Best Wine Lists in Illinois

LongHorn Steakhouse – Bloomington

Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse

The Lazy List

LongHorn's wine list exists to check a box, not to elevate your meal. Stick to the Riesling or the Meiomi, enjoy your steak, and don't expect the wine program to be the reason you came.

Logan's Roadhouse – Bloomington

Unknown · Bloomington · Steakhouse

The Lazy List

Logan's Roadhouse is a perfectly fine place to eat a steak and throw peanut shells on the floor — but the wine list is an afterthought, and the markup makes ordering a bottle feel like a small punishment. Stick to one glass of the Riesling or pivot to a beer.

Jim's Steakhouse

Downtown Bloomington · Bloomington · Steakhouse/American

The Reliable

Jim's isn't trying to be a wine destination and it doesn't pretend otherwise — but the markups are fair, the selections are well-matched to the food, and there's enough range to keep things interesting for a night out. Send a friend here for the steak; the wine will hold up just fine.

Hy-Vee Market Grille

Bloomington · Bloomington · American

The Wild Card

You're not coming to Hy-Vee Market Grille for a wine revelation — but on a Wednesday, with half-price pours and half-price sushi, it's one of the better casual deals in town. Manage expectations, bring cash, and embrace the absurdity.

Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano

Bloomington · Bloomington · Upscale Italian

The Lazy List

Biaggi's is a perfectly decent dinner out, but the wine list is running on autopilot — familiar brands, steep markups, and zero curiosity. Order the Chianti, enjoy the pasta, and don't expect the wine to be the reason you come back.

Ancho & Agave

Bloomington · Bloomington · Mexican

The Wild Card

Ancho & Agave is not a wine destination, and it knows it — but Wednesday half-price pours at a fun taco spot is a perfectly good reason to skip the cocktail menu for once. Come for the food, grab the Borsao Rosé, and leave the wine nerd hat at home.

Evanston Corner Bistro

Downtown Evanston · Evanston · American Bistro / Contemporary American

The Reliable

Evanston Corner Bistro isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the Wednesday half-price bottle program and honest pricing make it a genuinely solid neighborhood option. Show up on a Wednesday with a friend, order the Gruet, and stop overthinking it.

Trattoria D.O.C.

Central Street Corridor · Evanston · Casual Italian with Neapolitan-style pizza

The Reliable

Trattoria D.O.C. isn't going to change your wine life, but it's a genuinely honest Italian list at fair prices in a neighborhood that deserves one. Order the Falanghina, get the pizza, and stop second-guessing yourself.

Le Tour Evanston

Downtown Evanston · Evanston · Contemporary Bistro

The Wild Card

Le Tour is quietly doing something better than most of its suburban peers — a focused, French-leaning list with genuine producers that rewards the curious diner. Markups keep it from a higher badge, but this is absolutely worth ordering wine at.

Libertad Kitchen Pop-ups at Wine Goddess

Main Street District / South Evanston · Evanston · New American Pop-Up

The Wild Card

The retail pricing model alone makes this one of the most honest wine programs in Evanston — you're getting shop prices with a dinner attached. If Libertad has a pop-up on the calendar, check what's open behind the counter and say yes to the Ayres.

Farmhouse Evanston

Downtown Evanston · Evanston · Farm-to-table American

The Reliable

Farmhouse Evanston is a dependable neighborhood wine list that earns its keep without ever showing off. Send a friend here if they want a solid glass with a good burger — just don't send them if they're hunting for something to talk about.

Ten Mile House

Central Street / North Evanston · Evanston · American (contemporary tavern and barbecue)

The Reliable

Ten Mile House is a neighborhood spot you go to for ribs and a beer — the wine list is a respectable safety net, not the reason you're here. If you're skipping the beer, the Monastrell or the South African sparkling rosé will keep you perfectly happy.