Best of Nashville 2003

FOOD & DRINK

Best bagel

1. Alpine Bagel Co.

2. Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery

3. Star Bagel Co.

Best cheeseburger

1. Rotier’s Restaurant

2. Fat Mo’s Burgers

3. Brown’s Diner

Best pizza (chain)

1. Papa John’s Pizza

2. Pizza Hut

3. Domino’s Pizza

Best pizza (non-chain)

1. Pizza Perfect

2. DaVinci’s Gourmet Pizza

3. MafiaOza’s

Best catfish

1. Uncle Bud’s Catfish

2. The Catfish House

3. Cock of the Walk

Best barbeque

1. Whitt’s Barbecue

2. Corky’s Bar-B-Q

3. Jack’s Bar-B-Que

Best ribs

1. Calhoun’s

2. Famous Dave’s

3. Corky’s Bar-B-Q

Best hot wings

1. Hooters of Nashville

2. Mojo Grill

3. Buffalo Wild Wings

Best hot chicken

1. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack

2. HotChickens.com

3. Mr. Boo’s Hot Chicken

Best sub sandwich

1. Jersey Mike’s

2. Subway

3. Quizno’s Classic Subs

Best delicatessen

1. Noshville Delicatessen

2. Goldie’s Deli

3. Phillip’s Delicatessen

Best place to buy bread

1. Provence Breads & Cafe

2. Bread & Co.

3. Atlanta Bread Co.

Best milk shake

1. Elliston Place Soda Shop

2. Rotier’s Restaurant

3. Steak ’N Shake

Best dessert

1. Sunset Grill

2. The Melting Pot

3. Provence Breads & Cafe

Best bakery

1. Becker’s Bakery

2. Provence Breads & Cafe

3. Bread & Co.

Best place to buy produce

1. Farmers Market

2. The Produce Place

3. Wild Oats Natural Marketplace

Best health food store

1. Wild Oats Natural Markteplace

2. The Turnip Truck Natural Market

3. General Nutrition Centers

Best specialty/gourmet food store

1. The Corner Market

2. Wild Oats Natural Marketplace

3. Harris Teeter Supermarket

Best restaurant in Brentwood/Franklin

1. Saffire Restaurant

2. J. Alexander’s

3. Wild Iris Cafe

Best restaurant in Hendersonville / Goodlettsville

1. Chef’s Market Café & Take Away

2. Black-eyed Pea

3. The Shack

Best restaurant in Murfreesboro

1. Demos’ Steak & Spaghetti House

2. Toot’s Restaurant

3. Marina’s on the Square

Best restaurant in Nashville

1. Zola

2. The Acorn

3. Park Cafe

Best Chinese restaurant

1. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

2. Chinatown Restaurant

3. Golden Dragon Restaurant

Best Greek/Middle Eastern restaurant

1. Mediterranean Cuisine

2. Tabouli’s

3. Kebab Gyros

Best Italian restaurant

1. Basante’s

2. Amerigo

3. Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Best Japanese restaurant

1. Kobe Steaks Japanese Restaurant

2. Goten Japanese Restaurant

3. Shintomi Japanese Restaurant

Best Mexican restaurant

1. Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant

2. La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant

3. La Paz Restaurante & Cantina

Best Indian restaurant

1. Shalimar Restaurant

2. Cuisine of India

3. Sitar Indian Restaurant

Best Thai restaurant

1. Royal Thai Restaurant

2. Siam Cuisine

3. Orchid Thai Cuisine

Best new restaurant (opened since Jan. 2002)

1. The Acorn

2. Chapel Bistro

3. MafiaOza’s

Best outdoor seating in a restaurant

1. Rio Bravo Fresh Mex

2. The Acorn

3. Blue Moon Waterfront Cafe

Best (most original) menu

1. Zola

2. Bound’ry Restaurant

3. mAmbu

Best wait staff with personality

1. The Acorn

2. Famous Dave’s

3. Noshville Delicatessen

Best chef

1. Debra Paquette of Zola

2. Margot McCormack of Margot’s

3. Peter D’Andrea of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Best caterer

1. The Clean Plate Club

2. Famous Dave’s

3. TomKats

Best seafood (non-chain)

