Once again our readers came through with more than 1,300 ballots telling us who they think is tops in the
Triangle when it comes to food, arts and entertainment, music and clubs, goods and services and media.
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to vote, and congratulations to this year’s winners and honorable mentionsyou’re the best.
Jump to: Wine & Dine | Arts & Entertainment | Music & Clubs | Goods & Services | Media
Best restaurant
Raleigh: Angus Barn
Durham: Magnolia Grill
Chapel Hill/Carrboro: Lantern
Best new restaurant (opened in last 12 months)
Nana’s Chophouse 328 West Davie, Raleigh 829-1212
honorable mention: Talulla’s
Best restaurant to take your parents to
Angus Barn 9401 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh 781-2444
honorable mention: Nana’s Chophouse, 411 West/518 West
Best restaurant to take your kids to
Elmo’s Diner Carr Mill Mall, Carrboro, 929-2909
776 Ninth St., Durham, 416-3823
www.elmosdiner.com honorable mention: Bullwinkles, Chuck E. Cheese’s
Best restaurant for romance
Lantern 423 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill 969-8846
www.lanternrestaurant.com
honorable mention: Second Empire, ShabaShabu
Best restaurant when someone else is paying
Angus Barn
honorable mention: Second Empire, Sullivans
Best take-out
Capital Creations 6166 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, 850-0606; 1842 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, 836-8000; 3055 Medlin Drive, Raleigh, 782-7080
www.capitalcreations.com
honorable mention: Char-Grill, Cook Out!
Best quick lunch
Moe’s Southwest Grill 8411 Brier Creek Parkway, Brier Creek Commons, Raleigh 484-8404
honorable mention: Panera Bread, Cosmic Cantina
Best coffeehouse
Cup A Joe 3100 Hillsborough St., 828-9665; 2019 Avent Ferry Road, Mission Valley Shopping Center, 828-9886; 5039 Falls of Neuse Road, Quail Corners Shopping Center, 876-4588; all locations in Raleigh
honorable mention: Helios, Mr. Toads
Best wait staff
Lantern
honorable mention: Cafe Tiramisu
Best restaurant with live music
Capper’s 4421 Six Forks Road, Lassiter at North Hills, Raleigh 787-8963
honorable mention: Six String Café, 42nd St. Oyster Bar
Best outdoor dining/patio
Mellow Mushroom 601 Peace St., Raleigh, 832-3499
www.mellowmushroom.com
honorable mention: Crook’s Corner, Helios Coffeehouse
Best place for a vegetarian meal
Irregardless Café 901 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, 833-8898
www.irregardlesscafe.com
honorable mention: Sage, Spotted Dog
Best pizza
Lilly’s 1813 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 833-0226
honorable mention: Pop’s
Best Vietnamese
Dalat 2109 Avent Ferry Road, Mission Valley Shopping Center, Raleigh, 832-7449
honorable mention: Lime & Basil, Green Papaya
Best Italian
518 West Italian Cafe 518 W. Jones St., Raleigh, 829-2518
www.518west.com
honorable mention: Bella Monica, Cafe Luna
Best Japanese
Kanki 4500 Old Wake Forest Road, North Market Square, Raleigh, 876-4157; 4325 Glenwood Ave., Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh, 782-9708; 3504 Mt. Moriah Road, Durham, 401-6908
www.kanki.com
honorable mention: Waraji, Aki Hana
Best Indian
Royal India 3901-103 Capital Blvd., Tarrymore Square, Raleigh, 981-0849
honorable mention: Sitar Palace, Taj Mahal
Best Thai
ShabaShabu 3080 Wake Forest Road, Holly Park Shopping Center, Raleigh, 501-7755
honorable mention: Sawasdee, Sushi Thai
Best seafood
42nd St. Oyster Bar 508 W. Jones St., Raleigh, 831-2811
www.42ndstoysterbar.com
honorable mention: Kemps Seafood House, Mayflower
Best Middle Eastern
Neomonde 3817 Beryl Road, Raleigh 828-1628
honorable mention: Mediterranean Deli, Solomon’s
Best Caribbean
Bahama Breeze 3309 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, 872-6330
