Big Steakhouse Energy, Surprisingly Honest Markups
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Upscale American Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Sullivan's Naperville arrives looking exactly like what it is: a well-funded chain's corporate list, polished and predictable. But flip past the first page and the markups are noticeably more restrained than you'd expect from a place this glossy. This isn't a list that's going to surprise you, but it's not going to mug you either.
The 150-plus label list leans hard on California — Napa and Sonoma dominate the reds and Chardonnays, with Jordan, Duckhorn, Stags' Leap, and Belle Glos doing most of the heavy lifting. There's a nod to classic Europe (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italian) and some domestic representation from Washington and Oregon, though those sections feel thinner and less curated than the California core. If you came for a Cab with your ribeye, you're in the right place; if you came hoping to find a grower Champagne or a Sicilian oddball, keep looking. The list plays to the steakhouse crowd and does it competently, if not adventurously.
Eighteen to twenty-two options by the glass is a legitimately strong BTG program for a suburban steakhouse — there's real range here, not just house pours. The glass prices run $12–$22, and the selections rotate seasonally, so regulars won't be staring at the same lineup every visit. Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Belle Glos Pinot Noir anchor the lineup and are available by the glass, which is a nice touch for solo diners or anyone not ready to commit to a bottle.
Stags' Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley — $125/bottle
At roughly 1.8x retail, this is about as fair as Napa Cab pricing gets at a restaurant of this caliber. You're paying for the name, but at least you're not getting punished for it.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label
Most people at a steakhouse aren't ordering Champagne, which is exactly why you should. At $110 — just under 2x retail — it's one of the most honest pours on the list, and it cuts through a rich bone-in ribeye better than any Cab will.
Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay
At $15 a glass, you're paying close to full retail price for a single pour of a wine that retails around $22 a bottle. The math doesn't work in your favor here — if you love it, push for the bottle.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley + Bone-in Ribeye
Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab is softer and more approachable than a big Napa bruiser — it has enough structure to match the ribeye's fat and char without overwhelming the beef. Classic combo, executed well, and at $145 it's not a bad deal for what Jordan costs at retail.
Thursday — Selected bottles at roughly half price in the bar area, focused on mid-tier California and international labels. Specific inclusions vary by location and current promotion — worth asking the staff what's in the rotation.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Sullivan's isn't where you go to geek out on wine, but it's where you go when you want a great steak and don't want to get gouged on the bottle you order with it. Show up on a Thursday, hit the half-price wine night in the bar, and call it a win.
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · American pub / burgers
Jackson Avenue Pub is not a wine destination, but Wine Wednesdays at half-price make it a legitimately smart stop if you're already there for a burger and a game. Come for the beer, stay for the deal.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Freedom Commons / I-88 Corridor · Naperville · Seafood and Steakhouse
Hugo's Naperville is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program that will not let you down and will not excite you. Come for the prime beef and oysters, order the Jordan or the Duckhorn, and don't look too hard at the markup on the Pinot Grigio.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Mexican
Fat Rosie's is a genuinely fun taco and tequila spot that has no business being reviewed for its wine — and that's kind of the point. If your table wants wine, order cocktails instead and save everyone the disappointment.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Mediterranean
Vasili's isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the Greek-focused list has enough genuine producers and interesting grapes to reward curious drinkers — especially on Tuesdays when the bottles go half-price. Watch the markups on the Agiorgitiko, lean into the northern Greek reds and the Malagousia, and you'll eat and drink very well along that riverwalk.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Naperville · Naperville · Chicago-style pizzeria / Italian-American
Lou Malnati's is a legitimately iconic pizza destination — but the wine list is an afterthought, marked up on cheap bottles with zero curation or ambition. Come for the deep dish, drink beer, and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hotel Arista / CityGate Centre · Naperville · Italian
Che Figata is the rare suburban hotel restaurant with a wine list worth actually engaging with — Italian-focused, sommelier-guided, and broad enough to reward exploration. The markups sting on a few bottles, but the range and program depth make this the best wine bet in Naperville's CityGate orbit.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Freedom Drive / South Naperville · Naperville · Upscale American Steakhouse
Morton's Naperville is a Reliable — it does what it promises, charges you handsomely for the privilege, and sends you home full and well-lubricated. If you're celebrating something and want a wine list that won't make anyone uncomfortable, this is your place; if you're chasing value or discovery, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Bellefield Office Park Area · Bellevue · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Bellevue is a reliable machine for a certain kind of corporate dinner — but the wine list is a profit center dressed up as a wine program, and the markups make that clear. Order the Belle Glos, catch Ruth's Hour if you can, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere that actually cares.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Newport News does exactly what it promises — serious steaks, serious Napa Cabs, serious prices. The wine list won't surprise you or send you home with a story, but it will get the job done in a room that knows how to take care of you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.