Old-school steakhouse charm, dependable pour
Downtown Saint Paul · Minneapolis · American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed St. Paul Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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.
Downtown · Minneapolis · Brazilian churrascaria / Brazilian steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Minneapolis is a reliably fun night out if you're there for the meat spectacle — and you should be. The wine list is a supporting cast that knows its role: keep people happy, don't surprise anyone, move on. If wine is more than an afterthought for you, lower your expectations before you open the menu.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
· Fort Worth · American Steakhouse
Del Frisco's Grille Fort Worth has a wine list the same way an airport newsstand has a wine section — technically true, practically limiting. Order the Tokaji for dessert, drink cocktails with dinner, and don't expect anyone to help you navigate the difference.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Carson · Carson City · American Steakhouse
Glen Eagles is a comfortable, classic Carson City steakhouse with a wine list that's essentially coasting — one strong Port section surrounded by a whole lot of nothing. Come for the prime rib, order a Port after, and don't expect much more from the wine side of the menu.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
San Marcos · San Marcos · American Steakhouse
Outback San Marcos won't embarrass you if you order a glass with dinner, but you're not here for the wine list and nobody pretends otherwise. Stick to the Riesling or the Malbec and spend your energy on the steak.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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