BEST OF SYRACUSE 2012 WINNERS!

For the first time, we went wild and conducted all of the balloting for our annual readers’ poll online. While it probably meant a deficit for the month of August and part of September for the U.S. Postal Service, which didn’t sell postage for the hundreds of ballots, it sure made compiling the winners easier for staff and fairer for all the merchants out there. 

No ballot stuffing was possible this year.

That said, within the next 11 pages, you will find the results of the balloting, as well as our annual Insiders Guide, in which your faithful editors look for and write about the quirky, the unusual, the newsy items of the day that just don’t seem to fit anywhere else in the paper. We love to hear from our readers, so if you have anything to contribute for next year, please let us know at: editorial@syracusenewtimes.com. Prize-winners will be announced in the Oct. 3 to 10 issue.

Food & Drink

Best Italian Restaurant

Dominick’s

1370 Burnet Ave.

Best Indian Restaurant

Dosa Grill

4467 E. Genesee St., DeWitt

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

King David’s

129 Marshall St.

317 Towne Drive (Towne Center), Fayetteville

Best Thai Restaurant

Erawan

2724 Erie Blvd. E.

Best Steakhouse

Delmonico’s

2950 Erie Blvd. E.

Best Asian Restaurant

Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse

302 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant

Strong Hearts Café

719 E. Genesee St.

Best Barbecue

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

246 W. Willow St. 

Best Burger

Blarney Stone

314 Avery Ave.

Best Pizza

Patsy’s Pizza

1205 Erie Blvd. W.

Best Wings

Original Italian Pizza

several area locations

Best Ice Cream

Gannons Isle

1525 Valley Drive

Best Gelato

Geddes Bakery

421 S. Main St., North Syracuse

Best Fish Fry

Doug’s Fish Fry

8 Jordan St., Skaneateles

Best Food Stand

Street Eats

196 S. Geddes St.

Best Sandwich Shop

Brooklyn Pickle

2222 Burnet Ave.; 1600 W. Genesee St.

Best Draft Beer Selection

The Blue Tusk

165 Walton St.

Best Local Brew

Syracuse Pale Ale

Middle Ages Brewing Company, 

120 Wilkinson St.

Best Local Wine

Red Cat

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, 5712 Route 414, Hector

Best Java

Cafe Kubal

several area locations

Best Patio

The Retreat

302 Vine St., Liverpool

Best Bar

The Blue Tusk

165 Walton St.

Best Sushi

Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse

302 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool

Best Restaurant Appetizer

Bread with Tomato Oil

Pastabilities, 311 S. Franklin St.

Best Bakery

Evil Treats Bakery

evil-treats.com

Best Breakfast Spot

Stella’s Diner

110 Wolf St. 

Best Local Restaurant

That’s Appeared on National TV

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

246 W. Walton St.

Best Late Night Munchies Spot

Ponchito’s Taqueria

3800 New Court Ave.; 410 W. Seneca Turnpike

Best Creative Menu

Gentile’s

313 N. Geddes St.

Best Place to Eat When Someone Else is Paying

Lemon Grass

238 W. Jefferson St. 

Arts & Entertainment

Best Club Deejay

DJ Seedz

Best Singer/Songwriter

Just Joe Altier

Best Instrumentalist

Loren Barrigar

Best Karaoke Venue

Singers Karaoke Club

1345 Milton Ave.

Best Free Concert Series

Chevrolet Court

State Fairgrounds

Best Bluegrass Band

Boots n’ Shorts

Best Blues Band

Los Blancos

Best Country Band

Custom Taylor Band

Best Jazz Band

ESP

Best Hip-Hop 

Sophistafunk

Best Rock Group

Under the Gun

Best Alternative Group

The Scarlet Ending

Best Female Vocalist

Letizia

Best Male Vocalist

Just Joe Altier

Best Venue for Live Music

The Westcott Theater

524 Westcott St.

Best Museum

Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology

500 S. Franklin St.

Best Local Author

Bruce Coville

Going Shopping

Best Used Bookstore

Books and Melodies

2600 James St.

Best Musical Instrument Store

Guitar Center

3150 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt

Best Hip Clothing Store

Boom Babies

489 Westcott St.

Best Consignment Shop

EcoChic Boutique

4314 E. Genesee St., DeWitt

Best Gift Shop

Eureka Crafts

210 Walton St.

Best Neighborhood Market

Nichols Supermarket

327 First St., Liverpool 

Best Day Spa

Mirbeau Inn & Spa

851 W. Genesee Street Road, Skaneateles

Best Smoke Shop

Rocky’s News Stand

447 N. Salina St.

Best Local Pet Store

Ack’s Exotic Pets

8081 Brewerton Road (Route 11), Cicero

Sports & Leisure

Best Sports Venue

Carrier Dome 

900 Irving Ave.

Best Place to Learn to Ski

Labrador 

6935 Route 91, Truxton

Best Ice Skating

Clinton Square

Best Pool Hall

Salt City Billiards 

3707 Brewerton Road (Route 11), 

North Syracuse

Best Bowling Alley

Flamingo Bowl 

7239 Oswego Road (Route 57), Liverpool

Best Golf Course

Green Lakes Golf Course 

7900 Green Lakes Road, Fayetteville 

Best Organized Run/Walk

Mountain Goat Run

mountaingoatrun.com

City Life

Best Commercial Building Project

Destiny USA

Best Local Hot Spot

The Blue Tusk

165 Walton St.

Best Ethnic Festival

Irish Fest

Best Music Festival

M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest

Best Downtown Hotel

Jefferson Clinton

416 S. Clinton St.

Best Field Days

Valley Field Days

Best Neighborhood

Westcott

Etc.

Best Public Place for Your Dog to Play

Wegmans Good Dog Park

49 Cold Springs Trail, Liverpool

Best Tattoo/Piercing Shop

Halo Tattoo

171 Marshall St.; 7629 Oswego Road (Route 57), Liverpool

Best Two-Wheeled Vehicle Shop

Mello Velo

550 Westcott St.

Best Wi-Fi Spot

Freedom of Espresso

several area locations

Best Trivia Night

Smart Ass Trivia @ Wise Guys

201 S. Salina St.

Best Community Theater Company

Rarely Done Productions 

Love & Sex

Best LGBT Bar

Rain

103 N. Geddes St.

Best Hook-Up Joint

Singers Karaoke Club

1345 Milton Ave.

Best Outdoor Make out Spot

Onondaga Lake Park

Liverpool 

Best Spot for Lunch for Two

Pastabilities

311 S. Franklin St.

Best Romantic Getaway

Mirbeau Inn & Spa

851 W. Genesee Street Road, Skaneateles

Best Lingerie Shop

Fantasy Fashions

103 Third St., Liverpool

Best Adult Club

Paradise Found

134 Headson Drive

The Media

Best Blog

Syracuse Guru

syracuseguru.com

Best TV Personality

Lisa Spitz

WSTM-Channel 3

Best Radio Personality

“The Show” 

Hunter and Josh, WAQX-FM 95.7 (95X)