The Bread's Great. Stop There.
South Hill / Elmira Road corridor · Ithaca · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Texas Roadhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Texas Roadhouse Ithaca arrives like an afterthought stapled to the back of a menu that's mostly about ribeyes and buckets of peanuts. It's short, it's familiar in the worst way, and it signals immediately that nobody here lost sleep over it. If your expectations are low, they'll be met.
We're talking 10 to 16 bottles deep, and the roster reads like the shelf at a gas station that's really trying: Josh Cellars, Kendall-Jackson, Barefoot, and a cast of unnamed house pours hiding behind descriptors like 'House Red' and 'Premium Cab.' There's no regional story being told here, no interesting producers, nothing that would make a curious drinker lean in. California dominates by default, not by intention, and the international presence is limited to a Prosecco and a Champagne that exist mostly to justify a Valentine's Day upsell. The list isn't offensive — it's just completely indifferent.
Eight to twelve options by the glass cover the standard bases: Cab, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Prosecco, and a house pour or two. At $6.99 to $9.99 a glass, the price looks friendly until you realize you're paying near-retail for Barefoot. The pours are reportedly generous — Texas Roadhouse has been called out online for oversized glass pours — which is the one honest win here.
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay — $8.99/glass
If you're going to drink chain-restaurant Chardonnay, KJ Vintner's Reserve is at least a known quantity — it's consistent, it's crowd-proof, and it's probably the most drinkable thing on the menu for the price point.
Riesling (by the glass)
Nobody at a Texas Roadhouse is ordering Riesling, which means it's probably the freshest bottle on the floor. With a ribeye? No. But with the Chicken Critters? That off-dry fruit actually plays.
House Red (bottle)
At $24.99 a bottle for something retailing around $8.99, you're paying a 177% markup for a wine with no name, no producer, and no story. Order it by the glass if you must, but do not commit to the bottle.
Cabernet Sauvignon (Premium Red, by the glass) + Hand-Cut Ribeye
It's the obvious call, and obvious isn't always wrong. A basic California Cab — whether that's Josh or a house pour — has enough fruit and structure to stand up to the fat in a ribeye without demanding your full attention. This is comfort pairing, not high art, and that's fine.
Wednesday — Texas Roadhouse chain locations have historically run a 'Wine Wednesday' promotion with 50% off bottles — but this has not been verified as active at the Ithaca location specifically. Call ahead before you plan your night around it.
❌ The Bottom Line
Texas Roadhouse Ithaca is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the list is short, the producers are supermarket-tier, and the markups on house pours are quietly aggressive. Come for the bread and the steak; if you need wine, order one glass and make peace with it.
Downtown / The Commons · Ithaca · Irish pub, Irish-American gastropub
Kilpatrick's is never going to make a wine list worth traveling to Ithaca for, but it's a fair, unpretentious pour program that respects your wallet and quietly sneaks in a Pouilly-Fuissé and a proper Hugel Riesling. Come for the shepherd's pie, stay for the Alsace.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / State Street · Ithaca · Cocktail Bar
The Watershed is a cocktail bar that accidentally has a decent wine list, and we mean that as a compliment. If you're in Ithaca and want a low-key glass of something thoughtfully chosen without paying downtown Manhattan prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West End / State Street · Ithaca · Wine Shop & Tasting Room
The Falls Wine Room is the kind of neighborhood spot that makes you realize how low the bar usually is — thoughtful list, honest prices, and a genuine point of view on what wine should be. If you're in Ithaca and you care even a little about what's in your glass, you owe this place a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown / Aurora Street · Ithaca · Fine Dining / International
Mahogany Grill is a fine restaurant that hasn't extended that care to its wine program — the list is mass-market, the Finger Lakes is a ghost, and the fine dining pricing makes it sting. Order the shrimp cocktail, drink the Bully Hill, and temper your expectations.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East State Street / East Hill · Ithaca · Italian (Tuscan-inspired, inventive Italian)
Gola is punching well above its weight class for an Ithaca side street — the Italian regional depth here would hold up at a serious wine bar in any major city. If you're driving through the Finger Lakes and think you're just stopping for dinner, plan to stay a while.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West End / State Street · Ithaca · Seafood / Cajun
Maxie's is not a wine destination, but it's a genuinely good time with a list that's fair, approachable, and wisely anchored by the Atwater Finger Lakes pour. Show up on a Monday for $10 off every bottle, order the oysters, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
The Walk/Tanger Outlets · Atlantic City · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Atlantic City is a reliable, well-executed steakhouse wine program that does exactly what it says on the label — deep California Cab selection, competent staff, proper storage, steep prices. Send a friend here if they want a sure thing, not if they're looking to be surprised.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Marina District (Harrah's) · Atlantic City · Steakhouse
Gordon Ramsay Steak isn't building a destination wine program, but it's not phoning it in either — there's a sommelier, fair pricing, and a few genuinely smart picks hiding in a list that otherwise plays to the casino crowd. If you're here for the Beef Wellington, you'll find something worth drinking with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Boardwalk (Caesars) · Atlantic City · Steakhouse
Morton's Atlantic City is a reliable, if unremarkable, wine program — safe, California-heavy, and priced for the casino environment. Send a friend here for a good steak and a decent glass of Duckhorn; don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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