Corporate Steakhouse, Surprisingly Decent Glass Game
· Naperville · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed October 18, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Capital Grille – Lombard’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Capital Grille Lombard reads exactly like you'd expect from a high-end chain steakhouse — heavy on Napa Cab, light on adventure, and priced to reflect the zip code more than the wine. That said, all 23 by-the-glass options are sourced wines, not mystery house pours, which at least tells you someone made real decisions here.
The list leans hard into American reds — four Napa/Columbia Valley Cabernets, two Merlots, two Pinot Noirs — with enough white coverage (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc) to keep the non-steak crowd from staring blankly at the menu. International representation is thin: you get a Mosel Riesling from J.J. Prüm, a Mendoza Malbec from Terrazas, and Whispering Angel rosé, but don't come looking for Burgundy, Barolo, or anything that requires a map. The sparkling section is three bottles — Riondo Prosecco, Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, and Moët Rosé — which is functional but not exciting. The whole thing feels curated by committee to offend no one.
The entire 23-label list is available by the glass, which is genuinely useful — you can actually explore across a meal without committing to a bottle. Prices run $10 to $30 per glass, and the spread lets you step up from a $10 Riondo Prosecco to a $30 Orin Swift Palermo Cab without leaving the table. Rotation appears static rather than seasonal, which is the trade-off for consistency at a chain.
The Bottom Line
Capital Grille Lombard is a reliable execution of a familiar formula — known producers, full by-the-glass access, and enough range to keep the table happy even if the list doesn't take many risks. Markup is steep across the board, but the Prüm Riesling at $11 and Substance Cab at $13 are genuine value plays hiding in plain sight. If you're here for a business dinner or a celebration and want wine without surprises, it delivers. Just don't expect the list to challenge you.
· Naperville · Italian
Piccolo Buco is a Cooper's Hawk restaurant wearing Italian clothes, and the wine list makes no attempt to hide that. If you're already a Cooper's Hawk member and enjoy their wines, this is a comfortable, predictable experience with fair glass pricing and decent variety within the brand. If you came hoping for a Sicilian white or a Piedmontese red to go with your pasta, you're in the wrong place — order a cocktail.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Naperville · American bar and grill
Bar Louie Naperville's wine list exists to check a box, not to excite anyone. Order a beer or a cocktail — the bartenders are more invested in those anyway.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Oak Brook · Naperville · Steakhouse
Gibsons Oak Brook is a reliable, if unexciting, wine stop — the BTG program is genuinely strong in volume, but the markups and brand-safe selections keep it from being anything more than comfortable. Order smart and you'll drink well enough; let the table pick and you'll probably end up with Whispering Angel.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Naperville · Italian / Pizza and Wine Bar
Fire + Wine is doing something genuinely thoughtful in a market that usually settles for Malbec and Pinot Grigio. The sparkling program alone is worth the trip, and the value on the French and Italian bottles is hard to argue with.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Naperville · American Winery Restaurant
Goat & Vine is a one-winery show, and that's both its charm and its ceiling. Send a friend here if they want a casual, curiosity-driven evening — not if they're looking for serious wine range.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Modern American / Latin-influenced
Santo Cielo is a great place to have a drink — the atmosphere earns that — but the wine list isn't the reason you're going. Come for the rooftop and the small plates; just don't expect the wine program to match the view.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Clarks runs a leaner-than-average wine list for a steakhouse, but the curation punches above its size — the presence of the Normand Aligoté, the Juillot Pinot Noir, and the Pallières Grenache on the same list as Faust and Stag's Leap tells you the buyer has range. The full-list by-the-glass program at mostly fair markups makes this worth exploring beyond the obvious Cabernet order. If you're eating steak in Atlanta and want something more interesting than your usual Napa pour, this list rewards curiosity.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Steakhouse
Six wines at a chophouse is a wine program in name only. The Bordeaux-leaning selections suggest someone has taste, but with no pricing, no confirmed glass pours, and a list that could fit on a cocktail napkin, there's not enough here to send a friend for the wine experience. Order your steak, pick whatever red sounds least risky, and manage your expectations accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
University Area · Gainesville · Steakhouse
Shula's is a competent hotel steakhouse wine program — it won't embarrass you in front of a client, but it won't thrill you either. The regional framework is solid, the pricing almost certainly reflects the hotel setting, and the list is designed for comfort over curiosity. If you're in Gainesville and need a reliable red with a serious steak, it gets the job done; just don't show up expecting a deep dive.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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