Every year when the Readers’ Choice results come in, you can’t help but shake your head at some of the nominees.
The Olive Garden once again emerged as the runner-up for Best Italian. With so many locally owned Italian restaurants offering unique menus, it’s a little disappointing to see a chain rank so high. Just sayin’.
At least this year no one voted Martin Scorsese for Best Theater Director. (This is Readers’ Choice people, not the Oscars.)
And then there are the nominees that make us smile — in a good way. This year’s results boast more locals than in years past.
This is a good thing. We like when the little guys win. It’s what this contest is all about.
FOOD AND DRINK
Best New Restaurant
Winner: Josephine’s
Runner-up: Nico’s Restaurant and Bar
Best Overall Restaurant
Winner: Moose Cafe
Runner-up: Green Valley Grill
Best Patio Dining
Winner: Ham’s
Runner-up: Village Tavern
Best Romantic Restaurant
Winner: Bianca’s
Runner-up: Green Valley Grill
Best Restaurant That Uses Local Ingredients
Winner: Moose Cafe
Runner-up: Iron Hen Cafe
Best Bakery
Winner: Delicious
Runner-up: Simple Kneads
Best Cupcakes
Winner: Delicious
Runner-up: Maxie B’s
Best Doughnuts
Winner: Krispy Kreme
Runner-up: Donut World
Best Bagels
Winner: Panera Bread
Runner-up: Cake & All Things Yummy
Best Buffet
Winner: Golden China
Runner-up: China Buffet
Best Breakfast
Winner: Moose Cafe
Runner-up: Smith Street Diner
Best Brunch
Winner: Village Tavern
Runner-up: Print Works Bistro
Best 24-Hour Dining
Winner: Jake’s Diner
Runner-up: Waffle House
Best Coffee
Winner: Starbucks
Runner-up: Green Bean
Best Deli
Winner: Jason’s Deli
Runner-up: Lox, Stock and Bagel
Best Diner
Winner: Jake’s Diner
Runner-up: Smith Street Diner
Best Late-Night Dining
Winner: Cookout
Runner-up: IHOP
Best Takeout
Winner: Cookout
Runner-up: Chen’s Express
Best Steak
Winner: Outback Steakhouse
Runner-up: Logan’s Roadhouse
Best Barbecue
Winner: Stamey’s Barbecue
Runner-up: Clark’s Barbecue
Best Wings
Winner: East Coast Wings
Runner-up: Buffalo Wild Wings
Best Hamburger
Winner: Cookout
Runner-up: Five Guys
Best Ice Cream
Winner: Cold Stone Creamery
Runner-up: Yum Yum Better Ice Cream
Best Yogurt
Winner: Feeney’s
Runner-up: Red Mango
Best Pizza
Winner: Mario’s Pizza
Runner-up: Elizabeth’s Pizza
Best Seafood
Winner: 1618 West Seafood Grille
Runner-up: Red Lobster
Best Sushi
Winner: Sushi Republic
Runner-up: Kabuto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Best Vegetarian
Winner: Boba House
Runner-up: Iron Hen Cafe
Best Chinese
Winner: P. F. Chang’s
Runner-up: Golden China
Best Middle Eastern
Winner: Zaytoon Mediterranean Cafe
Runner-up: Ghassan’s
Best Greek
Winner: Acropolis Restaurant
Runner-up: Mythos Grill
Best Indian
Winner: Saffron
Runner-up: India Palace
Best Italian
Winner: Bianca’s
Runner-up: The Olive Garden
Best Japanese
Winner: Arigato Japanese Steak & Seafood House
Runner-up: Kabuto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Best Mexican
Winner: La Fiesta
Runner-up: Mexico
Best Thai
Winner: Taste of Thai
Runner-up: Rearn Thai
Best Vietnamese
Winner: Pho Hien Vuong
Runner-up: Binh Minh
Best Neighborhood Bar
Winner: Natty Greene’s
Runner-up: Fisher’s Grille
Best Beer Selection
Winner: Natty Greene’s
Runner-up: Bestway
Best Wine List
Winner: Bin 33
Runner-up: 1618 West Seafood Grille
Best Vineyard
Winner: Grove Winery
Runner-up: Stonefield Cellars
SHOPPING AND SERVICES
Best Shopping Mall/Center
Winner: Friendly Center
Runner-up: Hanes Mall
Best Women’s Apparel Store
Winner: Sylvia’s Outlet
Runner-up: Anthropologie
Best Men’s Apparel Store
Winner: Brooks Brothers, Belk, Kohl’s (tie)
Runner-up: JoS. A. Bank Clothiers
