Old-school steakhouse charm, dependable pour
Downtown Saint Paul · Minneapolis · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into St. Paul Grill feels like stepping into a 1987 power lunch — dark wood, white tablecloths, the kind of place where someone's dad is definitely ordering a Cabernet. The wine list matches the room: familiar, safe, leaning heavily into California and the Pacific Northwest. No surprises here, and that's mostly fine.
The list is a greatest-hits tour of approachable American wine country — Napa Cabs, Willamette Pinot, a lone Malbec from Mendoza to keep things continental. You've got Rombauer, Orin Swift, Turnbull, and Stags' Leap on the red side, which is exactly what the filet mignon crowd wants. There's no deep-cellar ambition here and zero old-world representation, but what's here is competently curated. The Willakenzie Pinot and Van Duzzer Pinot Grigio give it a small nod toward terroir-driven picks, which is a modest bright spot.
Nine options by the glass spanning $15–$25, which is reasonable for a hotel restaurant in this bracket. The range covers all the bases — white, rosé, red — without doubling down on anything interesting. Rotation appears static; don't expect anything new next visit.
Catena Alta Malbec 'Historic Rows,' Mendoza — $18
Catena Alta is a serious producer making age-worthy Malbec from high-altitude vines, and this cuvée punches well above its glass-pour price point. It's the one wine on this list that nods toward somewhere interesting.
Willakenzie Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Willakenzie Estate is a genuinely good Willamette producer that most people at this restaurant will walk right past to grab the Orin Swift. Don't be that person — this is the most terroir-honest wine on the list and it belongs here more than the flashy stuff.
Orin Swift '8 Years in the Desert' Red Blend, California
It's a fine party wine, but at $25 a glass you're paying almost entirely for the brand recognition and the label. The fruit-forward California blend routine has a lower ceiling than anything else in the red section.
Miner Emily's Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa + Filet Mignon
A structured Napa Cab with the weight to stand up to a center-cut filet — this is the most classically correct move on the list. It's the pairing the room was basically designed for.
✔️ The Bottom Line
St. Paul Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable hotel steakhouse pour that serves its clientele exactly what they came for. Bring a Cab drinker, order the filet, and don't expect the list to challenge you.
North Loop / Warehouse District · Minneapolis · Modern Argentinian Steakhouse
Porzana punches above its class for a Minneapolis steakhouse — the Italian and Argentine selections show genuine curation, and the Fenocchio Barolo alone justifies a serious wine order. Just go in with eyes open on markups and skip the entry-level bottles unless you're pouring by the glass.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lowry Hill · Minneapolis · Steakhouse and Wood-Fired Pizza
Burch has the bones of a genuinely great wine program — knowledgeable staff, proper storage, and a list that respects the classics — but the pricing strategy on the mid-tier and entry-level bottles will test your patience. Go big or go home: the value-to-quality ratio only really clicks once you're spending $200+.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / North Loop · Minneapolis · New American / Contemporary American
112 Eatery's wine list is punching well above its weight for a Minneapolis neighborhood bistro, with a genuinely distinctive Old World focus and producers that belong on serious lists anywhere in the country. The markups sting on a few bottles, but the curation earns enough goodwill to keep us coming back.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Minneapolis · French Bistro
Barbette is a wine list built by someone who actually drinks wine and wants you to as well — it's small, French, and surprisingly legit for a neighborhood bistro in Uptown. If you're a natural wine fan or just someone who wants good Beaujolais with steak frites, send your friends here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Loring Park · Minneapolis · New American
Cafe Lurcat is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in one of Minneapolis's prettiest dining rooms — just know you're paying a premium for the address and the ambiance. Ask the sommelier for help navigating the list and you'll drink well; go on autopilot and order the obvious Napa Cab and you'll leave having spent more than you should have.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest Minneapolis (Fulton) · Minneapolis · Italian, fresh housemade pasta
Broders' Pasta Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that gets the wine list right by staying in its lane. Fair prices, Italian focus, solid glass pours — bring a friend who orders by the bottle and you're in good shape.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Murfreesboro · Murfreesboro · American Steakhouse
The Chop House Murfreesboro does exactly what it's designed to do: give you a decent glass of California red with your steak at a familiar price point. If you're looking for a wine revelation, you're in the wrong place — but if you just want a solid night out with a reliable pour, it delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · American Steakhouse
LongHorn Newport News isn't a wine destination — it's a steakhouse where wine is an afterthought, priced to extract margin rather than reward curiosity. Order the ribeye, pick the least-bad bottle, and don't expect anyone at the table to talk about what's in the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hanes Mall / Strickland Rd · Winston Salem · American Steakhouse
Firebirds isn't trying to reinvent anything, and the wine list reflects that — it's a dependable, California-forward selection that does its job without embarrassing itself. If you want adventure, look elsewhere; if you want a solid bottle with a good steak in a comfortable room, this gets you there.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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