Restaurant Wine Awards
Wine Enthusiast

March 1995

• An ongoing guide to the wine-friendliest restaurants in America.
  
• Dedicated to the notions that superior cuisine is instrumental to wine enjoyment . . .
  
• that good wine service means more than pulling the cork and refilling glasses . . .
  
• that wine lists depend more on value and quality of selections than sheer length . . .
  
• and that proper storage is necessary to ensure maximum pleasure from any given bottle.
     -Wine Enthusiast

Amanda's
908 Washington St., Hoboken, New Jersey; 201/798-0101. American; $12-$20. 42 wine selections; 6 by the glass; 800 bottles. Natural subterranean cellar.

The small, thoughtful wine list here reflects the size of this most intimate and romantic of Hoboken's restored brownstones. Owners Eugene and Joyce Flinn treat guests like family. Staff is casual but well-versed in wine parlance-and heavy-handed when pouring by the glass.

Biscotti Food Co.
3 Big Shop Lane, Ridgefield, Connecticut; 203/431-3637. Italian-Homestyle; $14-$19. 40 wine selections; 2,000 bottles. Natural cellar.

With a very focused and moderately priced list, Biscotti has become the local wine lovers' hot spot. Monthly wind dinner and weekly wine tastings; all wines available at nearby Hay Day wine shop. Added bonus: 14-bottle winekeeper for frequently changing glass pours.

Blue Oyster Bar & Restaurant
99 N. Main St., Providence, Rhode Island; 401/272-6145. Seafood/Bistro; $16-$19. 750 wine selections; 3.000 bottles. Subterranean, temperature-controlled cellar.

The owners really care about wine. It's a small place (seats 45) with many wines available by the half glass as well as full-great opportunity to taste a variety of things. Seafood-oriented menu is full of unusual dishes. $30+ wines get Reidel stemware.

Galileo
1110 20th St. N.W., Washington, D.C.; 202/293-7191. Italian; $17-$30. 700 wine selections; 25,000 bottles. Temperature-controlled cellar.

Long and diverse list of Italian wines from all major regions of Italy, with the best producers represented: many at very good prices. Also a small selections of California wines. Creative Italian cooking.

Hurricane Restaurant
Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine; 207/646-6348. New American; $14-$20. 75 wine selections; 500 bottles. Natural subterranean cellar.

Thirty different wines by the glass, several food and wine match suggestions, monthly wine dinners and wine specials at very reasonable prices. Lack of vintages on the list is a brow-raiser, but where else can you get six courses with six wines for $35, including tax and tip!

Jean-Louis at the Watergate hotel
2650 Virginia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.; 202/298-4488. Modern French; $45, $85, $95 prix fixe menu. 750 wine selections; 23,000 bottles. Temperature-controlled cellar.

Strong list of French wines, including some early 20th century Bordeaux and a good selection from lesser known areas, including Provence and Southwestern France. Unusually attractive storage within the restaurant.

Le Lion D'or
1150 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.; 202/996-7972. French; $24-$26. 500 wine selections; 12,000 bottles. Temperature-controlled cellar.

Strong, varied list with emphasis on red Bordeaux, but many red and whit Burgundies and other wines, such as 20 vintages of BV Private Reserve. Excellent traditional French food.

Michael's on East
1212 E-Avenue South, Sarasota, FL; 813/366-0007. New American; $11-$18. 275 wine selections; 10,000 bottles. Temperature-controlled storage.

Great wine pricing; Michael's price point on wine is $10 over retail. Also a great place for winemaker dinners. The restaurant is connected to a retail wine store and club so you can purchase bottles that you tried during dinner.

Park and Orchard Restaurant
240 Hackensack St., East Rutherford, New Jersey; 201/939-9292. Eclectic; $11-$19. 1,700 wine selections; 16,000 bottles. Temperature-controlled cellar.

Who would think you could find a treasure trove of great Burgundy and hard-to-find California wines in a list that reads like the Sears, "Wish Book." Service staff is knowledgeable and attentive to glassware and decanting.

Seasons at The Four Seasons Hotel
2800 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.; 202/342-0444. Modern American; $15-$29. 700 wine selections; 50,000 bottles. Temperature-controlled cellar.

Long, varied list of wines from many countries, with emphasis on wines from California. Fine modern American cooking with French influence.