Best of Baltimore
2014 Best of Baltimore Readers’ Poll
Your choices for the best of Baltimore in various categories.
Thanks to the thousands of readers that voted in this year’s poll. To find out what our editors chose, pick up a copy of the August issue, on newsstands now!
ARTS | FOOD | FUN | LIFESTYLE | NEWS | SERVICE
Best of Baltimore Readers’ Poll sponsored by Owings Brothers Contracting
ARTS
Band
Collect All 5
Runners Up: Future Islands, Bad With Name
Festival
Artscape
Runners Up: Fells Point Fun Festival, HonFest
Movie Theater
Landmark Theaters Harbor East
Runners Up: The Charles, The Senator
Music Venue
Pier Six Pavilion
Runners Up: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Ottobar
Museum
American Visionary Art Museum
Runners Up: The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Walters Art Museum
Play or Performance
Super Art Fight
Runners Up: Ms. Goose and the Naughty Tails, Book of Mormon
Street Art
Open Walls Baltimore
Runners Up: LOVE Project, Sogh Art Truck
Gallery
Crystal Moll Gallery
Runners Up: Metro Gallery, Creative Alliance at the Patterson
Theater (Live)
The Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
Runners Up: Center Stage, Everyman
Writer
Laura Lippman
Runners Up: Brigid Kemmerer, Elissa Brent Weissman
JUMP TO: ARTS | FOOD | FUN | LIFESTYLE | NEWS | SERVICE
FOOD
Bagel
Towson Hot Bagels
Runners Up: Greg’s Bagels, Goldberg’s New York Bagels
Bread
Atwater’s
Runners Up: Stone Mill Bakery, Panera Bread
Bakery
Icedgems Baking
Runners Up: Hamilton Bakery, Bonaparte Breads
Breakfast
Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Runners Up: Blue Moon Cafe, Towson Hot Bagels
Brunch
Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Runners Up: Woodberry Kitchen, SoBo Café
Burger
The Abbey Burger Bistro
Runners Up: Hamilton Tavern, Five Guys Burger and Fries
Cheap Eats
Sip & Bite Restaurant
Runners Up: Samos Restaurant, Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chef
Cindy Wolf
Runners Up: Ted Stelzenmuller, Spike Gjerde
Chinese
Ding How Restaurant
Runners Up: Cafe Zen, Szechuan House
Coffee
Zeke’s Coffee
Runners Up: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts
Crabs
Conrad’s Crabs & Seafood Market
Runners Up: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Canton Dockside
Food Truck
The Gypsy Queen Café
Runners Up:Fowl Play Food Truck, Icedgems Cupcake Truck
Grocery store
Wegmans
Runners Up: Harris Teeter, Whole Foods Market
Ice Cream
The Charmery
Runners Up: Taharka Brothers, Pitango Gelato
Indian
Ambassador Dining Room
Runners Up: Darbar, Akbar Restaurant
Italian
La Scala Ristorante Italiano
Runners Up: Aldo’s Ristorante Italiano, Amicci’s
Lunch
SoBo Café
Runners Up: Atwater’s, Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Mexican
Blue Agave Restaurante y Tequileria
Runners Up: El Salto Mexican Restaurant, Nacho Mama’s
Outdoor Dining
Baldwin’s Station
Runners Up: Little Havana, The BoatHouse Canton
Pizza
Joe Squared
Runners Up: Verde, Matthew’s Pizza
Seafood
Thames Street Oyster House
Runners Up: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Mama’s on the Half Shell
Soup
Atwater’s
Runners Up: Soup’s On, Sobo Café
Steak
The Prime Rib
Runners Up: The Capital Grille, Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Sushi
RA Sushi
Runners Up: Matsuri, Sushi Hana
Tapas
Tapas Teatro
Runners Up: Mezze, Pazo
Thai
Thai Arroy
Runners Up: Stang of Siam, My Thai
Vegetarian
One World Café
Runners Up: Liquid Earth, SoBo Café
Waiter / Waitress