Best Locally Owned Clothing Store
Winner: Sylvia’s Outlet
Runner-up: Mack and Mack
Best Jewelry Store
Winner: Schiffman’s Jewelers
Runner-up: Mark Holder Jeweller
Best Vintage/Used Clothing Boutique
Winner: Design Archives
Runner-up: Goodwill
Best Consignment Clothing Shop
Winner: Songbirds Consignments
Runner-up: Goodwill
Best Shoe Store
Winner: DSW
Runner-up: The Shoe Market
Best Used Bookstore
Winner: Edward Mckay Used Books & More
Runner-up: Empire Books
Best Comic Book Store
Winner: Acme Comics
Runner-up: Parts Unknown
Best Farmer’s Market
Winner: Piedmont Triad Farmers’ Market
Runner-up: Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market
Best Florist
Winner: Plants and Answers Florist
Runner-up: The Farmer’s Wife
Best Garden Center/Nursery
Winner: New Garden Landscaping and Nursery
Runner-up: A.B. Seed
Best Health Food Store
Winner: Earth Fare
Runner-up: Deep Roots
Best Wine Shop
Winner: Total Wine & More
Runner-up: Zeto Wine Shop
Best Bike Shop
Winner: Cycles De Oro
Runner-up: Recycles Bicycle Shop
Best Sporting Goods Store
Winner: Dick’s Sporting Goods
Runner-up: Omega Sports
Best Gift Shop
Winner: Just Be
Runner-up: Tranquilities
PEOPLE AND MEDIA
Best Local TV Anchor (male or female)
Winner: Neill McNeill (WGHP Fox 8)
Runner-up: Cindy Farmer (WGHP Fox 8)
Best Local Meteorologist
Winner: Van Denton (WGHP Fox 8)
Runner-up: Eric Chilton (WFMY News 2)
Best TV News Station
Winner: WGHP Fox 8
Runner-up: WFMY News 2
Best Local Radio Personality
Winner: Jack Murphy (WKZL107.5 FM)
Runner-up: Chris Demm (Rock 92 FM); Chris Kelly (Rock 92 FM) (tie)
Best Morning Radio Show
Winner: Two Guys Named Chris (Rock 92 FM)
Runner-up: Murphy In The Morning (WKZL 107.5 FM)
Best Local Radio Station
Winner: Rock 92 FM
Runner-up: WKZL 107.5 FM
Best College Radio Station
Winner: WQFS 90.9 FM
Runner-up: WUAG 103.1 FM
Best Local Blogger
Winner: Ed Williams (ncwineclub.com/blog)
Runner-up: Ed Cone (edcome.com)
Best Tweets
Winner: @Lenslinger (Stewart Pittman)
Runner-up: @LordRetail (Jermaine Exum)
ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS AND CULTURE
Best Art Gallery
Winner: Weatherspoon Art Museum
Runner-up: Green Hill Center For North Carolina Art
Best Visual Artist
Winner: Andrew Day
Runner-up: Micah Stanley
Best Historical Museum/Historical Site
Winner: Greensboro Historical Museum
Runner-up: Natural Science Center of Greensboro
Best Museum For Kids
Winner: Natural Science Center of Greensboro
Runner-up: Greensboro Children’s Museum
Best Movie Theater
Winner: Regal Cinemas Palladium Station 14
Runner-up: Regal Cinemas Greensboro Grande Stadium 16 (Friendly Center)
Best Comedy Club
Winner: The Idiot Box
Runner-up: The Comedy Zone
Best Music Venue
Winner: The Blind Tiger
Runner-up: Ziggy’s
Best Outdoor Music Space
Winner: White Oak Amphitheatre
Runner-up: Grove Winery
Best New Music Act
Winner: Hanging Thread
Runner-up: Lauren Light
Best Vocalist
Winner: Bruce Piephoff
Runner-up: Lacy Green
Best Theater Company
Winner: Triad Stage
Runner-up: Open Space Cafe Theatre
Best Theater Director
Winner: Preston Lane
Runner-up: Mitchel Sommers
Best Local Author
Winner: John Hart
Runner-up: Orson Scott Card
HEALTH, BEAUTY AND FITNESS
Best Day Spa
Winner: Balance Day Spa
Runner-up: Chakras
Best Hair Salon
Winner: Leon’s Style Salon
Runner-up: Chakras
Best Health Club/Gym
Winner: CrossFit Greensboro
Runner-up: The Rush Fitness Complex
Best Massage Therapy
Winner: Balance Day Spa
Runner-up: Massage Envy
Best Manicure/Pedicure
Winner: Buff Natural Nail Bar and Salon
Runner-up: Balance Day Spa
Best Yoga Studio
Winner: Mind Body Fitness
Runner-up: Triad Yoga Institute