honorable mention: Jamaica Jamaica, Copeland’s
Best Irish pub
Hibernian 311 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh 833-2258; 1144 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary 467-9000
www.hibernianpub.com
honorable mention: Ri Ra, Tir na nog
Best Greek
Spartacus Grille 4139 Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham, 489-2848; 104-A New Waverly Place, Cary, 852-5050
honorable mention: Nikos Taverna, Agora Tavern
Best French
Saint Jacques 6112 Falls of the Neuse, Raleigh, 862-2770
honorable mention: Bistro 607
Best Chinese
Neo-China 4015 University Drive, BB&T Plaza, Durham, 489-2828; 6602-1 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, 783-8383; 100 Maynard Crossing Court, Cary, 466-8888
honorable mention: P.F. Chang’s, Five Star
Best Mexican
El Rodeo 4215 University Drive, Durham, 402-9190; 1404 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 929-6566; 4112 Pleasant Valley Road, Raleigh, 571-1188
honorable mention: Toreros, Dos Tacquitos
Best barbecue
Barbeque Joint 630 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, 932-7504
honorable mention: Smithfield, Allen & Son
Best burger
Char Grill 618 Hillsborough St., 821-7636; 3211 Edwards Mill Road, 781-2945; 4617 Atlantic Ave., 954-9556; 9601 Strickland Road, 845-8994; all Raleigh locations
honorable mention: Cook Out!
Best desserts
Hayes Barton Café 2000 Fairview Road, Raleigh, 856-8551
honorable mention: Cheesecake Factory, Lantern
Best salads
Sweet Tomatoes
honorable mention: Capital Creations, Whole Foods
Best steak:
Angus Barn
honorable mention: Sullivan’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Best breakfast
Brigs 8111-169 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, 870-0994; 1225 N.W. Maynard Road, Cary, 481-9300; 4900 N.C. Hwy 55, Suite 520, Durham, 544-7473
www.brigsrestaurants.com
honorable mention: Courtney’s, Elmo’s Diner
Best pastries
Guglhupf Bakery and Patisserie 2706 Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, 401-2600
www.guglhupf.com
honorable mention: Mad Hatter’s Cafe & Bake Shop, Weaver St. Market
Best beer selection
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium 328 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, 821-7468
honorable mention: Tyler’s Taproom, Peace Street Market
Best wine list
Angus Barn
honorable mention: Enoteca Vin, West End Wine Bar
Arts & Entertainment
Best art gallery
Branch Gallery 205 W. Weaver St., Carrboro
honorable mention: North Carolina Museum of Art,
Art Space
Best museum
North Carolina Museum of Art
honorable mention: Museum of Natural Science, North Carolina Museum of Life and Science
Best live theater
Raleigh Little Theater
honorable mention: Man Bites Dog Theatre, UNC Playmakers
Best place for a picnic
Pullen Park, Raleigh
honorable mention: Duke Gardens, Umstead Park
Best place to hike
Umstead Park
honorable mention: Duke Forest, Eno River
Best place to bring a dog
Millbrook Dog Park
honorable mention: Park Place, Duke Gardens
Best theater to see a blockbuster movie
Southpoint Cinema
honorable mention: Cary Crossroads, Brier Creek
Best theater to see an independent film
Rialto
honorable mention: Carolina Theatre (Durham), Chelsea
Best little-known attraction
Carolina Rollergirls
honorable mention: Raleigh Rose Garden, Starlight Drive-in
Best place to see a sporting event
RBC Center
honorable mention: Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center,
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Music & Clubs
Best large club (room for 600 and over)
Cat’s Cradle www.catscradle.com
honorable mention: Disco Rodeo
Best small venue
Lincoln Theatre
www.lincolntheatre.com
honorable mention: Kings, The Cave, Local 506
Best outdoor venue
Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
