Wine Down Wednesday Makes This Worth It
Toyota Music Factory / Las Colinas · Irving · Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill – Toyota Music Factory’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Thirsty Lion reads exactly like you'd expect from a high-volume gastropub anchored next to a concert venue — familiar labels, nothing surprising, nothing offensive. It's the kind of list designed so that everyone at a table of eight can find something they recognize. That's not a compliment, but it's not a dealbreaker either.
About 25 wines spread across a generic international range, with the emphasis firmly on American commercial powerhouses. You've got your Kendall-Jackson Chard, your Josh Cab, your Meiomi Pinot — this is basically the greatest hits of Costco's wine aisle. There's a nod toward Italy via La Marca Prosecco, but don't come here expecting regional depth, grower Champagnes, or anything that requires explanation. The list exists to move bottles quickly on a concert night, and it does exactly that.
Eight to twelve pours available, all of them recognizable brands sitting comfortably in the $9–$12 range by the glass. There's no rotation to speak of — this is a set-and-forget BTG program built for speed and familiarity. On a Wednesday, though, a $12 glass becomes a $6 glass, and suddenly the whole calculus shifts.
Meiomi Pinot Noir — $12/glass
At full price it's a fair pour — Meiomi retails around $18 and they're only marking it up 2x, which is actually restrained for a restaurant. On Wine Down Wednesday at half price? It's a $6 glass of a crowd-pleasing Pinot that drinks easy. Hard to argue with that math.
La Marca Prosecco
Most people here are ordering Cabs and Chards, but La Marca at $11 a glass is the sleeper move — especially before a show. It's light, low-commitment, and actually refreshing when you're about to stand in a concert crowd for three hours. It's not a serious Prosecco, but it's doing its job better than anything else on this list.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
At $10 a glass it's technically 'fair' by restaurant standards, but KJ Chard is the most default-mode white wine in America and retails for $12. You're paying restaurant price for grocery store wine with zero upside. Order the Prosecco, order a cocktail, order anything else.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon + Burger
J. Lohr Seven Oaks is a soft, fruit-forward Paso Robles Cab — exactly the kind of wine that doesn't fight a big, sauced-up gastropub burger. It's not a serious pairing, but it works the way a good pickup truck works: reliable, no fuss, gets the job done.
Wednesday — Wine Down Wednesday: all bottles of wine at half price, all day every Wednesday. Chain-wide promotion, participates at the Toyota Music Factory location.
The Bottom Line
Thirsty Lion isn't a wine destination — it's a pre-show pit stop with a decent enough list and markups that won't insult you. Come on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Meiomi at half price, eat a burger, and catch your show. That's the move.
Las Colinas · Irving · Cajun / Southern
Po Melvin's is almost certainly cooking something worth eating — the wine list just isn't part of the experience. Order the Riesling or Prosecco if you want wine, otherwise stick to a cold beer or whatever's on tap.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Valley Ranch · Irving · Japanese sushi and Asian fusion
The Blue Fish is a fun night out, and the food holds up — but the wine list is running on autopilot. Order the Mumm Napa, enjoy your rolls, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Las Colinas / Toyota Music Factory · Irving · Modern American
The Henry Las Colinas isn't a destination for wine lovers, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood option with fair pricing and a Tuesday half-price program that makes the whole conversation more interesting. Show up on a Tuesday, order the Jordan, and stop overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Irving Mall Area · Irving · Cajun / Creole
Razzoo's Irving is a great place to eat Cajun food and drink cold beer — the wine program is incidental and treated as such. If your table insists on wine, the Prosecco is your safest exit ramp.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irving Mall Area · Irving · Pizza
Grimaldi's is worth the trip for the coal-fired pizza; the wine list is not worth thinking about. Order the Chianti or the Nero d'Avola, don't look at the markup math, and focus on the pizza.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Las Colinas · Irving · American Sports Bar / Casual Dining
Champps Las Colinas is a place to watch a game and drink a beer — the wine list exists as a formality, not a feature. If you're committed to wine anyway, grab the La Marca or the Joel Gott and make peace with it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Union Street · Traverse City · Gastropub
7 Monks is a beer bar first and a wine program somewhere around fourth, but the short list is priced fairly, includes a local Michigan pour worth ordering, and doesn't try to be something it's not. Send a wine-drinking friend here if they're cool with keeping it simple.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Oak Street · Ashland · Gastropub
The Noble Fox is a brewpub, and you should drink like it — order a house beer and enjoy the atmosphere. If you're committed to wine, stick to the Collet or the Provence rosé and set your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Scranton · Gastropub
Backyard Ale House is a solid beer destination that treats wine like a legal obligation rather than an opportunity. Order a craft beer, enjoy the bar scene, and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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