Big Room Energy, Small Wine Ambition
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed STK NYC - Midtown’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
STK Midtown hands you a wine list that feels like it was curated by committee — a committee that shops at Total Wine and prioritizes brand recognition over anything remotely interesting. With 139 labels on paper, it sounds substantial until you realize you've seen this exact list at a dozen other upscale chain steakhouses across the country. The hits are all here, and that's exactly the problem.
The list leans hard into California Cabernet and familiar white wine brands, which is exactly what the power-lunch crowd expects and exactly what keeps wine lovers reaching for the cocktail menu. You've got Caymus, Decoy, Bonanza, and Rombauer doing the heavy lifting — workhorses all, but there's no depth, no discovery, no reason to linger on the list. The sparkling section is anchored by Veuve Clicquot and Moët, which are fine but marked up for the room, not for your wallet. There's a nod to rosé with Whispering Angel and Miraval, which at this point are basically steakhouse wallpaper.
One by-the-glass option surfaced in our research — Bonanza by Caymus Cabernet at $9 — which is either a screaming happy hour deal or evidence that the BTG program just hasn't been updated anywhere we could find it. Either way, a 139-label list with a single documented glass pour is not a by-the-glass program; it's a placeholder. We'd expect a room of this size and ambition to be pouring eight to twelve wines by the glass across multiple categories.
Bonanza by Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon — $9/glass
If this is the happy hour price, it's genuinely the best reason to sit at the bar. Bonanza is Caymus's value-tier California Cab — simple, fruit-forward, and totally drinkable. At $9 a glass in Midtown Manhattan, we're not complaining.
Eroica Riesling
Nobody orders Riesling at a steakhouse, which is exactly why you should. Eroica — the Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen collaboration — is a genuinely serious wine at an accessible price point, and it'll cut through a rich butter-basted steak in ways that Chardonnay just can't.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut
Retail is around $60 a bottle. At a Midtown steakhouse, expect to pay well north of $120. Veuve is a perfectly fine Champagne, but you're paying for the yellow label recognition, not quality you can't find elsewhere for less.
Twomey by Silver Oak Sauvignon Blanc + Steak tartare
Twomey's Sauvignon Blanc brings enough herbal brightness and citrus tension to cut through the richness of a classic tartare without bullying it. It's one of the few whites on this list with enough personality to actually do something at the table.
The Bottom Line
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Worth · Fort Worth · Steakhouse
Bob's Fort Worth is a dependable steakhouse wine list — California-centric, Champagne-heavy, and priced for the occasion. You won't discover anything new, but you won't be drinking badly either.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Richmond · Steakhouse
Perry's is a perfectly competent wine stop for steakhouse purposes — you'll find something to drink, the by-the-glass selection is broad, and nobody's going home unhappy. But if you care about value or discovery, this list won't challenge you, and the markup on recognizable names is a quiet tax on your loyalty to the brand.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Plano · Plano · Steakhouse
Bob's Plano is a dependable steakhouse wine list built for the business dinner crowd — technically solid, California-centric, and priced to match the room. If you know what you want and you want something familiar, it'll deliver; just don't come here looking for adventure or value.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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