Napa's Greatest Hits, Sizzling in Pittsburgh
Downtown · Pittsburgh · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruth's Chris Steak House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Ruth's Chris Pittsburgh is exactly what you'd expect from a national fine dining steakhouse — heavy on Napa Cab, light on surprises. It's polished and well-organized, but if you were hoping for a curveball, keep walking. This list exists to sell you a $180 bottle of Opus One alongside a ribeye, and it does that job with confidence.
The list runs 150-300 bottles deep, which sounds impressive until you realize roughly half of it is Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux. Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Caymus, Opus One — the whole Napa hall of fame is here, priced accordingly. Washington State gets a nod, which is a welcome gesture, and there's enough Bordeaux to keep the old-world crowd from walking out. What's missing is anything genuinely exploratory — no Rhône, no interesting Italian, no left-field picks that make you feel like somebody on staff is actually excited about wine.
The by-the-glass program is one of the stronger aspects of the visit — 20-35 options is a real commitment, and Ruth's Chris corporate keeps the pours consistent across locations. Expect the usual suspects: a Caymus Cab, a couple of Chardonnays, maybe a Malbec for the table that can't agree. Rotation feels minimal, but there's enough range to find something decent without opening a bottle.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $95
Jordan is a reliable, well-made Alexander Valley Cab that consistently punches above its retail price point. On a list where everything else seems to be pushing triple digits, it's the most honest bottle for steak-night money — classic structure, no pretense.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people at this table are going to reach for Caymus on autopilot, but Stag's Leap is the more interesting glass. It's more elegant and restrained than the Napa fruit bombs surrounding it — the kind of wine that actually shows you something as the evening goes on.
Opus One
It's a great wine. It's also $300-plus on a steakhouse list where you can track retail pricing on your phone in real time. The markup makes it a trophy order, not a value order — and the food here is too good to let the wine bill upstage it.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon + Ribeye
Silver Oak's signature vanilla-and-oak character was basically engineered for a sizzling ribeye. The wine's soft tannins and ripe dark fruit don't fight the char — they lean into it. It's the most Ruth's Chris thing you can order, and that's not a criticism.
The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Pittsburgh delivers exactly what it promises: a deep Napa-heavy list, knowledgeable service, and proper glassware in a downtown room that earns its prices. Just don't come here looking for discovery — come here looking for a very good bottle of Cabernet with a very good steak.
Robinson Township · Pittsburgh · American, Italian
Ditka's Pittsburgh is a dependable play for a California-centric steakhouse night out — just don't come looking for adventure. If your crew wants big Napa Cabs with a serious cut of beef, this list will keep everyone happy without anyone learning anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mt. Washington · Pittsburgh · American
Altius is a reliable wine destination if you want California classics in one of Pittsburgh's best dining rooms — just don't expect the list to surprise you the way the skyline will. Send a friend here for a special occasion, not a wine adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Strip District · Pittsburgh · Market / Wine Library
The Pennsylvania Market Wine Library is the rare place where the pricing alone justifies the trip — near-retail bottles in a casual market setting is a concept more cities need. It's not polished, but it's genuinely on your side.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lawrenceville · Pittsburgh · Spanish
Morcilla isn't trying to be a wine bar, but the list reads like it was built by someone who wishes it were — in the best possible way. If you're in Pittsburgh and want to drink serious Spanish wine with your food, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · American, Steakhouse, Seafood
Eddie V's is the kind of wine list that earns its Rager badge on depth, staff, and execution — even if the pricing leans into the occasion-dining model hard. If someone else is expensing it, drink well. If you're paying yourself, pick strategically.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · Continental-American Fine Dining
The Carlton has the bones of a Rager — deep cellar, knowledgeable staff, serious glassware — but the markups keep it from earning that badge. Go for the wine list experience, but go in knowing you're paying a downtown Pittsburgh premium for every bottle.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Franklin · Steakhouse
Char is a genuinely enjoyable steakhouse with a wine list that does the job without doing much more. The room earns its keep; the wine program is still a passenger rather than a co-pilot. If you're coming here for the Prime beef and the atmosphere, you'll eat well — just don't expect the list to take you anywhere the food isn't already going. Worth a visit, but bring your own expectations in check at the wine menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
The Grove Steakhouse is a solid pick if you're in a celebratory mood and want serious Champagne options with your cut of beef — the sparkling program alone is worth a look. The rest of the list doesn't take many risks, and the markups on recognizable labels are exactly what you'd expect from a steakhouse at a casino property. Go in with eyes open, steer toward the value picks, and you'll have a good night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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