Classic steakhouse pours, no surprises required
Lake Hollingsworth area · Lakeland · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Texas Cattle Company’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Texas Cattle Company reads exactly like you'd expect from a downtown Lakeland steakhouse that's been doing this for decades — familiar names, safe bets, and a few brand-name splurges for the table celebrating something. It's not trying to surprise you, and it doesn't. What it does do is give you enough recognizable bottles to pair with a ribeye without breaking a sweat.
The 30-45 bottle list leans hard on California, which makes sense for a steakhouse — Caymus 'Bonanza' Cab, Orin Swift 'Bloodlines', and Emmolo Merlot cover the bold red bases without much imagination. There's a nod to the Pacific Northwest with Dark Harvest Chardonnay from Washington, Elouan Pinot Noir from Oregon, and Oyster Bay Pinot Noir representing New Zealand. Argentina gets a respectable entry with Nieto Senetiner's 'Don Nicanor' Malbec, and Italy covers the lighter-drinker territory with Torresella Prosecco and Barone Fini Pinot Grigio. What's missing: anything from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Spain, or any small producer worth getting excited about.
Fifteen by-the-glass options is genuinely solid for a steakhouse of this scale — ranging from $7 for Canyon Road White Zinfandel up to $21 for something with a bit more ambition. The glass list mirrors the bottle list in personality: crowd-pleasing, brand-forward, and built for the guest who wants a glass of 'the Caymus' without flipping through a novel. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — this list feels like it's been mostly the same for a while, and that's both its comfort and its ceiling.
Nieto Senetiner 'Don Nicanor' Malbec — $12/glass (estimated)
Don Nicanor is Nieto Senetiner's upper-tier Mendoza label — structured, dark-fruited, and built to handle a flame-broiled ribeye without flinching. It consistently punches above its price point and offers more complexity than anything else in its price range on this list.
Orin Swift '8 Years in the Desert'
Most tables here are ordering the Caymus 'Bonanza' on autopilot, but Orin Swift's Zinfandel-based blend is the more interesting glass — layered, slightly wild, and a better conversation starter than anything else on this list. It's still crowd-friendly enough that you won't shock your dining companion, but it actually has a personality.
Torresella Prosecco
At $9 a glass on a $13 retail bottle, you're paying 408% markup for a forgettable baseline Prosecco with no discernible reason to exist on a steakhouse list. Order a cocktail instead, or save the sparkling moment for somewhere that stocks something worth celebrating with.
Emmolo by Caymus Merlot + Flame-broiled ribeye
Emmolo is Napa Merlot done right — plush and fruit-forward without going flabby, with enough structure to cut through ribeye fat and hold its own against char. It's the kind of glass that makes a classic steakhouse dinner feel like it was planned that way.
The Bottom Line
Texas Cattle Company isn't a wine destination, but it's a competent steakhouse list that gets the job done — pick the right bottle and your ribeye dinner stays on track. Just don't come here expecting discovery; come here expecting to eat well and drink well enough.
· Lakeland · Italian
The Macaroni Grill Lakeland wine list is functional the way a vending machine is functional — it dispenses what you ask for without fuss or personality. The by-the-glass breadth gives casual drinkers options, but the markups on several bottles and the complete absence of anything interesting or Italian-forward make this a list you tolerate rather than enjoy. Order the Lambrusco or the Trapiche Malbec and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Steakhouse
Texas Cattle Company isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list doesn't pretend otherwise — but fair pricing across 17 glass pours and a genuine quality tier anchored by Halter Ranch Cab make this a reliable place to drink reasonably well with your steak. If you're with a group that just wants something cold and red without a lecture, this list does its job.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Lakeland · Bistro / European
Bay Street Bistro earns its reputation as Lakeland's go-to for a romantic, upscale dinner — the food clearly punches above the city's weight class. The wine program, however, doesn't match that ambition: pricing skews steep relative to what's on offer, and there's no evidence of the curation or deals you'd want alongside a $40 entrée. Go for the Beef Wellington, but do your homework on the wine list before you commit to a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Italian
Carrabba's Lakeland is a place you drink wine at, not a place you go to drink wine. If you're here, order the cheapest bottle that sounds like Italy and focus on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Seafood / New Orleans-inspired
Harry's Lakeland is a dependable pit stop — fair prices, an absurdly generous by-the-glass program, and a list that won't intimidate anyone. It's not a destination for wine, but it's also not going to ruin your dinner.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Food Hall (Multi-Concept)
The Joinery is a Wild Card in the best sense: a food hall that actually thought about its wine program, priced it fairly, and threw in a Greek white and some non-alcoholic options for good measure. Don't come here expecting a deep list, but do come expecting to drink something decent without getting gouged.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Costa Mesa is exactly what it is: a well-run corporate steakhouse with a Champagne list that punches above the room's ambition and a Chardonnay section that covers the safe California bases reliably. Markups are steep throughout and the list doesn't take any risks, but if you know what you want — a glass of Hartford Court or a bottle of Schramsberg before your steak — you'll be fine. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Honolulu · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Hawaii's wine list does what the brand does everywhere — it's safe, corporate, and priced to capture resort-market margins. The Champagne selection is genuinely deep and includes some worthwhile picks like the Paul Bara and the Llopart Cava, but markups are steep and there's little here to excite anyone looking beyond the obvious. If you're here for a steak and want bubbles, you'll find something that works — just don't expect the list to dazzle you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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