The Best of Winston-Salem

Smitty's Notes 5th Annual "Best of Winston-Salem" Awards
July 2011
Welcome to Smitty's Notes 5th Annual Best of Winston-Salem awards, where we gauged who has the best of what we like and appreciated about our fair city, and add to our general quality of life here as recommended by you - Smittyheads! This year's contest had a fabulous response and increased from 2010. Remarkable! A fitting way to celebrate it's fifth year!
Votes were compiled from a survey distributed to recipients of the Smitty's Notes e-newsletter listserv, and it was also posted on the SmittysNotes.com Web site from mid-May and during the month of June. Although not a scientific polling, it is a good sampling of the businesses, people and places that you like in Winston-Salem. The voting tabulation for each category had a Winner (clear choice); Runner Up (highest second choice); Honorable Mention (enough votes to get noticed) where applicable and Best Quote (a comment worth noting or one so hilarious that it deserved a mention). In compiling the list, some categories are intentionally not included. Simply, Smitty's Notes doesn't tailor or report on certain content and we are not a newsletter for everything in the city. There were also a couple of comments about the length of the survey. To those, I pose the question: Where would you cut categories that mean something to someone else? Trust me. This thing could have been WAY longer.
In reading it, I hope you find places and people you've known all about for a while, found lesser-known highlights in the city and like me, plan to visit (or even meet) some of the places and people you didn't know about that are worthy of seeking out. I hope you find as much joy in exploring as Smitty's Notes did putting together its annual Best of Winston-Salem Contest. The 2011 winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition and window decal for their establishments.
General Comments on this year's awards or input for 2012 Best of Winston-Salem" Contest. Email Best of Winston-Salem Contest Comments
Local Ad Campaign that caught your attention (Business or Non-Profit)
Winner: Forsyth Technical Community College (Billboards)
Runner up: Second Harvest Food Bank (Empty Bowls Ad)
Honorable Mention: 109 U-PULL-IT (TV Commercial)
Local 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization
Winner: Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
Runner up: Ronald McDonald House of Winston Salem
Honorable Mention: Crisis Control Ministries; Cancer Services, Inc. and AARF Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation
Best Quote (s): "Second Harvest Food Bank of NWNC. They work so hard with limited funds. They rely on volunteers to help feed the hungry, both by donating food and by working at the facility. Positive kudos to this organization and its volunteers!"
Local Print Columnist (Newspaper or Magazine)
Winner: Scott Sexton (Winston-Salem Journal)
Runner up: Michael Hastings (Winston-Salem Journal)
Honorable mention: David Bare (Winston-Salem Journal) and Brian Clarey (Yes Weekly)
Best Quote (s): "David Bare - knowledgeable, kind, enthusiastic for plants."; "Michael Hastings- It's about food. Enough said"; "Scott Sexton - always blowing the lid off of something...keeps me in the "know" even if it makes me angry and I'd rather not know it."
Local Activist
Winner: Mary Jamis
Runner up: Millicent Greason-Spivak
Honorable mention: Susan Morris and The late Phil Hanes
Hyperlocal Print Publication (Magazine Rack or Tabloid)
Winner: Skirt Magazine
Runner up: Winston-Salem Monthly
Honorable mention: Relish Magazine and Forsyth Woman
Local politician (City, County or State Representative)
Winner: Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines
Runner Up: United States Senator Richard Burr, North Carolina (lives in Winston-Salem)
Honorable Mention: Fifth District Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Beese
Smitty Comment: Mayor Joines blew out the competition for a fifth straight year, again. Nobody came even close to him in the voting.
Local Scenester/Mover and Shaker (You know, one of the interesting characters around town)
Winner: Susan Morris
Runner Up: Richard Emmett
Honorable Mention: Millicent Greason-Spivak; John Bryan and Ralph Womble
Best Local Blog
Winner: Life in Forsyth by Esbee
Runner Up: Triad Moms on Main
Honorable Mention: Carpe Salem; and Cristin Whiting
Best Quote (s): "Do not read"
Best Local Facebook Group or Page
Winner: Triad Mom's on Main
Runner Up: Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership
Honorable Mention: Lowes Foods and Cancer Services
Best Local Twitter Feed
Winner: MyBridges.Net
Runner Up: Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership
Honorable Mention: Lowes Foods and Mozelle's
Best Quote (s): "Twitter "Schmitter"
Bakery
Winner: Dewey's Bakery
Runner Up: Ollie's Bakery
Honorable Mention: Camino Bakery
Best Quote (s): "Deweys...it just Winston-Salem personified..."; "Ollie's - For sophisticated tastes."; "Camino Bakery! I fell in love with them after they made an almond cake for me...."
