Best of Baltimore
Best of Baltimore Readers’ Poll Results
Your choices for the best of Baltimore in various categories.
ARTS
Band
5AM
Runners-up: Meridian One; Kelly Bell Band
Bookstore
Atomic Books
Runners-up: The Ivy Bookshop; Red Emma’s
Gallery
Crystal Moll Gallery
Runners-up: Gallery 788; The Metro Gallery
Play or Performance
Marley (Center Stage)
Runners-up: Goin Downee Oshun (Bawdy Shop Burlesque); Wizard of Oz (Hippodrome)
Street Art
Baltimore LOVE Project
Runners-up: Open Walls Baltimore II; Artscape
Theater (Movie)
The Charles
Runners-up: Landmark Harbor East; The Senator
Theater (Live)
Center Stage & Hippodrome (TIE)
Runners-up: Everyman Theatre; Single Carrot Theatre
Writer
D. Watkins
Runners-up: John Waters; Laura Lippman
FOOD
Bagel
Towson Hot Bagels
Runners-up: Goldberg’s; Greg’s Bagels
Bakery
Icedgems
Runners-up: Pâtisserie Poupon; Vaccaro’s
Breakfast
Miss Shirley’s
Runners-up: Blue Moon Cafe; Towson Hot Bagels
Brunch
Miss Shirley’s
Runners-up: SoBo Cafe; The Food Market
Burger
Abbey Burger Bistro
Runners-up: Kooper’s Tavern; Hamilton Tavern
Cheap Eats
The Local Fry
Runners-up: Papi’s Tacos; Nalley Fresh
Chef
Cindy Wolf & Spike Gjerde (TIE)
Runners-up: Ted Stelzenmuller (Jack’s Bistro); Brigitte Bledsoe (Miss Shirley’s)
Coffee
Zeke’s Coffee
Runners-up: Artifact Coffee; Dooby’s Coffee
Crabs
Conrad’s Crabs
Runners-up: Costas Inn; L.P. Steamers
Fine Dining
The Prime Rib
Runners-up: Charleston; Woodberry Kitchen
Food Truck
Gypsy Queen Café
Runners-up: Icedgems; Kooper’s Chowhound burger Wagon
Ice Cream
The Charmery
Runners-up: Taharka Brothers; Prigel Family Creamery
Indian
The Ambassador Dining Room
Runners-up: Darbar; Akbar Palace & CafE Spice (TIE)
Italian
La Scala
Runners-up: Sotto Sopra; Aldo’s
Lunch
Miss Shirley’s
Runners-up: Nalley Fresh; Atwater’s
Mexican
Blue Agave
Runners-up: Papi’s Tacos; La Tolteca
Outdoor Dining
The BoatHouse Canton
Runners-up: Wit & Wisdom; Barcocina
Pizza
Matthew’s Pizza
Runners-up: Joe Squared; Verde
Server
Linda Leventis (SoBo Café)
Runners-up: Michael “Miguel” Wilkens (Fork & Wrench); Teresa Marconi (Thames Street Oyster House)
Soup
Atwater’s
Runners-up: SoBo Café; Soup’s On
Steak
The Prime Rib
Runners-up: Ruth’s Chris; The Capital Grille
Sushi
RA Sushi
Runners-up: Sushi Hana; Azumi
Thai
Thai Arroy
Runners-up: Stang of Siam; Thai One On
Vegetarian
One World Café
Runners-up: Liquid Earth; Land of Kush
FUN
Bar (Casual)
Looney’s Pub
Runners-up: Max’s Taphouse; Bad Decisions
Bar (Fancy)
Wit & Wisdom
Runners-up: Bookmakers Cocktail Club; W.C. Harlan
Bartender
Patrick Gartner (Le Garage)
Runners-up: Ryan Sparks (Bookmakers Cocktail Club); Brendan Dorr (B&O American Brasserie)
Bar for the Orioles
Pickles Pub
Runners-up: Looney’s Pub; Sliders Bar & Grille
Bar for the Ravens
Mother’s Grille
Runners-up: Looney’s Pub; Luckie’s Tavern
Brewery
Union Craft Brewing
Runners-up: The Brewer’s Art; Heavy Seas Brewery
Cocktail Menu
Bookmakers Cocktail Club
Runners-up: Rye; Le Garage: Beer Bar & Frites
Festival
Charm City Folk and Bluegrass
Runners-up: Artscape; Fells Point Fun Festival
Outdoor Drinking
Little Havana
Runners-up: The BoatHouse Canton; Blue Pit BBQ
Oriole
Adam Jones
Runners-up: Manny Machado; Chris Davis
