Asador Bastian

You walk into olive green leather banquettes and vintage Murano glass chandeliers, and the wine list matches the room — serious, considered, and unapologetically Spanish. This isn't a list that's trying to please everyone; it's a love letter to the Iberian Peninsula written by someone who actually knows the words. A steakhouse in Chicago with Vega Sicilia and Pingus on the menu is not something you see every day.

The list runs 150–250 bottles deep with Spain doing nearly all the heavy lifting — and doing it well. Rioja is the backbone: CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva, Muga Prado Enea, and R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia represent the old-guard classics, while Telmo Rodriguez brings some contemporary range across multiple regions. Ribera del Duero flexes hard with Vega Sicilia Unico and Pingus sitting at the top of the list — these are trophy bottles, not everyday pours, but their presence signals that Christian Shaum, the sommelier on staff, is building toward a real cellar. The gap is everywhere outside Spain: if you're looking for a French Burgundy or an Italian Barolo to anchor your steak dinner, you may find the options thin.

The by-the-glass program runs 12–20 options with prices landing between $12 and $22, which is reasonable for a room this polished. Expect Spanish-forward pours that rotate with the list's overall focus — you're not getting a token Malbec here. The upper end of that BTG range should get you something worth drinking; don't settle for whatever's cheapest if you're eating their best steak.