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The Best of Winston-Salem

Smitty's Notes Annual "Best of Winston-Salem" Awards
July 2010

Welcome to 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 were few attempts of "ballot stuffing" that occurred, but some e-mail "lobby" for your favorites among friends. Yes, we knew how to track those. However, did not sway the voting in any category.

Each survey compiled at a single computer could not be filled again once completed. A "cookie" was dropped once submitted. This prevents "ballot stuffing" which protects the integrity of survey results.

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. Their a couple of comments about the length of the survey. However, I ask those - Where would you cut categories that mean something to someone else? Trust me. It could have been 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 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 annual "Best of Winston-Salem Contest"

General Comments on this year's awards or input for "2011 Best of Winston-Salem" Contest. Email " Best of Winston-Salem Contest Comments"

To view the Best of Winston-Salem 2011 winners Click Here

Bakery

Winner: Ollie's Bakery

Runner Up: Dewey's Bakery

Honorable Mention: Camino Bakery

Best Quote (s): "Ollie's, of course. Even when you try to go in there to just get one thing, you end up leaving with all kinds of stuff!" "Camino Bakery. Awesome company that supports the community. I don't go to bakeries so I have no vote here."

BBQ

Winner: Little Richards

Runner Up: Bibs Downtown

Honorable Mention: Mr. Barbeque

Best Quote (s) "Little Richards-Yum. Best vinegar based barbecue around. Gotta have cash though." "Bib's - I know, I know - it's not barbecue, it's smoked meat, but it's still the best." "I'm a vegetarian." "North Carolina BBQ .. are you trying to start an argument w/out specifying the type of BBQ" Smitty- Uh, yeah! ;-)

Buffalo wings

Winner: East Coast Wings

Runner Up: Ronnie's

Honorable Mention: Buffalo Wild Wings

Best Quote (s): Never had a buffalo wing in my life." " Is this food?" "I eat domino's wings and think they're great---so I'm not the best judge of wings."

Breakfast

Winner: Mary’s Of Course/Breakfast at Mary's, Too!

Runner Up: Midtown Café & Dessert-ery

Honorable Mention: Cloverdale Kitchen

Best Quote (s): "Cloverdale Kitchen, an institution and the best pancakes!" "The Filling Station. Crab Cake Benedict -- most delicious, decadent breakfast in town."

Coffee

Winner: Krankie’s

Runner Up: Brew Nerds

Honorable Mention: Cafe Roche

Best Quote (s): "Krankie's (the Airstream trailer on Reynolda Rd. across from the Children's Home)." "Roche Coffee House. Delightful drip coffee in a hip
environment. No pretension or bull." "Krankie's - What about tea?"; "Cafe Roche. Or Krankies. I can't choose. Don't make me choose."

Bagel

Winner: Bagel Station

Runner Up: Panera Bread

Honorable Mention: Bruegger's Bagels

Best Quote (s): "Bagel Station. Is there another?" "Panera-Love their Asiago Cheese Bagel toasted with nothing on it."

Dessert

Winner: Midtown Cafe and Dessertery

Runner Up: Dewey's Bakery

Honorable Mention: Ketchie Creek

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

Best Quote (s): "Blue Ridge. Eating ice cream on their patio while listening to live music. 'Tis a great night." "Kernal Kustard...plain vanilla custard in a waffle cone - amazing"

Gelato

Winner: Café Prada

Runner Up: Café Gelato

Custard

Winner: Kernel Kustard

Runner up: Wolfies Custard

Hamburger

Winner: Five Guys

Runner Up: Cook Out

Honorable Mention: Finnegan's Wake

Best Quote (s): "Five Guys. I know it's not local, but they have really great burgers. Since they put one near my house, my health has been in a steady decline ;)"

Hot dog

Winner: Skippy's

Runner Up: PB's Hotdogs

Honorable Mention: Pulliam BBQ

Best Quote (s): "SKIPPY'S! Love those house-made pretzel buns, and the fries are phenomenal!" "PB's Takeout. The. Best. Dogs. Ever!! Perfect order- 2 cheese dogs with chili, order of fries and a coke. Heaven in a red plastic basket!!"

Meal under $5

Winner: Cook Out

Runner Up: Subway

Honorable Mention: PB's Hotdogs

Best Quote (s): "Cook Out. Find me a better deal than the Cook Out tray. You can't, because it doesn't exist." "Are you kidding? I don't eat that way!"

