Ruth's Chris Steak House
Big Steaks, Predictable Pours, Steeper Prices
Southwest Portland · Portland · Steakhouse
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Ruth's Chris reads exactly like you'd expect from a national steakhouse chain — heavy on California Cabs, light on imagination. It's designed to not offend, which unfortunately also means it rarely excites. If you came here hoping Portland's wine culture had seeped into the program, you'll be disappointed.
Selection Deep Dive
California dominates the list, full stop. There's no serious nod to Oregon's own world-class Pinot Noir country, which is a genuine missed opportunity when you're sitting in the Willamette Valley's backyard. The list skews toward recognizable, easy-sell names — think crowd-pleasing Napa Cabs and broad-appeal whites — rather than anything that would make a curious drinker lean forward. Depth exists on paper, but it's the kind of depth that amounts to five versions of the same wine at escalating price points.
By the Glass
Fifteen by-the-glass options sounds generous until you realize they span $9.50 to $34 and lean heavily on the usual suspects. The range is wide enough to cover your bases, but don't expect anything that'll make you put down your fork in surprise. Rotation appears minimal — this list is set and largely forgotten.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon — $34/glass
If you're going to splurge on a glass here, Caymus is at least the real deal — a reliable, full-bodied Napa Cab that holds its own against a sizzling Prime ribeye. It's the top of the glass menu and the markup still stings, but it's the only pour that genuinely earns its price tag on this list.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Not exactly hidden, but ordering this by the bottle rather than the glass is your best move to soften the markup blow — if the bottle pricing follows any logic at all, you'll come out ahead versus paying $34 a glass all night.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $34 a glass in a chain steakhouse setting, you're paying a significant premium for a wine you can find at most wine shops for $80-$90 a bottle. The math doesn't favor ordering it by the glass when a bottle might stretch further — and frankly, at these prices, you'd do better finding a local Oregon Pinot Noir producer who actually cares.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon + USDA Prime Ribeye
Caymus Cab is built for this moment — big fruit, enough structure to match the richness of a sizzling Prime ribeye, and broad enough to please the whole table without a debate. It's the path of least resistance done right.
❌ The Bottom Line
Ruth's Chris does steaks well and wine as an afterthought — the list is a safe, California-centric, chain-level offering that ignores the incredible wine region it's planted in. Come for the beef, manage your expectations at the wine list, and try not to think about the Willamette Valley producers just up the road.
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