Big Steaks, Bigger Markups, Predictable Everything
Bellefield Office Park Area · Bellevue · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruth's Chris Steak House – Bellevue’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 a greatest hits album from 2008 — Caymus, Silver Oak, Veuve Clicquot, all present and accounted for. It's a corporate list designed to be recognized, not discovered. If you've been to any Ruth's Chris in the country, you already know what you're looking at.
California dominates from first page to last, with Napa Cabs and Chardonnays doing the heavy lifting. There's reportedly some nod to Washington and Oregon wines given the Bellevue location, which is the right instinct, but the core list doesn't stray far from safe national-program staples. Don't come hunting for Willamette Valley Pinot from a small producer or anything from Eastern Washington — this list is built for the business expense account crowd, not the curious drinker. The Old World representation feels like an afterthought rather than a genuine commitment.
Glass pours run $14–$25, anchored by house California Cab and Chardonnay that retail for under $10 a bottle — you're paying a steep premium before you even get to the interesting stuff. The selection by the glass is narrow and unsurprising; don't expect anything that makes you lean forward in your chair. Ruth's Hour on weekday evenings offers some relief with discounted pours at the bar, but it's a deal on a short list, not a revelation.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir 'Las Alturas' Santa Lucia Highlands — $95
At roughly 58% above retail, it's the least punishing markup on the list, and Belle Glos actually delivers the rich, crowd-pleasing Pinot that the steakhouse crowd wants. Not a bargain, but the closest thing to one here.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Everyone reaches for the Napa bottling, but the Alexander Valley is genuinely more food-friendly with the sizzling plates here — slightly less extracted, more savory, and $40–$50 cheaper on most lists. It's the smarter order even if it doesn't sound as impressive to your dinner guest.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne NV
At $135 a bottle on a ~$70 retail wine, this is the single worst markup on the list at nearly 93% above retail. Veuve is a fine Champagne, but you are absolutely paying for the label recognition in a room full of people doing the same. Hard pass.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir 'Las Alturas' Santa Lucia Highlands + Filet Mignon
The filet is the leanest cut on the menu and the one place where a big Cab actually steamrolls the beef rather than complementing it. Belle Glos brings enough dark fruit and structure to stand up to the sizzling butter without bullying the tenderness out of the filet.
Weekdays (Early Evening) — Ruth's Hour runs on weekday early evenings in the bar and lounge, with discounted wines by the glass and select bottles. Not a dedicated half-price wine night — more of a happy hour with wine deals folded in. Check with the location for current timing.
The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Bellevue is a reliable machine for a certain kind of corporate dinner — but the wine list is a profit center dressed up as a wine program, and the markups make that clear. Order the Belle Glos, catch Ruth's Hour if you can, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere that actually cares.
Old Bellevue · Bellevue · Wine Bar
Valentina's is a genuinely pleasant neighborhood wine bar that earns its place in Old Bellevue — it's not breaking ground, but it's doing the basics with intention. Send a friend here for a date night glass; just don't expect a rabbit hole of discovery.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · American
13 Coins Bellevue earns its Wild Card badge by being a late-night diner that actually cares enough about wine to stock a geographically diverse list — not groundbreaking, but genuinely unexpected for the format. If Sunday happy hour is your move, this place becomes a legitimately fun spot to drink Washington wine over a Caesar salad at 11pm, which is a sentence we didn't think we'd be writing.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Bellevue · Bellevue · Hotel Lounge
BBellevue is the rare hotel bar that makes a real effort with wine, and it shows in the curation — Pacific Northwest producers, an orange pét-nat, and a Nebbiolo that shouldn't be this affordable. Markups are steep in places and the list won't change your life, but for a lobby bar in Bellevue, this is genuinely worth a stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Brazilian Steakhouse
Novilhos isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that respects your wallet and doesn't embarrass itself next to the meat. Order the Rioja, finish with Port, and let the churrasco do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Steakhouse
STK Bellevue is a reliable place to drink wine you already know at prices you'd rather not think about. If you're entertaining clients or celebrating something and need a list that won't confuse anyone, it gets the job done — just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bellevue · Bellevue · Italian / Pizza
Mercato Stellina is a pizza spot that accidentally built a wine list worth talking about — the Italian backbone is legit, the Washington State picks are well-chosen, and the pricing is honest. If you're expecting a deep white or sparkling program you'll be disappointed, but for a Nebbiolo or a Syrah with your Neapolitan, this place delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 29 corridor · St. Helena · Upscale American Steakhouse
PRESS is the rare place where a 2,700-bottle list actually delivers — deep, well-stored, and staffed by people who know what they're talking about. The pricing is steep by any honest measure, but if Napa Cabernet is your religion, this is the cathedral.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Mauna Lani Resort · Kailua-Kona · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Mauna Lani does exactly what it promises: a deep, California-forward wine list served in proper glassware at steep resort prices inside a flawless steakhouse setting. You won't discover anything new here, but if you're after a great bottle of Napa Cab with your Prime filet and an ocean breeze somewhere nearby, this list will not let you down.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Appleton · Upscale American Steakhouse
Vince Lombardi's wine list won't win any awards for creativity, but it's competent, well-suited to the menu, and it won't embarrass the kitchen. If you're here for a prime steak and a reliable bottle of Jordan, you'll leave happy — just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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