Big steakhouse energy, wine list holds its own
Town Center · Virginia Beach · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ruth's Chris Steak House - Virginia Beach’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach, the wine list arrives with the same confidence as the menu — thick, leather-bound, and clearly trying to impress. Two hundred-plus bottles spanning California, France, Italy, Spain, and beyond signals that someone put real thought into this. Whether the pricing lives up to the ambition is a different conversation.
The list covers real ground: you've got Oregon Pinot from Siduri, Finger Lakes Riesling from Boundary Breaks, a local Virginia shoutout with Williamsburg Winery's Albariño, and French representation through the likes of Château Graves de Rabion St.-Émilion. California is the backbone — Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs and Sonoma Cutrer anchor the Chardonnay section, while Belle Glos Las Alturas handles the big-ticket Pinot ask. The list plays it relatively safe for a steakhouse of this caliber — no deep Burgundy rabbit holes or skin-contact surprises — but it covers the classics without embarrassing itself. Gaps show up in Germany and the southern hemisphere beyond a single D'Arenberg Shiraz.
Eighteen by-the-glass options is a solid number for a steakhouse, running $12–$24 for a 6oz pour with enough range to satisfy both the Chardonnay crowd and the cab-adjacent red drinker. The Frédéric Touzot Domaine des Parettes Pinot Noir standing alongside Belle Glos and Siduri by the glass is a genuinely good sign — that's a thoughtful French inclusion most places wouldn't bother with. Rotation appears static, though, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Crianza Monte Real de Familia — $48
Rioja Crianza at the bottom of the bottle price range is a smart play here — you're getting real structure, some oak, and old-world character at a price point that doesn't require a second mortgage before your ribeye arrives.
Boundary Breaks Riesling No. 198 Reserve
Most people at a steakhouse skip straight to the Chardonnay, but this Finger Lakes Riesling is worth a second look — the No. 198 Reserve brings precision acidity and restrained fruit that actually handles seafood starters like the Sizzling Crab Cakes better than most of the whites on this list.
La Marca Extra Dry Prosecco
At $15 a glass for a bottle that retails at $14, the math simply doesn't work in your favor. La Marca is grocery store Prosecco dressed up in a fine dining setting — cheerful enough, but there's no reason to pay a 71% markup on something you can grab at Total Wine on the way home.
Siduri Pinot Noir Willamette Valley + Garlic Crusted Sea Bass
Willamette Pinot is light enough to not bulldoze a delicate sea bass but carries enough red fruit and earthiness to stand up to the garlic crust — it bridges the gap between a white fish dish and a room full of people who really wanted red wine anyway.
The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris Virginia Beach is a reliable wine stop for what it is — a big, well-run steakhouse that takes wine seriously enough to stock 200+ bottles and pour 18 by the glass. The markups sting at the edges, but if you navigate toward the Old World options and avoid the obvious retail imports, you'll drink well enough to justify the reservation.
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · American, Seafood
Tautog's has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2002, and the list earns it — reliably stocked, fairly priced, and well-matched to a serious seafood kitchen. It's not the list you come to Virginia Beach specifically to drink from, but it's absolutely the list you're glad is there when the scallops arrive.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · Indian
Masala Bites is exactly the kind of Wild Card that earns its stripes — a well-considered wine list in a place you'd never think to look for one. Send your friends who claim wine doesn't work with Indian food; the Riesling will change their minds.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · American, Seafood
Becca is doing something genuinely uncommon for Virginia Beach: a real wine program with a credentialed sommelier, fair pricing, and a Virginia section that respects the state's best producers. If you're eating on the oceanfront and want a serious bottle, this is the only address that matters.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · Asian, Sushi
Orion's Roof earned its Wine Spectator badge — the list is genuinely ambitious for what is, let's be honest, a rooftop sushi bar on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. The markups keep this from being a full Rager, but if you order smart, the view and the wine can absolutely justify the trip.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach · American, Seafood
Eurasia Cafe is doing something genuinely better than its zip code requires, and the Wine Spectator hardware is earned. If you're in Virginia Beach and you care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Oceanfront · Virginia Beach · Coastal American Bar & Restaurant
The Atlantic Social is punching well above its weight class for a Virginia Beach oceanfront spot — the list has genuine ambition and some real finds. Markup inconsistencies hold it back from a higher tier, but if you're willing to hunt, there's better wine here than anyone is expecting.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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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