Best of Winston-Salem

July 2007

Smitty’s Notes First Annual “Best of Winston-Salem” Awards

Welcome to our first Smitty’s Notes 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!

Votes we compiled by a survey passed around to those on the Smitty’s Notes e-newsletter listserv and posted on the SmittysNotes.com web site during the month of June. Although not a scientific polling, but due to the great response, we can say it is a good sampling of what businesses, people and place you like about Winston-Salem. Remarkably, there wasn’t any ballot stuffing that occurred, but a few attempts to e-mail “lobby” for your favorites among friends. Yes, we knew how to track those. However, did not sway the voting in any category.

The voting tabulation for each category each had a Winner (clear choice) Runner Up (highest second choice) Honorable Mention (enough votes to get noticed) and; where applicable, Best Quote (a comment worth noting or too hilarious it deserved a mention) and Smitty Comment (if I felt like putting my two cents in). In compiling the list, some “obvious” categories were missed by our crack team. However, we felt adding a special “Honorable Choice” at the end will give them their due, if there was a consensus for the category.

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 myself, plan to visit (or even meet) some of the places and people I didn’t know about and worthy of a look. I hope you find as much joy exploring as Smitty’s Notes did putting together it’s First Annual “Best of Winston-Salem Contest”

General Comments on this year’s awards or input for “2008 Best of Winston-Salem” Contest. Email “Best of Winston-Salem Contest Comments”

Bakery

Winner: Dewey's Bakery

Runner Up: Ollie's Bakery

Honorable Mention:

Best Quote (s): "DEWEY'S They are a tradition here in Winston-Salem. Dewey's is known for famous cake squares and the Moravian cookies, sugar squares, and holiday buns at Easter"

BBQ

Winner: Little Richards

Runner Up: Pig Pickin’s

Honorable Mention: B & D's Chicago Style Ribs

Buffalo wings

Winner: East Coast Wings

Runner Up: Buffalo Wild Wings

Honorable Mention: Twin City Diner

Best Quote (s): “Save money - buy the frozen ones at Costco”

Breakfast

Winner: Mary’s Of Course

Runner Up: Midtown Café & Dessert-ery

Honorable Mention: Duke’s

Best Quote (s): “Well...of course....Mary's of Course! “; “Dessertery - My favorite is the Big Buckaroo. Two eggs, three pancakes and huge helping of hash browns”

Coffee

Winner: Starbucks

Runner Up: Krankie’s

Honorable Mention: Chelsee’s

Best Quote (s): “I don't drink coffee- I know I'm a freak!”

Coffee House

Winner: Chelsee’s

Runner Up: Krankie’s

Honorable Mention: Simply Yummy

Best Quote (s): “Chelsees' - A quaint alternative to the cookie cutter, super chain shops. Great atmosphere, never overcrowded and the beverage selection is wide. Also, the baristas are very talented and friendly”. “Krankies - 100% grunge. Feel like I'm in Seattle ”

Bagel

Winner: Bagel Station

Runner Up: Panera Bread Company

Honorable Mention: Brueggers

Best Quote (s): “Bagel Station - WS classic!”

Dessert

Winner: Midtown Cafe and Dessertery

Runner Up: Fourth Street Filling Station

Honorable Mention: Krispy Kreme

Best Quote (s): "Dessertery - The name says it all “; “Oh, man. You want me to CHOOSE?!? My brain would explode if I tried. Let's just say anything chocolate that's made on site.”

French fries

Winner: McDonalds

Runner Up: Sweet Potatoe's (sweet potato fries)

Honorable Mention: Skippy's (homemade) Finnegan's Wake (sweet potato fries)

Best Quote (s): “McDonald’s- Even in the day of the gourmet the arches are still number one”

Hamburger

Winner: Cook Out

Runner Up: Twin City Diner

Honorable Mention: River Birch Lodge

Best Quote (s): “Cook Out - they even smell like a hamburger should “ “The Gus Burger at Twin City Diner resides at the top of my list..” “River Birch Lodge - technically it's their bison burger, but oh wow, yum; it's totally messy but that's part of the appeal”

Hot dog

Winner: PB's Hotdogs

Runner Up: Skippy's

Honorable Mention: Pulliam BBQ

Best Quote (s): “PB's on Hawthorne - Must be the toasted, buttered bun or maybe the no-nonsense atmosphere” “Skippy's: unique because of their pretzel dough they use for buns. Great hot dogs too served in a variety of ways.” “Pulliam BBQ. - The greatest hot dog anywhere. Toasted buns with red dogs. This is the hangout of celebrities."

