Wine lovers can indulge themselves in quality restaurants nationwide.
There many ways to be a wine lover. There are those who prefer quantity over quality, and then there are the true oenophiles who look for just the right wine to accompany their food, regardless of expense. For that reason, restaurants across the country have focused on offering wine as an integral part of the meal. The big metropolitan areas of New York, Chicago and the Los Angeles area have some of the best restaurants that offer outstanding wines to their guests.
Daniel Restaurant
Good food and great service are the keys to running a good restaurant, and Daniel in New York City has that down pat. The ambiance of the restaurant is quite understated; artwork by Spaniard Menolo Valdes, sophisticated flower arrangements and a combination of green and gray provide a soothing yet modest ambiance. Great care is taken with each dish you order and can be paired with an bottle of exquisite wine from the restaurant's cellar numbering almost 2,000 bottles. As of 2010, that cellar boasted bottles ranging in price from $25 for a bottle of Reisling to a Chateau D'Yquem that's a 1918 vintage that sells for $10,000.
Daniel Restaurant
60 E. 65th St.
New York, NY 10065
212-288-0033
danielnyc.com
Alinea Restaurant
When you dine at Alinea Restaurant, you might be eating in the most unusual restaurant in America, with its waitstaff dressed like bankers in three-piece-suits. Entering the restaurant is like going to an art museum with its bare decor, because the chef does not want to to focus on anything but the food. Although Chef Grant Achatz lost his sense of taste because of cancer, he manages to concoct new dishes to tempt his guests and their tastebuds. The restaurant's wine list takes a backseat to none in the country, and its sommelier makes sure that you order just the right wine for your meal.
Alinea Restaurant
1723 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
312-867-0110
alinea-restaurant.com
Melisse Restaurant
Josiah Citrin and his restaurant, Melisse, have been the talk of Southern California since it opened in 1999. As you enter this restaurant, you'll be taken by how well the beige chairs against the smoky, purple walls create an elegant and contemporary ambiance. Citrin is both French and American, and he integrates the two cultures to create a melody of flavors and textures. A tasting menu with multiple courses is available for $105 (in 2010), and there is also a vegetarian version available for less than $100. The restaurant's well-thought-out wine list has received the Best Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine every year since its opening. Primarily containing French wines, the wine list offers several vintages by the glass.
Melisse Restaurant
1104 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-395-0881
melisse.com
Tags: Alinea Restaurant, wine list, Daniel Restaurant, just right, just right wine