Safari Vibes, Gas Station Wine List
Riverside · Riverside · Global Fusion
Reviewed June 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The safari-themed dining room is doing a lot of heavy lifting here — carved wood, ambient lighting, globe-trotting menu energy. Then you open the wine list and land squarely in the grocery store aisle. The adventurous atmosphere and the thoroughly unadventurous wine program are not talking to each other.
Twenty to thirty-five bottles, almost entirely California and New Zealand, almost entirely names you'd find on an end-cap at Ralphs. Kendall-Jackson, Meiomi, Josh Cellars, Kim Crawford — these are fine wines in the right context, but at a restaurant billing itself as globally inspired, the lack of any Old World presence, any interesting regional picks, or any producer with a story to tell is a missed opportunity the size of the Serengeti. There are no gaps to forgive because the list barely stretches far enough to have gaps. If you came here hoping a Côtes du Rhône or an Argentinian Malbec would show up alongside the Mongolian Beef, keep hoping.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass sounds generous until you realize most of them are just different expressions of the same three or four brands cycling through. At $7–$12 a glass, pricing is approachable, but you're essentially paying restaurant markup on wines that retail for $10–$15 a bottle. Rotation appears nonexistent — this list looks like it hasn't changed since the dining room got its last set of throw pillows.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — $9
It's the sharpest, most food-friendly wine on the list. Crisp, citrus-driven, and it actually plays well against the lighter, brighter dishes here. At the low end of the BTG range, it's the least painful option.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
It's not a wine we'd champion anywhere else, but against the bolder, spicier dishes on this menu — think Mongolian Beef or the Safari Sampler — the soft, approachable fruit character does real work. Most people overlook it for the Cab. Don't.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
It retails for $12–$14 at any grocery store in America. Whatever they're charging here, the math doesn't work in your favor. This is not a Cab worth paying restaurant markup on.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Asian Lettuce Wraps
The wine's herbal snap and citrus edge cut through the hoisin and sesame without bullying the lighter flavors in the lettuce cups. It's the most coherent food-wine moment on the menu.
❌ The Bottom Line
Elephant Bar is a fun enough place to eat, but the wine list is a relic — no passion, no curiosity, no reason to order beyond the first glass. Stick to the cocktails or nurse a Kim Crawford and call it a night.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.