Italian restaurant

Winner: Paul's

Runner Up: Vincenzo's

Honorable Mention: Carrabbas .

Best Quote (s): “Paul's on Robinhood - plus I like the personal attention - wine is great too.” “Vincenzo's - Everything is good- from Pizza to Pasta.” “Carrabbas - Good authentic meals with wide range of entrees.”

Mexican Restaurant

Winner: Mi Pueblo

Runner Up: Las Estrellas

Honorable Mention: La Carretta

Best Quote (s): "Mi Pueblo - Stratford. GREAT food~ reasonable prices. What's not to love." "Las Estrellas- great food and for such a small place they always have something going on- whether it is live professional music or karoke in spanish- who knew?”

Meal under $5

Winner: K&W Cafeteria

Runner Up: Acadia Grill

Honorable Mention: Whole Foods Market (salad bar)

Best Quote (s): : K&W Cafeteria – “A Winston-Salem Institution” “Arcadia Grill – “off Main St; varies, but that is some of the best food in a small, diner like environment”

Soul Food

Winner: Sweet Potatoes

Runner Up: Meta's

Honorable Mention: Bell Brother's

Best Quote (s): Sweet Potatoes – “for Southern Food is the closest thing I can think of” . Meta's.- “ Best corn muffins I've ever eaten. Loaded with butter though, so not recommended as a staple for the health conscious diner” Bell Brothers – “still the staple of W-S, they slop a ton of food on your plate all mixed up, very fattening, just like grandma's cookin'”

Asian restaurant

Winner: Xia Asian Fusion Cuisine

Runner Up: Downtown Thai

Honorable Mention: Oriental Cafe

Best Quote (s): Xia – “great asian fusion food. Cool environment “. Downtown Thai – “Ranks there with Paul's as one of the best places in town plus the service is friendly and the atmosphere is nice but laid back”. Oriental Cafe. – “Great food, great selection. Try their lunch menu. A great bargain. Sushi options are well priced and fab.”

Ethnic (Other)

Winner: Nawab Indian Cuisine

Runner Up: Athena Greek Taverna

Honorable Mention: Miss Annie's French Caribbean Restaurant

Best Quote (s): Nawab –“ they dress in authentic outfits and it is a nice little getaway from the norm” Athena Greek Taverna – “They do everything right. Good, authentic food.” Miss Annies Caribbean/French – “Great Food and Service”

Romantic dinner

Winner: Noble's Grille

Runner Up: Meridian Restaurant

Honorable Mention: Ryan's Restaurant

Best Quote (s): “I gave up romance for Lent a long time ago. Too much work.”

Fine dining restaurant

Winner: Nobles Grille

Runner Up: Camel City Cafe

Honorable Mention: Christopher's New Global Cuisine

Best Quote (s): Christopher’s – “Lobster Mac & cheese - YUMMMM!!! Excellent ambiance, too....”

Family friendly restaurant

Winner: West End Cafe

Runner Up: The Loop

Honorable Mention: Mellow Mushroom, Twin City Diner (Tie)

Best Quote (s): "Billy Bob's Silver Diner -- if they can withstand my grandson, they are definitely family friendly."

Seafood restaurant

Winner: Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar

Runner Up: Bonefish Grill

Honorable Mention: Full Moon Oyster Bar

Best Quote (s): "what seafood restaurant?"

Pizza Parlor

Winner: Burke Street Pizza

Runner Up: Mellow Mushroom

Honorable Mention: Botta Bing! Pizza

Best Quote (s): “Burke Street Pizza for the real New York Style Mellow Mushroom for designer pizza”

Pizza by the slice

Winner: Burke Street Pizza

Runner Up: Mario's Pizza

Honorable Mention: Mellow Mushroom (Lunch)

Health food

Winner: Whole Foods Food Bar

Runner Up: Mary's Of Course

Honorable Mention: Fresh Market

Best Quote (s): “DON'T DO IT”

Guilty pleasure (Food)

Winner: Krispy Kreme

Runner Up: The Vineyards - Bread Pudding

Honorable Mention: Big Shots - Fried Pickles, Twin City Chop House - Mile-high Chocolate Suicide Cake, Camel City Café - Pumpkin Cheesecake, Mayberry's Strawberry Poundcake Sundae, Blue Ridge Ice Cream, Sweetie's on Reynolda Road, B & D's Ribs, Ted's Kickin Chicken, Midtown Cafe & Dessertery - Five Flavor Pound Cake

Best Quote (s): “Pork chop biscuit at Hardee's. There's no excuse for that much cholesterol in the morning, but what a way to go!”

