Surf's Up, Wine Program's Down
Ali'i Drive / Waterfront · Kailua-Kona · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 24, 2026
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 →
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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.
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Hawaii Regional Cuisine / Asian Fusion Seafood Grill
Roy's Waikoloa is a reliable night out with food that outpaces the wine list by a full length. Drink the Sonoma-Cutrer with the butterfish, skip the markups on the obvious stuff, and let the view do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Italian osteria with locally sourced Hawaiian ingredients
Pueo's isn't building a destination wine program, but it's doing something harder — keeping prices honest in a market that rarely does. Send your friends here for dinner; just know the list is a supporting character, not the headliner.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waikoloa · Kailua-Kona · Beachside Hawaiian and Pacific Rim
Come for the sand, the sunset, and the Huli Huli chicken — just don't come expecting the wine list to match the view. Order the best white they have cold, tip your server well, and make peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Alii Drive · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-style barbecue / plate lunches
We would never send someone to TJ's for the wine list — we'd send them for the smoked brisket and the ocean view. But if you want something in a glass while you eat, the list does just enough to keep you covered, and $12 a pour is fair by Hawaii standards.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Hawaiian-inspired and pan-Pacific fare with a classic tiki bar
Don the Beachcomber is a genuinely fun place to spend an evening in Kona, and the cocktail program absolutely earns its reputation — so get the mai tai and leave the wine list alone. If you insist on a bottle, grab the La Crema, accept your losses, and watch the sunset.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kailua-Kona · Kailua-Kona · Contemporary American and Seafood
Come for the manta rays and the sunset, order a cocktail, and make your peace with it. The wine list is a hotel afterthought dressed in markup we can't recommend with a straight face.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Rochester · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Rochester is a reliable if uninspired choice for wine with your steak — the Trimbach and Belle Glos are worth seeking out, but the pricing is corporate-tier steep and the list doesn't reward curiosity. Order the wine you know, enjoy the steak, and don't expect any surprises.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Boca Raton is a dependable choice if you want a proper glass of Napa Cab with your dry-aged ribeye and aren't going to sweat the markup. Just don't come here expecting discovery — this list is built for comfort, not adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Montgomery · Steakhouse
This is a wine list by legal obligation, not by passion. Order a cocktail, a beer, or just accept that Outback Taylor Road is not your wine night destination.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
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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