A Solid Steakhouse List That Plays It Safe
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Fine Dining Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 31, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Spencer's — tucked inside the Hilton Salt Lake City Center — you get the full steakhouse treatment: dark wood, white tablecloths, and a wine list thick enough to use as a doorstop. At 300-500 selections, this is one of the more serious wine programs in Salt Lake City, and it knows it. The American-heavy focus makes sense for the room, even if it limits the adventure.
The list leans hard into Napa and Sonoma, which is exactly what the prime ribeye crowd wants, and Spencer's delivers that reliably. You'll find names like Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Far Niente Chardonnay anchoring the California side, with some welcome detours into German Riesling via producers like Forge Cellars and Bex. France and New Zealand make appearances, but don't expect a deep Old World rabbit hole — this list is built for people who know what they like, not for people hunting obscure producers. The gaps are real: no meaningful Italian presence, thin on Rhône, and the Southern Hemisphere beyond New Zealand is largely absent.
The by-the-glass program runs 20-35 options, which is genuinely generous for a steakhouse of this size and gives casual diners real flexibility without committing to a bottle. Quality skews toward the recognizable rather than the interesting — you're more likely to find a crowd-pleasing California Chardonnay than anything that'll make you stop mid-sip. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Forge Cellars Dry Riesling Classique — Not publicly listed
Forge Cellars is one of the Finger Lakes' most serious producers, and their Classique Riesling punches well above its price point anywhere it shows up. In a list this Napa-heavy, it's an underpriced alternative that actually cuts through a rich steakhouse meal better than most of the Chardonnays on the list.
Forge Cellars Dry Riesling Classique
Most tables at Spencer's are ordering Cabernet or Chardonnay without a second thought — which means this Finger Lakes Riesling sits quietly overlooked. It's dry, precise, and has the acidity to handle anything from crab cakes to a butter-basted filet. The kind of wine that makes a sommelier quietly excited when you order it.
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon
At $81 on the list against a $20 retail price, this is a 305% markup on a mass-market bottle that has no business being priced anywhere near $80. Bonanza is a fine Tuesday-night-at-home Cab — it is not a special occasion pour, and you're paying fine dining prices for a grocery store wine.
Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime dry-aged ribeye
Grgich Hills makes structured, age-worthy Napa Cab with enough tannin and dark fruit to stand up to the fat and char on a dry-aged ribeye. It's the classic call for a reason — and at a place like Spencer's, leaning into the California-steakhouse tradition actually makes sense.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Spencer's is the most reliable wine program in its lane in Salt Lake City — a serious steakhouse list with real depth, knowledgeable staff, and proper glassware. Just watch the markup, skip the Bonanza, and let the sommelier talk you into that Riesling.
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill is a solid, dependable restaurant that deserves a more adventurous wine list — the oyster program alone could support something far more interesting than what's here. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't spend too much time staring at the bottle list hoping it changes.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Manchester · Fine Dining Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Manchester is a reliable destination for wine at a steakhouse: professional service, a sommelier who won't embarrass you, and a 350-label list that covers every base — just none of them adventurously. Send your out-of-town clients here without hesitation; send your wine-curious friend somewhere with more personality.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Hamilton Place · Chattanooga · Fine Dining Steakhouse
If you're here for the steak and want a California Cab to go with it, The Capital Grille won't let you down — but it won't surprise you either. Catch the Generous Pour event and you've got a genuinely solid evening; skip it, and this is just another chain wine list priced for expense accounts.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.