Best new restaurant (opened in last 12 months)
J. Betski's
10 W Franklin St Suite 120 Raleigh, 833-7999, www.jbetskis.com
Finalists: Piedmont, Riviera
Best coffee shop
Starbucks
www.starbucks.com
Finalists: Cup A Joe, Open Eye Café
Best wait staff (restaurant and/or person)
Elmo's Diner
776 Ninth St Durham, 416-3823
200 N Greensboro St, Carr Mill Mall Carrboro, 929-2909
www.elmosdiner.com
Finalists: The Borough, Lantern
Best outdoor dining
Mellow Mushroom
410 Blackwell St Suite 100 Durham, 680-8500
601 W Peace St Raleigh, 832-3499
www.mellowmushroom.com
Finalists: Crook's Corner, Vivace
Best restaurant for first date
Rockford
320 1/2 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, 821-9020
Finalists: Angus Barn, Lantern
Best wings
Hooters
www.hooters.com
Finalists: Ba-Da Wings, Buffalo Wild Wings
Best business lunch
Tie
Porter's City Tavern
2412 Hillsborough St Raleigh, 821-2133, www.porterstavern.com
Top of the Hill
100 E Franklin St 3rd Floor Chapel Hill, 929-8676, www.topofthehillrestaurant.com
Finalists: Caffé Luna, Capital City Chop House, Weathervane
Best super cheap meal
Cosmic Cantina
1920 1/2 Perry St Durham, 286-1875
128 E Franklin St Chapel Hill, 960-3955
Finalists: Armadillo Grill, Cook Out
Best place to people watch while drinking a beer
Top of the Hill
100 E Franklin St 3rd Floor Chapel Hill, 929-8676, www.topofthehillrestaurant.com
Finalists: Federal, Hibernian
Best late night meal/menu
Waffle House
www.wafflehouse.com
Finalists: Cook Out, Cosmic Cantina
Best local chef (restaurant & chef)
Ashley Christensen, Enoteca Vin
410 Glenwood Ave Suite 350 Raleigh, 834-3070, www.enotecavin.com
Finalists: Andrea Reusing, Lantern; Jim Mapel, La Residence; Ben Barker, Magnolia Grill
Best bakery
Guglhupf
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Suite 1 Durham, 401-2600, www.guglhupf.com
Finalists: La Farm Bakery, Panera Bread
Best burrito
Carrburritos
711 W Rosemary St Carrboro, 933-8226, www.carrburritos.com
Finalists: Cosmic Cantina, Moe's Southwest Grill
Best sushi
Waraji
5910 Duraleigh Road Raleigh, 783-1883, www.warajirestaurant.com
Finalists: Akai Hana, Sushi Blues Café
Best fries
Federal
914 W Main St Durham, 680-8611, www.thefederal.net
Finalists: Char-Grill, Tyler's Restaurant & Taproom
Best Ethiopian
Queen of Sheba
(relocating)
Finalists: Abyssinia
Best bagel
Bruegger's
www.brueggers.com
Finalists: Bagels on the Hill, Panera Bread
Best comfort food
Mama Dip's
408 W Rosemary St Chapel Hill, 942-5837, www.mamadips.com
Finalists: Elmo's Diner, K&W Cafeteria
Best pizza
Lilly's Pizza
Five Points, 1813 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, 833-0226, www.lillyspizza.com
Finalists: Amante Gourmet Pizza, Pepper's Pizza
Best Vietnamese
Dalat
2109 Avent Ferry Rd Ste 110 Raleigh, 832-7449
Finalists: Bahn's Cuisine, Lime & Basil
Best Italian
Tie
411 West
411 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 967-2782, www.411west.com
518 West
518 W Jones St Raleigh, 829-2518, www.518west.com
Finalists: Bella Monica, Carrabba's, Maggiano's, Olive Garden
Best Japanese
Kanki
Crabtree Valley Mall 4325 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, 782-9708
