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All kinds of folks forked over votes for their favorite food in the Lake County Business Journal’s first-ever restaurant survey. While some categories didn’t have much, if any, competition – Best Indian and Thai cuisine, Best Brew Pub – other categories, with the number of votes, and variety of answers, showed the diversity of the restaurants in Lake County.
And while some weren’t sure what was a chain and what wasn’t – we received a number of entries for Bob Evan’s, Chipotle, Bravo and the like – independently-owned restaurants received many more votes than the chains. Not that there’s anything wrong with chains.
Others didn’t seem to be able to contain their choices to Lake County as they voted for restaurants in Beachwood, Lakewood and Cleveland Heights. One surveyor even chose an Indian restaurant in Queens, N.Y.
In the case of best server and bartender, there were no clear-cut winners so all those who were nominated received an honorable mention. Hungry minds seem to think alike as there were very few restaurants mentioned just one time, and several ties in many categories.
Just for taking the time to fill out the survey, a few folks won free food. Vicki Messenger of Painesville, an administrative assistant at Laketran, will receive a gift certificate to Mike’s Kitchen for one gourmet Friday VIP meal of her choice.
Kim Rehmer of Mentor, an executive assistant at FirstMerit Bank, won a gift certificate to Pass Your Plate. And 12 lucky people won gift certificates for a free pizza at J’s Pizza Market in Mentor.
Last but not least, Wanda Wareham, director of community affairs and marketing at Fine Arts Association in Willoughby, will come along with me when I do my next restaurant review. We now have plenty of people’s favorite restaurants from which to choose. It’s a sure bet we’ll pick a restaurant from the survey, perhaps one we share as a favorite.
Talking about food is like talking about yawning – must be the power of suggestion. Hungry? I’m starving. Let’s eat!
Cuisine: Ethnic
Best Chinese
1. Imperial Dragon – Mentor
2. Jade Tree – Mentor
3. Hunan – Mentor, Golden Crown – Painesville, Yin Yin - Painesville
Best European
1. Dubrovnik Gardens - Eastlake
2. Kuhar’s - Mentor
Best Indian
1. Maharaja – Richmond Heights
2. Yours Truly – Mentor
Best Italian Family
1. TJ’s on the Avenue – Mentor
2. Davitino’s – Mentor
3. Mama Roberto’s Pizza & Pasta – Mentor
Best Italian Upscale
1. Gavi’s Restaurant & Catering – Willoughby
2. Molinari’s – Mentor
3. Davitino’s – Mentor
Best Japanese
1. Sumo Boy - Mentor
2. Lure Bistro - Willoughby
Best Mexican
1. Luchita’s – Mentor
2. Jalapeño Loco - Mentor
3. Don Tequila - Mentor
Best Thai
1. Thai Orchid - Mentor
2. Bangkok Thai - Painesville
Cuisine: Theme
Best Bakery
1. Gartman Model Bakery – Painesville
2. T&T Bakery & Delicatessen – Painesville, and Wojtila’s Bakery - Euclid
Best Brewpub/Wine bar
1. Willoughby Brewing Co. and Corks Wine Bar - Willoughby
2. Olivor Twist - Willoughby
Best Deli
1. Manhattan Deli - Mentor
2. Cohen’s Corned Beef & Deli – Mentor, and DiStefano’s – Highland Heights
Best Sports Bar
1. Panini’s Bar & Grill – Concord Township
2. Cleats - Mentor
3. Winking Lizard - Mentor
Best Vegetarian/Vegan
1. Aladdin’s Eatery – Mayfield Village
2. Titan Up Café – Mentor
Best Doughnut
1. Spudnuts - Mentor
2. Biagio’s Donut Shop & Pizzeria - Eastlake
3. T & T Bakery & Delicatessen
Specific Dish:
Best Appetizer
1. Lure Bistro – Crab Cakes
2. Willoughby Brewing Co. – Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls
3. Yours Truly – Notso Fries
Best Dessert
1. Lure Bistro – Chocolate Soufflé
