Old-School Steakhouse Does Wine by the Numbers
Downtown · San Antonio · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Palm rolls out a 200+ bottle list that reads like a steakhouse wine playbook from 2010—heavy on Napa Cabs, a few Italian hits, and 18 by-the-glass options that won't surprise anyone. It's the wine equivalent of their caricature-covered walls: familiar, safe, and built for expense accounts.
California dominates here, particularly Napa Valley and Paso Robles, with Frank Family and DAOU leading the charge alongside the ubiquitous Rombauer Chardonnay. They throw in some Tuscan credibility with Gaja's Ca'Marcanda Promis, but the list plays it extremely safe—this is wine for people who order by recognition, not curiosity. Bottles run $47-$179, which sounds reasonable until you realize most of these retail for half that. No sommelier on staff means you're on your own navigating the crowd-pleasers.
Eighteen glass pours at $12-$45 cover the basics without much adventure. You'll find your standard Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet lineup—solid enough to pair with a New York strip but nothing that'll make you put down your phone. The range is functional, rotating seemingly never, which means you're getting the same pours whether you visit in January or July.
DAOU Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon — $47
Paso Robles fruit bomb at entry-level bottle pricing—probably the fairest markup on the list for something that can actually stand up to their prime beef
Gaja Ca'Marcanda Promis
The only wine here with any Italian soul—Tuscan blend that most steak-and-Cab crowds overlook, but it's got the structure and depth this menu deserves
Rombauer Chardonnay
Every steakhouse in America has this butter bomb, and they all charge like it's rare—you're paying peak markup for peak predictability
Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime New York Strip
Classic Napa Cab with the tannin structure to cut through prime beef fat—this pairing is why steakhouses exist, even if it's predictable
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Palm delivers exactly what you expect from a legacy steakhouse: a wine list designed not to offend, with markups designed to impress the person paying. Come for the steaks and the nostalgia, but don't come for wine discoveries.
Pearl District · San Antonio · Farm to Table
Isidore is doing more with wine than San Antonio's dining scene typically demands, and the farm-driven menu gives every bottle on this list a genuine reason to exist. Send your wine-curious friends here — they'll leave impressed without knowing exactly why, and that's the mark of a list done right.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
La Cantera · San Antonio · American, French
Signature is a reliable, polished wine experience for a resort restaurant — not a destination list, but one that won't let you down with the right order. Stick to France and Jordan, skip the Opus One markup, and let the Krug do something interesting with the meat.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
San Antonio · San Antonio · American, Seasonal
Landrace is a reliable, California-first wine destination that does what it promises — no surprises, no let-downs, and a big enough glass pour selection to keep everyone at the table happy. Send your friend here if they love Napa Cab; steer them elsewhere if they're looking for adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown San Antonio · San Antonio · American Steakhouse
Bohanan's is doing real work on the wine side — a deep, well-curated list in a room that deserves it, even if the pricing leans on the premium end and the staff isn't quite sommelier-level yet. If you're in San Antonio and want a proper bottle with a proper steak, this is your spot.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Stone Oak · San Antonio · Asian Fusion BBQ
Come for the inventive Thai-Texan BBQ mashup, but stick to beer or cocktails. The wine program feels like an afterthought at a restaurant that deserves better.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Central · San Antonio · Southern
Ida Claire isn't trying to blow anyone's mind with wine—and that's fine. Fair pricing, decent variety by the glass, and a list that won't confuse your wine-curious friends. You won't find anything exciting, but you won't get gouged either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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
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