The Best of Lawrence 2005

Thanks for all the votes!

More than 800 people cast ballots for the Best of Lawrence 2005. The top-three vote-getters in 50 of the 53 categories listed on the ballot are recognized in this section. Categories that didn't have at least 100 votes among the top three vote-getters were not included. Also, ballots that weren't 50 percent filled out did not qualify. Of the ballots submitted, 70 percent were submitted online and 30 percent were delivered or mailed.

Special thanks to everyone that helped tabulate ballots: Sherry Braun, Alex Pierrelee, Kylie Hatfield and Debi Hatfield. Additional thanks to photographers Jason Dailey and Richard Daley.

And now for the results...

Best Antique Shop

1st place: The Antique Mall of Lawerence
2nd place: Black-Eyed Susans
3rd place: Amy's Attic

Best Appetizer

1st place: Free State Brewing Company
2nd place: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
3rd place: Chili's Grill & Bar

Best Art Gallery

1st place: The Olive Gallery and Art Supply
2nd place: Spencer Museum of Art
3rd place: Lawrence Arts Center

Best Asian Food

1st place: Zen Zero
2nd place: The Jade Garden
3rd place: Plum Tree

Best Barber Shop

1st place: Downtown Barber
2nd place: Amyx Barber Shop
3rd place: Z's Cosmetology

Best BBQ

1st place: Vermont Street BBQ
2nd place: Bigg's Barbeque
3rd place: Buffalo Bob's Smokehouse

Best Beer Selection

1st place: Free State Brewing Company
2nd place: Old Chicago
3rd place: Phoggy Dogl

Best Bike Shop

1st place: Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop

Best Bookstore

Best Breakfast

1st place: First Watch Restaurant
2nd place: Milton's
3rd place: Perkins Restaurant

Best Burrito

1st place: Chipotle
2nd place: The Burrito King
3rd place: El Mezcal

Best Car Wash

1st place: Auto Plaza Car Wash
Fast Eddy's
Rock Chalk Car Wash

Best Cup of Coffee

1st place: La Prima Tazza
2nd place: Starbucks
3rd place: Z's Divine Espresso

Best Dessert

1st place: Wheatfields Bakery
2nd place: Free State Brewing Company
3rd place: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar

Best Dinner

1st place: Free State Brewing Company
2nd place: Teller's
3rd place: Longhorn Steak House

Best Donut

1st place: Joe's Bakery
2nd place: Munchers Bakery
3rd place: Dunkin' Donuts

Best Fast Food

1st place: McDonalds
2nd place: Wendy's
3rd place: Sonic Drive In

Best Flower Shop

1st place: Owens Flower Shop
2nd place: Englewood Florist
3rd place: Flowerama

Best French Fries

1st place: McDonalds
2nd place: Free State Brewing Company
3rd place: Buffalo Bob's Smokehouse

Best Place To Buy Fresh Meat

1st place: Hy-Vee
2nd place: Community Mercantile
3rd place: Dillon's

Best Place to Buy Fresh Veggies

1st place: Farmer's Market
2nd place: Community Mercantile
3rd place: Hy-Vee

Best Convenience Store

1st place: Kwik Shop
2nd place: Zarco
3rd place: Jayhawk Food Mart

Best Grocery Store

1st place: Hy-Vee
2nd place: Dillon's
3rd place: Checkers Foods

Best Hair Salon

1st place: Z's Cosmetology
2nd place: Headmasters
3rd place: Images

Best Historic Site

1st place: The Eldridge Hotel
2nd place: Watkins Museum
3rd place: Allen Field House

Best Ice Cream

1st place: Sylas and Maddy's Homemade Ice Cream
2nd place: Sheridan's Frozen Custard
3rd place: Baskin Robbins

Best Live Music Venue

1st place: The Bottleneck
2nd place: Liberty Hall
3rd place: The Jazzhaus

Best Lunch

1st place: Free State Brewing Company
2nd place: La Parilla
3rd place: Wheatfields Bakery

Best Margarita

1st place: El Mezcal
2nd place: On The Border
3rd place: Salty Iguana Mexican Restaurant

Best New Restaurant

1st place: Local Burger

Best Pharmacy

1st place: Walgreens Pharmacy
2nd place: Round Corner Drug Co.

Best Pizza

1st place: Rudy's Pizzeria
2nd place: Papa Keno's Pizzeria
3rd place: Pizza Shuttle

Best Place to Dance

1st place: Granada
2nd place: Cadillac Ranch
3rd place: Liquid

Best Place to Take Your Dog

1st place: Clinton Lake Dog Park
2nd place: South Park
3rd place: KU Campus

Best Restaurant For Kids

1st place: McDonalds
2nd place: Cici's Pizza
3rd place: Free State Brewing Company

Best Sandwich

1st place: Yello Sub
2nd place: Jimmy John's
3rd place: Free State Brewing Company

Best Service

1st place: Free State Brewing Company
2nd place: Perkins Restaurant
3rd place: Marisco's Restaurant

Best Smoking Area

Best Smoothie

1st place: Juice Stop
2nd place: Sonic Drive In
3rd place: Community Mercantile

Best Sports Bar

1st place: JB Stout's Sports Bar & Grill
2nd place: Henry T's Bar & Grill
3rd place: Phoggy Dog

Best Steak

1st place: Hereford House
2nd place: Longhorn Steakhouse
3rd place: Don's Steak House

Best Sushi

1st place: Wa
2nd place: Kokoro
3rd place: Jade Mongolian Barbeque

Best Taco

1st place: Taco John's
2nd place: El Mezcal
3rd place: La Parilla

Best Tattoo Studio

1st place: Big Daddy Cadillac

Best Thrift Store

1st place: Arizona Trading Company
2nd place: Goodwill
3rd place: Wildman Vintage

Best Used CDs/Records

1st place: Love Garden Sounds
2nd place: Hastings
3rd place: Kief's Downtown Music

Best Vegetarian Food

1st place: Zen Zero
2nd place: Free State Brewing Company
3rd place: La Parrilla

Best Video Store

1st place: Hastings
2nd place: Liberty Hall
3rd place: Blockbuster

El Paso Hot Button / Callupsie :: This one-man band from Norman alternately recalls the White Stripes and artier acts like Enon, and though he's more about cool songs than flashy performances, he manages some nifty jump tricks on stage. ... More info

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