Cabernet and Jellyfish on the Atlantic
Ft. Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Steak 954 and the list lands with the same confidence as the room — jellyfish drifting behind glass, ocean light bouncing everywhere, and a wine program that knows exactly what crowd it's playing to. Three hundred-plus bottles anchored in California, France, and Italy, all lined up like a greatest-hits record. This is the steakhouse wine list done right: no apologies, no pretense, just heavy hitters.
The California section is where this list flexes hardest — Opus One, Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Jordan, and Far Niente all present and accounted for. France shows up serious too, with Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages anchoring a Bordeaux section that earns the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence the restaurant has held since 2023. Italy rounds it out with Sassicaia and Tignanello, which means the Super Tuscan crowd is well covered. The gaps are real — Southern Hemisphere, Spain, and anything left of center are largely absent — but if you're eating a dry-aged ribeye steps from the Atlantic, this list has exactly what you came for.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a genuinely impressive pour program for a hotel steakhouse, and the range tracks the bottle list — California Cabs and Chardonnays dominate, with some French and Italian representation sprinkled in. Rotation feels more static than dynamic; don't expect a lot of seasonal surprises. Still, having this many quality pours available means you can work through a meal without committing to a full bottle, which we always appreciate.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60
Jordan is a legitimate Alexander Valley Cab that consistently overdelivers for the price tier — on a list where bottles regularly sprint past $200, this is your smartest play on a big red for the table.
Far Niente Chardonnay
Everyone's locked in on the Cab section, and Far Niente quietly sits there as one of the best Chardonnay producers in Napa. It's rich and serious without going full butter-bomb, and it's chronically overlooked on steakhouse lists where white wine is treated like an afterthought.
Opus One
The wine is exceptional — the markup is not. Opus One shows up on every luxury steakhouse list in America and gets priced accordingly. You're paying for the name on the table as much as what's in the glass. Put that same money toward Lynch-Bages and drink better for less.
Sassicaia + Prime Dry-Aged Ribeye
Sassicaia's Cabernet-Cabernet Franc backbone and firm, savory structure were essentially designed to cut through the fat on a well-marbled dry-aged ribeye. This is the pairing that makes the room feel like it makes sense.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Steak 954 is a legitimately strong wine program for a beach hotel steakhouse — deep on the producers that matter, proper storage, and a by-the-glass count that punches above its weight. Markups are what they are at this address, but if you pick smart, this is a great place to drink wine with a serious piece of beef.
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Mediterranean
The Terrace Grill isn't where you go to chase down rare bottles or get your mind blown by an unexpected producer — it's where you go to drink well without overthinking it. For waterfront Mediterranean dining in Fort Lauderdale, that's a perfectly respectable offer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian, Floridian
La Fuga earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a focused Italian-California list that does right by the food — just be prepared for steep markups on the prestige bottles. Send a friend here when they want serious Italian wine with their pasta and a view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian
Anthony's Runway 84 is a Fort Lauderdale institution that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: big Napa names, old-school Italian comfort, and no surprises. Wine-forward diners may find the list a little safe, but the Italian highlights and the fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence signal that someone here is paying attention — even if the list isn't ready to take risks.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · French, Japanese
MAASS is the real thing — a sommelier-driven program with genuine depth, proper glassware, and staff that actually knows what's in the cellar. Markups run steep at the top end, but this is a Best of Award of Excellence list for a reason, and it earns every bit of the credential.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · American, Farm to Table
Daniel's is a legitimate Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence earner — the list is deep, the heavy hitters are all here, and the room is built for serious wine drinking. The markups sting and there's no sommelier pushing you toward discovery, but if you know what you're looking for, this is one of Fort Lauderdale's best bottles-over-dinner experiences.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Brazilian Steakhouse
Chima isn't a wine bar wearing a steakhouse costume — it's a legitimate churrascaria that happens to have built a wine program worth respecting. Pricing runs steep across the board, but Wednesday half-price night changes the math entirely, and the Argentine and Italian selections give you real choices beyond the usual California parade.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Hartland · Hartland · Steak House
Palmer's is a reliable steakhouse wine list that delivers exactly what its suburban clientele wants — well-known California names, solid execution, and nothing too weird. If you're a wine adventurer, you'll want to temper expectations; if you're celebrating with a ribeye and a Jordan Cab, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town Square · Jackson · Steak House
The Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse has a sommelier, a Wine Spectator credential, and a list that knows its audience — which is Jackson tourists who want great steak and great Napa Cab, full stop. Send a friend here if they want a proper California red with a serious piece of beef; just warn them to skip Opus One and let Jordan do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Milwaukee · Milwaukee · Steak House
Ward's House of Prime is exactly what it says it is: a classic Milwaukee steakhouse with a wine list built to match big cuts of beef. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence is well-earned, but don't come looking for adventure — come looking for a great California Cab and a slab of prime rib.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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