Steak-House Staples With a Few Bright Spots
Decatur · Steakhouse and Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Parker's on Ponce’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Parker's on Ponce opens its wine list with a familiar cast — Caymus, Kim Crawford, Molly Dooker — the kind of names that sell themselves so the restaurant doesn't have to. It reads like a steakhouse list that knows exactly who it's serving and isn't interested in surprises. That's not an insult; it's just the deal.
The 75-label list leans hard on American reds and crowd-favorite international whites, with California Cabs anchoring the top end and Italian and Spanish bottles filling the value end of the rack. Benton-Lane Pinot Noir from Oregon and Babylonstoren Viognier from South Africa are the most interesting left-field picks, gesturing toward a list that could go somewhere more adventurous if it wanted to. The bottle-only section adds a Crémant de Bourgogne from Domaine Michel Briday and a Gérard Bertrand rosé that suggest someone has at least decent taste. But between the Dogajolo and the Caymus, there's not much middle ground that excites.
Seventeen pours is a solid by-the-glass program for a steakhouse, ranging from $8 for the Poema Cava Brut up to $35 for the Caymus Napa Cab. The spread covers bubbles, whites, and reds without leaving anyone stranded. The $10–$13 range is where the real decisions happen, and there are legitimate options at those prices.
The Bottom Line
Parker's on Ponce is the wine list equivalent of a reliable shortstop — not flashy, not going to win any awards, but it won't cost you the game either. Pricing is fair for the format, the by-the-glass count is generous, and if you know where to look (Benton-Lane, the Briday Crémant), there are real wins to be had. Come for the steak, order smarter than the table next to you.
· Decatur · New American
Miller Union is doing something unusual: a wine program with no fat on it, just four deliberate producers matched to a meal's arc. We don't have pricing data to grade the value, and the fixed structure won't satisfy anyone looking to explore freely — but the bones of this list are genuinely good. If you trust the kitchen, trust the wine program too.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Decatur · French and New American
The Select is doing honest, competent work on its wine list — fair markups, a generous by-the-glass program, and enough European depth to keep things interesting. It's not going to make a wine obsessive rearrange their calendar, but if you're eating French-leaning food in Decatur and want a glass that actually makes sense with your plate, this place will not let you down.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Oakhurst · Decatur · New American
Scout is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood spot in Oakhurst — a white-wine-forward list built with actual curiosity, fair pricing, and enough depth to reward guests who look past the obvious pours. If you care even a little about what's in your glass, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Decatur · Decatur · Italian
No. 246 is pulling off something quietly impressive: a short, all-by-the-glass wine list that still manages to surface obscure Italian grapes and quality producers without charging for the privilege. The $14–$21 glass range is honest, the Italian focus is genuine, and the Cincinnato Nero Buono alone earns a visit. If you're in Decatur and want to drink well without doing homework, this is a reliable place to let the list do the thinking.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Decatur · Tasting-menu New American
The Alden is operating on a philosophy that a short, intentional wine list beats a long, lazy one — and they're mostly right. The selection shows genuine taste and geographic range across just five labels. We'd love to see whites added and a clear by-the-glass structure, but if you're in for the tasting menu and trust the kitchen, you can trust these bottles too.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Decatur · Decatur · New American
Leon's Full Service is a Wild Card in the best way: a tight, globe-trotting wine list built with genuine curiosity, priced fairly, and fully available by the glass — all inside a spot that doesn't make wine its whole personality. We'd send a friend here specifically to drink the Cahors or the Vinho Verde and feel smug about it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · Steakhouse and Seafood
This is a wine program that exists only because restaurants are expected to have one. If you're at Sizzler Bakersfield, order a beer, a lemonade, or whatever they're mixing at the bar — the wine list is not the reason to be here, and it's not trying to be.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Steakhouse and Seafood
Chops Lobster Bar delivers a competent, well-stocked by-the-glass program that will satisfy the Napa loyalists without totally abandoning people who want something with actual personality — see: the Loosen Riesling and the Champy Chablis. The markups are what they are at this price point, and the list isn't going to win any awards for creativity, but if you're here for a good steak and a reliable glass of wine to go with it, you won't leave unhappy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bowen's Wharf / Downtown Waterfront · Newport · Steakhouse and Seafood
22 Bowen's is a reliable wine destination for Newport — it punches above most waterfront spots and the winemaker dinner program shows genuine investment in the list. Just know you're paying a waterfront premium and the range doesn't stray far from safe California ground.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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