Best Wine Lists in Illinois

Eddie Merlot's

· Lincolnshire · American Prime Steakhouse

The Reliable

Eddie Merlot's is a polished steakhouse with a wine program that almost certainly does the job without doing anything memorable — reliable enough for a celebration dinner, but don't expect the list to be the reason you drive to Lincolnshire. Until we can get eyes on a verified wine menu with real prices, approach the bottle selection with your guard up and a retail price on your phone for comparison.

Ramsay's Kitchen

· Naperville · Modern British with American Steakhouse Influences

The Reliable

Ramsay's Kitchen in Naperville is a reliable enough stop for wine if you're here for the Beef Wellington and the experience — but don't come expecting the list to match the kitchen's ambition. The Alsace and Champagne leanings show at least a flicker of thoughtfulness, and for a special-occasion dinner in the suburbs, it gets the job done. Just go in knowing you're paying a brand premium, and order accordingly.

Fogo de Chão

· Naperville · Brazilian Churrascaria

The Reliable

The real story at Fogo de Chão Naperville isn't the wine list — it's the half-price South American bottles available Monday through Thursday, all day, on bottles priced under $150. If you time your visit right and lean into an Argentine Malbec or a Chilean red alongside the picanha, you'll come out ahead. The wine program on its own is functional but unremarkable; the weekday deal is what makes it worth your attention.

Truluck's

Rosemont · Rosemont · Seafood Steakhouse

The Reliable

Truluck's Rosemont runs a by-the-glass program that punches well above the chain-restaurant expectation — real producers, fair prices on the mid-range pours, and a white wine selection that actually supports a seafood menu. We'd send a friend here for a glass of Markus Molitor Riesling without hesitation. Just steer clear of the Cakebread reflex.

Fogo de Chão

· Chicago · Brazilian Steakhouse

The Reliable

Fogo de Chão Chicago's wine list is built for throughput, not discovery — it's reliable, reasonably ranged by the glass, and anchored by South American selections that at least make thematic sense with the food. The markups are steeper than we'd like and the list won't excite anyone who drinks wine as seriously as they eat meat, but the Catena Malbec and the Bodega Garzón Albariño are legitimate picks that rise above the crowd-pleaser baseline. Come for the churrasco, drink the Catena, and don't overthink it.

Eddie Merlot's

Burr Ridge · Burr Ridge · American Steakhouse

The Reliable

Eddie Merlot's is a competent, predictable steakhouse wine program — it'll get the job done for a business dinner or a birthday without embarrassing anyone, but it isn't a destination for serious wine drinkers. The markups at this category of restaurant tend to run steep relative to retail, so go in with calibrated expectations and focus your budget on the steak, where this place clearly puts its heart.

Fogo de Chão

Oak Brook · Oak Brook · Brazilian Steakhouse

The Reliable

Fogo de Chão Oak Brook isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that clear — but within its South American lane, there's genuine value and a few smart picks that reward the curious drinker. The pricing is fair, the Lapostolle and Amalaya bottles punch above their weight, and you won't feel gouged. If you're here for the meat, the wine list is a solid companion — just don't arrive expecting a deep cellar.

The Capital Grille – Lombard

· Naperville · Steakhouse

The Reliable

Capital Grille Lombard is a reliable execution of a familiar formula — known producers, full by-the-glass access, and enough range to keep the table happy even if the list doesn't take many risks. Markup is steep across the board, but the Prüm Riesling at $11 and Substance Cab at $13 are genuine value plays hiding in plain sight. If you're here for a business dinner or a celebration and want wine without surprises, it delivers. Just don't expect the list to challenge you.

Piccolo Buco by Cooper's Hawk – Naperville

· Naperville · Italian

The Lazy List

Piccolo Buco is a Cooper's Hawk restaurant wearing Italian clothes, and the wine list makes no attempt to hide that. If you're already a Cooper's Hawk member and enjoy their wines, this is a comfortable, predictable experience with fair glass pricing and decent variety within the brand. If you came hoping for a Sicilian white or a Piedmontese red to go with your pasta, you're in the wrong place — order a cocktail.

Lush Food & Drink

Evanston · Evanston · Wine Bar & New American

The Wild Card

Lush is doing something genuinely unusual in the Chicago suburbs: stocking a 382-label list heavy on oxidative wines, meads, and fortified pours that you won't find at 95% of restaurants in any city. The pricing is honest and the by-the-glass program is serious. If your dinner companion is game to let you order something they've never heard of, this is exactly the right room for it.

A seafood house with a long, mixed list: a Seafood Whites section, Burgundy and Napa depth, and 22 pours by the glass. Order the Marc Brédif "Royal Oyster" Muscadet with a half dozen oysters, or start with the $11/glass Charles de Fère, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.

A Napa-heavy bottle list with a real Greek section and a short, priced glass board. Start with the $10 happy-hour Vermentino or, if you are staying for dinner, the AA Sigalas Assyrtiko at $75, and confirm prices and availability when you sit down. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.