Martini's Grille
California Classics Done Right in Iowa
Burlington · Burlington · Steak House · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Martini's Grille, the wine list reads like a greatest-hits compilation of California Cabernet — familiar, reassuring, and built for steak. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, and that's actually fine. Wine Spectator has handed them an Award of Excellence every year since 2018, and you can see why: this is a list that does exactly what it promises.
Selection Deep Dive
The 80-120 bottle list leans hard into California, and the anchor producers — Caymus, Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars — are the kind of names that make a table of Midwestern beef-lovers very happy. Duckhorn Merlot rounds out the red side nicely, and Rombauer Chardonnay covers the whites for anyone who wants something buttery and generous. Don't come here hunting for a left-field Jura ou natural Sicilian — this list plays its lane, and that lane is Napa Valley. The gaps in Old World depth and regional exploration are real, but for a Burlington, Iowa steakhouse, the California focus is a deliberate and sensible choice.
By the Glass
With 10-16 by-the-glass options priced between $8 and $14, the pours are accessible and honestly priced for the market. The selection mirrors the bottle list — California-forward, steak-friendly — so don't expect a rotating program or anything that surprises. What you do get is a reliable glass of something that'll hold up to a ribeye without breaking the bank.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $30-$120 range
Jordan is a consistent over-deliverer — polished Sonoma Cab with real elegance that typically retails well above what a mid-market steakhouse charges. If the markup stays fair here, it's the move.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone's reaching for the Cabernets, and Duckhorn's Merlot sits quietly on the list getting passed over. It's a genuinely serious wine — plush, structured, and made by one of Napa's most consistent producers. Order it while everyone else fights over the Silver Oak.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, and restaurants lean on the name recognition to charge a premium. It's a perfectly pleasant wine that's become more about the label than what's in the glass. At a fair steakhouse markup it's not a disaster, but you can do better on this list.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon + Chicken Lips
Stag's Leap brings a more restrained, elegant Napa profile compared to the bigger guns on this list — which makes it interesting against something like Chicken Lips, where the savory depth of the Cab works without overwhelming whatever's going on with the dish.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Martini's Grille isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a solid Iowa steakhouse with a California list that earns its Wine Spectator badge year after year. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well without getting weird about it.
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