BEST DINING
Best Bakery
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Bakery
Readers’ Choice: Wheatfield’s, Panera
Readers’ Recommend: Jones Bros. Cupcakes, Le Quartier, The Cake Gallery
Best BBQ
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Famous Dave’s
Readers’ Choice: Hartland BBQ
Readers’ Recommend: McKenna’s, Smoke Pit, Swine Dining
Readers’ Refer: Jim’s Rib Heaven
Best Value Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Cheddar’s
Readers’ Refer: Texas Roadhouse, McDonald’s, Applebee’s, Golden Corral, Village Inn
Best Buffet
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: China Buffet
Readers’ Choice: Golden Corral, Valentino’s
Readers’ Recommend: Old Country Buffet, Hu Hot
Readers’ Refer: A+ Buffet and Mongolian Grill, Harrah’s
Best Burger Joint
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stella’s
Readers’ Choice: Dinker’s
Readers’ Recommend: 5 Guys Burgers and Fries, Louie M’s Burger Lust
Readers’ Refer: Goldberg’s, Red Robin
Best Café
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: 11-Worth Cafe
Readers’ Choice: Lisa’s Radial Café, Petrow’s
Readers’ Recommend: Shirley’s Diner, Leo’s Diner, Vidlack’s Brookside Café
Best Caterer
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hap Abraham Catering, Hy-Vee (tie)
Readers’ Choice: Brandeis Catering, Catering Creations
Readers’ Recommend: Eddie’s, Attitude on Food
Best Chinese
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Three Happiness Express
Readers’ Choice: China Buffet
Readers’ Recommend: JC Mandarin, PF Chang’s, Golden Palace
Readers’ Refer: China Road, Hiro 88, King Fong
Best Coffee shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Scooter’s
Readers’ Choice: Starbuck’s, Crane Coffee
Readers’ Recommend: Caffeine Dreams, Panera, Blue Line Coffee Shop
Best Doughnut
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kripsy Kreme
Readers’ Choice: Pettit’s Bakery, Winchell’s
Readers’ Recommend: The Donut Stop, Dunkin’ Donuts, Lamar’s
Best Greek Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Greek Islands
Readers’ Choice: Katie’s, Jim & Jennie’s
Readers’ Recommend: Feta’s, King Kong
Readers’ Refer: Legacy Gyro
Best Ice Cream Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ted & Wally’s
Readers’ Choice: E Creamery, Cold Stone Creamery
Readers’ Recommend: Dairy Queen, Goodrich
Readers’ Refer: Zesto’s
Best Italian Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Le Sole Mio
Readers’ Recommend: Olive Garden, Malara’s Italian Restaurant, Grisanti’s
Readers’ Refer: Spezia, Nicola’s
Best Japanese Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hiro 88
Readers’ Choice: Kobe Steakhouse, Blue Sushi
Readers’ Recommend: Sakura Bana, Sushi Japan, House of Genji
Best Kid-Friendly (Not Kid Focused)
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Applebee’s
Readers’ Choice: Red Robin, Texas Roadhouse
Readers’ Recommend: Spaghetti Works, Village Inn, Valentino’s
Best Late Night Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Village Inn
Readers’ Choice: Applebee’s, Kona Grill
Readers’ Recommend: Local Motive Food Truck, Taco Bell
Readers’ Refer: Amsterdam Café, Baxter’s, M’s Pub
Best Local Food-Serving Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Grey Plume
Readers’ Choice: Jams, Block 16
Readers’ Recommend: Lot 2
Readers’ Refer: Boiler Room, Bronco’s, J Coco, M’s Pub, Piccolo’s, Summer Kitchen Café, Upstream
Best Mexican Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: La Mesa
Readers’ Choice: Hector’s, Julio’s
Readers’ Recommend: Rivera’s, Fernando’s
Readers’ Refer: Cilantro’s, Romeo’s
Best New Restaurant
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Plank
Readers’ Choice: Salt 88, Baxter’s
Readers’ Recommend: J’s on Jackson, Lot 2, Cheddar’s
Best Nouveau Cuisine
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Grey Plume
Readers’ Choice: Lot 2, Jam’s
Readers’ Recommend: J Coco, M’s Pub, Blue sushi
Best Organic Grocery Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Whole Foods
Readers’ Choice: Trader Joe’s
Readers’ Recommend: Hy-Vee, Natural Grocers
Readers’ Refer: Baker’s, Jane’s Health Market, No Name Nutrition Markets
Best Pizza Parlor
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Zio’s
Readers’ Choice: Mama’s Pizza, La Casa
Readers’ Recommend: Big Fred’s, Pitch, Dante Pizzeria
Best Retail Deli Counter
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee
Readers’ Recommend: Wohlner’s, Spirit World, Whole Foods
Readers’ Refer: Baker’s, Bag N Save, Fareway
Best Retail Meat Counter
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Fareway
Readers’ Choice: Hy Vee
Readers’ Recommend: Wohlner’s, Just Good Meat, Stoyisch
Readers’ Refer: Whole Foods
Best Produce Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee,
Readers’ Choice: Whole Foods, Baker’s
Readers’ Recommend: Fareway, Trader Joe’s
Readers’ Refer: Bag ‘N Save, Costco, Super Target, Wal-Mart, Wohlner’s
Best Retail Wine Selection
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brix
Readers’ Choice: Hy-Vee, Spirit World
Readers’ Recommend: The Winery, Trader Joe’s
Readers’ Refer: Baker’s, Wine Styles
Best Restaurant Menu Specials
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kona Grill
Readers’ Choice: Applebee’s, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, M’s Pub
Readers’ Recommend: Bonefish Grill, Hiro 88, Jam’s, Wheatfield’s
Best Restaurant Wine
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brix
Readers’ Recommend: M’s Pub, Boiler Room, Stokes, V. Mertz
Readers’ Refer: Fleming’s, J’s on Jackson, La Buevette, Mahogany, Pitch Pizzeria, Spezia’s
Best Steakhouse
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Drover
Readers’ Choice: Texas Roadhouse, Anthony’s
Readers’ Recommend: Piccolo Pete’s, Gorat’s, Mahogany’s
Best Sweets Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hollywood Candy
Readers’ Choice: Jones Bros. Cupcakes
Readers’ Recommend: Cupcake Island, Delice European Bakery, Candy Wrappers
Readers’ Refer: Bliss Bakery, Eileen’s cookies, The Cordial Cherry
Best Tapas/Small Portions
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Espana
Readers’ Refer: Taste, Urban Wine Company, Cantina Laredo, French Bulldog
Best Tex-Mex
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Julio’s
Readers’ Recommend: Stoke’s, Roja Mexican Grill West, Romeo’s
Readers’ Refer: La Mesa, Taco John’s
Best Thai
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Thai Spice
Readers’ Choice: Mai Tai, Thai Pepper
Readers’ Recommend: Bangkok Cafe, Taste of Thailand, Thai Kitchen
Best Vegetarian
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: McFoster’s Natural Kind
Readers’ Choice: Blue Planet
Readers’ Refer: Block 16, Ingredient, Greengo Coffee & Deli
Best Yogurt Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Red Mango
Readers’ Choice: Orange Leaf, TCBY
Readers’ Recommend: Cherry Berry
Readers’ Refer: Scooter’s, Peach Wave, Yo Yo Berri