Best Bakery
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Pastry and Wheatfields
Readers’ Choice: Panera Bread
Readers’ Recommend: Jones Bros. Cupcakes, The Cake Gallery
Readers’ Refer: Hy-Vee, Orsi’s, Paradise Bakery
Best Bargain Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Taco Bell
Readers’ Choice: McDonald’s
Readers’ Recommend: American GI Forum
Readers’ Refer: Runza, Spaghetti Works
Best BBQ Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Famous Dave’s
Readers’ Choice: Hartland BBQ
Readers’ Recommend: McKenna’s, Smoke Pit, Swine Dining
Readers’ Refer: Red Zone BBQ
Best Buffet
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: China Buffet
Readers’ Choice: Valentino’s
Readers’ Recommend: Old Country Buffet
Readers’ Refer: Ameristar Casino, Golden Corral, Horseshoe Casino
Best Burger Joint
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stella’s
Readers’ Choice: Five Guys
Readers’ Recommend: Dinker’s, Red Robin, Smash Burger
Readers’ Refer: Fuddrucker’s
Best Café/Diner
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Petrow’s
Readers’ Choice: Shirley’s Diner
Readers’ Recommend: 11-worth Café, Lisa’s Radial Café
Readers’ Refer,11-Worth Café, Farm House Café, Leo’s Diner
Best Chinese Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: China Buffet
Readers’ Choice: China Road
Readers’ Recommend: Golden Palace, J C Mandarin, Three Happiness Express
Readers’ Refer: Rice Bowl
Best Coffeeshop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Scooter’s
Readers’ Choice: Crane Coffee, Starbucks
Readers’ Recommend: Aroma’s, Caffeine Dreams
Readers’ Refer: Blue Line
Best Doughnut Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Krispy Kreme
Readers’ Choice: Pettit’s
Readers’ Recommend: Donut Professor, Donut Stop, Winchell’s
Readers’ Refer: LaMars Donuts
Best Greek Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Greek Islands
Readers’ Choice: Jim & Jenny’s, Katie’s Greek Restaurant
Readers’ Recommend: Feta’s, King Kong
Readers’ Refer: Amsterdam Falafel, Mediterranean Bistro, Victor’s
Best Ice Cream Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ted & Wally’s
Readers’ Choice: Cold Stone Creamery, Dairy Queen
Readers’ Recommend: eCreamery, Goodrich, Red Mango
Readers’ Refer: Maggie Moo’s
Best Italian Resaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lo Sole Mio
Readers’ Choice: Olive Garden, Vincenzo’s
Readers’ Recommend: Grisanti’s, Malara’s
Readers’ Refer: Nicola’s
Best Japanese Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kobe Steakhouse
Readers’ Choice: Blue Sushi, Hiro
Readers’ Recommend: Sakura Bana
Readers’ Refer: Genji Steakhouse, Mt. Fuji, Sushi Japan
Best Kid-Friendly (Not Kid-Focused) Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Red Robin
Readers’ Choice: Applebee’s
Readers’ Recommend: Spaghetti Works, Valentino’s
Readers’ Refer: Mama’s Pizza, Texas Roadhouse
Best Late Night Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Village Inn
Readers’ Choice: Taco Bell
Readers’ Recommend: Alverado’s Mexican Food, Blue Sushi, Old Chicago
Readers’ Refer: Amsterdam Falafel, Hiro
Best Local Food-Serving Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Grey Plume
Readers’ Choice: Dixie Quicks
Readers’ Refer: Lazlo’s, McFoster’s, Petrow’s
Best Mexican Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: La Mesa
Readers’ Choice: Hector’s
Readers’ Recommend: Fernando’s, Nettie’s
Readers’ Refer: Rivera’s, Roja
Best New Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ingredient
Readers’ Choice: Twin Peaks
Readers’ Recommend: Grey Plume, Sinful Burger
Readers’ Refer: Baja Grill, Cilantro’s, Crave
Best Nouveau Cuisine
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Grey Plume
Readers’ Choice: M’s Pub
Readers’ Recommend: La Buvette, Le Voltaire
Readers’ Recommend: Taste, V Mertz
Readers’ Refer: 360 at Harrah’s
Best Pizza Parlor
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Zio’s
Readers’ Choice: La Casa
Readers’ Recommend: Big Fred’s, Mama’s Pizza, Sam & Louie’s
Readers’ Refer: Pitch
Best Restaurant Specials
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Blue Sushi
Readers’ Choice: Applebee’s
Readers’ Recommend: Sam & Louie’s
Readers’ Refer: Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen, Kona Grill
Best Retail Deli Counter
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee
Readers’ Choice: Bag ‘N Save, Wohlner’s
Readers’ Recommend: Baker’s, Whole Foods, Spirit World
Best Retail Meat Counter
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Fareway
Readers’ Choice: Hy-Vee, Wohlner’s
Readers’ Recommend: Just Good Meats, Stoysich
Readers’ Refer: Bag ‘N Save, Whole Foods
Best Retail Produce Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee
Readers’ Choice: Whole Foods
Readers’ Recommend: Baker’s
Readers’ Refer: Bag ‘N Save, Fareway, Super Saver
Best Retail Wine Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee
Readers’ Choice: Brix
Readers’ Recommend: Spirit World, Trader Joe’s
Readers’ Refer: Baker’s, Urban Wine Company, Whole Foods
Best Steak House
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Texas Roadhouse
Readers’ Choice: The Drover
Readers’ Recommend: Gorat’s, Johnny’s
Readers’ Refer: Anthony’s, Outback Steakhouse, Piccolo Pete’s, Sullivan’s
Best Sweets Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Jones Bros. Cupcakes
Readers’ Choice: Hollywood Candy
Readers’ Recommend: Delice, Old Market Candy Shop
Readers’ Refer: Candyopolis, Cupcake Island, Wheatfield’s
Best Tapas/Small Portions
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Espana
Readers’ Choice: Lit Lounge
Readers’ Recommend: Taste
Readers’ Refer: Blue Sushi, Brix, Urban Wine Company
Best Tex-Mex
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Julio’s
Readers’ Choice: Stoke’s
Readers’ Recommend: La Mesa, Roja, Taco John’s, Fernando’s, Romeo’s
Best Thai Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Thai Spice
Readers’ Choice: Thai Pepper
Readers’ Recommend: Bangkok Cuisine, Taste of Thailand, Thai Kitchen
Best Vegetarian
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: McFoster’s Natural Kind Café
Readers’ Choice: Blue Planet
Readers’ Recommend: Amsterdam Falafel, Biaggi’s, Whole Foods
Readers’ Refer: Daily Grub
Best Wine Selection (Restaurant)
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Urban Wine Company
Readers’ Choice: Brix
Readers’ Recommend: Boiler Room, Sullivan’s, V Mertz
Readers’ Refer: Le Voltaire’s, M’s Pub, Mark’s Bistro