Best of Winston-Salem – 2015
Welcome to Smitty’s Notes 9th 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!
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. 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 2015 winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition and window decal for their establishments.
General Comments on this year’s awards or input for 2016 Best of Winston-Salem” Contest. Email Best of Winston-Salem Contest Comments
Previous years ‘Best of Winston-Salem’
2016 – 2015 – 2014 – 2013 – 2012
Local Ad Campaign that caught your attention (Business or Non-Profit)
Winner: Lowes Foods (Billboard and Television)
Runner up: Forsyth Tech (Billboards)
Honorable: Piedmont Opera (Billboard)
Local 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization
Winner: Project Pearl
Runner up: Senior Services, Inc.
Honorable Mention: Old Salem Museums and Gardens and Second Harvest Food Bank
Local Print Columnist (Newspaper or Magazine)
Winner: Scott Sexton (Winston-Salem Journal)
Runner up: Michael Hastings (Winston-Salem Journal)
Honorable mention: Chad Nance – (Camel City Dispatch) and Eric Ginsberg (Triad City Beat)
Local Activist
Winner: Melissa Ball – Project Pearl
Runner up: Anne Griffs Wilson
Honorable mention: Tommy Priest, Tucker Tharpe and Kim Porter
Hyperlocal Print Publication (Magazine Rack or Tabloid)
Winner: Winston-Salem Monthly
Runner up: Relish Magazine
Honorable mention: Triad City Beat and Forsyth Woman
Local Politician (City, County or State Representative)
Winner: Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines
Runner Up: Winston-Salem City Councilman Jeff Macintosh
Honorable Mention: United States Senator Richard Burr, North Carolina (lives in Winston-Salem) and Winston-Salem City Councilman Molly Leight
Local Scenester/Mover and Shaker (You know, one of the interesting characters around town)
Winner: Alan Shelton
Runner Up: Brian Cole
Honorable Mention: Harry Knabb, Carroll Leggett and Don Flow
Local Power Couple
Winner: Harry and Julie KnabbRunner Up: Don and Robbin Flow
Honorable Mention: Ralph and Ashley Womble, Brian Cole and Drew Byers, and JD and Janie Wilson
Best Local Blog/Facebook Page/Web Site
Winner: Camel City Dispatch
Runner Up: Triad Moms on Main
Honorable Mention: Camel City Nightlife
Best Local Twitter Feed
Winner: Camel City Dispatch
Runner Up: Triad Moms on Main
Honorable Mention: Nik Snacks
Bakery
Winner: Camino Bakery
Runner Up: Dewey’s Bakery
Honorable Mention: Atelier on Trade, Tart Sweets and The Flour Box
Cupcakes
Winner: Gigi’s Cupcakes
Runner Up: Dewey’s Bakery
Honorable Mention: Tart Sweets
Chocolatier
Winner: Black Mountain Chocolate
Runner Up: Kilwins
Honorable Mention: Twin City Hive
Dessert
Winner: Midtown Cafe and Dessertery
Runner Up: Dewey’s Bakery;
Honorable Mention: Camino Bakery and Tart Sweets
Ice Cream
Winner: Blue Ridge Ice Cream @ Dewey’s
Runner Up: Kilwins
Honorable Mention:
Yogurt
Winner: Brynn’s
Runner Up: Sweet Frog
Honorable Mention:
Gelato
Winner: Café Gelato
Runner Up: Twin City Gelato @ West End Coffeehouse
Custard
Runner up: None
BBQ
Winner: Little Richard’s
Runner Up: Bib’s Downtown
Honorable Mention: Mr. Barbeque and Prissy Polly’s
Breakfast
Winner: Mary’s Gourmet Diner
Runner Up: Midtown Café & Dessert-ery
Honorable Mention: Cloverdale Kitchen and Mama Zoe’s
Coffee
Winner: Krankie’s
Runner Up: Camino Bakery
Honorable Mention: Twin City Hive, Starbuck’s and Ardmore Coffee
Barista
Winner: Kevin McHugh @ Camino Bakery
Runner Up: Jimmy Greer @ Krankie’s Airstream
Honorable Mention: Skyler Brown at Ardmore Coffee
Bagel
Winner: Bagel Station
Runner Up: Panera BreadHonorable Mention: Be Nice Bagels
Hamburger
Winner: Five Guys
Runner Up: Bad Daddy Burgers
Honorable Mention: Cook Out and Quiet Pint
Hot Dog
Winner: Skippy’s
Runner Up: PB’s Hotdogs
Honorable Mention: Pulliam BBQ and Kermit’s
New Restaurant (Open since July, 1, 2014)
Winner: Quanto BastaRunner Up: PDQ
Honorable Mention: Dairi-O’s
Italian Restaurant
Winner: Quanto Basta
Runner Up: Di Lisio’s Italian Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Paul’s Italian Restaurant, Vincenzo and Carmine’s
Mexican Restaurant
Winner: La Botana
Runner Up: Senor Bravo
Honorable Mention: Mi Pueblo Monte Del Ray and El Maguey
Caribbean Restaurant
Winner: Uncle Desi’s Jamaican Grill
