Washington Prime
Connecticut's Steakhouse With a Serious Cellar
Norwalk · Norwalk · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Washington Prime lands with the kind of confidence you'd expect from a place that earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in its first year of eligibility. Three hundred to five hundred bottles, a strong California spine, and serious Italian representation — this is not a list assembled by someone who just Googled 'popular wines.' It signals immediately that wine is a priority here, not an afterthought.
Selection Deep Dive
The California section is the obvious heart of this list — Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Jordan, Far Niente, and Kistler are all accounted for, which means every Cab-loving steakhouse regular will find their comfort zone fast. Italy holds its own with genuine heavyweights: Sassicaia, Tignanello, Antinori, and Gaja Barbaresco give the list real depth and credibility beyond the Napa hits. The price ceiling climbs into Opus One territory, so there's room to splurge if the occasion calls for it. What's less clear from the list is whether there's meaningful representation outside these two regions — for guests looking to venture into Burgundy, Rhône, or even domestic Pinot, the pickings may be thinner.
By the Glass
With 20 to 35 options by the glass, Washington Prime is doing more work here than most Connecticut steakhouses bother with. That's enough pours to give a table of four different wines through multiple courses without anyone repeating. We'd love to know whether the glass program rotates with any intention or just runs the hits on loop, but the sheer count suggests there's something worth exploring beyond the obvious Cab pour.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $80
Jordan is the sleeper pick on every steakhouse list that stocks it — structured enough to stand up to red meat, approachable enough that you're not waiting for it to open up all night. In a list where the default reach is Caymus or Silver Oak at a significant premium, Jordan quietly delivers the goods for less.
Gaja Barbaresco
Most people at a steakhouse instinctively scroll to Cabernet and stop there. Gaja Barbaresco is one of the great producers in the world, and Barbaresco itself — Nebbiolo at its most elegant — is a genuinely thrilling match for a well-aged cut of beef. It's the bottle that makes the whole table curious, and it rewards the curiosity.
Opus One
Opus One is a beautiful wine, no argument. But at steakhouse markup on an already-premium bottle, you're paying a lot for the label recognition. The quality ceiling on this list is high enough that your money works harder elsewhere — grab the Sassicaia or the Gaja and bank the difference.
Sassicaia + Beef Wellington
Beef Wellington is a showpiece dish, and it deserves a showpiece wine. Sassicaia — Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, structured, with that characteristic Tuscan earthiness — cuts right through the richness of the pastry and duxelles while complementing the beef without overwhelming it. This is the pairing you'd remember.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Washington Prime earns its Wine Spectator hardware — the list is deep, the California and Italy coverage is genuinely impressive, and the by-the-glass count alone puts it ahead of most of its Fairfield County peers. Markups run on the steeper side, as expected in this category, but if you're going to spend money on a bottle anywhere in Connecticut, this is a room worth doing it in.
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