Feature

Best Eats

From the tastiest scoops to the splashiest influencers, here are your winners of the 2024 readers’ choice awards!

best frozen treat

Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream

Handcrafted with meticulous care and premium ingredients, each velvety scoop of Kelly Seidl’s eponymous ice cream bursts with rich flavor and heartfelt dedication. Timeless favorites keep even the pickiest licker happy, but it’s the monthly specials that bring guests screaming for more. With locations inside of Foxtail Coffee shops around town and a stand-alone location in Hamlin, Kelly’s commitment to community has made them a beloved local favorite.

Runner-Up: Dixie Cream Cafe

best chef & best restaurant

David Lampman
The Attic Door | Chef's Table

Winning Best Chef and Best Restaurant is no easy feat, but we have Chef David Lampman to thank for that. A man of few words, his food does all the talking. Each dish evokes emotion, leaving diners wanting to order the entire menu instead of just one item. His food creates lasting memories, resonating long after the meal concludes. David’s commitment to his craft is unwavering; he finds true fulfillment not in serving himself, but in the joy his food imparts to others. This depth of passion is rare and evident in every bite. In a world filled with inflated egos, Chef David Lampman is the real deal.

Best Chef Runner-Up: Ryan Freelove | Market to Table
Best Restaurant Runner-Up: Matthew’s Steakhouse

best thai

Thai Blossom

A tantalizing combination of predictable and inventive dishes, Thai Blossom is a perennial fave. Plus Patcheree Cravens is simply the nicest, most humble woman you’ll meet.

Runner-Up: Charm Thai & Sushi

best vibe

Pammie's Sammies

This rockin’ little sandwich shop has stolen our hearts. With a curated classic rock playlist, quirky decor, and mouthwatering sandwiches, it’s love at first bite.

Runner-Up: The Attic Door

best vegetarian

Cilantro Indian Cuisine

From aromatic curries to tantalizing biryanis, Cilantro delights omnivores and vegetarians alike. Locals rave about the lightly spiced samosa chaat and baingan bharta (eggplant).

Runner-Up: Fresh Kitchen

best instagram-worthy eats

Mangoni

Gorgeously crafted cocktails. Sublimely styled boards. Epic interiors and cozy nooks. #doitforthegram.

Runner-Up: Toastique

best italian

Bella Italia

This local gem delivers Italian excellence. Expect classics like bolognese, rollatini, and chicken parmesan, plus inventive delights like cheese wheel pasta.

Runner-Up: Cariera’s Fresh Italian

best mexican

Servando's

Three words: quantity, quality, and service. That’s what Servando’s has been dishing up for nearly a quarter century. Even Yelp agrees: “It never disappoints.”

Runner-Up: Ocoee Taco Company

best server

Devin Rogers | Matthew's Steakhouse

Eric is an anomaly. He’s not afraid of obscure spirits and blends them beautifully. If you want to drink outside the box, he’s your guy!

Runner-Up: Tracy Wiu | Pilar’s Martini & Loft

best bakery

Gingers Baking Co

What began as a hobby bloomed into WG’s favorite bake shop, with scratch-made, fresh-baked whoopie pies that are already legendary.

Runner-Up: Beneficial Breads

best coffee spot

Axum Coffee

The “Cheers” of coffee shops also happens to be the perfect place to savor seriously good, house-roasted coffee. Plus, proceeds benefit local causes, supporting their mission to “brew goodness together.”

Runner-Up: Foxtail Coffee

best breakfast

Rosallie Le French Cafe

What’s not to love about a charming bistro where you can channel your inner Emily in Paris? Fresh croissant, creme brûlée latte, Quiche Lorraine—oui, oui!

Runner-Up: Dixie Cream Cafe

best bartender

Eric Spears | The Tasting Room

Eric is an anomaly. He’s not afraid of obscure spirits and blends them beautifully. If you want to drink outside the box, he’s your guy!

Runner-Up: Tracy Wiu | Pilar’s Martini & Loft

best brewery

Crooked Can

A serious powerhouse in the craft beer scene. Go for the diverse beer selection, stay for the people watching.

Runner-Up: Home State Brewing

best breakfast

Rosallie Le French Cafe

What’s not to love about a charming bistro where you can channel your inner Emily in Paris? Fresh croissant, creme brûlée latte, Quiche Lorraine—oui, oui!

Runner-Up: Dixie Cream Cafe

best bartender

Eric Spears | The Tasting Room

Eric is an anomaly. He’s not afraid of obscure spirits and blends them beautifully. If you want to drink outside the box, he’s your guy!