Italian restaurant

Winner: Vincenzo's

Runner Up: Paul's

Honorable Mention: Dioli's

Best Quote (s): "Paul's has sharped up some. Hope Dioli's does well!"

Mexican Restaurant

Winner: Mi Pueblo

Runner Up: Las Estrellas

Honorable Mention: Senor Bravo and La Botana

Best Quote (s): "Los Amigos (gone but not forgotten) - 2nd choice-Las Estrellas"; ; "La Botana head and shoulders above the rest for their fabulous fresh food"

Latin Restaurant

Winner: Rana Loca

Runner Up: Senor Bravo

Honorable Mention: La Botana

Best Quote (s):"The little hot bar in the back of Compare Foods. It's delish!!"

Soul Food

Winner: Sweet Potatoes

Runner Up: Meta’s

Honorable Mention: Nitty Gritty Soul Food

Best Quote (s): . "Sweet Potatoes on Sunday for great eats and rousing Gospel music!"

Steak

Winner: Ryan's

Runner Up: Firebird's

Honorable Mention: Twin City Chophouse

Best Quote (s): "Before vegetarian days, I would say Nobles."; "Ryan's-Prime cut filet with montreal seasoning-TO DIE FOR! Just celebrated my 14th anniversary there with my husband and this is what I ordered. I was a very happy girl. It was delicious"; "I just graduated from Grad School. I can't afford steak."

Chicken

Winner: Ted's Kickin' Chicken

Runner Up: Mountain Fried Chicken

Honorable Mention: BLL Rotisserie

Best Quote (s): "BLL Rotisserie Chicken on Knollwood. But Zaxby's has some mighty fine fried chicken strips!!"; "Ted's C'mon. You may not like the Nascar-Harley ambiance, but, on a good night, the chicken is S-T-E-L-L-A-R!"

Ribs

Winner: Bib’s Downtown

Runner up: Chili's

Honorable Mention: Honky Tonk Pig

Asian restaurant

Winner: Downtown Thai

Runner Up: Xia Asian Fusion Cuisine

Honorable Mention: Thai Sawatdee

Best Quote (s): "We need a PF Changs desperately"

Brunch

Winner: Mary’s Of Course/Breakfast at Mary's, Too!

Runner Up: Fourth Street Filling Station

Honorable Mention: New Town Bistro

Lunch

Winner: West End Cafe

Runner up: Mozelle's

Honorable Mention: The Carving Board and Village Tavern

Best Quote (s): "Simply Yummy - they bring out bowls of water for your four-legged friends who join you on the patio"

Ethnic (Other)

Winner: Nawab Indian Cuisine

Runner Up: Mooney's

Honorable Mention: Downtown Thai

Romantic dinner

Winner: Ryan's Restaurant

Runner Up: Bernardin's

Honorable Mention: Meridian Restaurant, Mozelle's and Milner's

Best Quote (s): "I wouldn't know anymore".; Meridian. "What girl isn't impressed with a duck for dinner?"; Wish I could answer that one! Please, help me find sometime to take me on a romantic dinner so I can find out!"

Take a First Date

Winner: Mozelle's

Runner up: Village Tavern

Honorable Mention: 6^th and Vine Wine Bar, NOMA

Best Quote (s): "Full Moon Oyster Bar...less pressure!"

Fine dining restaurant

Winner: Meridian Restaurant

Runner Up: Nobles Grille

Honorable Mention: Mozelle's , Fabian's and Milner's

Best Quote (s):"With a cheap ass husband, forget that!"

Family friendly restaurant

Winner: Big Shotz Tavern

Runner Up: West End Cafe

Honorable Mention: The Loop and Mellow Mushroom

Seafood restaurant

Winner: Jimmy's Seafood and Oyster Bar

Runner Up: Full Moon Oyster Bar

Honorable Mention: Mayflower Seafood

Best Quote (s):"Mayflower. Me and the old folks are glad it's back in town!"

Late Night Place To Eat (after 10 p.m.)

Winner: Burke Street Pizza

Runner Up: Cook Out

Honorable Mention: Taco Bell, Waffle House and IHOP

Best Quote (s): . "6th and Vine! They have a great late night menu-- I especially like the baked nachos and the guinness battered chicken strips"; "I haven't been out past 10:00 PM in at least a decade."

