John Howie Steak
Eastside trophy hunting done right
Bellevue · Bellevue · Steak house · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at John Howie Steak lands like a thud on the table — in the best way. We're talking 800-plus selections across California, Washington, Burgundy, and Bordeaux, curated with a clear point of view. This isn't a list someone threw together; it's the work of people who actually care.
Selection Deep Dive
The backbone is serious California Cabernet — Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Opus One, Caymus Special Selection — all present and accounted for, which is exactly what you want when you're staring down a Wagyu ribeye. Washington state gets its due respect with Quilceda Creek and Leonetti sharing shelf space alongside Col Solare and DeLille D2, a nod to the local terroir that too many steakhouses skip entirely. The French side runs deep too: Château Margaux, Château Petrus, and a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti allocation tell you this cellar is the real deal. Italy shows up with Sassicaia and Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo, giving the list international range that goes well beyond the usual token Chianti.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a serious commitment for a steakhouse, and Tuesday's half-price wine night turns that program into one of the better deals in Bellevue. We'd lean hard on whatever Washington Cab or Burgundy they're rotating through the glass program — with Scott Brown running the floor, the selections aren't phoned in.
DeLille Cellars D2 — Not listed
In a list full of four-figure trophies, D2 is a Washington Bordeaux-style blend that punches well above its price tier. It's the smart play for someone who wants serious fruit and structure without the Opus One sticker shock.
Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2019
At $650 it's not cheap, but at a room full of California Cab devotees, the Gaja almost always gets overlooked. Nebbiolo from one of Barbaresco's finest single vineyards, made by arguably Italy's most iconic producer — if you want to drink something nobody else at the table ordered, this is it.
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
At $2,850 a bottle, you're paying almost entirely for the name and the bragging rights. Screaming Eagle is legitimately great wine, but that markup is a status tax, not a wine tax. Unless someone else is signing the check, your money drinks better elsewhere on this list.
Sassicaia 2020 + Wagyu bone-in ribeye
Sassicaia's Cabernet-forward structure and iron-tinged backbone are built for red meat. Against the fat and char of a Wagyu ribeye, it finds its footing — cutting through the richness while the wine's own depth keeps up with every bite.
Tuesday — Half-price bottles every Tuesday — one of the better weekly wine deals in Bellevue and a legitimate reason to plan around it.
🔥 The Bottom Line
John Howie Steak has earned its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence year after year for a reason — the list is deep, the staff knows it cold, and Tuesday half-price wine night is one of the best recurring deals on the Eastside. The markups on trophy bottles are what they are, but there's enough range here to drink well at multiple price points.
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