2. Hellriegel’s – Painesville - Banana Cream Pie
3. Bass Lake Taverne – Warm Gingerbread
Best Hamburger
1. Burgers & Beer & Breakfast - Willoughby
2. Yours Truly - Mentor
3. Kirtland City Tavern - Kirtland, Panini’s - Concord, Delaney’s Chase Inn – Mentor, and Chester’s Legacy Tavern - Painesville
Best Pizza
1. TJ’s and Longo’s
2. Petti’s – Wickliffe and Zappitelli’s – Mentor
3. Master Pizza - Painesville
Best Ribs
1. Mike’s Kitchen
2. Blazin’ Bill’s
Best Sandwich
1. Panini’s – Panini’s
2. Burgers & Beer – Reuben and Yours Truly – Monte Cristo
3. Hellriegel’s Inn, Painesville – Oyster Club
Best Seafood
1. Brennan’s – Grand River
2. Lure Bistro – Willoughby
3. Sussex Seafood & Grille Restaurant – Wickliffe
Best Soup
1. TJ’s – Butternut Squash & Andouille Sausage
2. Willoughby Brewing Co. – Potato and Cheddar Ale Soup
3. Sawyer House – Mushroom Bisque
Best Steak
1. Silvestro’s Depot Café - Painesville
2. CK’s Steakhouse – Concord Township
3. Epiq Bistro – Concord Township
Best Sushi
1. Lure Bistro – Willoughby
2. Sumo Boy - Mentor
Meal:
Best Breakfast
1. Yours Truly
2. Manhattan Deli - Mentor
3. Best Friends
Best Business Lunch
1. Sawyer House
2. Molinari’s 3. TJ’s
Best Sunday Brunch
1. CK’s Steakhouse at Quail Hollow – Concord Township
2. Rider’s Inn - Painesville
3. Mantel’s in the Radisson - Eastlake
Best Late-Night Dining
1. Olivor Twist – Willoughby
2. Chicken & Things – Madison Village
3. Epiq – Concord Township, Molinari’s and Willoughby Brewing Co.
Specifics:
Best Al Fresco Dining
1. Bass Lake Taverne – Chardon
2. Lure Bistro
3. Debonne Vineyards – Madison Township - Beach Club Bistro - Euclid, and Pickle Bill’s, Grand River
Best Ambience/Décor
1. John Palmer’s Bistro 44
2. Gavi’s
3. Lure, Sawyer House, Epiq
Best Carryout
1. Mike’s Kitchen
2. Kuhar’s and TJ’s
3. Primozz, Yours Truly and Mama Roberto’s
Best Catering
1. Mike’s Kitchen
2. TJ’s
3. Mama Roberto’s and J & J Catering
Best Cheap Eats
1. Yours Truly
2. Favored Flavor
3. Mike’s Kitchen
Best Hotel Dining
1. CK’s Steakhouse - Quail Hollow
2. Mantel’s - Radisson
3. Holiday Inn - Alfredo’s
Most Romantic
1. Gavi’s
2. Bistro 44 and Sawyer House
3. Molinari’s, Noosa and Potpourri
Best Place to Take Kids
1. Yours Truly
2. TJ’s
3. Scooter’s
Best Service
1. TJ’s, Mike’s Kitchen
2. Yours Truly
3. Bistro 44, Gavi’s, Sawyer House
Best View
1. Debonne
2. Pickle Bill’s
3. CK’s Steakhouse
Best Place to Impress Clients
1. Molinari’s
2. Bistro 44, Gavi’s
3. CK’s Steakhouse, Sawyer House
Most Fun
1. Cabana’s Island Restaurant & Party Bar – Mentor
2. Panini’s – Concord Township
3. Pickle Bill’s, Willoughby Brewing Co., and Winking Lizard
Libations
Best Bar
1. Olivor Twist
2. Chester’s Legacy Tavern
3. Chicken & Things, Corks, Cabana’s
Best Coffee (Restaurant)
1. Yours Truly and Bass Lake
Best Coffee (House)
1. Seekers - Mentor
2. Bellasonno – Concord Township
3. Bean’s - Chardon
Best Wine List
1. Corks
2. Molinari’s
3. Epiq
Best New Restaurant (opened within the past year)
1. Deeker’s
2. Flying Burrito
3. Cleats and Mike’s Kitchen
Best Restaurant overall
1. TJ’s
2. Molinari’s
3. John Palmer’s Bistro 44
Industry Experts
Best Chef
1. Randal Johnson – Molinari’s
2. Nick Costello – Lure Bistro
3. Tom Quick – Epiq
Best Server
Erica Branning; Jackie Pshock, Yours Truly; Kristy, Time Out Grille; Laureen Garrett; Liz Rodman, Longo’s; Marguerite Miller, TJ’s; Sherri Trivisonno, Mike’s Kitchen; Stacy, Gavi’s; and Sue Felton.
Best Bartender
George Speisman, Spectators; Jessica Dunwoodie, Linda C., CK’s Steakhouse; Michael, Bistro 70; Miranda, Burgers & Beer; Paula Gavelda, Highwater Tavern; Rich, Dino’s; Tom at Bass Lake Taverne; and Roger Sines.
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