Chester's Chophouse & Wine Bar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Wichita Institution on the Water

Chester's Chophouse & Wine Bar has earned its place as one of Wichita's most recognized dining destinations, set along the lake at Waterfront on N. Webb Road. The setting does a lot of the work — cozy dining rooms, an inviting bar, and an outdoor patio all oriented toward the water — but it's the combination of a serious steakhouse kitchen and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar that keeps diners coming back.

The Wine Program

Wine Spectator has recognized Chester's with its Award of Excellence, a distinction the restaurant first earned in 2006 and has continued to hold. The award acknowledges wine lists that offer interesting selections suited to the cuisine and appealing to a broad range of wine lovers — a fitting description for a program built to complement a seafood and steakhouse menu. For guests who want to explore beyond the bottle, the bar menu and cocktail program round out the options.

The Space and the Experience

The restaurant describes itself as "elegant, yet inviting" — a balance that shows in how the room is arranged. Whether the occasion is a business dinner or a night out with family, the atmosphere shifts to fit. The Lake Room, a dedicated private dining space equipped with multimedia capabilities, handles everything from corporate meetings to rehearsal dinners, with an events team that coordinates the details.

Ownership and Evolution

In 2019, founders Wink Hartman Sr. and chef Bobby Lane sold Chester's to George Youssef — owner of Georges French Bistro — and partner Doug Rippel. The transition brought new stewardship to a restaurant that had already built a loyal following, with Hartman himself noting his confidence in the new direction.

The menu spans dinner, a bar menu, dessert, happy hour, and gluten-free options, making Chester's a versatile choice for Wichita's steakhouse and seafood diners across a range of occasions.