Pizza Parlor

Winner: Burke Street Pizza

Runner Up: Mellow Mushroom

Honorable Mention: Mario's Pizza

Best Quote (s): "Burke Street. We all love that place for a reason!"

Health food

Winner: Whole Foods Food Bar

Runner Up: Mary’s Of Course/Breakfast at Mary's, Too!

Honorable Mention: Fresh Market

Best Quote (s): "Not qualified to answer"

Guilty pleasure (Food)

Winner: Krispy Kreme

Runner Up: Ketchie Creek

Honorable Mention: Skippy's, Dewey's and Kernal Kustard

Sushi

Winner: Ishi

Runner Up: Sakura

Honorable Mention: Ichiban, Downtown Thai and Sushi Thai

Vegetarian food

Winner: Whole Foods Market

Runner Up: Mary’s Of Course/Breakfast at Mary's, Too!

Honorable Mention: Nawab Indian Cuisine; Mooney's and Downtown Thai

Best Quote (s): "And give up all the other good stuff??"; "I guess K&W veggies don't count what with all the fat back and lard.....[Smitty Comment: I don't think so...;-)]"

Wine list

Winner: Sixth and Vine Wine Bar

Runner Up: Meridian Restaurant

Honorable Mention: Noble's Grille and Mozelle's

Best Quote (s): "Sixth and Vine. 40+ wines by the glass ... makes me wish I liked wine."

Chef

Winner: Matt Pleasants - Mozelle's

Runner Up: Trevor Dye Meridian Restaurant

Honorable Mention: Monica Alonso - 6^th and Vine, Chris Fulk - Christopher's and Bill Smith - Fabian's

Best Quote (s): "Starr Johnson Sanders Ridge - sustainable - responsible - tasty - and sassy"; "My mom. She's located at her house and she rocks."

Restaurant Service

Winner: Mozelle's

Runner Up: Village Tavern

Honorable Mention: Nobles Grille; Meridian and Milner's

Delivery

Winner: Jimmy John's

Runner Up: Burke Street Pizza

Honorable Mention: Papa John's, Jason's Deli and Vincenzo

Best Quote (s): "Jimmy Johns-holy freakin' mother of pearl they're fast!"; "Tanoshi- They are quick and make fun of me. I love it."

Wait Person (Server)

Winner: Anna Wishon - Meridian

Runner Up: Pamela Lillard - West End Cafe

Honorable Mention: Big Shotz Tavern Staff, West End Cafe Staff and Village Tavern Staff

Farmers Market

Winner: Krankie's Farmers Market

Runner Up: Piedmont Triad Farmers Market

Honorable Mention: Reynolda Farm Market and Dixie Classic Fair Farmers Market

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, Twin City Ribfest and Steeplechase @ 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) and BB&T Field

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: Hanes Park

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. Seems like a genuinely good guy; plus he went to Wake, so he's ok in my book."

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): "None ... and what is up with their outfits? Jewelry and prints that should never be seen on a News Desk" [Smitty comment: Now that's catty...lol]

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: JR Snider - WSJS and Josh in the Box - 107.5 KZL

Best Quote (s): "Josh in the Box (1075 WKZL) because one of these years after being overlooked for so long, he's gonna go off the deep end!!"

Radio personality, female (Any Triad Station)

Winner: Deidre James, Two Guys named Chris - Rock 92

Runner Up: Katie O'Brien, Murphy in the Morning Show - 107.5 KZL

Honorable Mention: Carmen Brown - 98.7 and Denise Franklin - WFDD

Best blog

Winner: Life in Forsyth by Esbee

Runner Up: TriadSmartyPants

Honorable Mention: Downtown Winston-Salem Blog, JonLowder.com and a/perture cinema

Local Scenester/Mover and Shaker (You know, one of the interesting characters around town)

Winner: John Bryan (Krankie's, Single Brothers, The Wherehouse etc)

Runner Up: Esther "Whoopi" Deavers

Honorable Mention: Millicent Greason-Spivak

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 fourth straight year. Nobody came even close to him in the voting.

