Best Restaurants Readers’ Poll Results 2021

Thanks so much for voting in our 2021 Best Restaurants Readers’ Poll! Our Readers’ Poll launched in February as a way for readers to weigh in on their favorite people and places in the local dining scene. Now, the results are in! Browse the top picks in the list below, and be sure to check out our editorial “Dining Awards” winners from the March 2021 issue, here.

Best Al Fresco

Winner: Basta Pasta-Fallston
Runners-Up: Elkridge Furnace Inn; Tark’s Grill

Best Bagel

Winner: THB Neighborhood Bagelry & Deli
Runner-Ups: Bagel Works; Ovenbird Bakery

Best Bakery

Winner: Fenwick Bakery
Runner-Ups: Café Dear Leon; Yia’s Yia’s Bakery

Best Bar Food

Winner: Looney’s Pub
Runners-Up: Wet City; Nepenthe Brewing Co.

Best BBQ

Winner: Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar 
Runners-Up: Mission BBQ; Chap’s Pit Beef

Best Brewery

Winner: Union Craft Brewing
Runners-Up: Guinness Open Gate Brewery; Monument City Brewing Company

Best Brunch

Winner: Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Runners-Up: Lib’s Grille; Blue Moon Cafe

Best Burger

Winner: Abbey Burger Bistro
Runners-Up: Clark Burger; Kooper’s Tavern

Best Chef

Winner: Cindy Wolf (Charleston)
Runners-Up: Jonny Lease (Knotty Pine); Dan Wecker (Elkridge Furnace Inn)

Best Chinese Cuisine

Winner: NiHao Baltimore
Runners-Up: Chopstix; Joey Chiu’s

Best Cocktails To-Go

Winner: Mr. Nice Guy Cocktails
Runners-Up: Clavel; Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar

Best Coffee Shop

Winner: Zeke’s Coffee
Runners-Up: Baltimore Coffee & Tea; The Daily Grind

Best Community Supporter

Winner: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Runners-Up: Nancy Longo; Ekiben

Best Crab Cake

Winner: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Runners-Up: Koco’s Pub; By the Docks

Best Crab House

Winner: Conrad’s Crabs
Runners-Up: Costas Inn; Nick’s Fish House

Best Curbside Model

Winner: Clavel
Runners-Up: Glyndon Grill; The Food Market

Best Deli

Winner: DiPasquale’s Italian Market
Runners-Up: Attman’s Deli; Ravage Deli

Best Donut

Winner: Diablo Doughnuts
Runners-Up: Woodlea Bakery; Cloudy Donuts

Best Food Hall

Winner: R. House
Runners-Up: Mount Vernon Marketplace; Cross Street Market

Best Food Hall Stall

Winner: Blowfish Poke (Clarksville Commons)
Runners-Up: BRD (R. House); Faidley’s Seafood (Lexington Market)

Best Food Truck

Winner: BMore Greek
Runner-Ups: Greek on the Street; Love Crust Pizza

Best French Cuisine

Winner: Petit Louis Bistro
Runners-Up: Duck Duck Goose; Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant

Best Gluten-Free Options

Winner: Harmony Bakery
Runners-Up: Golden West Cafe; Sweet 27 Bakery & Restaurant

Best Healthy Dining

Winner: Nalley Fresh
Runners-Up: Farm to Face; Pure Raw Juice

Best Ice Cream

Winner: Taharka Bros.
Runners-Up: The Charmery; Bmore Licks

Best Indian Cuisine

Winner: Ananda
Runners-Up: Ambassador Dining Room; Royal Taj

Best Industry Hero

Winner: John Minadakis (Jimmy’s Seafood)
Runners-Up: Ashish Alfred (Duck Duck Goose); Dave Seel (The Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund)

Best Italian Cuisine

Winner: Arturo’s Trattoria 
Runners-Up: Amicci’s; La Scala

Best Japanese Cuisine

Winner: Azumi
Runners-Up: Yama Sushi; Sakura

Best Korean/Asian Fusion Cuisine

Winner: Ekiben
Runners-Up: Honey Pig; Jong Kak

Best Kid’s Menu

Winner: The Valley Inn
Runners-Up: Silver Queen Cafe and La Food Marketa (tie); Johnny’s

Best Late-Night Eats

Winner: Double T Diner
Runner-Up: Sip & Bite; Papermoon Diner

Best Lunch Spot

Winner: Atwater’s
Runner-Up: DiPasquale’s; Brookside Market

Best Mediterranean  Cuisine

Winner: Samos
Runner-Up: Cypriana; Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen

Best Mexican Cuisine

Winner: Taco Love Grill
Runner-Up: Clavel; El Salto

Best Middle Eastern Cuisine

Winner: The Helmand
Runner-Up: Lebanese Taverna; Maiwand Kabob

Best New Spot

Winner: Sally O’s
Runners-Up: Cheezy Mike’s Food Emporium; Cindy Lou’s Fish House

Best Pizza

Winner: Underground Pizza Co.
Runners-Up: Angeli’s Pizza; Matthew’s Pizza

Best Raw Bar

Winner: Thames Street Oyster House
Runners-Up: Dylan’s Oyster Cellar; True Chesapeake Oyster Co.

Best Reinvention

Winner: EC Diner
Runners-Up: Alma Cocina Latina; La Cuchara

Best South American

Winner: Alma Cocina Latina
Runners-Up: Bar Vasquez; Puerto 511

Best Sports Bar

Winner: Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar
Runners-Up: Mother’s; Hightopps Backstage Grille

Best Sushi

Winner: Shoyou Sushi
Runners-Up: Azumi; Fire and Rice

Best Taco

Winner: Papi’s Tacos
Runners-Up: Cocina Luchadoras; R&R Taqueria

Best Takeout

Winner: Ekiben
Runners-Up: The Local Fry; Maggie’s Farm

Best Thai

Winner: Bodhi Corner
Runners-Up: Thai Street; Mayuree Thai

Best Vegan

Winner: Land of Kush
Runners-Up: Great Sage; Koshary by Misteka

Best Vegetarian

Winner: Golden West Cafe
Runners-Up: One World Cafe; Foraged

Best Wine List

Winner: Charleston
Runners-Up: Iron Bridge Wine Company; 13.5% Wine Bar