Ruth's Chris Steak House

The wine list here reads exactly like you'd expect from a national steakhouse with a corporate wine director — heavy California, polished presentation, and enough recognizable names to make the convention crowd feel right at home. It's confident without being adventurous, which is either reassuring or boring depending on your mood. If you've eaten at a Ruth's Chris anywhere in the country, you already know this list.

Napa and Sonoma Cabernet dominate the proceedings, anchored by the usual suspects: Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, and Duckhorn, with The Prisoner showing up for guests who want something with a label that sounds edgy but really isn't. Cakebread and Rombauer cover the Chardonnay crowd, which they will do enthusiastically and at prices that reflect their Yelp-famous status. There's Old World representation — Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne via Veuve Clicquot — but it feels like a supporting cast, not a reason to visit. Oregon Pinot and Washington blends round things out, giving the list geographic breadth without any real depth in those categories.

Roughly 18 to 25 pours by the glass puts this ahead of most steakhouses in sheer volume, running $15 to $22 a pop. The selections skew predictably Californian, but having Rombauer and Duckhorn available by the glass means you're not stuck with anonymous house wine while you wait for your filet. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-and-forget program that changes with corporate, not the seasons.