AnnArbor.com announces the winners of its Community Choice Awards contest
Over the past month, more than 1,000 votes were cast in AnnArbor.com's annual Community Choice Awards contest. Thank you to those who voted!
We received some good feedback about the contest, such as adding categories for best place to watch a live theatrical production, which we were able to add this year, and best salon, which we'll add next year. If you have additional thoughts about what you'd like to see us do differently, let us know by emailing your ideas to community@annarbor.com.
We're pleased to announce the following winners. All businesses winning an award will receive a plaque commemorating their selection as the best of their category in Washtenaw County.
Best Breakfast Spot: Angelo’s Best Place for Bagels: Barry Bagels Best Place for Vegetarian Food: Seva Best Place for a Burger: Sidetrack Bar and Grill Best Place for a Sandwich: Zingerman's Deli Best Place for Pizza: Cottage Inn Best Place for Soup: Le Dog Best Place for a Hot Dog: Le Dog Best Place for Seafood: Real Seafood Company Best Place for a Steak: Knight's Steak House Best Cheap Eats: Jerusalem Garden Best Place for Indian Food: Shalimar Best Place for Greek Food: Parthenon Restaurant Best Place for Chinese Food: (tie) Middle Kingdom & Gourmet Garden Best Place for Thai Food: Tuptim Thai Cuisine Best Place for Italian Food: Gratzi Ristorante Best Place for Mexican: Tios Mexican Cafe Best Coffehouse: Sweetwaters Best Place for Dessert: La Dolce Vita Best Place for Ice Cream: Washtenaw Dairy Best Place for Locally Brewed Beer: Arbor Brewing Company Best Place for Happy Hour: Sidetrack Bar and Grill Best Townie Hangout: Old Town Tavern Best Retail Wine Selection: Morgan & York Fine Wines and Specialty Food Best Business to Access Wi Fi: Panera Bread Best Bookstore: Borders Books and Music Best Thrift or Secondhand Shop: Kiwanis Thrift Sale Best Nursery/Garden Store: Downtown Home & Garden Best Place to Buy a Funky Gift: Acme Mercantile Best Bike Shop: Two Wheel Tango Best Place to Buy Men's Clothes: Van Boven Clothing Best Place to Buy Women's Clothes: Von Maur Best Shoe Store: Mast Shoes Best Place to Buy Produce: The Ann Arbor Farmer's Market Best Hardware Store: Stadium Hardware Best Jewelry Store: Lewis Jewelers Best Auto Dealership Service: Howard Cooper Imports Best Place for a Therapeutic Massage: Bodywise Therapeutic Massage of Ann Arbor Best Art Gallery: (tie) UMMA - University of Michigan Museum of Art and WSG Gallery Best Window Displays: Selo / Shevel Gallery Best Ann Arbor Festival: Ann Arbor Summer Festival Best Business Catering to Kids Younger than 12: Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum Best Movie Theater: The Michigan Theater Best Dance Spot: Necto Best Local Museum: University of Michigan Museum of Art Best Place for Live Music: The Ark Best Radio Station/Music: ann arbor’s 107one Best Radio Station/Talk: WUOM 91.7 / Michigan Radio Best Venue for a Live Theatrical Production: The Power Center for the Performing Arts
Comments
Dug Song
Thu, Aug 5, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
Try Taqueria La Casita, Taqueria La Fiesta, Taqueria La Loma, Dos Hermanos, etc. - all just a short drive down Washtenaw or Carpenter. Truly a shame Ann Arbor's Seor Lopez couldn't maintain, but gringos want their fajitas and chimichangas from Banditos/El Camino Real/Los Amigos/etc. - not pozole, real tacos, and tamales from southwest Detroit. I guess a lineup that only rates Mexican/Chinese/Indian/Greek/Italian/Thai places sort of tells the story (of culinary hegemony). Parthenon wins Greek - what is that, a one-horse race? And no Korean, in a town of like 10 Korean joints. "Best New Restaurant" should go to G's Carribean Delights in Ypsi, if you can find it. Next to Lovers' Lane, labelled "Eagle's Tavern". The real deal.
stopfoodignorance
Wed, Jun 9, 2010 : 6:49 p.m.
Tio's has nothing on anybody. The breakfast burrito at McDonald's is more Mexican than anything you'll find at Tio's.
Kyrie
Tue, Jun 8, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.
Los Amigos is amazing! They dont have any processed food and they make everything there! Tios has nothing on them!
CynicA2
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 2:50 p.m.
Banditos is more bland leading the bland - at least BTB has a real grill and knows what seasonings are. Whatever they marinate their meat in is really tasty. Tastes char-grilled! Maybe it is a char-grill. For simple fare like burritos and tacos, BTB is my fav.
Dave LaFave
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
Well hey there Ann Arbor! What a TREAT! I'm Dave LaFave, Visual Director and Window Dresser for the Selo/Shevel Gallery on the corner of Main and Liberty. It has JUST been pointed out to me that the results are in from this poll. Too cool. Loves it. I'm so glad you all dig my work....
annarbortownie
Mon, Jun 7, 2010 : 2:56 a.m.
Mexican? There are choices. Bandito's on Fourth Ave is great!! What bothers me most about Tio's is the extra charge for EVERYTHING!! I feel nickel and dimed each time I am there. Some of the picks surprised me and then I saw that only about 1000 people voted. Almost comes down to who has the most employees to sway the results!
AndyYpsilanti
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.
I'm with Cash. Folks might even learn about some places they've never been to. And I'm pretty sure all of the winners here have won the Current poll 10 or 20 times.
Cash
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
Just a thought for next year...now that we have sections for Ypsilanti and Saline how about running a version of this contest for those towns also? That would be great.
CynicA2
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 3:17 p.m.
@stopfood... perhaps Mexican goes to Tios because 1) there are few, if any other choices, and 2) many of those participating in these surveys have really bland palates - not an uncommon criticism of midwestern tastebuds. A2 has a long history of overpriced, bad food, masquerading as something special. Goes with the bland palates. "wonderful choices"?!? That is really funny... some "ok" choices maybe.
stopfoodignorance
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 1:03 p.m.
I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever understand why people continually claim that Tio's is the best anything. The food is bland, unappealing and disgusting. As far as Mexican is concerned, it's about as Mexican as Little Ceaser's is Italian. For being the 2nd best small foodie town in the nation Ann Arborites sure have a terribly distorted view of what good and authentic are.
David Briegel
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 12:01 p.m.
I was hoping to see the top 2 or 3 in many categories. Casey's and Jolly Pumpkin come to mind. The live music at happy hour at PJ's Live. We really are fortunate to have such wonderful choices in our community!
dj
Sun, Jun 6, 2010 : 6:43 a.m.
While I appreciate all of the community choice award winners, there are certainly some great places that obviously didn't make the cut and need honorable mention such as Zola for breakfast-they make the best frittatas and cappuccino around; plus Performance Network just took top Wilde Awards nominations for their productions, no small feat;- and while 107.1 offers some great commentary and guests compliments of Martin Bandyke, WEMU 89.1 is by far the best radio station we have in the area-long live public radio.