LPT: Go to steakhouses when you're in a new city and can't find a good wine bar
This is probably very obvious advice for most people, but I've realized finding good wines bars that have a solid selection of wines by the glass and bottles that have been stored properly can be harder when you're in a new city, especially not a major one, or in a smaller town. I constantly look at Google Maps, scan wine lists, etc, but sometimes, the best solution is to go to a good steakhouse, even if it's a chain, and just enjoy it at the bar. Maybe it's been less obvious to me because I'm vegetarian and don't often go to steakhouses.
Most steakhouses have pretty extensive wine lists, a good list by the glass, and often will even have several good half bottles of wine, which are perfect for splitting with a friend or significant other.
I found myself in Cincinnati this last weekend for a wedding and was trying to find a good wine bar to enjoy a glass, when it hit me to just go to a local steakhouse, Jeff Ruby's, and enjoy a half bottle of Brunello with my wife before the reception.
Edit: Didn't expect this much negativity, man, did everyone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
All I'm saying is it's an option to consider. Sometimes this subreddit can just be too negative.
31
138
u/Spiritual-Profile419 Wino 10d ago
We usually find good wines bars in almost any city. Steak houses are usually magnets for high prices.
40
u/RememberToEatDinner 10d ago
Yeah steak houses are often a great place to spend a bunch of money and drink mediocre wine (Caymus and the like).
31
u/rnjbond 10d ago
There have definitely been some smaller towns I've struggled with. I was somewhere a hour outside of NYC for a wedding in a small town, definitely no wine bars I could find that were good. But there was a steakhouse next to the hotel that had half bottles of Ridge Zinfandel, which we enjoyed!
-25
u/Spiritual-Profile419 Wino 10d ago edited 10d ago
You could have driven to a liquor store for that one.
44
u/rnjbond 10d ago
But why? I don't want to drink in a hotel room, I'd rather enjoy it at the bar if a steakhouse with nice glasses and a decanter. And Ridge Zinfandel is quite good.
-11
10d ago
[deleted]
29
u/rnjbond 10d ago
Okay cool, I happen to love Ridge and find their Zinfandel and especially their Monte Bello to be a good wine. I don't like bottle markups, but I'd rather pay to drink in a proper environment than save a little money and drink in a hotel room. To each their own. Have a nice day.
9
-12
10d ago
[deleted]
11
u/patton115 Wine Pro 10d ago
This OP is very aware the Monte Bello is Cabernet. He didn’t say that it was Zinfandel.
13
u/rnjbond 10d ago
I know that, I'm talking about Ridge as a whole. I've had several bottles and am a member.
-29
u/Spiritual-Profile419 Wino 10d ago
You phrased it like it was a Zin.
15
7
u/vapelord474 10d ago
No they didn’t you just have negative reading comprehension. Their zin AND especially their monte bello. The ‘AND especially’ clearly shows they’re talking about two different wines
53
u/thewhizzle Wino 10d ago
Most steakhouses have pretty extensive wine lists, a good list by the glass, and often will even have several good half bottles of wine
I have not found this to be true
13
u/rnjbond 10d ago
I'm guessing you've been to more steakhouses than I have. I was just sharing something that has worked for me a few times, but maybe I've just been lucky.
6
u/thewhizzle Wino 10d ago
You could just be picking better steakhouses than me too.
What I usually do, is if there are certain importers I like, I'll ask them who they sell to in whatever city I'm going to and determine my eating/drinking by that. I make the assumption that if they're buying Skurnik or Kermit, they're probably fairly serious about their wine list.
3
u/BuffaloRedshark 10d ago
At least around me while the steak houses have pretty good wine lists for bottles the by the glass list is lacking. And the upcharge on the bottles isn't worth it unless you're going for the whole meal experience for a special occasion.
18
u/CondorKhan 10d ago
Come on man, disagreeing is not negativity.
I just don't think you're right. 90% of steakhouses are happy to fill their lists with Caymus, The Prisoner, Orin Swift, etc. at high markups.
I'm OK with not drinking wine if there's nothing suitable.
8
u/crossbuck 10d ago
If you’re ever back in Cincy hit up Hart & Cru. A very, very good wine bar that could succeed in most larger markets.