Sushi

Winner: Ichiban

Runner Up: Ishi

Honorable Mention: Sakura

Best Quote (s): None – “It's fish bait to me”

Vegetarian food

Winner: Whole Foods Market

Runner Up: Mary's of Course

Honorable Mention: Nawab Indian Cuisine, Downtown Thai

Best Quote (s): “Nawab. Indian cuisine is delicious anyway and Nawab's vegetarian choices are especially tasty.”

Wine list

Winner: 6th & Vine Wine Bar

Runner Up: Camel City Cafe

Honorable Mention: Meridian Restaurant

Best Quote (s): “Sixth and Vine - Awesome restaurant and wine bar. Good variety, good relaxing atmosphere with music periodically”

Restaurant Service

Winner: West End Cafe

Runner Up: Noble's Grill

Honorable Mention: Meridian Restaurant, Bernardin's

Best Quote (s): "Bernardin's-- The best restaurant in W-S and still the most unknown spot after more than 14 or 15 years"

Wait Person (Server)

Winner: Pamela Lillard - West End Cafe

Runner Up: Shannon Dye - Meridian Restaurant

Honorable Mention: West End Staff, Mike, Sherry, Tommy - Village Tavern Reynolda, Rhino -My Cousin Vinny's

Best Quote (s): "Oh, shoot. I don't know her name. The really sweet girl at Alex's Cafe. She's awesome. And the tattooed girl at Finnigan's Wake." , "The lady at Vincenzo's who has been there forever...I can't remember her name." , "The older blonde @ BLL Rotisserie (??!?! I don't know her name, but she's wonderful @ what she does - she always takes great care of us!)"

Smitty Comment: There was a definite trend that you had a favorite wait person at the eatery you frequented, but you didn't know their name. If they can remember your favorite menu item, how you like something cook just right or keeping your "sweet tea" topped off". Learning their name is the highest compliment ;-)

Annual event/Festival

Winner: Rock the Block!!

Runner Up: Greek Festival

Honorable Mention: The Dixie Classic Fair!, North Carolina Wine Festival @ Tanglewood, Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration in Downtown Winston

Tourist attraction

Winner: Old Salem

Runner Up: Reynolda House and Gardens

Honorable Mention: Shell Station on Sprague Street, RJ Reynolds Building

Best Quote (s): “Old Salem - I was in Cape Cod talking to people from England who were so excited when I said I was from Winston-Salem. They loved Old Salem! This has happened multiple times as I travel from place to place., The original "Empire State Building" - RJ Reynolds"

People watching

Winner: Hanes Mall

Runner Up: Downtown Winston (Fourth Street and The Arts District)

Honorable Mention: Border's Bookshop and Café, Bowman Gray Stadium on Saturday Night (Racing), Silver Moon Saloon

Best Quote (s): “Borders...inside and out or Camel City Cafe patio. I love to watch the downtown hussle, the sights and sounds...if I want the calmer, laid back atmosphere, I go to Borders.” “Hanes Mall Freak Show”

Park

Winner: Tanglewood Park

Runner Up: Hanes Park

Honorable Mention: Washington Park

Bike riding

Winner: Salem Lake

Runner Up: Tanglewood

Honorable Mention: Washington Park

Best Quote (s): “Sorry, but the only bike we ride is a Harley Davidson”

Walking trails

Winner: Salem Lake

Runner Up: Reynolda Gardens

Honorable Mention: Historic Bethabara Park

Best Quote (s): “The Greenway between the new gateway area by Salem College and Salem Lake; it is a really nice place to walk, bike, or rollerblade. Miller Park also has some nice walking trails, they just aren't very long.”

Place for the pet

Winner: Washington Park

Runner Up: Historic Bethabara Park

Honorable Mention: Tanglewood

Best Quote (s): “I have a cat, and he doesn't get out much :)”

TV news personality, male (Any Triad Station)

Winner: Cameron Kent - WXII.

Runner Up: Chad Tucker - Fox 8

Honorable Mention: Neill McNeill - Fox 8

Best Quote (s): “Chad Tucker - Fox 8 News! (I go to bed with him every night! Ha ha!)”

TV news personality, female (Any Triad Station)

Winner: Kimberly Van Scoy -WXII

Runner Up: Julie Luck - Fox 8

Honorable Mention: Wanda Starke - WXII, Jenny Stencil - WXII

Best Quote (s): "Wanda Starke. Very approachable and real. Always asks excellent questions and treats people with respect. Love her spots with children, too."

