Four Dallas Wine-Friendly Restaurants by Darryl Beeson The four restaurants below understand wine and succeed. Mercy (5100 Belt Line Road #544 Addison, 972-702-WINE) "Mercy provides a warm, comfortable, cozy environment to enjoy your favorite wine or to try something new," explains proprietor Glen Agritelley. "If you are out to enjoy a movie or a play and want to start the evening with a glass of wine and some food from the menu, or if you want to end your evening with a glass of wine and a dessert, we can do both. You can dine at a table or relax and lounge in one of several areas on a couch or comfy chair very much like your own living room. If you are in a group, we encourage you to rearrange the furniture and make yourself at home." Mercy offers inspired food creations in both small and large portions. Selections can be shared while enjoying one of the many wine by the glass selections. Check the website at www.mercywinebar.com for the numerous tasting events. "Our name is inspired by the song 'Oh, Pretty Woman' by Roy Orbison," says Agritelley. "In the second verse Roy utters, Mercy' no one can look as good as you'." The Oceanaire Seafood Room (located at the Westin Galleria, complimentary valet parking, 972-759-2277 www.theoceanaire.com) The critically-acclaimed Oceanaire Seafood Room has been awarded the Wine Spectator's 2003 Restaurant Wine Award of Excellence. "This is a great honor for The Oceanaire," says John Szymanski, General Manager of The Oceanaire Seafood Room. "We have carefully selected an extensive wine list that reflects our menu and meets the demands and needs of our guests. It is terrific to be singled out for this award." The Oceanaire is an inviting retro supper club that serves the freshest seafood possible, flown in daily, in a setting that is sophisticated but relaxed, sleek yet warm. The design of the restaurant captures that of a 1930's ocean liner, reinforces The Oceanaire's devotion to seafood. The key lime pie is the finest ever experienced, tall and concentrated almost like cheese cake. The music is loud and the dining room is exciting. Though the wine list is award winning, don't be shy to order a single malt Scotch or a Martini before the meal. Vino & Basso (4900 McKinney Avenue, on the northeast corner of Monticello and McKinney, 214-520-1441) Vino, now in the process of freshly opening, is an Italian wine bar featuring fine wines, signature frozen drinks and casual Italian cuisine in a lively but comfortable atmosphere. Vino's sister restaurant, Basso, an upscale, fine dining establishment featuring Northern Italian cuisine, is slated to open next door to Vino in October 2003. "At Vino & Basso, we offer a unique culinary experience that combines exceptional wines with great Italian food," observes Michael Costa, president and CEO of Bluewater Restaurant Group. " Vino takes the intimidation out of drinking wine with our emphasis on creating fun. We want people to enjoy their favorite wines or feel comfortable trying something new." The menu at Vino includes pastas, Paninis, assorted crostini and salads.  Wine Bar General Manager Bryan Luisi has carefully selected the wine list which features more than 200 selections from around the world and more than 50 wines by the glass. Complimentary wine tastings will be offered in Vino's Tasting Room Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., and free Italian language classes will be provided every Saturday beginning in September 2003. Arc-En-Ciel (3555 W. Walnut St., Garland, TX 972-272-2188) Inspired by a French owned restaurant that he respected in Vietnam named Arc-en-Ciel, Mickey Luu created a simple restaurant that has for many years won the hearts of local foodies and wine lovers. Being B.Y.O.B., a favorite wine will never cost the traditional restaurant mark-up. Important chefs soon heard of the humble destination. Kent Rathbun, a James Beard award nominee, tells the story of being inspired by the Vietnamese spring rolls, even though he had spent time in Thailand. "My secret is to observe and learn the culture and the living in my country," reveals Luu. "Then I know what to do. Doing business is OK." Each business story hopes for a rainbow. Arc-en-Ciel is French for rainbow.  For more great wine suggestions, click here Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.