4500 Old Wake Forest Rd Raleigh, 876-4157
3504 Mt Moriah Rd Durham, 401-6908
www.kanki.com
Finalists: Kuki, Waraji
Best Thai
Sawasdee Thai
3601 Capital Blvd Suite 107 Raleigh, 878-0049, www.sawasdeerestaurant.com
Finalists: Sushi-Thai, Thai Palace
Best Indian
Royal India
3901 Capital Blvd Suite 103 Raleigh, 981-0849, royalindiaexpress.citysearch.com
Finalists: Sitar India Palace, Taj Mahal
Best seafood
42nd Street Oyster Bar
508 W Jones St Raleigh, 831-2811, www.42ndstoysterbar.com
Finalists: Kemp's Seafood House, Squid's
Best Middle Eastern
Neomonde Restaurant & Deli
3817 Beryl Rd Raleigh, 828-1628
10235 Chapel Hill Rd Morrisville, 466-8100
www.neomonde.com
Finalists: Mediterranean Deli, Talullas
Best Caribbean
Bahama Breeze
3309 Wake Forest Rd Raleigh, 872-6330, www.bahamabreeze.com
Finalists: Carmen's Cuban Café & Lounge, Jamaica Jamaica
Best Irish pub
Hibernian
311 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, 833-2258
1144 Kildaire Farm Rd Cary, 467-9000
www.hibernianpub.com
Finalists: James Joyce, Tir Na Nog
Best Greek
Spartacus
4139 Chapel Hill Blvd Durham, 489-2848
104-A New Waverly Pl Cary, 852-5050
www.spartacusrestaurant.com
Finalists: Taverna Agora, Taverna Nikos
Best French
Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Rd Durham, 416-0466, www.vinrougerestaurant.com
Finalists: La Residence, Provence, Saint-Jacques
Best Chinese
Neo-China
6602-1 Glenwood Ave Raleigh, 783-8383
100 Maynard Crossing Ct Cary, 466-8888
4015 University Dr Durham, 489-2828
www.neo-china.com
Finalists: Fortune Garden, P.F. Chang's
Best Mexican
El Rodeo
Finalists: Bandido's, Dos Taquitos
Best barbecue
Allen & Son
6203 Millhouse Rd Chapel Hill, 942-7576
5650 US Highway 15 501 N Pittsboro, 542-2294
Finalists: Bullock's, The Barbecue Joint, The Q Shack, Smithfield's
Best burger
Five Guys
www.fiveguys.com
Finalists: Char-Grill, Mo Joe's Burger Joint
Best desserts
The Cheesecake Factory
Streets at Southpoint Durham, 206-4082
Crabtree Valley Mall Raleigh, 781-0050
www.thecheesecakefactory.com
Finalists: Francesca's Dessert Caffe, Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery
Best salad or salad bar
Whole Foods Market
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Finalists: Ruby Tuesday, Sweet Tomatoes
Best steak
Outback
www.outback.com
Finalists: Angus Barn, Sullivan's Steakhouse
Best brunch/breakfast
Elmo's Diner
776 Ninth St Durham, 416-3823
200 N Greensboro St Carr Mill Mall Carrboro, 929-2909
www.elmosdiner.com
Finalists: Breadmen's, Brigs
Best sandwich
SandwHich
Courtyard of Chapel Hill 431 W Franklin St Chapel Hill, 929-2114, www.sandwhich.biz
Finalists: Panera Bread, Rockford
Best Latin American
Blue Corn Café
716 Ninth St Durham, 286-9600, www.bluecorn-tosca.com
Finalists: El Rodeo, Patio Loco
Best draft beer selection
Tyler's Restaurant & Taproom
102 E Main St Carrboro, 929-6881
324 Blackwell St Suite 400 Durham, 433-0345
www.tylerstaproom.com
Finalists: Flying Saucer, Hibernian
Best martini selection
Blue Martini
116 N West St Raleigh, 899-6464, www.bluemartiniraleigh.com
Finalists: Bogart's American Grill, East End Martini Bar
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