Smoke, Brisket, and Surprisingly Good Texas Wine
Waco · Waco · Barbecue · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk in expecting a cooler full of Lone Stars and maybe a Dr Pepper, and instead you find a curated list of Texas wines anchored by bottles from Friday Mountain Resort and Winery. It's not what you planned for, but it's exactly what you didn't know you needed. The whole thing feels like a deliberate bet on Texas terroir — and honestly, respect.
The list leans hard into the Texas Hill Country and High Plains, with Friday Mountain doing most of the heavy lifting. The trio of 2020 releases — a Mourvèdre, a Syrah, and a Tempranillo — signals someone in this operation actually knows what grows well in Texas heat. It's a short list, but the regional commitment is real and the variety within it is smarter than you'd expect from a barbecue joint. The gap is obvious: if you're not into Texas red wines, your options thin out fast.
By-the-glass specifics aren't fully documented here, so we can't speak to pour counts or rotation with confidence. What we do know is that the bottle program is built around Friday Mountain's reds, and if those are available by the glass, they're worth the ask. Get whoever's working the floor to walk you through it — there's reportedly a sommelier in the mix, which is genuinely surprising and encouraging for a BBQ counter-service setup.
2020 FridayMtn. Tempranillo — $75
At $75, it's the entry point into the Friday Mountain lineup and Tempranillo's savory, earthy profile is built for smoke and fat. Not a steal, but the best bang-for-buck on this list.
2020 FridayMtn. Mourvèdre
Most people at a Texas BBQ spot aren't ordering Mourvèdre — which is exactly why you should. It's a dark, meaty grape that handles char and rendered fat better than almost anything else on a wine list. This bottle will surprise you.
2020 FridayMtn. Syrah
At $75 it's not egregious, but with the Mourvèdre right there at $80 and the Tempranillo at the same price point, the Syrah ends up as the odd one out. Nothing wrong with it — it just doesn't stand out the way the other two do in this context.
2020 FridayMtn. Mourvèdre + Beef Ribs
A big, fatty beef rib needs something with backbone and a little funk to cut through it. Mourvèdre brings iron, black fruit, and a savory edge that goes toe-to-toe with the smoke without flinching. This is the pairing.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Terry Black's Waco is a Wild Card in the truest sense — a legit Texas BBQ institution that took a swing on an all-Texas wine program and mostly landed it. If you're coming for brisket, consider ordering a bottle too; it's a better story than you'd expect.
Central Waco / Richland Mall area · Waco · American gastropub / brewery fare
BJ's wine list exists because it has to, not because anyone loves it — this is a beer destination first and everything else is an afterthought. If you're here on a Wednesday during happy hour, grab the $5 Dark Horse and call it honest; otherwise, just drink the beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Central Waco / Loop 340 · Waco · Casual Chain Italian-American
Olive Garden Waco's wine list is a corporate afterthought dressed up with Italian flags — gouge-level markups on supermarket bottles, no staff expertise, and zero ambition. Order the cocktails, drink the endless coffee, or BYOB if they'll let you. The breadsticks don't need wine anyway.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Waco / I-35 corridor · Waco · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a great place for a hand-cut steak, cold beer, and line-dancing servers — but the wine list is essentially a placeholder. Come for the food, order a Lone Star, and leave the wine ambitions at home.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Waco / Valley Mills Drive · Waco · Steakhouse
Outback Waco's wine program is what happens when a corporate chain treats wine as a line item instead of an experience — overpriced grocery store bottles with zero staff expertise and zero reason to explore the list. Order the beer, order the cocktail, or BYOB if they'll let you.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central Waco / near Richland Mall · Waco · Steakhouse
Saltgrass is here for the steak, and the steak is genuinely good — but the wine program is an afterthought wearing a price tag. Order the ribeye, split a bottle of Decoy if you must, and don't expect anyone on staff to help you think beyond that.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Woodway / Marketplace area · Waco · Steakhouse
135 Prime is doing more with a wine list than Waco has any right to expect from its steakhouse scene, and the weekly specials show genuine curiosity. Just keep your guard up when the dessert wine list arrives — that's where the house cashes in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Hoboken Waterfront · Jersey City · Barbecue
House of 'Que is a genuinely fun spot for barbecue and live music — just don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience. Order a beer, eat the brisket, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irvine Spectrum · Irvine · Barbecue
Wood Ranch isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — it's a well-run BBQ chain that gives you enough decent California red to get through a plate of ribs without embarrassment. Grab the Rodney Strong, order the tri tip, and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jackson Town · Jackson Hole · Barbecue
Bubba's doesn't pretend to be a wine destination, and we respect the honesty — but the list is the definition of set-it-and-forget-it. Order a beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.