A Columbus Legend That Forgot About Wine
East Columbus · Columbus · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Top has been a Columbus institution since 1955, and the wine list feels like it hasn't been updated much since then. You open it expecting something worthy of a serious steakhouse and instead find a short, familiar roster of crowd-pleasers that wouldn't look out of place at a mid-tier chain. For a room built around prime beef, this list is punching well below its weight.
The list leans hard on California and Italy with a nod toward France, covering the obvious bases — Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Prosecco — without venturing anywhere interesting. There's no serious Cabernet Sauvignon depth here, which is a glaring omission for a steakhouse of this pedigree. No Napa heavyweights, no Bordeaux, no Barolo — the kind of bottles you'd actually want to crack open next to a filet. The 50-80 bottle range sounds reasonable on paper, but the selections suggest quantity is doing the heavy lifting.
Eight by-the-glass options is a workable number, but the lineup reads like a greatest-hits of approachable, low-friction pours: Prosecco, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Albariño. The Laxas Albariño is a legitimate bright spot — it's the one glass that shows some actual thought went into the program. Everything else feels chosen to offend no one, which in a steakhouse context means it's also exciting no one.
Laxas Albariño — null
No price data available, but this is the standout pour on a list that mostly plays it safe. Crisp, saline, and versatile enough to handle shrimp cocktail or hold its own before a steak lands on the table.
Laxas Albariño
Most people at a steakhouse are scanning for red, so this Galician white gets ignored. Don't let it. It's the most interesting glass on the list and a genuinely good aperitivo option while you wait for the prime rib.
Bartenura Moscato
Sweet, low-alcohol, and a retail staple you can grab at any grocery store for under $12. There's no reason to pay steakhouse markup on this one.
Laxas Albariño + Shrimp Cocktail
The Albariño's bright acidity and subtle brininess play directly off the clean sweetness of chilled shrimp. It's the kind of opener that actually gets the meal going right before the red meat arrives.
❌ The Bottom Line
The Top earns its reputation on the plate, not in the glass. The wine list is a clear afterthought — come for the steaks, order a cocktail if the wine list leaves you cold, and maybe bring your own bottle if corkage is an option.
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Surprising Depth
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
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Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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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
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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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