Randy Lock, Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Runners Up: Bob Ellison, The Prime Rib; Ron Barnette, Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Wings
Kisling’s Tavern
Runners Up: Delia Foley’s Pub, Bill Bateman’s Bistro
JUMP TO: ARTS | FOOD | FUN | LIFESTYLE | NEWS | SERVICE
FUN
Bar (Casual)
Max’s Taphouse
Runners Up: The Brewer’s Art, Ropewalk Tavern
Bar (Fancy)
Wit & Wisdom, A Tavern by Michael Mina
Runners Up: Ouzo Bay, Bond Street Social
Bartender
Aaron Joseph, Wit & Wisdom
Runners Up: Ryan Sparks, Jack’s Bistro; ‘Irish Dave’, Slainte Irish Pub and Restaurant
Bar for Watching the O’s
Pickles Pub
Runners Up: Sliders Bar & Grille, Looney’s Pub
Bar for Watching the Ravens
Mother’s Federal Hill Grille
Runners Up: Max’s Taphouse, Looney’s Pub
Oriole
Chris Davis
Runners Up:Adam Jones, Manny Machado
Outdoor Drinking
Little Havana
Runners Up: The Boathouse Canton, Hightopps Backstage Grille
Park
Patterson Park
Runners Up: Federal Hill Park, Druid Hill Park
Raven
Torrey Smith
Runners Up: Joe Flacco, Justin Tucker
JUMP TO: ARTS | FOOD | FUN | LIFESTYLE | NEWS | SERVICE
LIFESTYLE
Bookstore
Barnes & Noble
Runners Up: Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse, The Ivy Bookshop
Furniture & Décor
Su Casa
Runners Up: Arhaus, Trohv
Group Fitness Instructor
Jason Nissley, Knockout Fitness
Runners up: Donavon Israel, RevCycle; Esther Collinetti, RevCycle
Gym
Merritt Athletic Clubs
Runners Up: MAC, Knockout Fitness
Kids’ Clothing
Wee Chic
Runners Up: The Pied Piper, The Corduroy Button
Men’s Clothing
Cohen’s Clothiers
Runners Up: Nordstrom, Under Armour
Personal Trainer
Jason Nissley, Knockout Fitness
Runners Up: Donavon Israel, RevCycle; Guy Cragwell, Federal Hill Fitness
Salon (Hair)
M Salon
Runners Up: Salon Method, All About Me Salon & Dayspa
Salon (Spa)
Ojas Wellness Center
Runners Up: About Faces, Baltimore Spa and Salon
Shoe Store
DSW
Runners Up: Ma Petite Shoe, Poppy and Stella
Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Runners Up: City Sports, Under Armour
Toy Store
Amuse
Runners Up: Shenanigans Toy Shop, Toys “R” Us
Women’s Clothing
South Moon Under
Runners Up: Babe. (a boutique), Nordstrom
Yoga Studio
Charm City Yoga
Runners Up: Ojas Wellness Center, Bikram Yoga Baltimore
JUMP TO: ARTS | FOOD | FUN | LIFESTYLE | NEWS | SERVICE
NEWS
Blog
I Hate JJ Redick
Runners Up: Russell Street Report, SouthBMore.com
Columnist
Dan Rodricks
Runners Up: Mike Preston, Peter Schmuck
Radio Station
WTMD
Runners Up:WYPR, WBAL
TV Personality or Broadcaster, Female
Denise Koch
Runners Up: Donna Hamilton, Ava Marie
TV Personality or Broadcaster, Male
Stan Stovall
Runners Up: Don Scott, Marty Bass
JUMP TO: ARTS | FOOD | FUN | LIFESTYLE | NEWS | SERVICE
SERVICE
Auto Repair
Federal Motors
Runners up: Carney Tire & Car Care Center, Hollenshade’s Auto Service
Contractor (home/general)
F.C. Batton & Son
Runners up: Shaneybrook Contracting, All-Star Appliance Repair
Dry Cleaning
Zips Dry Cleaners
Runners up: J&J Alterations & Cleaning, Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners
Electrician
Winn Electric Contracting
Runners up: Kolb Electric, Dynamo Electric
Handyman
The Baltimore Handyman Company
Runners up: Mr. Handyman, Irv’s Handyman Service
HVAC
Perry Hall Heating & Air Conditioning Co.
Runners up: Amazing Heating and Air, BGE Home
Pet Day Care & Walking
Charm City Dogs
Runners up: Camp Bow Wow, Safe@Home Pet Sitting
Plumber
Len The Plumber
Runners up: Saffer Plumbing & Heating, Jensen Plumbing Service
Veterinarian
Eastern Animal Hospital
Runners up: Doc Side Veterinary Medical Center, Falls Road Animal Hospital