Runner-Up: Tracy Wiu | Pilar’s Martini & Loft

best brewery

Crooked Can

A serious powerhouse in the craft beer scene. Go for the diverse beer selection, stay for the people watching.

Runner-Up: Home State Brewing

best burger

Beth's Burger Bar

What began as a hobby bloomed into WG’s favorite bake shop, with scratch-made, fresh-baked whoopie pies that are already legendary.

Runner-Up: Beneficial Breads

best deli

The Deli Downtown

Piling meat and cheese on crusty bread isn’t a new concept, but The Deli Downtown just does it better. Yes, there’s roast beef, pastrami, and corned beef, but the chicken salad is worthy of its cult-like following.

Runner-Up: Pammie’s Sammies

best juice/smoothie bar

Press'd Juice Bar | Plant Street Market

Great-tasting, cold-pressed juice along with smoothies, acai bowls, wraps, and more—consider this your body’s reset button.

Runner-Up: Tru Nature Juice Bar

best burger

Beth's Burger Bar

What began as a hobby bloomed into WG’s favorite bake shop, with scratch-made, fresh-baked whoopie pies that are already legendary.

Runner-Up: Beneficial Breads

best deli

The Deli Downtown

Piling meat and cheese on crusty bread isn’t a new concept, but The Deli Downtown just does it better. Yes, there’s roast beef, pastrami, and corned beef, but the chicken salad is worthy of its cult-like following.

Runner-Up: Pammie’s Sammies

best juice/smoothie bar

Press'd Juice Bar | Plant Street Market

Great-tasting, cold-pressed juice along with smoothies, acai bowls, wraps, and more—consider this your body’s reset button.

Runner-Up: Tru Nature Juice Bar

best pizza

Michael's Ali | Plant Street Market

Best known for its coal-fired pizzas, cooked at 800 degrees, giving the crust just the right amount of crispy char. But locals in the know say, don’t skimp on the Stromboli or Meatball Sandwich.

Runner-Up: Joe’s Pizza

best wings

Wings of Winter Garden

When you’ve been frying up crispy, naked wings and fries for more than 30 years, you know you’re doing something right. Pro Tip: Hot garlic. It’s the best seller for a reason.

Runner-Up: Daniel’s Cheesesteak House

best tea spot

The Spice & Tea Exchange

Enjoy a refreshing sip of iced tea, then dive into a world of spice and tea varieties. With so many options, you’re bound to find your creativi-tea.

Runner-Up: Sweet Land Cake & Tea

best pizza

Michael's Ali | Plant Street Market

Best known for its coal-fired pizzas, cooked at 800 degrees, giving the crust just the right amount of crispy char. But locals in the know say, don’t skimp on the Stromboli or Meatball Sandwich.

Runner-Up: Joe’s Pizza

best wings

Wings of Winter Garden

When you’ve been frying up crispy, naked wings and fries for more than 30 years, you know you’re doing something right. Pro Tip: Hot garlic. It’s the best seller for a reason.

Runner-Up: Daniel’s Cheesesteak House

best tea spot

The Spice & Tea Exchange

Enjoy a refreshing sip of iced tea, then dive into a world of spice and tea varieties. With so many options, you’re bound to find your creativi-tea.

Runner-Up: Sweet Land Cake & Tea

Putting Your Money
Where Our Mag Is

$10,000 for local charities!

To everyone who voted, shared, and rallied behind our second annual Readers Choice Awards—thank you! Your enthusiasm helped spotlight the people and places that make this community shine.

We’re also incredibly grateful to those who donated, purchased event tickets, or sponsored this year’s Award Gala celebration at Pilar’s. Whether it was generosity, marketing savvy, or a deep love for your community—you helped raise $10,000 for two incredible local causes.

Matthew’s Hope

Matthew’s Hope fosters the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the homeless men, women, and children of our community by meeting basic needs, developing skills, and restoring dignity and independence.

Funds Raised: $5,000
To Support: matthewshopeministries.org

Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation

Most cancer foundations focus on the future; their funds go to national-level research, aimed at one day finding a cure. What makes GCCF unique is that it focuses on reaching the people fighting cancer right here, right now.

Offering financial aid such as quality-of-life assistance, scholarships, and screening/test grants, as well as providing support, resources, education, and comfort, GCCF lessens the daily challenges encountered by patients and their loved ones. And as a volunteer-run organization, GCCF can ensure that 100% of funds raised go directly to the people who need it most.

Funds Raised: $5,000
To Support: gccf.us

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