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
Your votes matter
Thank you for participating in our inaugural readers’ choice awards! Each of these honorees illustrate the truly diverse talent and excellence within our community. A few categories were decided by just one or two votes, so we mean it when we say that every vote counted!
We are especially grateful to anyone who contributed extra votes to help us raise $4,000 for two local charities.
Lift Disability Network
Disability has a far-reaching impact — not just on the individual, but also on the family that supports them. Due to their unique challenges and limitations, disability families are more likely to experience loneliness, poverty, and helplessness.
Lift Disability Network creates opportunities for these families to connect to one another, building new support systems and a welcoming community. Throughout the year, Lift provides camps, community events and family services that elevate life for families and individuals impacted by disability.
Funds Raised: $2,000To Support: liftdisability.net
Polka Dogz Pet Rescue
Polka Dogz specializes in second chances. Its mission is to rescue senior, disabled, neglected, and abandoned dogs, which are less likely to be adopted in ordinary shelters, and provide them with shelter, medical care, and love that they may have never gotten before.
Polka Dogz is 100% donor-supported and needs both funds and donations of daily-use items such as dog food, treats, toys, and cleaning supplies. Above all else, their goal is to find forever homes for their animals, but volunteers and foster home applicants are just as vital to their success.
Funds Raised: $2,000To Support: polkadogz.org