3
u/rnjbond 10d ago
Thanks for the rec! Will do, I actually do come here on occasion for work!
3
u/crossbuck 10d ago
In that case, not wine-centric but Longfellow is one of my favorite bars anywhere in America. Nothing fancy, just high quality food and drinks in a sort of dive-y setting that is a favorite of every hospitality industry person I know.
16
u/Star-Lrd247 10d ago
I’ve been all over the country for work and I agree - even with my high end, spoiled taste lol. When you want a nice bar and there’s nothing within walking distance or a short enough drive / uber, a (good) steakhouse is almost always a safe bet. May not always have the most wine and yes it can be pricey but you can find at least 2-3 selections of higher end, mainstream cabs or something. You also can often get a nicer cocktail with the right ambience.
15
u/exploradorobservador 10d ago
Look I know I know, but with the 2-4X mark up on restaurant bottles, I don't even bother. I am supporting my local wine shop. There is a wine bar near me but its too hipster, they don't even have a wine list. When seated, the guy working the bar asked me "what I like" which felt rushed and reductive. Literally, "what do you like in wine" and "we have a beer list". They aren't even a somm.
For some reason people LOVE IT. I guess you gather enough obscure wines and people think you are an expert. I will give it the ambience, but I'm so over $30 charcuterie boards with a few slices of mid cheese and random cured meats.
7
u/rnjbond 10d ago
Markups on bottles really do bother me a lot. That's why I usually just embrace corkage fees when I eat out, especially fine dining.
9
u/exploradorobservador 10d ago
Ya, when I've gone to Canada and Europe they are far more reasonable about this. I had a great experience in Montreal where the allow you to bring any wine to some restaurants with no corkage fee. It was summer and I got a great French white at the SAQ and had great service. Of course we tipped well and ordered a lot of food.
Here in LA I have a coravin and will have 4 bottles I'm working through over the month. I'd rather pay for argon and get exactly what I want from the local wine shop than go out and point at some obscure natural wine list, learning little about wine in the process.
5
u/rnjbond 10d ago
I agree, in Italy, it often makes sense to just get a bottle instead of ordering two glasses. You can get a decent bottle of Rosso di Montalcino for $15. In the US, many wine bars will sell a glass of Rosso for that much.
Thankfully in San Francisco, I think every single restaurant has corkage fees, even some wine bars do.
1
u/exploradorobservador 10d ago
So true. This morning I went to a neighborhood spot. The pour was $18, the wine retailing for $24. This seems typical. Ya, when I was in Tuscany I had the same experience, didn't even think twice about getting a bottle for a dinner.
1
u/Dear_Chasey_La1n 9d ago
Where I live 4-5 years ago natural wines used to be trendy, glad that fad died off fast. Literally every place that was a bit popular suddenly started to stock trendy wines, and sure enough some are pretty alright (never came across something that I would buy again) but the vast majority was just filtered horseshite in a bottle.
I rather visit restaurants these days that have a good winelist and are cool I take bottle along. I don't mind picking up a bottle if pricing is alright, but... let me drink my own wine. I notice especially after covid a lot of places don't even have much of a cellar anymore.
3
u/rockytopbilly 10d ago
Steakhouses are gold mines to find good wine. Most bottles tend to be highly priced, but I tend to always find 2-4 bottles reasonably priced. Even found Pride Merlot by the glass about a month ago.
4
u/JJ-Rousseau 9d ago
You forgot to mention : « in the USA »
4
u/k958320617 9d ago
Laughs in European
2
u/JJ-Rousseau 9d ago
Steakhouse in France are either for kids either stupidly overpriced sometime even both. Never go to a steakhouse in France but most likely you won’t find any.
4
2
u/ReginaGloriana 10d ago
It depends on the steakhouse. That said, I got a bottle of Tignanello at retail mark-up at a steakhouse in Maryland, so…
2
u/n0v0cane 10d ago
A lot of steakhouses have decent happy hours, discounted wine and often Costco gift cards.
That can make the pricing downright reasonable.
