The Bloomin' Onion Deserves Better Wine
West Wendover / West Greensboro · Greensboro · Casual American steakhouse with Australian-inspired theme · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 25, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Outback reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at a mid-tier grocery store and called it a day. There's no real curation here — just a handful of nationally distributed brands that most people have seen on a gas station end-cap. It's functional, barely.
What you're getting is a greatest-hits reel of supermarket standbys: Alamos Malbec, Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc, and a predictable rotation of big commercial labels. There's no regional focus, no adventurous picks, and no evidence that anyone involved in buying for this list has thought hard about what actually goes with a bone-in ribeye. The list exists because a steakhouse legally needs one, not because anyone cares. If you're hoping for something from a small producer or even a step above the mainstream, you're in the wrong place.
By-the-glass specifics aren't published in a way that gives us hard counts or prices, which tells you most of what you need to know. What's available tracks closely with the bottle list — expect the same commercial names poured into generic stems. Rotation is essentially nonexistent; this is a set-it-and-forget-it program.
Alamos Malbec — Unknown
Of the options available, Alamos is at least a recognizable Mendoza producer making consistent, drinkable Malbec. It's the least embarrassing choice on the list and has enough fruit weight to stand up to a sirloin.
Alamos Malbec
Not hidden so much as underestimated — Alamos is a legitimate Catena estate label, not just generic plonk. Most people ordering wine here are grabbing whatever the server recommends; knowing this one actually has some backing makes it the smart default.
Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc
Clos du Bois is a California brand that's been riding its reputation for decades while the quality has coasted. At chain restaurant markup, you're paying a premium for a label, not a wine. There's nothing here that justifies the price over a beer.
Alamos Malbec + Outback Special Sirloin
Malbec and a grilled sirloin is about as plug-and-play as wine pairing gets — the dark fruit and soft tannins in the Alamos won't fight the char on the steak, and it's the one combination on this list that actually makes sense together.
The Bottom Line
We wouldn't send a friend here for the wine — we'd tell them to order a beer or a cocktail and save their wine calories for somewhere that gives a damn. The food can be fine; the wine program is an afterthought.
South Elm · Greensboro · Wine bar & cheese
Lewis & Elm earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of unexpected neighborhood wine bar that punches well above its zip code — a sommelier-curated list leaning into Tuscany, Greece, and Sicily inside a cozy South Elm storefront is not what most people expect to find in Greensboro. We'd happily send a friend here for a flight and a cheese board, and tell them to actually listen to whatever the staff recommends. Just know that our sourced pricing detail is thin right now, so go in with curiosity and ask questions — that's the right posture for a place like this anyway.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Greensboro · New American and Wine Bar
1808 Craft & Vine is doing something quietly smart: a fully by-the-glass list at prices that don't punish curiosity, with enough international range to keep things interesting. We don't know the food, we don't know the staff, and the list isn't going to wow a Burgundy collector — but if you're in Greensboro and want to drink something you'd never order at a chain steakhouse, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Wine and Cocktail Bar
Marjae's is doing something genuinely uncommon for a mid-size Southern city: running a wine-forward space with actual expertise behind it, at prices that won't make you wince. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date night or a Thursday tasting without hesitation — just go in ready to ask questions, because the staff seems like they actually want to answer them.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Cocktail and Wine Bar
Bitters Social House isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is genuinely fair, a couple of producer picks show real effort, and the by-the-glass setup means you can drink well without committing to a bottle. If you're in Greensboro and need a glass before or after dinner, this is a perfectly honest place to have one.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Italian Steakhouse
Giovanni's is a reliable neighborhood anchor — the room is good, the food has a loyal following, and the Italian reds give you enough to work with if you dig past the Sand Point labels. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; we'd just steer them straight toward the Barolo or Brunello and skip the California filler.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Steakhouse
Fleming's Greensboro is doing more than most chain steakhouses bother to do with wine — 42 by-the-glass options and actual Alsatian whites on a Greensboro wine list deserves acknowledgment. The markups are real and the list isn't going to surprise anyone who's been to a Fleming's before, but if you're eating a bone-in ribeye and want a proper glass without guesswork, this delivers.
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