Raven
Justin Tucker
Runners-up: Joe Flacco; Terrell Suggs
Park
Patterson Park
Runners-up: Druid Hill Park; Irvine Nature Center
LIFESTYLE
Fitness Instructor
Sonja Burns (WERQ Fitness)
Runners-up: Esther Collinetti (REV Cycle Studio); Guy Cragwell (MV Fitness)
Furniture Store
Su Casa
Runners-up: Arhaus; Shofer’s
Gym
Brick Bodies
Runners-up: Bare Hills Racquet & Fitness Club; Merritt Athletic Club
Children’s Clothing
The Pied Piper
Runners-up: The Corduroy Button; Wee Chic
Men’s Clothing
J.S. Edwards
Runners-up: Christopher Schafer Clothier; The Moon Life Clothing
Personal Trainer
Guy Cragwell (MV Fitness)
Runners-up: Reese Ashe (Reflex Fitness); Jason Nissley (Knockout Fitness)
Salon (Hair)
Tranquille Hair & Body
Runners-up: Form Salon; Crafted Hair Studio
Salon (Spa)
Ojas Wellness Center
Runners-up: Athena Nails & Spa); Studio 921 Salon & Spa
Shoe Store
DSW
Runners-up: Poppy and Stella; Ma Petite Shoe
Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Runners-up: City Sports; Under Armour
Toy Store
Amuse Toys
Runners-up: Shananigans Toy Store; Toys “R” Us
Women’s Clothing
Sass, Upscale Resale Boutique
Runners-up: La Chic Boutique; South Moon Under
Yoga Studio
Charm City Yoga
Runners-up: Ojas Wellness Center; Bare Hills Raquet & Fitness Club
NEWS
Blog (News)
Baltimore Brew
Runners-up: South BMore; Booze News
Blog (Sports)
Russell Street Report
Runners-up: Baltimore Sports and Life; Baltimore Sports Report
Blog (Other)
Four One Oh!
Runners-up: Baltimore Media Blog; Stay Classy Canton
Columnist
Tony Lombardi (Russell Street Report)
Runners-up: Dan Rodricks (The Baltimore Sun); Brian Bower (Russell Street Report)
Publication (Print)*
The Baltimore Sun
Runners-up: City Paper; PressBox
Publication (Online)*
Russell Street Report
Runners-up: The Baltimore Sun; Baltimore Brew
Host
Anthony McCarthy (The Anthony McCarthy Show)
Runners-up: Dan Rodricks (Midday with Dan Rodricks); Ed Norris (The Norris & Davis Show)
Radio Station
WYPR 88.1 FM
Runners-up: The Fan 105.7 FM; WEAA 88.9 FM
TV Broadcaster (News)
Megan Gilliland
Runners-up: Stan Stovall; Tom Rodgers
TV Broadcaster (Sports)
Gerry Sandusky
Runners-up: Mark Viviano; Bruce Cunningham
Twitter Account
@justin_fenton
Runners-up: @MrTrashWheel; @RavensInsider
*Baltimore magazine was excluded.
SERVICE
Auto Repair
Federal Motors
Runners-up: Brentwood; Baltimore Body Shop
Dry Cleaning
ZIPS Dry Cleaner
Runners-up: J&J Alterations & Cleaning; Sanitate Dry Cleaners
Contractor (HOME)
G&E Contractors
Runners-up: F.C. Batton & Son, All-Star Appliance
Electrician
Milton Electric
Runners-up: Winn; Walter
Grocery Store
Wegmans
Runners-up: Harris Teeter; Giant
Handyman
The Baltimore Handyman Company
Runners-up: Handy Maven; Bellanca
HVAC
Clean Air Heating & Air Conditioning
Runners-up: BGE Home; Blue Dot
Landscaping
Maryland Landscape Supply
Runners-up: TDH; Sewell’s
Pet Day Care & Walking
Prancing Pooches
Runners-up: Four Dog Adventures; Walk the Dog
Plumber
Len The Plumber
Runners-up: Honest Abe; Saffer
Veterinarian
Dr. Kip Imperato, The Animal Clinic at Southgate
Runners-up: Dr. Kristin Karbonik Hannon, Charm City Veterinary Hospital; Dr. John Trujillo, Light Street Animal Hospital