Have you ever been to an upscale restaurant, completely overwhelmed by the wine selection? Or scared they might suggest the highest priced vino on the menu? Sometimes I just want to say “I’ll have the cheapest please” but that would be awwwwkward. We all love wine but veering away from our go to’s are nerve-racking. Especially if you’re in the hot seat with a bunch of business men. Pressure is on baby! So how do we go about choosing the perfect wine at our desired price point? Glad you asked!
Given these questions have been burning a hole in my pocket, I was ecstatic when Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse agreed to have me in to pick their brain. In case you didn’t know, Del Frisco’s carries one of the largest and rarest wine selections of all the steakhouses in Chicago. Just wait till you see the four-story wine cellar! It’s a piece of art in itself and only part of their entire collection of rare wines from around the world. So to say I went straight to the experts is an understatement.
Mike, the sommelier, graciously escorted me and my friend Kristen (thanks for joining me!) for a tour inside the four level wine cellar. This is where we learned the “Art of Ordering Wine” before indulging in our 4 course dinner! Thanks to Mike, I broke it down into 5 easy steps.
- Share what you drink at home. This is the best way to familiarize the sommelier or waiter with the price point and characteristics of wine you enjoy. Del Frisco’s wine menu can go as high as $7,500 a bottle and carries over 1,200 types of wine. Given this vast selection, this helps narrow the suggestions down tremendously. Are you drinking three buck chuck or Dom Perignon at home? Quite telling in itself right? On the flip side, sommeliers and waiters find the price point a sensitive subject on their end as well. Some people find $300 bottles of wine an average night, while some consider $50 a splurge. Helping your waiter or sommelier narrow it down only leads to better suggestions (and vino) for you.
- Be honest. Mike explains as a sommelier, he is proud of every single wine listed on the menu. So anything you choose, there is no judgement! Share what you like. If you don’t know, they will help narrow it down. Mike personally built Del Frisco’s wine menu from the ground up and has even received some major awards!
- Trust the expert. This is your time to live on the edge and try something new! Get away from your “go to” and let the sommelier help you. They know the wine and selection better than anyone and you may discover something incredible you never knew. Del Frisco’s menu carries rare and difficult to find wines from around the world, so why not branch out?! YOLO. Once the sommelier has an understanding of what you like (bold, light, fruity, earthy, etc.) he can bring you something unexpected and right in line with your palette. Mike even told us he asks sommeliers at other restaurants for their recommendations. So if the experts are doing it, we should too!
- There is no wrong choice. Red is obviously as popular selection with steak, but seriously anything goes. If you like champagne, do it! You are the one drinking it after all. Again the sommelier can help direct you what kind and label will go best with your order.
All pretty great tips right? I was seriously impressed and so relieved at how easy-going it is to actually order. Mike also showed us the “Magnificent Mile” of wine on the top floor (pictured above). This is where they keep the creme de la creme and store their most coveted bottles. Their highest price is $7,500! And yes, people have ordered it.
After a long tour of the wine cellar and hidden wine cases upstairs, Kristen and I had the best meal ever. This was our first full dining experience at this Del Frisco’s I cannot even believe how blown away we were. We went as far as saying one of the best steaks we have ever had in Chicago. Which is a big statement to make in this city. They have you cut your meat right down the middle immediately after serving. This is to ensure it is cooked EXACTLY to your liking! We ordered a ton of their signature sides too which were out of this world!
We started the evening off with their Signature pineapple martinis and Crab Cake with Jicama Slaw & Cajun Lobster Sauce. All crab, no cake. Win! We each went with the Filet Mignons (cooked to absolute perfection!) and housed down their signature Maque Choux Corn (a little spice!), Lobster Mac and Cheese (can’t even talk about it, it was that good) and Asparagus (incredibly fresh).
We of course washed it all down with a bottle of wine. Sharing what we typically drink at home, we naturally went with the sommelier’s suggestion. An absolute win for us. He poured the bottle in a decanter table side. Love that!
The highlight of the evening was one of those once in a life time experiences. I still cannot believe it! Mike shared with us a 108 year bottle of wine. Extremely rare! Talk about tasting history. It looks like it came straight out of a pirate’s ship doesn’t it?! Just to give you an idea, 1 oz. is $80. A typical glass of wine is 5 oz. So you do the math. Tasted like walnuts and super sweet. Such a perfect ending on top of our dessert tasting and cappucinos. We were painting the town red afterwards and needed a little boost!
4 glasses is perfectly normal right?
Side note – did you know Del Frisco’s occupies three floors of the historic Esquire Theater? It is such a cool venue! Located near high-end shopping, its lavish interior was designed to preserve the landmark theaters historic architectural elements. Fun fact – their grand plan of the magnificent three-story wine tower was originally nixed due to weight. However Del Frisco’s didn’t take “no” for an answer. They brought in an engineer, who designed the tower to hang from the ceiling! You would never know (and no, it does not swing) but it just goes to show you they aren’t your typical steakhouse.
In addition to their magnificent food and space, I highly recommend taking a peek on their balcony. Al fresco anyone? Kristen and I could not resist a photo next to the famous sign. Oh and be sure to request a tour of the wine tower! Mike loves to show it off and encourages all to take a look. All you have to do is ask your server.
So tell me. Have you ever been to Del Frisco’s? What is your favorite wine to order with steak? If you took as long as I did to check it out, be sure to make Del Frisco’s your next go to! And don’t forget to request the wine tour. You will not be disappointed. Bon Apetit kids!
Note Del Frisco’s graciously treated us as guests in their home and comped our meals. Thoughts are 100% genuine and my own and I could not recommend Del Frisco’s enough!
Nicole this post is so awesome and so USEFUL! I often get intimidated ordering wine at a restaurant and I was put through seven-days of intensive sommelier education when I worked at the Olive Garden ha! Even though I know a lot, wine menus in the city (especially the really long ones) can induce decision anxiety!
Great post about a great place with great advice — as always!