Big Steakhouse Energy, Uneven Wine Pricing
Downtown · Columbus · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Precinct’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Precinct arrives with the same confidence as the room itself — heavy, leather-bound, and unapologetically Californian. It's a serious steakhouse list built for people who order Caymus without flinching at the price. That's not a compliment to the pricing, but it does set the tone immediately.
Napa and Sonoma dominate, with Oregon's Willamette Valley making a credible showing via Domaine Serene's Evenstad Reserve. There are nods to Tuscany, Washington's Columbia and Walla Walla valleys, New Zealand Marlborough, and Côtes de Provence, which keeps it from feeling totally one-note. Trophy bottles like Opus One 2019 at $800 and Colgin IX Estate 2017 are present for the table that wants to make a statement. What's missing is any meaningful mid-tier range where adventurous drinkers can find something interesting without paying steakhouse-inflated prices on a $50 retail bottle.
The by-the-glass program runs 15-25 options, with pours ranging from $12 to $24 — reasonable anchors for a room at this price point. The Prisoner Napa Valley at $21 a glass is a crowd-pleaser that earns its place on any steakhouse glass list. We'd like to see more rotation and a couple of European options, but what's here is at least competently chosen.
Robert Mondavi Winery Oakville 2019 — $65
At just 8% over retail, this is practically a miracle in a steakhouse setting. A well-known Napa label at a price that doesn't make you do mental math and wince.
Domaine Serene 'Evenstad Reserve' 2021 Willamette Valley
In a room obsessed with Napa Cabernet, this Oregon Pinot gets overlooked. Evenstad Reserve is one of the best wines Willamette makes year in and year out, and it's a genuinely different drinking experience alongside a dry-aged steak than what everyone else at the table is pouring.
Caymus Vineyards Rutherford 2022
At $225 on a bottle you can find at your local Total Wine for $100, this is a 125% markup on one of the most-ordered steakhouse wines in America. Caymus knows exactly what it's doing, and so does Precinct. You're paying for the name twice.
Domaine Serene 'Evenstad Reserve' 2021 Willamette Valley + Lobster Bisque
The Evenstad Reserve has enough weight and red fruit to stand up to a rich bisque without bulldozing it the way a big Cab would. It's the one pairing on this menu where finesse actually wins.
The Bottom Line
Precinct is a well-run steakhouse wine program that knows its audience and serves it competently — but the markup inconsistency is hard to ignore when Caymus costs $225 and Spottswoode is priced below retail in the same list. Come for the steak, pick carefully from the wine list, and you'll have a great night.
German Village · Columbus · Italian
Cento is the rare Columbus restaurant where the wine list is a genuine reason to go, not just a footnote to the pasta. Matthew Selva's Italian-focused program earned its Wine Spectator nod honestly — send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · Spanish, Catalan
Barcelona has been earning its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2005, and the list holds up — serious Spanish producers, fair prices, and enough glass pours to drink well across a full tapas spread. For Columbus, this is genuinely the best Spanish wine program in the room.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Columbus · Columbus · French, Seasonal
The Refectory has been doing this quietly and correctly since 2003, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence held that long doesn't happen by accident. If you're in Columbus and serious about wine, this is the room — full stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Easton Town Center · Columbus · Steak House
Mastro's Columbus is a trophy-wine steakhouse doing what trophy-wine steakhouses do — and doing it well enough to earn a Wine Spectator credential in its first year. If you're celebrating something, drinking California cab with a great steak, and not particularly interested in venturing off the map, this list will absolutely deliver.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · American, Steakhouse
Jeff Ruby's is doing the steakhouse wine list right — deep cellar, Wine Spectator credentials, and enough California firepower to keep any red wine drinker busy all night. Bring your appetite for both the ribeye and the markup, because this room doesn't apologize for either.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Columbus · Columbus · American, Asian
Agni is the best wine list in Columbus most people haven't had a reason to talk about yet — until now. With two sommeliers, a 300–500 bottle program, and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence already in its first year, send your friends here and tell them to skip the Caymus.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Houston · Steakhouse
Perry's is a reliable steakhouse wine list — nothing that'll make you rethink your palate, but enough to drink well with red meat if you know where to look. The fortified and dessert wine section is genuinely worth your attention; the rest is competent but forgettable.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
New York Prime's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — safe, recognizable, and priced for expense accounts. If you know what you want and don't mind paying for it, you'll be fine; just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
