Bloomin' Onion, Wilting Wine List
Mesa East · Mesa · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse - Mesa East’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the laminated wine insert tucked into the back of the menu and it's exactly what you feared — a greatest hits album of grocery store brands dressed up with a steakhouse price tag. Nothing here is offensive, but nothing here is interesting either. This is a wine list designed to not lose a sale, not to win over a drinker.
The list runs 30-odd bottles deep and leans almost entirely on California and Australia — two regions capable of producing exciting wine, neither of which is represented that way here. You've got Josh Cellars, Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson, and Chateau Ste. Michelle doing the heavy lifting, which means the list reads like a Costco end-cap with a 200% markup applied. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz is the one label with any actual pedigree behind it, even if it's firmly an entry-level pour. Beyond that, there are no meaningful producers, no regional surprises, and zero evidence that anyone with wine knowledge curated this thing.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize most of them are the same five brands in different varietals. Prices run $7–$14 a glass, which feels fine until you remember these bottles retail for $10–$15. The glass program isn't a feature — it's a margin strategy.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz — $9
It's the one wine on this list with an actual winemaking legacy behind it. Penfolds knows Shiraz, and even at the entry level, Koonunga Hill delivers dark fruit and structure that holds up against a ribeye better than anything else here.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people scroll past Washington State at a chain steakhouse, but Ste. Michelle's Cab punches above its price class — structured tannins, dark cherry, and enough backbone to actually cut through a fatty cut of beef. It's the sleeper on a list full of California crowd-pleasers.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
KJ Chard is a $14 retail bottle that appears on nearly every casual chain list in America at a steep markup. It's reliable in the most boring sense of the word — oaky, a little sweet, completely forgettable. You can do better, even on this list.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz + Bone-In Natural Cut Ribeye
An Australian Shiraz with a bone-in ribeye is about as straightforward as wine pairing gets — the peppery, fruit-forward character of Koonunga Hill stands up to the char and fat of the steak without overthinking it. If you're eating a ribeye at Outback, this is the move.
The Bottom Line
The wine list at Outback Mesa East exists to check a box, not to excite anyone — go ahead and order the Penfolds if you need a glass with your steak, but don't expect the wine to be a reason you came. If wine matters to you tonight, pick a different restaurant.
· Mesa · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Cork & Craft is exactly what it looks like: a comfortable, unthreatening wine bar for people who want good-enough wine without homework. Not the spot for discovery, but a solid neighborhood pour in a town that doesn't have many.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · French Steakhouse / Bistro
A French bistro in the East Valley that runs an all-sparkling wine list anchored by Grower Champagne and topped with Egly-Ouriet and Selosse is not something you expect to exist, and yet here we are. If you're a Champagne nerd, this list is worth the trip; if you wanted a Cab with your steak, you're going to have a rough night.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · American Grill / Wine Bar
Il Vinaio is a reliable neighborhood wine bar punching slightly above its weight with a few smart, unexpected picks tucked into an otherwise crowd-pleasing list. If you're in Mesa and want a real glass of wine with dinner, this is where we'd send you.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dana Park · Mesa · Seafood
King's Fish House Mesa is a reliable seafood dinner, and the wine list won't embarrass anyone — but it also won't impress anyone who's paying attention. Send your friends here for the crab and the clam chowder; tell them to stick to the lower half of the by-the-glass menu and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fiesta District / US-60 Corridor · Mesa · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list is a corporate afterthought dressed up in a laminated menu — fair prices on mediocre juice don't make it worth seeking out. Order the Riesling, enjoy the biscuits, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Superstition Springs Trade Area · Mesa · American / French-Inspired
Mimi's Mesa is a Reliable — it won't embarrass you and it won't blow your mind. If you're here for the French Onion Soup and a glass of something inoffensive, you'll leave happy; if you're hoping the wine list matches the French bistro signage, keep looking.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Il Premio is a steakhouse that took its wine list seriously enough to skip the obvious plays, and the result is one of the more interesting Italian-focused lists in Atlanta right now. It's compact, priced fairly across the board, and built for exploration — whether you're going glass by glass through the Italian regions or just need a solid bottle of Chianti Classico at $72 to make a steak dinner feel right. We'd send a friend here specifically for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Steakhouse
Stark's is the rare steakhouse that treats wine as something other than an afterthought or a cash grab. The list is compact but genuinely considered, markups are fair across the board, and the full bottle-to-glass availability is a policy every restaurant should copy. If you're eating in Healdsburg and want to drink well without overpaying, this is a legitimate stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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