Classic Steakhouse Vibes, Wallet-Punishing Wine Markups
Fig Garden / Central Fresno · Fresno · Steakhouse, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 22, 2026 · How we review
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.
· Fresno · Italian
Oggi Caffe is a solid neighborhood Italian restaurant where the wine list does its job without doing anything particularly interesting. The Napa-Tuscany focus is predictable but dependable, and at a $25–$45 entree range the bottle prices are likely to feel steep relative to what you're getting. Go for the homemade pasta and the atmosphere — and if wine matters to you, ask what's open by the glass before committing to a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Fresno is a reliable landing pad if someone else is picking the restaurant and wine takes a back seat to a great center-cut filet. The wine program isn't adventurous and markups at this tier tend to sting, but the service is polished and the experience is consistent. If wine is the reason you're going out, look elsewhere — but if it's the steak and wine is just along for the ride, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Wine Bar & Charcuterie
Cork & Knife earns a Wild Card badge because it's doing something genuinely uncommon for Fresno: running a real wine bar with structured tastings, a half-price Wednesday deal, and a daily happy hour that keeps the barrier low. We can't vouch for every bottle on the list without seeing it, but the bones of a thoughtful program are here — and if you're in the area, a $9 glass at happy hour is a very low-risk way to find out for yourself.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Fresno · Regional Italian
The Annex Kitchen is doing something genuinely uncommon in Fresno's dining scene — building an all-by-the-glass Italian wine list that actually reflects the cuisine it's serving. The Franciacorta, the Durello, the Barbera, the two Soaves — this is a list assembled with intention, not just filled in. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation, especially at these prices.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Wine Bar
Wine Bar 559 is doing something genuinely interesting in a city not known for its wine culture — a sparkling-forward list with real depth, fair pricing, and a by-the-glass program that doesn't insult you. If you're passing through Fresno or live there and haven't been, this is the kind of place that makes you reassess your assumptions.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fresno · Italian & New American
Piazza Del Pane isn't going to make any wine destination lists, but it's a solid, fairly priced California-centric list that does right by its crowd. If you like what you already know, you'll drink well here.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River Road · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American
The Peddler is a legitimately great steakhouse experience in a gorgeous setting, and the wine list is competent enough to get the job done — but it's a supporting cast, not a destination. Order the Jordan, get the steak, enjoy the river view, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway · Gatlinburg · Steakhouse, American
Alamo Steakhouse is genuinely great at what it does — the oak-fired meats are the draw and they deliver. But the wine list is purely functional, overpriced for what it is, and built for tourists who aren't going to push back on a Kendall-Jackson upcharge. Come for the steak, order a bourbon, and save the wine enthusiasm for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lionshead · Vail · Steakhouse, American
Vail Chophouse is a dependable après-ski and dinner destination that plays its wine program straight down the middle — familiar names, steep but expected mountain-town pricing, and a list that won't let you down if you stick to the California Cabs. We'd send a friend here for the steak and the view, with a note to skip the Josh and go straight to Jordan.
Crowd Pleasers
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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