Best Wine Lists in Indiana

The Runcible Spoon

Downtown Bloomington · Bloomington · Eclectic Cafe / Breakfast & Brunch

The Lazy List

Come to the Runcible Spoon for the atmosphere, the eggs, and the coffee — the wine list is an afterthought and the restaurant knows it. If you need something in a glass, the Graffigna Malbec won't embarrass you, but don't build your evening around the wine program.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen – Bloomington

West Side · Bloomington · American / Comfort Food

The Lazy List

Cheddar's Bloomington is a perfectly fine place to eat a big plate of comfort food, but the wine program is an afterthought at best and a quiet ripoff at worst. Order a cocktail, order a beer, or bring your own if they allow it — just don't come here expecting wine to be part of the night.

La Una Cantina

Downtown · Bloomington · Modern Mexican

The Lazy List

La Una Cantina is a genuinely fun night out — order the mezcal, order the tacos, and don't overthink the wine list because the restaurant clearly didn't. If wine is your thing, this is a cocktail night.

Anatolia Restaurant

Downtown · Bloomington · Turkish / Mediterranean

The Wild Card

Anatolia is a Wild Card not because the list is adventurous top to bottom — it's mostly not — but because a Turkish restaurant in a college town with 27 glass pours, a Gigondas, a Jadot Pouilly Fuissé, and an actual Turkish wine from Kavaklidere is doing something more interesting than the Caymus-heavy lineup suggests. Come for the food, skip the safe American blockbusters, and let the Kavaklidere or Gigondas do the heavy lifting.

Taste of India

Downtown · Bloomington · Indian (Northern and Southern), Halal-friendly

The Lazy List

Taste of India is clearly beloved for its food, and it should be — but the wine list is an afterthought that no one has revisited in a while. Order a mango lassi, a Kingfisher if they have it, or save the wine for a restaurant that's actually trying.

Mori Japanese Restaurant

East Side · Bloomington · Japanese (sushi, hibachi, and classic Japanese dishes)

The Wild Card

Mori is swinging bigger on wine than any casual Japanese spot in Bloomington has a right to, and we respect the effort. The markups and the California-red tunnel vision hold it back from being a destination wine stop, but if you're already there for sushi, there's a genuinely interesting bottle or two worth finding.

Southern Stone Restaurant

Near Campus · Bloomington · Southern / American

The Reliable

Southern Stone is the rare casual restaurant where the wine pricing actually respects your wallet — the list is about as exciting as a supermarket aisle, but at these markups, we're not complaining. Send a friend here if they want an honest glass with their shrimp and grits and don't want to think too hard about it.

Outback Steakhouse – Bloomington

West Side · Bloomington · Steakhouse

The Lazy List

Outback Bloomington's wine list is functional in the same way a vending machine is functional — it technically delivers what you asked for, but nobody's proud of it. Stick to the Ste. Michelle Cab with your steak and don't spend more than you have to.

Red Lobster – Bloomington

West Side · Bloomington · Seafood

The Lazy List

Red Lobster Bloomington is not a wine destination — it's a place you go for Cheddar Bay Biscuits and shellfish, and you should probably order accordingly. If you must drink wine, grab the Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay or the Ste. Michelle Riesling and move on; the list isn't worth overthinking, and neither is the markup.

Truffles Restaurant

East Side · Bloomington · Fine Dining / New American

The Reliable

Truffles is doing more with wine than anywhere else in Bloomington, and the pricing is honest enough that you won't need to steel yourself before opening the list. It's not a destination wine program, but for a night out in Indiana, it's the right call.

The Elm

Downtown · Bloomington · Modern American with Mediterranean and North African influences

The Reliable

The Elm is the best wine list in downtown Bloomington without much competition, and it earns that spot honestly — the Old World picks, the German Riesling, the Sardinian Vermentino all point to real intention. Just be selective when the prices climb, because the markup at the top end doesn't match the setting.

Limestone Grill

East Side · Bloomington · Upscale American / Steakhouse

The Reliable

Limestone Grill is a reliable steakhouse wine experience — safe, Napa-heavy, and a little overpriced, but it won't let you down with a steak in front of you. Send a friend here if they want a classic California Cab with their filet; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.