Grocery Aisle Wines With a Kangaroo Tax
East Boulevard · Montgomery · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Outback Montgomery reads like a grocery store endcap — every label here is one you've seen at Kroger, usually for about half the price. Nothing on this list is going to surprise you, challenge you, or make you feel like anyone put real thought into it. It's a wine program that exists because a steakhouse has to have one.
Twenty-five to forty labels, nearly all of them California and Pacific Northwest workhorses you already know by heart: Joel Gott, Josh Cellars, Mark West, Kendall-Jackson, Apothic. There's a nod to the restaurant's Australian theme exactly nowhere on this list — the closest you get to 'down under' is the decor. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is probably the most interesting thing here, which says a lot. The list is entirely built for the path of least resistance, and it takes that path with enthusiasm.
Ten to fifteen pours available, priced $6–$11 a glass, which sounds reasonable until you remember these are bottles that retail for $10–$15. The pour selection mirrors the bottle list — Beringer White Zinfandel and Apothic Red are doing a lot of heavy lifting. Rotation isn't something we'd expect here; this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since the Obama administration.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $22
At the low end of their bottle pricing and one of the few wines on this list with any actual character — a touch of sweetness and crisp acidity that holds up against Outback's saltier, heavier dishes better than any of the cabs here.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Everyone at this table is ordering a Cab, and that's exactly why you should order this. It's genuinely good wine from a producer that earns its keep, and it's being completely ignored in favor of the Josh Cellars crowd.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
A $13 retail bottle dressed up and sold here at steakhouse markup. It's not a bad wine — it's just not worth what they're charging when you can grab it at any gas station on the drive home.
Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon + Victoria's Filet Mignon
Joel Gott Cab is ripe, soft, and fruit-forward enough to play nice with a tender filet without overpowering it — and it's about as good as this list gets when you're eating red meat.
❌ The Bottom Line
Outback Montgomery's wine program is a formality, not a feature — it checks the box without breaking a sweat or a single new grape variety. If wine matters to you tonight, order the Riesling, keep expectations grounded, and save the serious bottle for a restaurant that actually cares.
Hampstead · Montgomery · Casual American bar food and café fare
The Tipping Point is a solid neighborhood spot that happens to have wine, not a wine destination that also serves food — and that's okay. If you're here for the patio, the burgers, or a casual weeknight out, grab the rosé or the Malbec and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Montgomery · Montgomery · Steakhouse / Wine-Focused American
Cork & Cleaver is quietly one of the better wine lists in Montgomery — international range, fair pricing, and actual producer curation hiding behind a Southern gastropub front door. Send your wine-curious friends here and tell them to skip the Prisoner.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Boulevard / Dalraida · Montgomery · Italian
This is a wine program by committee, for volume, not for pleasure. If someone at your table insists on wine, grab a glass while you're waiting to be seated and enjoy the half-price benefit — but don't plan your evening around what's in the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
East Montgomery · Montgomery · Seafood / Grill
Bonefish Grill Montgomery won't blow your mind, but it won't ruin your dinner either — the glass pour selection is broad enough to find something decent, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling with wood-grilled fish is a legitimate move. Just don't expect the wine to be the reason you came.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Montgomery · Southern-influenced global brasserie / fusion
Kinsmith is a beautiful room serving interesting food, and the wine list is the least interesting thing about it. Go for the Gulf seafood, order the Calera or the Pinotage, and keep your expectations calibrated to a solid hotel restaurant rather than a destination wine program.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Riverfront · Montgomery · Cocktail Bar & Lounge with Small Plates
Waterworks is a genuinely fun rooftop spot — order a craft cocktail, enjoy the view, and leave the wine list alone. If you must have wine, keep it simple and cheap; the Bezel by Cakebread upcharge exists solely to test whether you're paying attention.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Overland Park · Overland Park · Steakhouse
Outback Overland Park is a fine place to eat a steak, but the wine list is a corporate afterthought — overpriced relative to what's in the bottle and built for comfort, not curiosity. Order the Petite Sirah if you must, but honestly, get a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Grand Rapids · Steakhouse
Bowdie's is a reliable special-occasion wine stop if you know the California playbook and aren't hunting for surprises. The markups sting and the list won't challenge you, but the core producers are solid and the pour program gives you enough rope to find something worth drinking.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Columbus · Columbus · Steakhouse
Buckhead Steak and Wine is the reliable anchor of the Columbus dining scene — no surprises, no revelations, but a solid California-heavy list that does exactly what a prime steakhouse wine program should do. Send a friend here for a big steak dinner; just steer them toward the Jordan instead of the Caymus.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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