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Wining and Dining OnlineGood starting place: www.therestaurantdirectory.comThe holiday season is fast approaching. Whether it's getting together with friends and family or simply taking a break from holiday stress, the season offers plenty of reasons to leave the kitchen behind and head for a restaurant.But especially in these busiest of times, nobody wants to make a trip only to find their restaurant of choice is closed that day. And, most folks don't want to be surprised to find that having dinner at the restaurant of choice will cost more than gifts on their Christmas list.Restaurants that have Web sites help take the guesswork out of the decision. How can you find them? Of course, you can try entering the name in Google's powerful search engine (www.google.com). Another good starting place is Atnetworld's online directories (www.therestaurantdirectory.com).A number of local restaurants have well-developed, comprehensive sites. Alberini's, for instance, provides an inside look at the Niles restaurant (www.alberinis.com). Flashing photos show dining rooms and Chook's Bar & Grille areas; a special section showcases items for sale in the restaurant's Corke Shoppe near the front entrance. The good stuff, though, is in the Dining Room Menu section, where everything is clearly laid out from gli antipasti (appetizers) to dolce (desserts).If you're a wine aficienado, nobody does it better than Alberini's, which has won awards for its extensive wine cellar. Here, visitors can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the entire wine list.History buffs might be interested in Tara -- A Country Inn in Clark, Pa., and Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn, Hanoverton.Guests at Tara (www.tara-inn.com) can choose from three dining areas: the AAA Four Diamond Ashley's Gourmet Dining Room, Stonewall's Tavern, and the Atlanta Lounge. The stately building, built in 1854, takes its inspiration from Gone With the Wind; the 27 guest rooms have names such as "Rett's Room" and "Confederate Getaway."All menus are presented with full descriptions and prices. Specialties include Scarlett's 18-inch Waist (chicken breast salad) and The Soldier's Dream (filet mignon).The Spread Eagle Tavern (www.spreadeagletavern.com) dates to the Canal Era of the early 19th Century, when the village -- then called Hanover -- was a stop on the Sandy & Beaver Canal. The brick tavern house, built in 1837, now includes seven dining rooms and five overnight guest rooms.The menu leans toward the extraordinary, such as a smoked salmon quesadilla appetizer and farm-raised quail. Depending on the season, diners are likely to find fresh game entrees as well.The offerings are far more informal, but no less extensive, at Quaker Steak & Lube, Sharon, Pa., and Mikeee's Bar & Grill, Girard. With 14 locations and counting, Quaker Steak (www.lubewings.com) is known far and wide for its "Best Wings USA" and the 16 varieties of sauces.But wings don't tell the entire story. As the online menu shows, Quaker Steak & Lube offers plenty of appetizers, burgers, steaks and seafood. Site visitors can check out the menu and download a souvenir copy as well.At Mikeee's (www.mikeees.com), the menu ranges from appetizers to dinner entrees. But the restaurant is perhaps best known for its extensive collection of sandwiches -- the goal, the owners say, is to reach 100, and there isn't far to go. Many are listed on the Web site, as are daily specials and a kids' menu.From Howland, owners Fran & Leo Delgarbino say Buono Appettito! to visitors at Leo's Ristorante and Banquet Center (www.leosristorante.com); lunch, dinner and pizza menus are showcased here as well. During summer months, Leo's covered outdoor patio sets the stage for live music several nights a week, as the online schedule shows."