The Napa Hits Keep Coming, Predictably
West El Paso · El Paso · Steakhouse
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ruth's Chris El Paso is exactly what you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain: a well-organized parade of Napa Cabernets and familiar faces that will make exactly zero wine nerds reach for their phones to snap a pic. That's not necessarily a knock — it's a list built for a specific crowd, and that crowd knows what they want. What you see is what you get, for better or worse.
The list runs 150-300 bottles deep with a heavy lean into Napa Valley and Sonoma, supplemented by some Bordeaux and Burgundy for the old-world curious. You'll find the usual suspects — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Duckhorn, Rombauer — names that sell themselves so the staff barely has to try. The Bordeaux and Burgundy sections feel more like window dressing than a real commitment to the old world; the soul of this list lives and dies in California. There are no real surprises here, no small-production finds, no regional Texas wines to give the list a sense of place — just a reliable greatest-hits collection for steak-and-Cab loyalists.
With 15-25 options by the glass, you're not going to go thirsty, and the pours likely cover the key categories — Cab, Chard, Merlot, maybe a token Pinot or Rosé. The selections probably mirror the bottle list's California-forward bias, which means your by-the-glass Chardonnay is almost certainly Rombauer territory. Don't expect anything rotating or adventurous; this program is built for consistency, not discovery.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $80–$100
Jordan is the quiet overachiever on a list full of trophy bottles. It drinks above its price point, especially relative to what Silver Oak commands here, and it's the kind of classic Sonoma Cab that works across the table — whether you ordered the ribeye or the filet.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone in the room is chasing Cab, which means the Duckhorn Merlot gets overlooked. It's a genuinely excellent bottle from one of Napa's best Merlot producers — richer and more textural than people expect — and it doesn't carry the same price premium as the Cabernet headliners on this list.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, including every grocery store in America, which makes the restaurant markup here hard to justify. You're paying a significant premium for a wine that's become more brand than quality statement. The Jordan or Duckhorn will treat you better, dollar for dollar.
Rombauer Chardonnay + Seared Ahi Tuna
The Rombauer is a big, buttery Chardonnay that would drown most fish, but the Seared Ahi Tuna has enough weight and sear to hold its own against it. It's the one non-Cab pairing on this menu that actually makes sense, and a nice contrast if you're sharing the table with someone who doesn't want another Cabernet.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris El Paso is a safe, well-executed steakhouse wine list — it won't surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either. If you're here for the sizzling Prime steak and a glass of Silver Oak, you're in the right place; if you're hoping for a wine program with any sense of adventure, you're in the wrong zip code.
Downtown · El Paso · French / European
Pot Au Feu is the kind of place that takes its food seriously and gives the wine list a passing grade — not an A, but enough to hold up its end of the evening. If you're eating French in El Paso, you could do a lot worse; just order smart and don't default to the Jadot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westside / Northwest (The Canyons at Cimarron) · El Paso · Steakhouse
Oak & Antler isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but the Wednesday half-price promotion turns a merely adequate program into a legitimately smart evening out. Come on a Wednesday, order the Jordan, eat a ribeye, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · El Paso · American
Anson11 is a reliable destination for a well-executed California wine experience in a city where that kind of list isn't guaranteed — just don't expect to be surprised. Send your Caymus-loving friends here without hesitation; send your adventurous wine nerd somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
El Paso · El Paso · Regional, Southwestern American
Mesa Street Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it delivers a competent, fairly priced California list that holds up to the food without embarrassing anyone. Send a friend here for a solid dinner — just don't expect to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East El Paso · El Paso · Seafood, Steakhouse
Landry's wine list does exactly what a mid-tier chain seafood house needs it to do — keeps the table happy without embarrassing anyone. Just don't show up expecting inspiration; show up expecting a cold glass of Vermentino and a solid piece of fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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