www.amphitheatreatregencypark.com
honorable mention: North Carolina Museum of Art, Alltel Pavilion
Best place for rock
Cat’s Cradle
honorable mention: Lincoln Theatre, Alltel Pavilion
Best club for hip hop
Cat’s Cradle
honorable mention: Lincoln Theatre, Alltel Pavilion
Best salsa club
Montas Lounge
honorable mention: Carmen’s Cafe & Lounge, Tree House
Best dance club
Legends
honorable mention: Montas, Aura Lounge
Best spoken-word night
The Cave
honorable mention: Berkeley Cafe
Best place to hear strange music
Nightlight
honorable mention: Kings, Cat’s Cradle
Best place to shoot pool
The Green Room
honorable mention: Jillians, Hell
Best place to hear classical music
Meymandi Concert Hall
www.meymandi.org
honorable mention: Booth Amphitheatre
Best place for a girls’ night out
Bogarts
honorable mention: The Rockford
Best place for a boys’ night out
Thee Dollhouse
honorable mention: Legends, Pure Gold
Best neighborhood bar
Crowley’s
honorable mention: Carolina Ale House
Best sports bar
Carolina Ale House
honorable mention: Playmakers, Fox and Hound
Best jukebox
Orange County Social Club
honorable mention: Hell, Lizzie’s
Best karaoke
Cody’s Chinese Bistro
honorable mention: Bub O’Malley, Lizzie’s
Best bar to meet your future mate
Hell
honorable mention: Orange County Social Club, Rockford
Best record store
Schoolkids
honorable mention: CD Alley, Record Exchange
Goods & Services
Best local bookstore
Quail Ridge Book Store
honorable mention: Regulator, Books A Million
Best boutique
Uniquities
honorable mention: Modern Times, Beanie & Cecil
Best vintage clothing store
Time After Time
honorable mention: Untidy Museum, Roulette
Best thrift store
Goodwill
honorable mention: PTA Thrift, ReTails
Best place for shoes
SRI
honorable mention: DSW
Best place for evening wear
Uniquities
honorable mention: Nordstrom
Best jewelry store
Kerry Catherine
honorable mention: Bailey’s
Best place to buy lingerie
Victoria’s Secret
honorable mention: Frisky Business
Best hair stylist/salon
Von Kekel
honorable mention: Moshi Moshi, Syd’s
Best spa
Skin Sense Day
honorable mention: Jolie Day Spa, Iatria Wakefield
Best video store
Visart
honorable mention: Blockbuster, North American Video
Best antique store
Déjá Vu at Whitaker
honorable mention: Father & Son, Carolina Antique Mall
Best bicycle shop
The Spin Cycle
honorable mention: Clean Machine
Best flower shop
Fallon’s
honorable mention: Whole Foods-Chapel Hill
Best place to buy sex toys
Adam and Eve
honorable mention: Priscilla’s, Frisky Business
Best place to buy camping gear
REI
honorable mention: Great Outdoor Provision Co., Dick’s Sporting Goods
Best tattoo artist/studio
Blue Flame
honorable mention: Glenn at Glenn’s Tattoo Service, Warlocks
Best veterinarian
Dr. Jackson, Quail Corners
honorable mention: PetsMart
Best auto mechanic
Marvin Capps, Cary Honda
honorable mention: Renaissance Auto Care, Tao Auto
Best retail beer selection
Peace St. Market
honorable mention: Total Wine, Whole Foods
Best retail wine selection
Total Wine
honorable mention: A Southern Season
Media
Best radio for talk
WUNC 91.5 FM
honorable mention: WCHL 1368 AM, WPTF 680 AM
Best radio for music
WKNC 88.1 FM
honorable mention: WXYC 89.3 FM, G105.1 FM
Best college radio station
WKNC 88.1 FM
honorable mention: WXYC 89.3 FM
Best local Web site
WRAL
www.wral-tv.com
honorable mention: carolinarollergirls.com
Best local blog
Orange Politics
www.orangepolitics.org
honorable mention: www.monkeytime.org
Best local TV news
WRAL
honorable mention: WTVD
Best local sportscaster
Tom Suiter, WRAL
honorable mention: Chris Stout, NBC 17
Best local weather forecaster
Greg Fishel
Best local news anchor
David Crabtree
honorable mention: Debra Morgan
Best local columnist
Barry Saunders
honorable mention: Bob Geary
