Classic Steakhouse Vibes, Wallet-Punishing Wine Markups
Fig Garden / Central Fresno · Fresno · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
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Plays It Safe
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Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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