters to your dinner, this isn't your spot.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsville Road Corridor · Bowling Green · Steakhouse Chain
LongHorn Bowling Green will get you through dinner without incident, but the wine list exists to fill a line on the menu, not to enhance your meal. Order the steak, pick the Ste. Michelle Riesling or the Josh Cab if you must, and keep your expectations exactly where they belong.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsville Road Corridor · Bowling Green · Steakhouse Chain
If you're here for the Blooming Onion and a cold beer, you're in the right place — but the wine list is pure corporate wallpaper. Order the Chateau Ste. Michelle or the Alamos, skip everything else, and save your serious wine night for literally anywhere with a wine director.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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