Runner Up: Irie Rhythms
Honorable Mention: Yeh, Mon’s
Soul Food
Winner: Sweet Potatoes
Runner Up: Pryme Time
Honorable Mention: Meta’s
Steak
Winner: Ryan’s
Runner Up: Fratelli’s
Honorable Mention: Jeffrey Adams, Noble’s Grille and Putter’s
Fried Chicken
Winner: Mountain Fried Chicken
Runner Up: Sweet Potatoes
Honorable Mention: Mozelle’s and Pryme Time
Ribs
Winner: Bib’s Downtown
Runner up: Willow’s Bistro
Honorable Mention: Honkey Tonk Smokehouse
Mom and Pop Restaurant
Winner: Mama Zoe Michael’s
Runner Up: Cloverdale Kitchen
Honorable Mention: Cafe Arthur’s, Cagney’s and Duke’s
Asian Restaurant
Winner: Thai Sawatdee
Runner Up: Hakka Chow
Honorable Mention: Mizu Sampan Restaurant and Ise Restaurant
Brunch
Winner: Mary Gourmet Diner
Runner Up: Hutch and Harris
Honorable Mention: Five Points Restaurant, Mozelle’s, Village Tavern and Willow’s Bistro
Indian Cuisine
Winner: Nawab Indian Cuisine
Runner Up: Golden India
Romantic Dinner
Winner: Ryan’s
Runner Up: Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and BarHonorable Mention: Mozelle’s and Noble’s Grill
Take a First Date
Winner: Mozelle’s
Runner up: Willow’s Bistro
Honorable Mention: Segaway Tour, Quanto Basta and Village Tavern
Fine Dining Restaurant
Winner: Spring House Restaurant Bar and Kitchen
Runner Up: Ryan’s Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Bernardin at Zevely House, The Honey Pot, Meridian Restaurant, Mozelle’s and Nobles Grille
Seafood Restaurant
Winner: Full Moon Oyster Bar Runner Up: King’s Crab Shack and Oyster Bar
Honorable Mention: Mayflower Seafood, Bonefish Grill and Forsyth Seafood
Late Night Place To Eat (after 10 p.m.)
Winner: Burke Street Pizza
Runner Up: Waffle House
Honorable Mention: Cook Out and Finnegan Wake
Pizza Parlor
Winner: Burke Street Pizza
Runner Up: Mission Pizza Napoletana
Honorable Mention: Mellow Mushroom and Mario’s Pizza
Sushi
Winner: Mizu
Runner Up: Ishi
Honorable Mention: Basil Leaf
Vegetarian Food
Winner: Mooney’s
Runner Up: Whole Foods – Food Bar
Honorable Mention: Nawab Indian Cuisine
Wine List
Winner: 6th and Vine Wine Bar
Runner Up: Meridian Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Vin 205
Chef
Winner: Curtis Hackaday – 1703
Runner Up: Tim Grandinetti – Spring House Restaurant Bar and Kitchen
Honorable Mention: Mark Grohman – Meridian Restaurant; and Jared Keiper – Tavern at Old Salem
Restaurant Service
Winner: West End Cafe
Runner Up: Mozelle’s
Honorable Mention: Spring House Restaurant
Delivery
Winner: Jimmy John’s
Runner Up: Burke Street Pizza
Honorable Mention: Takeout Central, Taste Buds and Vincenzo’s
Food Truck
Winner: Camel City Grill
Runner Up: The Screaming Radish
Honorable Mention: Taqueria Luciano and Food Freaks
Farmers Market
Winner: Cobblestone Farmers Market
Runner Up: Piedmont Triad Farmers Market
Honorable Mention: Dixie Classic Fair Farmers Market
Wait Person (Server)
Winner: Holly Ratcliff – Mozelle’s
Runner Up: Will Forte – Mozelle’s
Honorable Mention: Amanda Dunn West End Cafe
Annual Event/Festival
Winner: Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration in Downtown Winston
Runner Up: RiverRun Film Festival
Honorable Mention: Dixie Classic Fair, Twin City RibFest, and Burke Street Food Truck Festival
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 and Salem Lake
Bike riding
Winner: Salem Lake
Runner Up: Tanglewood Park
Honorable Mention: Salem Greenway, Miller Park and Washington Park
Walking Trails
Winner: Salem Lake
Runner Up: Tanglewood Park
Honorable Mention: Reynolda Gardens
Segway Tour Company
Winner: Revolution Gliding Tours
Runner Up: Triad Eco Adventures
Place For The Pet
Winner: Washington Park
Runner Up: Tanglewood Dog Park
Honorable Mention: Ruff Housing and Horizon Park
TV News Personality, Male (Any Triad Station)
Winner: Cameron Kent – WXII
Runner Up: Kenny Beck – WXII
Honorable Mention: Neil McNeill – Fox 8 and Frank Mickens – WFMY
TV News Personality, Female (Any Triad Station)
Winner: Lanie Pope – WXII
Runner Up: Wanda Starke – WXII
Honorable Mention: Kimberly VanScoy – WXII, Nicole Ducouer – WXII and Emily Byrd – Fox 8
Radio Morning Crew (Any Triad Station)
Winner: Two Guys named Chris – Rock 92
Runner Up: Katie and Jared – 107.5 KZL
Honorable Mention: WFDD – 88.5 NPR
Local Brewery
Winner: Foothills Brewery
Runner Up: Small Batch Beer Co.
