Napa's Greatest Hits, Executed Well
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list lands with the confidence of a restaurant that knows exactly who it's serving — expense accounts, anniversaries, and the occasional steak fanatic who planned this dinner two weeks out. It's heavy on Napa, polished to a shine, and about as surprising as a bone-in ribeye at a steakhouse. That's not a knock — it's just the deal you're making when you walk in.
Three hundred and fifty-plus bottles sounds like freedom, but the list leans hard into California Cabernet and Chardonnay, with Bordeaux and Burgundy rounding out the prestige section. Stags' Leap, Jordan, Frank Family, Duckhorn — these are the headliners, and they're booked solid every night. The Burgundy and Bordeaux selections give the list some old-world credibility, though you're not uncovering anything obscure. If you came hoping for a Jura deep cut or a funky Beaujolais, you're at the wrong address.
Thirty to forty pours by the glass is genuinely impressive and one of the stronger arguments for coming here. You can work through a Rombauer Chardonnay, a Duckhorn Merlot, and a Stags' Leap Cab in one sitting without committing to a bottle, which is either smart drinking or a liability depending on your willpower. The glass program mirrors the bottle list — California-forward, reliably executed, no wild swings.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan is a perennial overachiever — serious Alexander Valley Cab at a price point that doesn't require a second mortgage. On a list where bottles climb fast, Jordan holds the line and still delivers the structured, polished red you want next to a dry-aged ribeye.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at this table is ordering Cabernet, and honestly, the Duckhorn Merlot is quietly having a better night. It's plush, structured, and drinks like a much pricier bottle — and it gets overlooked every time someone decides Merlot is beneath them. It isn't.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Rombauer is fine — it's just also everywhere, and you're paying a restaurant markup on a bottle your neighbor picked up at Total Wine last week. The oak-and-butter combo plays well in theory, but at Capital Grille prices, you're overpaying for familiarity.
Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon + Dry-aged bone-in ribeye
Frank Family's Cab has enough dark fruit and tannin structure to stand up to the intense char and fat of a dry-aged ribeye without steamrolling the meat. It's a Napa Cab doing exactly what Napa Cab was built to do.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Capital Grille SLC is a reliable, well-run wine program that serves its audience well — just don't come expecting discovery. If you want a great glass of California Cab with a serious steak in a room that actually respects wine storage and glassware, this delivers. Come with a budget and leave the adventurous drinking for another night.
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill is a solid, dependable restaurant that deserves a more adventurous wine list — the oyster program alone could support something far more interesting than what's here. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't spend too much time staring at the bottle list hoping it changes.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Abilene · Steakhouse
Cattleman's Exchange isn't a wine destination, but it's not a disaster either — it's a hotel steakhouse doing hotel steakhouse things. If you're in Abilene and need a Cab with your beef, you'll find something that works; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Springfield · Steakhouse
LongHorn Springfield isn't a wine destination — but with markups this low and pours this affordable, it's one of the better casual chain options in Illinois for a simple red with a big steak. Send a friend here for dinner; just don't tell them to geek out over the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Frontera · Round Rock · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Round Rock is exactly what it looks like: a chain steakhouse wine list on autopilot, built around brand names, sweet crowd-pleasers, and markups that assume you're not paying attention. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.