Surf's Up, Wine Program's Down
Ali'i Drive / Waterfront · Kailua-Kona · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse Kailua-Kona’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're steps from the Pacific on Ali'i Drive and the wine list reads like a grocery store endcap circa 2011. It's a chain doing chain things — nothing here was curated so much as it was copy-pasted from a corporate spreadsheet in Tampa.
The list runs 30-50 bottles deep, which sounds like room to work with until you realize it's almost entirely California staples and a brief Washington State cameo. Beringer White Zinfandel, Meiomi Pinot Noir, Josh Cellars Cab — these are wines designed to sell, not to interest anyone who's thought about wine for more than ten minutes. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is the lone bright spot with actual regional character. There are no Old World options, no local Hawaiian producers, no surprises of any kind.
Ten to fifteen pours by the glass at $8-$14, which feels reasonable until you realize every single one is a brand you've seen at CVS. The rotation doesn't rotate — what's on the list today is what was on the list last year. If you're hoping for something interesting to sip while you wait on the Bloomin' Onion, adjust expectations accordingly.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $9
It's the only wine on the list with a point of view. Washington Riesling at a casual price point — it's got enough acidity to cut through anything on the menu and won't bore you to tears.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
In a sea of Cabs and Chards, most people overlook the Riesling entirely. Don't. It's the most food-friendly, most interesting bottle on the whole list, and nobody around you is ordering it.
Beringer White Zinfandel
It's on the list, sure, but so is tap water. At chain markup prices, you're paying restaurant margins on a wine that retails for $5 at the gas station. Hard pass.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Alice Springs Chicken
The Riesling's off-dry fruit and zippy acidity handles the honey mustard and melted cheese on Alice Springs Chicken without getting steamrolled. It's genuinely the best wine-food moment available on this menu.
The Bottom Line
This is a chain wine program doing exactly what corporate tells it to — nothing more, nothing less. If you're in Kailua-Kona for the wine, you're in the wrong zip code and definitely the wrong restaurant.
· Kailua-Kona · Pop-up Wine Bar / Events
Kona Wine Nights earns its Wild Card badge precisely because it defies the normal restaurant wine calculus — you're buying into an experience led by a sommelier, scored by local musicians, and framed by a Hawaiian sunset. We can't verify the specific bottles or pricing, so we're not going to pretend otherwise, but the concept is genuinely compelling for anyone who wants something more than a Caymus pour at a hotel bar. If you're in Kailua-Kona and want a wine night that feels like it was designed with intention, this is worth the ticket.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Modern Hawaiian / Tasting-Style
CanoeHouse is a beautiful place to drink wine — the setting, the seafood, and the overall experience justify the splurge on a special night. But the wine program itself appears to be resort-standard: solid, Champagne-and-Burgundy-leaning, and priced for the zip code rather than the quality in the glass. Come for the view and the lobster tempura; don't come expecting a list that surprises you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hilton Waikoloa Village · Kailua-Kona · Steak & Seafood
Kamuela Provision Company has a stunning setting and almost certainly a strong kitchen, but its documented wine program is barely a program at all. If you're here for the view and the fresh catch, order something off the cocktail menu instead — one Chardonnay at a 3x markup isn't worth building a dinner around.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · New American / Hawaiian
Magics Beach Grill earns its reputation on atmosphere, not its wine program — and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what you're walking into. If the sunset and the fresh fish are the draw, go for it; just don't expect the list to keep pace with the view. A happy hour window from 2–5 pm and again at 8 pm to close gives you a reason to order a glass without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Italian-Inspired / Casual
Kai is a great place to watch the sun drop into the Pacific with something cold in your hand — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you went. The program is serviceable for the setting, but with resort-level markups likely baked in, the cocktail menu might be a smarter play. If wine is your priority, lower your expectations before you sit down; if the view is your priority, you're exactly where you should be.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Kailua-Kona · Seafood / Steakhouse
Huggo's is a reliable enough place to drink wine if you're already there for the view and the fresh fish — just don't come expecting value or discovery. The regional mix is competent, the setting is genuinely spectacular, and the list will get you through dinner without incident. If you're a wine-first traveler, this probably isn't your destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable stop if the ahi tuna is calling your name.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Steakhouse
BLT Prime's wine program is glass-only, which limits your options if you came for a big bottle moment, but the pricing is honest and the selection is more thoughtful than most steakhouses bother with. If you're keeping it casual and ordering by the glass, you can drink well here without feeling taken advantage of — and that's not nothing in this city.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Raleigh · Steakhouse
Perry's Raleigh is a competent steakhouse wine list — nothing more, nothing less. The near-universal by-the-glass access is a genuine win, and the Perrin Côtes du Rhône and Kesseler Riesling give you something worth drinking if you look past the front-of-list crowd pleasers. Just don't come here expecting discovery; come here expecting reliability.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Grapevine · Steakhouse
Perry's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a polished Texas steakhouse chain — familiar names, broad by-the-glass coverage, and markups that remind you where you are. It's not a destination for wine, but the 41-glass-pour lineup means you won't go thirsty, and the Perrin Côtes du Rhône or Marques de Caceres Rosé will get you through dinner without overpaying. Send a friend here for the pork chop; tell them to pick carefully from the wine list.
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