1. Atlantis

2. Florida Seafood Kitchen

3. Cascades Restaurant at Opryland Hotel

Best steakhouse

1. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

2. Morton’s of Chicago— The Steakhouse

3. Outback Steakhouse

Best tapas restaurant

1. Mirror Restaurant

2. Bound’ry Restaurant

3. Zola

Best fusion restaurant

1. Virago

2. mAmbu

3. Bound’ry Restaurant

Best sushi bar

1. Ken’s Japanese Restaurant

2. Virago

3. Shintomi

Best vegetarian menu

1. Grins

2. Wild Oats Natural Marketplace

3. Calypso Cafe

Best meat-and-three

1. Arnold’s Country Kitchen

2. Swett’s Restaurant

3. Sylvan Park Restaurant

Best all you can eat deal

1. Shoney’s Restaurant

2. Ryan’s Family Steakhouse

3. Monell’s

Best breakfast

1. Pancake Pantry

2. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

3. Noshville Delicatessen

Best Sunday brunch

1. Le Peep

2. Tin Angel Restaurant

3. Red Wagon Cafe

Best place for a power lunch

1. Palm Restaurant

2. Sunset Grill

3. Houston’s Restaurant

Best place for a romantic dinner

1. The Melting Pot

2. Zola

3. Park Place Cafe

Best late night eats

1. Sunset Grill

2. Krystal

3. Cafe Coco

Best tourist trap restaurant

1. Hard Rock Cafe

2. Wildhorse Saloon

3. Pancake Pantry

Best takeout

1. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

2. Calypso Cafe

3. Famous Dave’s

Best place to eat when someone else is buying

1. Palm Restaurant

2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

3. Morton’s of Chicago—The Steakhouse

Best (non-chain) restaurant to take an OUT-of-town guest

1. Bound’ry Restaurant

2. Sunset Grill

3. The Acorn

Best restaurant with a view

1. Sole Mio

2. Blue Moon Waterfront Cafe

3. The Acorn

Best restaurant/bar to lay low

1. South Street Original Crab Shack & Authentic Dive Bar

2. Alley Cat Lounge

3. The Slow Bar

Best bar to people-watch

1. Bound’ry Restaurant

2. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

3. The Trace Restaurant

Best bar that makes you feel like you’re not in Nashville

1. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

2. Bound’ry Restaurant

3. The Acorn

Best wine list in a restaurant

1. Sunset Grill

2. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

3. The Wild Boar Restaurant

Best bartender

1. Josiah Corbin of The Acorn

2. Veta Cicolello of Margot

3. Loy Carney of Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

Best coffeehouse

1. Fido

2. Starbucks Coffee

3. Bongo Java

Best neighborhood pub

1. McCabe’s Pub

2. Corner Pub

3. The Villager Tavern

Best brew pub

1. Boscos Nashville Brewing Company

2. Blackstone Restaurant & Brewery

3. Market Street Brewery & Public House

Best place to buy a keg

1. Frugal MacDoogal’s Beer Warehouse

2. J & J’s Market & Cafe

3. J. Barleycorn’s Beverage Barn

Best dive bar

1. Springwater

2. The Slow Bar

3. The Villager Tavern

Best sports bar

1. Sam’s Sports Bar & Grill

2. Bailey’s Sports Grille

3. Two Doors Down Sports Bar & Grill

Best Happy Hour

1. Chili’s Grill Bar

2. Atlantis

3. The Mercy Lounge

Best selection of beers on tap

1. The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

2. The Beer Sellar

3. Broadway Brewhouse

Best margarita

1. Rio Bravo Fresh Mex

2. Rose Pepper Cantina

3. Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant

Best martini

1. Mirror Restaurant

2. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

3. Bound’ry Restaurant

Best knowledgeable service (in a wine/liquor store)

1. The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills

2. Nashville Wine & Spirits

3. Frugal MacDoogal’s Liquor Warehouse

ENTERTAINMENT

Best new bar/club (opened since Jan. 2002)