Honorable Mention: Hoots Roller Bar
Tap Beer
Winner: Mellow Mushroom
Runner Up: Foothills Brewery
Honorable Mention: Finnegan’s Wake, and Small Batch Beer Co.
New Bar/Nightclub (Open since July 1, 2014)
Winner: Black Lodge
Runner Up: Luna Lounge and Tiki Bar
Honorable Mention: Club Snap
Dive Bar
Winner: Silver Moon Saloon
Runner Up: Single Brothers
Honorable Mention: Black Lodge, Recreation Billiards and West End Opera House
Restaurant Bar
Winner: Finnegan’s Wake
Runner Up: Meridian
Honorable Mention: Quiet Pint, Quanto Basta and Spring House Restaurant Bar and Kitchen
Meet After Work
Winner: Tate’s Craft Cocktails
Runner Up: Small Batch Beer Co.Honorable Mention: Single Brothers and Carolina Wine and Hops
Craft Cocktails
Winner: Tate’s Craft Cocktails
Runner Up: Single Brothers
Honorable Mention: The Whiskey Box
Bartender, Male (Location)
Winner: Joe Blevins – Silver Moon Saloon
Runner Up: Brandon Creason – Finnigan’s WakeHonorable Mention: Quentin Williams – Small Batch
Bartender, Female (Location)
Winner: Michele Russell – Meridian Restaurant
Runner Up: Drew Byers – Single Brothers
Honorable Mention: Liz Alesi-Martin- 6th and Vine
Outdoor Patio
Winner: Fourth St. Filling Station
Runner Up: 6th & Vine Wine Bar
Honorable Mention: Village Tavern (Reynolda Village)
Pool Tables
Winner: Recreation Billiards
Runner Up: West End Opera HouseHonorable Mention: Scotty B’s
Live Music Venue
Winner: Ziggy’s
Runner up: The Garage
Honorable Mention: Muddy Creek Cafe
Best Place To Meet Single UNDER 40
Winner: Single BrothersRunner up: Tate’s Craft Cocktails
Honorable Mention: 6th and Vine and Old Winston Social Club
Best Place To Meet Single OVER 40
Winner: 6th and Vine
Runner up: Tate’s Craft Cocktails
Honorable Mention: Village Tavern and Vin 205
Winery
Winner: RayLen Vineyards
Runner up: Weathervane Vineyards
Honorable Mention: Raffadini Vineyards, Shelton Vineyards and Childress Vineyards
Grocery Store
Winner: Trader Joe’s
Runner Up: Lowes Foods
Honorable Mention: Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, and Whole Foods Market
Beer and/or Wine Shop
Winner: Total Wine and MoreRunner Up: Stella Brew
Honorable Mention: Wine Merchants Gourmet and City Beverage
Shopping Center
Winner: Thruway Center
Runner Up: Reynolda Village
Honorable Mention: Hanes Mall
Day Spa
Winner: Van Davis Aveda
Runner Up: European Touch
Honorable Mention: Hand and Stone
Exercise/Fitness Center
Winner: YMCA
Runner up: Pure Barre
Honorable Mention: Crossfit Amplitude, Planet Fitness and The Gateway YWCA
Yoga
Winner: Sunrise Yoga
Runner up: Paz Studios
Honorable Mention: Yoga Gallery
Green-Oriented Business
Winner: Whole Foods
Runner up: Dry Cleaning Station
Honorable Mention:
Free Wi-Fi
Winner: Twin City Hive
Honorable Mention: Krankie’s, Starbucks and Fourth Street Downtown Winston-Salem
Bookstore
Winner: Edward McKay
Runner Up: Barnes & Nobles
Honorable Mention:
Gift Shop
Winner: Camel City News and Gifts
Runner Up: Piedmont Craftsmen
Honorable Mention: Fourth and Trade
Movie Theater
Winner: a/perture cinema
Runner Up: The Grand 18 Theater
Honorable Mention: Carmike 10
Local Artist
Winner: Laura Lashley
Runner Up: Nick Bragg
Honorable Mention: Marianne Dinapoli-Mylet and Cheryl Ann Lipstreu
Local Band
Winner: The Bo StevensRunner Up: Eyes Eat Suns
Honorable Mention: The Genuine
Public Art Display
Winner: ARTivity on the Green
Runner Up: Trade Street Art Tower
Honorable Mention: Reynolda House
Art Gallery/Shop/Boutique
Winner: DelurkRunner Up: Red Dog Gallery
Honorable Mention: Piedmont Craftsmen, Reynolda House and SECCA
Local Performing Theater
Winner: Winston-Salem Theater Alliance
Runner Up: Twin City Stage
Honorable Mention: Peppercorn Children’s Theater
Performing Arts Group
Winner: Winston-Salem Theater Alliance
Runner Up: Piedmont Opera
Honorable Mention: Three Graces Entertainment and UNCSA School of Dance Performances