BBQ
Winner: Little Richards
Runner Up: Bibs Downtown
Honorable Mention: Mr. Barbeque
Best Quote (s) "Little Richard's (Not the one you're thinking of)"
Breakfast
Winner: Breakfast Of Course (Mary's Too!)
Runner Up: Midtown Café & Dessert-ery
Honorable Mention: Cloverdale Kitchen
Best Quote (s): Breakfast Of Course! - I have lucid dreams about their scrambled tofu and pancakes."; "Breakfast of Course-- great food and all sorts of interesting people" "Cloverdale Kitchen, the best pancakes in the world.'
Coffee
Winner: Krankie's
Runner Up: Brew Nerds
Honorable Mention: Cafe Roche
Best Quote (s): "Krankie's-I think little magic elves roast their coffee-it's that good."; "Krankies Airstream: the happiest people for an early morning job and I learn a lot about music while I sit in my car."; "Never touch the stuff"
Bagel
Winner: Bagel Station
Runner Up: Panera Bread
Honorable Mention: Bruegger's Bagels
Dessert
Winner: Midtown Cafe and Dessertery
Runner Up: Dewey's Bakery
Honorable Mention: Mozelle's
Best Quote (s): "Mid-Town. The chocolate cheese cake (which has a much fancier name) has been the object of a mad dash before evening closing" "Krispy Kreme. If you're going to blow your diet with dessert, might as well make it really count"
Ice Cream
Winner: Blue Ridge Ice Cream
Runner Up: Cold Stone Creamery
Gelato
Winner: Café Prada
Runner Up: Café Gelato
Best Quote (s): "Caffe Prada, for the pink lemonade gelato -- no the pistachio -- no the strachiella. Aw, it's all delicious."
Custard
Winner: Wolfies Custard
Runner up: Kernel Kustard
Hamburger
Winner: Five Guys
Runner Up: Cook Out
Honorable Mention: Village Tavern
Best Quote (s): "Five Guys... But Cook-Out is a very, very close second!"; "Cookout. Looooooooove me some Cookout."; "Cookout! Cookout is God's gift to North Carolina."
Hot dog
Winner: Skippy's
Runner Up: PB's Hotdogs
Honorable Mention: Pulliam BBQ
Best Quote (s): "Pulliams. hands down. love it. why is this survey making me so hungry???"; "Skippy's kicks their dogs on a pretzel y'all"; "Skippy's Hands down, no contest...its all about the pretzel bun".
New Restaurant (Open since July, 1, 2010)
Winner: Willows Bistro
Runner Up: The Screaming Rooster
Honorable Mention: Genghis Grill
Best Quote (s): "Willow's - best kept secret in Winston, but now people are finding out, highly upsetting" "Genghis Grill (best bang for your buck--especially for lunch--so many combos, you can have something different every time you go!)"
Local Food Blog
Winner: Carpe Salem
Runner Up: The Local Dish
Honorable Mention: Chow and Chatter
Best Quote (s): "Again, I don't read many blogs."
Farm To Table Restaurant
Winner: The Screaming Rooster
Runner Up: Willows Bistro
Honorable Mention: Mozelle's; Meridian
Best Quote (s): "Tie between The Screaming Rooster and Willow's Bistro. Ok...maybe a slight nod to Willow's. Both are oh so good!"; "Yikes"
Italian restaurant
Winner: Paul's
Runner Up: Vincenzo's
Honorable Mention: Dioli's Trattoria; Kitchen Roselli
Best Quote (s): "Calories. No thanks."
Mexican Restaurant
Winner: La Botana
Runner Up: Senor Bravo
Honorable Mention: Las Estrellas and Mi Pueblo
Best Quote (s): "Senor Bravos -- and the soccer games on TV are great fun....."; "La Botana!! This is the most amazing Mexican restaurant. but no one is ever there! Authentic Mexican food (which takes a little longer to cook but it is so worth it). This is the best Mexican I have ever had ever."
Latin Restaurant
Winner: Rana Loca
Runner Up: Buena Pinta
Honorable Mention: La Botana
Soul Food
Winner: Sweet Potatoes
Runner Up: Big Mamma's Place
Honorable Mention: Nitty Gritty Soul Food; Meta's
Best Quote (s): . "The one and only Sweet Potatoes"; "Nitty Gritty. Not because I've ever eaten there...because I think that name is hilarious."