1. The Mercy Lounge

2. Two Doors Down Sports Bar & Grill

3. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

Best country-western club

1. Wildhorse Saloon

2. Robert’s Western Wear

3. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

Best pick-up bar

1. Bound’ry Restaurant

2. The Tin Roof

3. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

Best gay bar

1. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

2. Connection

3. The Gas Lite Lounge

Best lesbian bar

1. Lipstick Lounge

2. Jaded Mary’s

3. Tribe Restaurant and Night Club

Best strip club

1. Christie’s Cabaret

2. Ken’s Gold Club

3. Deja Vu

Best after-hours club

1. Faded

2. eXceSs

3. Kiss

Best jukebox

1. The Slow Bar

2. The Beer Sellar

3. The Board Room

Best karaoke bar

1. Lonnie’s Karaoke Club

2. Lipstick Lounge

3. Ken’s Karaoke Box

Best place to throw darts

1. The Villager Tavern

2. Bailey’s Sports Grille

3. Mulligan’s Pub & Restaurant

Best place to shoot pool

1. Buffalo Billiards

2. Bailey’s Sports Grille

3. George’s Elliston Place Pool Hall

Best place to dance

1. Connection

2. Johny Jackson’s Soul Satisfaction

3. Wildhorse Saloon

Best place to get sober

1. Waffle House

2. Home

3. Jail

Best place to take an out of town guest

1. Gaylord Opryland Hotel (Resort & Convention Center)

2. Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

3. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

Best place to see independent films

1. The Belcourt Theatre

2. Green Hills Cinema 16

3. Sarratt Cinema

Best place for a cheap date

1. Centennial Park

2. Krystal

3. McDonald’s

Best bowling alley

1. Melrose Lanes

2. Hermitage Lanes

3. Jillian’s

Best day trip

1. Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga

2. Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Lynchburg

3. Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park

Best golf course

1. Legends Club of Tennessee

2. Springhouse Golf Club at Gaylord Opryland Resort

3. The Hermitage Golf Course

Best charitable event

1. Parade of Homes/Pennies

2. Swan Ball

3. Toys for Tots

Best event to get your picture taken for Nfocus

1. Swan Ball

2. Steeplechase

3. Artrageous

Best community role model

1. Martha Ingram

2. Vince Gill

3. Phil Bredesen

Best local professional sports team

1. The Tennessee Titans

2. The Nashville Predators

3. The Nashville Sounds

Best local sports celebrity

1. Eddie George

2. Steve McNair

3. Jeff Fisher

MEDIA

Best country radio station

1. WSIX 97.9 FM

2. WKDF 103.3 FM

3. WSM 650 AM

Best rock/pop radio station

1. WRLT Lightning 100

2. 107.5 The River

3. Star 97.1 FM

Best urban radio station

1. 101.1 The Beat

2. Blazin 106.7

3. 92Q

Best radio deejay

1. Gerry House

2. David Hall

3. Bill Cody

Best local Web site

1. NashvilleCitysearch.com

2. NashvilleScene.com

3. RickandBubba.com

Best local news channel

1. NewsChannel 5

2. WSMV Channel 4

3. News2

Best local news anchor

1. Dan Miller

2. Demetria Kalodimos

3. Chris Clark

Best local TV news reporter

1. Lilla Marigza

2. Larry Brinton

3. Phil Williams

Best local TV weather-person

1. Bill Hall

2. Leland Statum

3. Lisa Patton

Best news hair

1. Demetria Kalodimos

2. Victoria Hansen

3. Amy Marsalis

Best local columnist

1. Brad about You (Brad Schmitt)

2. Gail Kerr

3. TIE—Joe Biddle and Ms. Cheap (Mary Hance)

Best local music writer

1. Peter Cooper

2. Craig Havighurst

3. Ron Wynn

Best local feature writer

1. Matt Pulle

2. Ms. Cheap (Mary Hance)

3. Kay West

Best local political writer

1. Larry Daughtrey

2. Tim Chavez

3. Liz Garrigan

Best local celebrity you love to hate

1. Brad Schmitt

2. Adam Dread

3. TIE—Barbara Mandrell and Steve Gill

Best scandal of last year

1. U.T. President Shumaker’s spending

2. Steve McNair’s DUI

3. Dixie Chicks’ statement about President Bush

GOODS & SERVICES

Best new shop (opened since Jan. 2002)

1. Global Soup

2. (sherod)

3. Cadeau Home and Paperie

Best grocery store

1. Kroger

2. Publix Super Markets

3. Harris Teeter Supermarkets

Best fitness/workout club

1. YMCA

2. Gold’s Gym

3. The Club

Best cool hotel

1. Gaylord Opryland Hotel (Resort & Convention Center)

2. The Hermitage Hotel

3. Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

Best video store

1. Blockbuster Video

2. Hollywood Video

3. Tower Records-Video-Books

Best adult video store

1. Metro News Adult Book Store

2. Purple Onion Bookstore

3. 21 Up Video

Best computer store

1. CompUSA

2. Best Buy

3. MacAuthority

Best new bookstore

1. Davis-Kidd Booksellers

2. Borders Books & Music

3. Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Best used bookstore

1. BookMan/BookWoman Rare and Used Books

2. Elder’s Book Store

3. Rhino Books

Best place to buy vinyl records

1. Grimey’s

2. The Great Escape

3. Phonoluxe Records

Best place to hock used music

1. The Great Escape

2. Grimey’s

3. CD Warehouse

Best service in an audio store

1. Nicholson’s Stereo

2. Best Buy

3. Circuit City Super Stores

Best sporting goods store

1. Academy Sports & Outdoors

2. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

3. REI

Best bicycle store

1. Cumberland Transit

2. Nashville Bicycle

3. Bike Pedlar

Best shopping mall

1. The Mall at Green Hills

2. Cool Springs Galleria

3. Opry Mills Shopping Center

Best department store

1. Dillard’s

2. Hecht’s Department Store

3. Parisian

Best vintage clothing store

1. Venus & Mars

2. Goodwill Industries

3. Nitwit

Best local men’s/women’s clothing store

1. Levy’s

2. Smack Vintage to Vinyle Clothes

3. Posh Boutique

Best local shop to buy a new pair of jeans

1. Boutique Bella

2. Posh Boutique

3. (sherod)

