City Grille & Raw Bar
California classics meet Jacksonville's oyster scene
Jacksonville · Jacksonville · Seafood, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The list opens with a confident California-forward lineup and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence to back it up. It reads like a greatest hits album — familiar names, polished presentation, exactly what you'd expect from a upscale riverside steakhouse and raw bar in Jacksonville. No surprises, but no disappointments either.
Selection Deep Dive
California and France anchor the list, and the producers are recognizable for good reason — Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Far Niente, Duckhorn, Stag's Leap. These are crowd-tested bottles that sell well in a steakhouse setting, and the list runs 150-250 bottles deep, which gives you real options without being overwhelming. France gets a nod through Louis Jadot Burgundy, and there's a Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling thrown in for the seafood crowd. What's missing is any real adventurousness — no grower Champagne, no Rhône, no natural-leaning producers — but that's not really what City Grille is going for.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a solid program for this type of restaurant, and you can reasonably expect Rombauer Chardonnay and Meiomi Pinot Noir to anchor the list — which tells you exactly who the target drinker is. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; this reads more like a set-it-and-forget-it program than something that gets refreshed with the seasons.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $35
At the lower end of the bottle price range, this is a smart play with an oyster tower or lighter seafood dishes. Ste. Michelle Riesling punches above its price point and actually fits the menu better than half the Cabs on the list.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Everyone at the table is going for Caymus or Rombauer, which means the Jadot gets overlooked. That's a mistake. A Burgundy in a sea of California Cabs and Chards is worth seeking out, especially if you're ordering the venison.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Look, Caymus is a perfectly fine wine. But it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in America, and you can find it at a steakhouse in every city in the country. At steakhouse prices you're paying a premium for the brand recognition alone — there are better Cabs on this list for the money.
Duckhorn Merlot + Venison Steak
Venison wants something with dark fruit and structure but not the full tannic wallop of a big Cab. Duckhorn Merlot hits that middle ground perfectly — enough weight to stand up to the game meat without steamrolling it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
City Grille earns its Wine Spectator credential as a dependable, well-stocked list that plays the hits without taking risks. Send a friend here knowing the wine won't let them down — just tell them to steer clear of the Caymus markup and order the Jadot instead.
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