Steak
Winner: Ryan's
Runner Up: Twin City Chophouse
Honorable Mention: Putter's
Best Quote (s): "My house -- I've got the CharLean beef."
Fried Chicken
Winner: Mountain Fried Chicken
Runner Up: Sweet Potatoes
Honorable Mention: Mozelle's; Ted's Kickin' Chicken
Best Quote (s): "Nothing beats Popeye's, but there isn't one in W-S; next best thing is Mountain Fried Chicken"
Ribs
Winner: Bib's Downtown
Runner up: Honky Tonk Pig
Honorable Mention: Little Richards
Best Quote (s): "Bibs. Hands down."; "Little Richard's on Country Club on Wednesday nights. THE best ribs in town. Half rack with two sides and you have enough for the next day."; "My g-mom. That's hood for "Grandmother"."
Asian restaurant
Winner: Downtown Thai
Runner Up: Wen Hwa Asian Fusion Cuisine
Honorable Mention: Thai Sawatdee
Brunch
Winner: Breakfast Of Course (Mary's, Too !)
Runner Up: Willows Bistro
Honorable Mention: Fourth Street Filling Station; New Town Bistro
Best Quote (s): "Who has time for brunch. Damn, where's my bloody mary. Damn, where's the waitress. Probably on a smoke break."
Ethnic (Other)
Winner: Nawab Indian Cuisine
Runner Up: Mooney's
Honorable Mention: Downtown Thai
Best Quote (s): "Mooney's. Love that they try to support local farms by buying some local food for the restaurant."
Romantic dinner
Winner: Mozelle's
Runner Up: Ryan's Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Meridian Restaurant, Bernardin's at Zevely House and Milner's
Best Quote (s): "I miss those."; "Who has $$ for romance?"; "Anywhere not in a restaurant. Get a little creative, people. Break into an abandoned building and set up nice candle light dinner on the roof, or something".; "I've obviously been married too long."
Take a First Date
Winner: Mozelle's
Runner up: Village Tavern
Honorable Mention: Milner's
Best Quote (s): "Can't remember back that far."; "I'm married. My wife would kill me if I took another woman out"
Fine dining restaurant
Winner: Ryan's Restaurant
Runner Up: Mozelle's
Honorable Mention: Nobles Grille, Meridian Restaurant, Fabian's and Milner's
Best Quote (s):"Ryan's ... Been the best for decades!"; "Mozelles... definitely up with all the big boys... amazing menu... all fresh all the time"; "yeah. give me some gift cards and I will happily let you know."
Seafood restaurant
Winner: Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar
Runner Up: Full Moon Oyster Bar
Honorable Mention: Mayflower Seafood
Best Quote (s):"Mayflower! Welcome back!"
Late Night Place To Eat (after 10 p.m.)
Winner: Burke Street Pizza
Runner Up: Breakfast Of Course (Mary's, Too !)
Honorable Mention: Cook Out, Waffle House and IHOP
Best Quote (s): . "I have little kids, I'm not up, let alone out, after 10pm"; "I can't stay awake that late much less eat anything that doesn't come from my freezer (ice cream!)"; My kitchen. In front of the fridge. With the door open"
Pizza Parlor
Winner: Burke Street Pizza
Runner Up: Mellow Mushroom
Honorable Mention: Mario's Pizza
Health food
Winner: Whole Foods Food Bar
Runner Up: The Fresh Market
Best Quote (s): "This stuff will kill ya !"; "I like French Fries"
Sushi
Winner: Ishi
Runner Up: Mizu
Honorable Mention: Sakura, Ichiban, Downtown Thai and Sushi Thai
Best Quote (s): Mizu. You are amazing. The twin roll will blow your mind
Vegetarian food
Winner: Whole Foods Market
Runner Up: Breakfast Of Course (Mary's, Too !)
Honorable Mention: Nawab Indian Cuisine; Mooney's
Best Quote (s): "Once again, sorry don't eat it.... need meat!"; "I love meat. Red meat. Rare meat. Lots and lots of meat"; "wish we still had a vegetarian restaurant !!!"