Local Print Publication

Winner: Skirt Magazine

Runner up: Yes Weekly

Honorable mention: Relish Magazine and Forsyth Woman

Tap beer

Winner: Foothills Brewery

Runner Up: Mellow Mushroom

Honorable Mention: 1st Street Draught House

Dive Bar

Winner: Recreation Billiards

Runner Up: Silver Moon Saloon

Honorable Mention: Single Brothers

Best Quote (s): "Single Brothers! (it can be dive-ish)"; "That cute little place on Trade--the Silver Moon is it called?"; "TOO FRIGGIN OLD FOR THIS"; "Diamondback . . . it's not really a dive, but one of the best local scenes"

Restaurant Bar

Winner: Sixth and Vine Wine Bar

Runner Up: Big Shotz Tavern

Honorable Mention: Milner's and Foothill's Brewing Company

Best Quote (s) "Mozelle's - a single girl feels comfortable enjoying a glass of wine while watching the chef at his finest."

Meet for a After Work Drink

Winner: Sixth and Vine Wine Bar

Runner Up: Single Brothers

Honorable Mention: Village Tavern and Recreation Billiards

Bartender, male (Location)

Winner: Eric Swaim - Single Brothers

Runner Up: "Joe Booty" Thomas - Sixth and Vine Wine Bar

Honorable Mention: Norm Kirby - Finnagan's Wake

Bartender, female (Location)

Winner: Michelle Russell - Meridian Restaurant

Runner Up: Amber Marshall - Carliese’s, Tailgators and Sixth and Vine

Honorable Mention: Becky - Meridian Restaurant and Kelly Livengood - Recreation Billards

Outdoor patio

Winner: 4th St. Filling Station

Runner Up: 6th & Vine Wine Bar

Honorable Mention: Village Tavern (Reynolda Village)

Pool tables

Winner: Recreation Billiards

Runner Up: Fox and Hound

Honorable Mention: Break Time

Live Music venue

Winner: The Garage

Runner up: Big Shotz Tavern

Honorable Mention: 6th & Vine Wine Bar

Sports bar

Winner: Fox and Hound

Runner Up: Big Shotz Tavern

Honorable Mention: Buffalo Wild Wings

Best Place To Meet Single UNDER 40

Winner: 6th & Vine Wine Bar

Runner up: Single Brothers

Honorable Mention: Tate's Craft Cocktails

Best Quote (s): "Please tell me ASAP!!!"; "Borders? I mean I always get hit on there..."

Best Place To Meet Single OVER 40

Winner: 6^th and Vine Wine Bar

Runner up: Village Tavern

Honorable Mention: Church and Single Brothers

Best Quote (s): "Cougars! :)" [Smitty Comment: LMAO!!]

Winery

Winner: Raylen Vineyards

Runner up: Childress Vineyards

Honorable Mention: Shelton Vineyards and Westbend Vineyards

Grocery Store

Winner: Fresh Market

Runner Up: Harris Teeter

Honorable Mention: Lowes Foods; Whole Foods Market

Beer and/or Wine Shop

Winner: City Beverage

Runner Up: Total Wine and More

Honorable Mention: Wine Merchants Gourmet and Barnhill's

Gifts for relatives and other people you barely know (Shop/Boutique)

Winner: Hip Chics (Clemmons)

Runner Up: Honorable Mention: Signature

Honorable Mention: Francesca's and All Through The House

Shopping Center

Winner: Thruway Center

Runner Up: Hanes Mall

Honorable Mention: Reynolda Village

Day Spa

Winner: Van Davis Aveda

Runner Up: European Touch

Honorable Mention: Lamberti's and Silkroad Salon

Exercise/Fitness Center

Winner: The Rush

Runner up: The Gateway YWCA

Honorable Mention: Central YMCA and Winston-Salem Athletic Club

Yoga

Winner: The Village Yoga

Runner up: The Yoga Gallery

Honorable Mention: Sunrise Yoga and Bikram Yoga of Winston-Salem

Local ad campaign that caught your attention (Business or Non-Profit)

Winner: Forsyth Technical Community College

Runner up: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

Honorable Mention: 109 U-PULL-IT

Best Quote (s): "Forsyth Tech - still like seeing what new degree they feature!"; "Knowledge Makes all the Difference (WFUBMC)"; "109 U Pull It. The jingle is so awful it's beautiful"

Green-Oriented Business

Winner: Dry Cleaning Station

Runner up: LEAP Realty

Honorable Mention: Whole Foods and O Baby Organics

Free Wi-Fi

Winner: Panera Bread

Runner up: Krankie's

Honorable Mention: Cafe Roche and Cafe Prada

Bookstore

Winner: Edward McKay

Runner Up: Barnes & Nobles

Honorable Mention: Borders Books and Music and Barnhill's