The Bloomin' Onion Deserves Better Wine
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse – Newport News’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list here reads like it was approved by a corporate committee in 2011 and hasn't been touched since. You get the distinct feeling that wine is an afterthought — something to upsell alongside a Bloomin' Onion, not something anyone actually thought about. It's functional, sure, but ambition is nowhere in the building.
Thirty to forty bottles, almost entirely locked into safe California reds and a handful of Australian nods that gesture at the chain's branding without really committing to it. The Australian representation beyond one or two labels is thin — ironic for a restaurant that built its entire identity around the concept. There are no real surprises here: expect big-brand Cabs, generic Chardonnays, and the occasional Malbec thrown in for the adventurous. The list exists to move volume, not to make you think.
Ten to fifteen pours by the glass, ranging from $7 to $16, which sounds accessible until you see what you're actually getting. The selection skews heavily toward inoffensive crowd-pleasers that won't challenge anyone or generate a follow-up question. Rotation appears nonexistent — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program through and through.
Mollydooker The Scooter Shiraz — $16
If it's on the glass pour list, Mollydooker is genuinely good juice — concentrated, ripe Australian Shiraz that actually suits a ribeye. It's the one moment the list punches above its weight class.
Mollydooker The Scooter Shiraz
Most people scanning this list will default to whatever California Cab is front and center. Don't. The Mollydooker is the only wine here with a real point of view — bold, jammy, and built for steak.
Kangaroo Court Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon NV
At $39 a bottle, you're paying three times what this wine costs at retail. It's a $12 bottle wearing a $39 price tag, and the restaurant is counting on you not knowing that. Hard pass.
Mollydooker The Scooter Shiraz + Ribeye Steak
Australian Shiraz and a well-charred ribeye is the one combination on this menu that actually makes sense together — the wine's dark fruit and pepper notes cut right through the fat.
The Bottom Line
Outback Newport News is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — which would be fine if the markups weren't quietly aggressive about it. Order the Mollydooker, avoid the Kangaroo Court, and keep your expectations parked in the lot outside.
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Italian
Carrabba's wine list does exactly what a chain wine list does: it keeps people comfortable and keeps margins high. If you're here for a business dinner or a family birthday, order the TerraMare house pour and move on — but don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Steakhouse / Cocktail Bar
Steak & Tonic is a genuinely surprising find for Newport News — the wine ambitions outpace most steakhouses in its weight class, even if the execution can wobble and the pricing likely skews steep. It earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of place you walk into expecting a cocktail and walk out talking about the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Wine Bar
Vino Noir Social isn't trying to be a Burgundy deep-dive — it's trying to be a good time in Newport News, and at these prices with a fully by-the-glass list, it mostly delivers. Send a friend who's still exploring wine and wants a low-stakes, affordable night out.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Japanese / Sushi
Hayashi's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a neighborhood sushi spot — fair prices, nothing weird, nothing special. Grab the Kung Fu Girl Riesling and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Beverly Hills · Los Angeles · Steakhouse
What we can document at Mastro's Beverly Hills is a narrow, Napa-centric selection that plays zero risk and offers zero surprise — which is a defensible choice for a power-steakhouse crowd, but not one we can enthusiastically endorse to wine lovers. The seven wines on record are all from a single event page, so the full list is almost certainly broader; but until we have more to work with, our honest advice is to know what you want before you sit down, because the list isn't going to inspire you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Yountville · Steakhouse
Press is a special-occasion restaurant with a wine program built to match — deep Napa regional focus, a sommelier on staff, and pairing options that range from serious to stratospheric. The pricing is steep by design, and you should go in knowing the wine spend can easily outpace the food bill. If you're willing to lean into it, this is exactly the kind of Napa experience the valley was built around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Vail · Steakhouse
Russell's isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — but the list is better than the room probably demands. Fair pricing, a genuine global reach, and twenty pours by the glass make this a steakhouse wine program worth engaging with. Order the Fincas de Ganuza, skip the Laurent Perrier, and leave the mountain resort markup where it belongs: on the cocktail list.
Solid Range
Fair
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