Wine list
Winner: Sixth and Vine Wine Bar
Runner Up: Meridian Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Noble's Grille and Mozelle's
Chef
Winner: Tommy Karathanas - Mozelle's
Runner Up: Will Kingery - Willow's Bistro
Honorable Mention: Trevor Dye and Mark Grohman - Meridian Restaurant; and Bill Smith - Fabian's
Restaurant Service
Winner: Mozelle's
Runner Up: Meridian
Honorable Mention: Nobles Grille; Village Tavern and Milner's
Best Quote (s): "Nobles service is wonderful, all of the people who work there are professional, friendly and knowledgeable."; "Mozelle's. Thanks for always making me feel special"; "Village Tavern, Reynolda Village. Never had bad service there. Love managers, the GM Chad Smith is just about the nicest person i have run across in any restaurant i have eaten in. I think he makes that restaurant a success"
Delivery
Winner: Jimmy John's
Runner Up: Burke Street Pizza
Honorable Mention: Papa John's, and Vincenzo
Best Quote (s): "Jimmy John's Downtown .. always fast .. and we miss their most important delivery guy ,, Ib!!!"
Food Truck
Winner: Forno Moto
Runner Up: Taqueria Luciano
Best Quote (s): "Forno Moto (wood- fired pizza truck)"; "We have food trucks in town? Where?"
Farmers Market
Winner: Cobblestone Farmers Market
Runner Up: Piedmont Triad Farmers Market
Honorable Mention: Reynolda Farm Market and Dixie Classic Fair Farmers Market
Wait Person (Server)
Winner: Aaron Denton - Mozelle's
Runner Up: Anna Wishon - Meridian
Honorable Mention: West End Cafe Staff and Village Tavern Staff
Best Quote (s): "Aaron Denton - Mozelle's I have been to every restaurant in town and he is hands down the best I've ever had. He fulfilled every request I had - almost before I had it. I can't say enough about Aaron Denton."; "Anna Wishon at Meridian She's the BEST!!"
Annual event/Festival
Winner: Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration in Downtown Winston
Runner Up: Rock the Block!!
Honorable Mention: Greek Festival; North Carolina Wine Festival @ Tanglewood,
People watching
Winner: Downtown Winston (Fourth Street and The Arts District)
Runner Up: Hanes Mall
Honorable Mention: Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday Night (Racing)
Park
Winner: Tanglewood Park
Runner Up: Hanes Park
Honorable Mention: Washington Park
Bike riding
Winner: Salem Lake
Runner Up: Tanglewood Park
Honorable Mention: Miller Park and Washington Park
Walking trails
Winner: Salem Lake
Runner Up: Reynolda Gardens
Honorable Mention: Tanglewood Park
Place for the pet
Winner: Washington Park
Runner Up: Horizon Park
Honorable Mention: Ruff Housing
TV news personality, male (Any Triad Station)
Winner: Cameron Kent - WXII.
Runner Up: Austin Caviness - WXII
Honorable Mention: Neill McNeill - Fox 8 and Brent Campbell Fox 8
Best Quote (s): "Cameron Kent. Best news professional in the market"
TV news personality, female (Any Triad Station)
Winner: Wanda Starke - WXIII
Runner Up: Lanie Pope - WXII
Honorable Mention: Kimberley Van Scoy - WXII, Nicole Ducor - WXII and Cindy Farmer - Fox 8
Best Quote (s): "Lanie Pope - she's cute and funny
Radio Moring Crew (Any Triad Station)
Winner: Two Guys named Chris - Rock 92
Runner Up: Murphy in the Morning Show - 107.5 KZL
Honorable Mention: Chuck and Leanne - 93.1 The Wolf
Tap beer
Winner: Foothills Brewery
Runner Up: Mellow Mushroom
Honorable Mention: 1st Street Draught House
New Bar/Nightclub (Open since July 1, 2010)
Winner: Tate's Craft Cocktails
Runner Up: Old Winston Social Club
Honorable Mention: Club Therapy
Best Quote (s):"ummm.... its not classy to have a baby bump in a bar. Turns out. But Tate's is pretty amazing".
Dive Bar
Winner: Silver Moon Saloon
Runner Up: Recreation Billiards
Honorable Mention: Single Brothers
Best Quote (s): "Silver Moon - Though if they spend much more on the patio and mosaics, they could un-dive themselves!)";"Recreation Billiards (with all due respect)"
Restaurant Bar
Winner: Sixth and Vine Wine Bar
Runner Up: Foothill's Brewing Company
Honorable Mention: Milner's and Meridian
Best Quote (s) "I always think the people at Milner's bar look super cool and classy."; "Meridian. Regulars make that bar Fun!"
Sports bar
Winner: Big Shotz Tavern
Runner Up: Fox and Hound
Honorable Mention: Mossy's and Old Staley's Grill
Meet After Work