Radio personality, male (Any Triad Station)

Winner: Two Guys named Chris - (Rock 92)

Runner Up: Jack Murphy, Murphy in the Morning Show. 107.5 KZL

Honorable Mention: Thibault Worth, WFDD-FM

Best Quote (s): "I want music on the radio"

Radio personality, female (Any Triad Station)

Winner: Denise Franklin - WFDD

Runner Up: Deidre James, Two Guys named Chris - (Rock 92)

Honorable Mention: Aunt Eloise - WTQR

Best blog

Winner: Life in Forsyth by Esbee

Runner Up: alphabitch.org

Honorable Mention: Jon Lowder, Otterblog (Winston-Salem Journal Managing Editor - Ken Otterbourg), Pink is the New Blog (Not local, but caught some people’s attention around here) UrbanPlanet.com (The NC Triad), Joe Jon

Best Quote (s): "blog? Winston-Salem blogs? Are you kidding"

Smitty Comment: There are a few blogs popping up in the community. This was an effort to smoke some of them out. You all did a good job. I like them all. Their links were included for your viewing consumption ;-)

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: Winston-Salem City Council Member (Northwest Ward) - Wanda Merschel, North Carolina State House Representative (District 71, Forsyth County) - Larry Womble

Smitty Comment: "Mayor AJ" was the hands down favorite. Nobody came even close to him in the voting. (Can you say - "Blow out"). I can't argue with you either ;-)

Tap beer

Winner: Foothills Brewery

Runner Up: Mellow Mushroom

Honorable Mention: 1st Street Draught House, Recreation Billiards

Best Quote (s): "Anywhere there is a tap".

Dive Bar

Winner: Silver Moon Saloon

Runner Up: Swaim's Grocery

Honorable Mention: Recreation Billiards, West End Opera House (“WEOH”) Tee-Time

Best Quote (s): "Silver Moon Saloon--this place is so nice to go to alone, or with a group of friends. Very welcoming atmosphere, Tee-Time, you never have to worry about being underdressed"

Smitty Comment: I'm all about Dive Bars. Great place to actually sit down and talk to someone. Your choices were right on point. They were also my favorites ;-)

Restaurant Bar

Winner: Village Tavern (Reynolda Village and Hanes Mall Boulevard)

Runner Up: Meridian Restaurant

Honorable Mention: 1st Street Draught House, Foothills Brewery, Milner's

Bartender, male (Location)

Winner: Doug Hawkins - Silver Moon / Mellow Mushroom / The Garage

Runner Up: Joe Thomas - Sixth and Vine Wine Bar

Honorable Mention: Norm Kirby - Finnagan's Wake, Eric Ziglas- Recreation Billiards, Adam Kaur- Meridian Restaurant

Best Quote (s): I wish I knew his name---the guy who used to be the bartender at Tap Room but now works at Meridian

Smitty Comment: Funny. That cute guy at..... didn't help in the tabulation. You might want to learn his name ;-)

Bartender, female (Location)

Winner: Amber Marshall, 6th and Vine

Runner Up: Michelle Russell, Meridian Restaurant

Honorable Mention: "Jee" at Silver Moon Saloon, The girls at West End Opera House

Best Quote (s): “Any that is hot, especially hot red heads.”

Smitty Comment: Again, we had a lot of "That cutie at...." Or, "The brunette at that bar...." Folks, if you appreciate your bartender, get to know them and learn their name ;-)

Outdoor patio

Winner: 4th St. Filling Station

Runner Up: Village Tavern (Reynolda Village)

Honorable Mention: 6th & Vine Wine Bar, Finnigan's Wake, Christopher’s New Global Cuisine, Zevely House

Best Quote (s): “Village Tavern on Hanes Mall Blvd has the most roomy and prettiest patio, but 6th and Vine may have the coolest spot to sit outside.”

Dancing

Winner: Club Odyssey

Runner Up: The 411

Honorable Mention: Red Rooster

Best Quote (s): “Yeah right” (on Dancing in Winston-Salem)

Smitty Comment: This was a toughie since we lack ongoing dance venues, but you folks worked with what we have ;-)

Pool tables

Winner: Recreation Billiards

Runner Up: Fox and Hound

Honorable Mention: Break Time (Jonestown), Cue N Spirits -- North Point

Best Quote (s): “My Crib”

Live Music venue