The Wine List That Phoned It In
North Lakeland · Lakeland · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 6, 2026
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 this Lakeland Outback arrives as a laminated insert tucked into the back of the menu — corporate, tidy, and about as surprising as a Bloomin' Onion appetizer. Twenty-odd bottles, all familiar faces, nothing that requires a second look. This is a beverage program designed to not get in the way.
The list leans hard on mass-market California and Argentine standbys — think Clos du Bois and Alamos territory, the kind of wines you can find at any grocery store in a 10-mile radius. There's no serious attempt at regional depth, no old-world exploration, and no producers that would make anyone lean forward in their seat. Reds tilt toward easy-drinking Malbec and approachable Cabernet; whites are similarly safe. The gaps are everywhere: no Burgundy, no Rhône, no interesting outliers of any kind.
Ten by-the-glass options sounds reasonable until you realize they're essentially the greatest hits of the chain restaurant wine universe. The list doesn't rotate — what's on the laminate today was on it last year and will be on it next year. It does the job of getting wine into a glass, nothing more.
Alamos Malbec — $9
At under $10 a glass, this Argentine Malbec is an honest pour — dark fruit, no rough edges, and it actually makes sense next to a ribeye. It's not exciting, but the price doesn't ask you to be excited.
Alamos Malbec
Most people at Outback default to a beer or a cocktail, which means this Malbec gets slept on. It's a legitimate value-tier Argentine wine that outperforms its price point on a list where most bottles are just labels you recognize.
Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc
Clos du Bois is fine — emphasis on fine. At a steakhouse, a thin, commercial California Sauvignon Blanc has nowhere to hide. You're paying restaurant prices for something that belongs in a beach cooler.
Alamos Malbec + Victoria's Filet Mignon
A lean, tender filet wants a wine with enough fruit to complement the beef without overwhelming it. The Alamos Malbec — soft tannins, dark plum, a little spice — is the most natural match on this list for the best cut of meat on the menu.
The Bottom Line
Outback Lakeland's wine program exists to check a box, not to enhance a meal. Prices are fair for what you're getting, but what you're getting is a grocery store list at a sit-down restaurant — order the Malbec, enjoy your steak, and don't expect more than that.
· Lakeland · Italian
The Macaroni Grill Lakeland wine list is functional the way a vending machine is functional — it dispenses what you ask for without fuss or personality. The by-the-glass breadth gives casual drinkers options, but the markups on several bottles and the complete absence of anything interesting or Italian-forward make this a list you tolerate rather than enjoy. Order the Lambrusco or the Trapiche Malbec and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Steakhouse
Texas Cattle Company isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list doesn't pretend otherwise — but fair pricing across 17 glass pours and a genuine quality tier anchored by Halter Ranch Cab make this a reliable place to drink reasonably well with your steak. If you're with a group that just wants something cold and red without a lecture, this list does its job.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Lakeland · Bistro / European
Bay Street Bistro earns its reputation as Lakeland's go-to for a romantic, upscale dinner — the food clearly punches above the city's weight class. The wine program, however, doesn't match that ambition: pricing skews steep relative to what's on offer, and there's no evidence of the curation or deals you'd want alongside a $40 entrée. Go for the Beef Wellington, but do your homework on the wine list before you commit to a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Italian
Carrabba's Lakeland is a place you drink wine at, not a place you go to drink wine. If you're here, order the cheapest bottle that sounds like Italy and focus on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Seafood / New Orleans-inspired
Harry's Lakeland is a dependable pit stop — fair prices, an absurdly generous by-the-glass program, and a list that won't intimidate anyone. It's not a destination for wine, but it's also not going to ruin your dinner.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Food Hall (Multi-Concept)
The Joinery is a Wild Card in the best sense: a food hall that actually thought about its wine program, priced it fairly, and threw in a Greek white and some non-alcoholic options for good measure. Don't come here expecting a deep list, but do come expecting to drink something decent without getting gouged.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Costa Mesa is exactly what it is: a well-run corporate steakhouse with a Champagne list that punches above the room's ambition and a Chardonnay section that covers the safe California bases reliably. Markups are steep throughout and the list doesn't take any risks, but if you know what you want — a glass of Hartford Court or a bottle of Schramsberg before your steak — you'll be fine. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Hawaii's wine list does what the brand does everywhere — it's safe, corporate, and priced to capture resort-market margins. The Champagne selection is genuinely deep and includes some worthwhile picks like the Paul Bara and the Llopart Cava, but markups are steep and there's little here to excite anyone looking beyond the obvious. If you're here for a steak and want bubbles, you'll find something that works — just don't expect the list to dazzle you.
Plays It Safe
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.
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