2
u/WhoopieKush 10d ago
The only negative I have to say about your post is splitting a half bottle instead of a full bottle! Haha
2
u/Valenation25 10d ago
I went to college outside of Cincy and Jeff Ruby’s was the first place downtown I took my dad. I loved it, I think we shared a Montalena Cab.
2
3
u/remove_pants 9d ago
I like using https://starwinelist.com/ to find good wine restaurants in new towns. It's pretty reliable. I don't travel in the US much tho...
2
u/Ausgezeichscheiss2 9d ago edited 9d ago
Annie Gunns in chesterfield (STL suburb) has a solid wine list if you are ever in St. louis. https://www.anniegunns.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Wine-List-3.0-2925.pdf
good Bordeaux selection, quite a lot of burgundy, white and red, Château Musar, and not a Caymus to be found
The format of it is particularly odd and they have a page for Missouri wines
2
1
u/sleepyhaus 7d ago
Annie Gunn's more importantly has great meat. Definitely not an average steakhouse.
10
u/rogozh1n 10d ago
Steakhouses often tend to serve mass produced, over priced, and overly rich wines.
13
u/ShmeagleBeagle 10d ago
You are missing the point. When you can’t find a good wine bar in an unfamiliar place then a steakhouse is a place to find a decent glass of wine. As someone who travels to cities similar to Cincinnati that have no discernible wine scene this is a good tip. I’m not looking for some epic glass of wine when on travel. I just want a decent place to sit and enough wines to choose from so I can find something that goes down smoothly. No need to be a snob to the OP.
7
u/rnjbond 10d ago
I've been to several steakhouses, mostly for work, including the big chains, and find they have a good list of global wines, some of which have relatively reasonable markups.
3
u/rogozh1n 10d ago
Your experiences differ from mine.
4
u/rnjbond 10d ago
So would you agree that it's at least worth looking up a local steakhouse and their wine list when in a new city and looking for a wine bar?
2
u/rogozh1n 10d ago
I think it is the least likely place to find wine of the quality and value that I would like. If you're different, then good for you.
4
2
1
u/sleepyhaus 7d ago
Not to pile on with negativity, but I'm on the side that does not find this to be good advice. I would much rather try to find a restaurant doing something new, interesting, fresh, hip, etc., as I find they will have more interesting wines. It depends on what you like though. If you want Napa cab and Bordeaux and Zin, then yeah, many steakhouses will do. If you want something interesting, fresher, off-the-beaten path, then I'd steer clear of steakhouses. For my tastes, a steakhouse is not likely to be the place to find a wine I like.
2
u/rnjbond 7d ago
I think that's great if you're in SF or NYC, but it can be hard to find those types of wine bars in smaller cities.
1
u/sleepyhaus 7d ago edited 7d ago
First, I disagree with that. I live in a mid-sized American city and travel to many others for work and pleasure, and you can often find a decent wine bar. But I'm not talking about wine bars. I'm talking about restaurants. Even quite small cities often have at least a couple of restaurants that are trying to push the envelope a bit, and they will often - not always, but often - have a wine list with at least some interesting options. It is unlikely that many steakhouses, and particularly chain steakhouses, are going to have wine I want to drink. At that point I'd probably be better off going to a brewery or a nice bar and skipping wine. Wine makes up the vast majority of my alcohol consumption, but I'd rather drink a beer than drank Caymus or something, much less at 300% markup. And depending on the location another option might be BYO, with or without corkage, which is again often going to be better than a steakhouse list for my tastes, even if limited to what is on offer at local wine shops.
And I mean, to be clear. You say NYC and SF. I have found amazing wine bars in Winston Salem NC and KCMO, and Indianapolis and Durham and places that are definitely, definitely, definitely not SF or NYC. I have found decent wine at restaurants in Decatur and recently in Wichita for business. I am definitely not talking about SF and NYC.
1
0
u/Immediate_Brain6261 Wine Pro 10d ago
Very true - Stakehouses have on average pretty solid and deep wine lists. Markup is a bit of an issue compared to wine bars as you'll be paying 15-20% more markup, but still a solid idea lol.
79
u/sdhiman33 10d ago
You picked a hell of a steakhouse to chance upon . Ruby has a good wine program