Classic Steakhouse Vibes, Wallet-Punishing Wine Markups
Fig Garden / Central Fresno · Fresno · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Manhattan reads exactly like you'd expect from a white-tablecloth steakhouse in Fresno — familiar California names, a few token imports, and prices that assume you're not paying attention. It's competent on the surface, but dig even a little and the cracks show fast.
The list runs somewhere between 80 and 120 labels, which sounds respectable until you realize it's basically a greatest-hits parade of California Cab, a few Pinots, and some Chardonnay with no producer worth writing home about. McCauley anchors the house wine program — fine for the role, nothing more. There's no real exploration here: no interesting Rhône varieties, no Central Coast underdogs, no reason to linger on the wine list the way you might linger on the steak menu. The dessert and port section hints at some ambition, but without producer names attached, it's hard to get excited.
Somewhere around 12 to 16 pours are available by the glass, priced $10 to $18, which is a decent spread for Fresno. The problem is the list skews heavily toward the predictable — expect Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a Cab or two with no indication of vintage or producer on the floor. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here.
Juggernaut Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 — $48
It's the least-bad option in the Cab column. Yes, 140% markup still stings on a $20 retail bottle, but Juggernaut actually drinks above its price point with enough dark fruit and structure to hold up to a ribeye. On Wednesday's half-price bottle night it becomes a genuinely good deal at $24.
Port wines (house selection)
Most tables skip straight past the dessert and port section without a second glance, but a classic steakhouse pour of port with a slice of something rich after a $50 filet is an underrated closer. Ask what they're pouring — if staff can actually answer, that's a bonus.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2020
At $170 on the menu versus $90 at retail, this is the most egregious markup on the list. Caymus is already a polarizing wine — big, oaky, crowd-pleasing — and the restaurant is charging nearly double what you'd pay at a wine shop. Hard pass unless someone else is buying.
Daou Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2021 + Filet Mignon
Daou Cab is ripe, plush, and structured enough to stand up to a filet without steamrolling it. At $68 it's still a steep markup on a $30 retail bottle, but it's one of the more food-friendly reds on the list — and on a Wednesday, half-price brings it down to a much more reasonable $34.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles on select wines from the main list. Excludes reserve list and by-the-glass selections. Best night to visit if wine is part of the plan.
❌ The Bottom Line
The Manhattan is a perfectly decent steakhouse that treats its wine list as a revenue center rather than a genuine offering — markups are aggressive across the board and the selection plays it safe to a fault. Come on a Wednesday for half-price bottles, order the Juggernaut, and put your wallet away before you're tempted by the Caymus.
North Fresno / Woodward Park · Fresno · Steakhouse and Seafood, Upscale American Fine Dining
The Palms is a genuine effort in a market where fine dining wine lists can easily coast on brand names and call it a day — and honestly, it does some of that too. But the depth is real enough, and the room earns a wine-forward meal. Send a friend, just tell them to look past the Caymus.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fig Garden / Central Fresno · Fresno · American / Bistro
Starving Artist Bistro isn't trying to be a wine bar, but it's doing more than most Fresno bistros bother to do — fair prices, a couple of producers worth finding, and a by-the-glass list that gives you actual options. Send a friend here without hesitation; just steer them away from the house Pinot Grigio.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Fresno · Fresno · Peruvian
Limón isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either — the list is lean, South American, and built to work with the food, which is more than most restaurants at this price point bother to do. Go for the Jalea and the Sauvignon Blanc, skip the Malbec autopilot, and enjoy the ride.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Fig Garden Village · Fresno · New American, Italian-influenced
Five is a reliable neighborhood wine list — competent, crowd-pleasing, and genuinely worth a visit on Wednesday when the value equation flips in your favor. Just don't come here expecting to be surprised.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
North Fresno · Fresno · Steakhouse
Yosemite Ranch isn't going to win any awards for wine adventurousness, but the Tuesday half-price bottle promotion turns a steep list into a genuinely good deal, and the California-focused lineup is competent if predictable. Come on a Tuesday, order the Austin Hope, and eat your steak.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Fashion Fair / Central Fresno · Fresno · Upscale Steakhouse
Fleming's Fresno is a dependable steakhouse wine program — well-stored, staffed by people who actually know the list, and wide enough to find something worth drinking. The markups are what they are for the genre, and the BTG options won't win any awards, but if someone else is picking up the check, you'll eat and drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Rosedale · Bakersfield · Steakhouse, American
Black Angus Bakersfield won't win any awards for adventurous curation, but the pricing is genuinely hard to argue with — you're regularly paying at or below retail for recognizable, food-friendly wines. If you're here for the steak, the wine list won't let you down, and it won't empty your wallet either.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Embarcadero · San Francisco · Steakhouse, American
EPIC Steak is a reliable, well-executed steakhouse wine program that earns its stripes with real depth, a sommelier who cares, and a few smart curveballs buried in the list. The markups will sting, but if you know where to look — and now you do — there's genuinely good drinking to be had with that view.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Gaylord Rockies / Gateway Park · Aurora · Steakhouse, American
Old Hickory is a reliable, well-run resort steakhouse wine program — sommelier on staff, proper glassware, wines stored correctly — but it's built for comfort, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want a guaranteed good glass with a great steak; send someone else if they're looking to find something new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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