Bowls, Burgers, and Bargain-Bin Bottles
Downtown · Topeka · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Pennant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The Pennant is a genuinely fun spot — arcade games, bowling, good burgers — but the wine list reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at the nearest grocery store and called it a program. You're here for the vibe, not the Burgundy.
The list tops out around 10-15 bottles, and what's there is almost entirely commercial California fare: Bogle, Cupcake, and house sangria dressed up in three flavors. There's no real regional depth, no interesting producers, and no sign that anyone gave the selection much thought beyond 'wine-drinking people exist.' The sangria — offered in Red, White, and Passion Fruit — is honestly the most creative thing on the list, which tells you everything. If you came hoping for even a modest Malbec or a stray Pinot Noir, you're going home disappointed.
There are 6-10 glass pours on offer, which sounds reasonable until you realize most of them are the same two or three commercial brands poured at different price points. Glasses run $5-$6.50, which is cheap, but cheap bad wine is still bad wine. Rotation doesn't appear to be a thing here.
Cupcake Moscato — $6/glass
If you're going sweet and low-stakes — which, honestly, is the right move at a bowling alley — the Cupcake Moscato at $6 a glass is at least honest about what it is. The bottle markup is still aggressive at 130% over retail, but by-the-glass it's the least painful pour on a short list.
House Sangria (Passion Fruit)
We know, we know — sangria isn't exactly a hidden gem. But the Passion Fruit version is house-made, it's different from anything else on the list, and it actually fits the fun, casual energy of the place. It's the one thing here that doesn't feel like an afterthought.
Bogle Chardonnay
At $30 a bottle, you're paying 3x retail for a $10 grocery store Chardonnay. Bogle is fine in its lane, but that lane is a Tuesday night at home, not a restaurant markup. Order a cocktail instead — this place clearly puts more energy into those anyway.
House Sangria (Red) + Signature Gourmet Burger
Look, we're not going to pretend this is a serious pairing. But the Red Sangria — fruity, slightly sweet, low-pressure — actually softens the richness of a big, saucy burger without fighting it. It's the right wine for the right room.
The Bottom Line
The Pennant is a great place to bowl, eat a burger, and knock back a cheap drink — just don't come expecting anything from the wine list. Order the sangria, enjoy the arcade, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere else.
West Topeka / Wanamaker Corridor · Topeka · Tex-Mex
Jose Pepper's is a great spot for a frozen margarita and a chimichanga — the wine list just isn't why you're here, and it knows it. Order the cocktails and don't look back.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Topeka · Topeka · Italian
The wine list at Olive Garden East Topeka is a corporate document, not a wine program — marked up steeply on bottles that deserve no such confidence. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of the house Chianti if you must, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else in Topeka.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West/Central Topeka · Topeka · Italian
The wine list exists because every Italian restaurant has to have one — not because anyone here is passionate about it. Drink the Cavit, enjoy the unlimited breadsticks, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Topeka · Topeka · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that treats wine as an afterthought — familiar names, steep markups, zero curation. Order the Riesling, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and don't come here looking for a wine moment.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Topeka · Topeka · Italian-American
Olive Garden is not a wine destination and was never trying to be one — the list exists to move bottles, not to inspire anyone. Order the Il Grigio if you want something worth drinking, otherwise stick to the Chianti and save your wine energy for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Topeka · Topeka · Steakhouse
LongHorn's wine program exists to check a box, not to enhance your dinner. Order the steak, skip the wine list, and if someone insists, point them to the Decoy Cab and move on.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Broadway at the Beach · Myrtle Beach · American Gastropub
Liberty Tap Room is a solid spot for cold beer, a burger, and a game on the screen — but the wine list is an afterthought and the pricing reflects zero effort to earn your wine dollars. Come for the beer, skip the bottle.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · American Gastropub
The Crow is a legitimately fun bar — just come for the bourbon and craft beer, not the wine. If you need a glass, grab the Elmaro Rosa to support a local producer and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
College Area / Mount Royal · Duluth · American Gastropub
Tavern on the Hill is not a destination wine spot, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that earns its keep in a fun room. If you're in the neighborhood and want a decent glass with your pizza, you won't leave disappointed — just don't come in expecting anything beyond the basics.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