Best consignment store

1. Designer Renaissance

2. Planet XChange

3. Goodwill Industries

Best creative window display

1. Antics

2. Posh Boutique

3. Smack Vintage to Vinyle Clothes

Best dry cleaner

1. Village Cleaners

2. Ace Cleaners

3. Nicholson Cleaners

Best shoe store

1. Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse

2. Shoe Carnival

3. DSW Shoe Warehouse

Best jewelry store

1. Jared Galleria of Jewelry

2. Village Jewelers

3. Draper Jewelry Company

Best florist

1. Emma’s Flowers & Gifts

2. The Tulip Tree

3. Joy’s Flower

Best antique store

1. Antics

2. Carissa’s Armoires & Antiques

3. White Way Antique Mall

Best optical store

1. Image Optical

2. Milam’s Optical Service

3. LensCrafters

Best hair salon

1. Salon FX

2. Elan

3. TRIM

Best hair stylist

1. Bill Vandiver—The Edge of Belle Meade

2. Jen Rouse—Streets

3. Dennis Clark—Elan

Best manicure/pedicure

1. Tiba de Nuhad Khoury

2. Angel Nails

3. Elan

Best skin care center

1. Private Edition

2. Gracie’s

3. Gold Skin Care

Best spa

1. Tiba de Nuhad Khoury

2. Essential Therapy

3. Blue River Canyon

Best waxing

1. Tiba de Nuhad Khoury

2. The Edge of Belle Meade

3. Elan

Best therapeutic massage

1. Practical Massage Therapy

2. Essential Therapy

3. Bodyworks Emporium

Best karate studio

1. David Deaton Karate Studio

2. Max Scrugg’s Karate

3. Conrad Jones Karate

Best business to open up in a former massage parlor

1. Tacos-n-More

2. Ken’s Karaoke Box

3. The Basement

Best tattoo/body piercing studio

1. Lone Wolf Tattoo

2. Icon Body Piercing

3. Forever Yours

Best doctor for a nip & tuck above the neck

1. Dr.Brian Oslin

2. Dr. Glen Buckspan

3. Dr. Joe Delozier

Best doctor for a nip & tuck below the neck

1. Dr. Brian Oslin

2. Dr. Glen Buckspan

3. Dr. Mary Gingrass

Best auto dealership

1. Beaman Automotive Group

2. Trickett Honda

3. Jim Reed Chevrolet

Best pre-owned auto dealership

1. Beaman Automotive Group

2. Carmax

3. Global Motor Sports

Best auto service center

1. Beaman Automotive Group

2. Trickett Honda

3. Two Rivers Ford

Best bank

1. AmSouth Bank

2. Bank of America

3. SunTrust

Best real estate agent

1. Keith Merrill at Main Street Real Estate

2. Richard Courtney

3. Lisa Leonard

Best apartment complex

1. Lakes of Bellevue Apartments

2. The Grove

3. Sterling Court Apts.

Best place to buy cool home accessories

1. Pier 1 Imports

2. Target

3. Pottery Barn

Best place to buy furniture

1. Sprintz Furniture Showroom

2. Rooms to Go

3. American Signature

Best nursery/garden center

1. Bates Nursery & Garden Center

2. The Home Depot

3. Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse

Best pet store

1. Petsmart

2. The Dog Store/Cat Store

3. Miss Kitty’s Bed & Bath

Best pet grooming

1. Petsmart

2. Miss Kitty’s Bed & Bath

3. 4 Paws at 5 Points

Best veterinarian

1. Murphy Road Animal Hospital PC

2. Hillsboro Animal Hospital— Dr. Steve Ladd

3. Belle Meade Animal Hospital & Kennels PC—Dr. Edwards

Best place for continuing education

1. Nashville State Technical Community College

2. Vanderbilt University

3. Middle Tennessee State University

Best place to get married

1. Gaylord Opryland Hotel (Resort & Convention Center)

2. Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art

3. Scarritt-Bennett Center

ARTS & MUSIC

Best art gallery

1. Zeitgeist

2. Tag Art Gallery

3. The Arts Company

Best restaurant to buy art

1. 12th & Porter

2. Midtown Cafe

3. The Acorn

Best local visual artist

1. Ben Gilliam

2. Shon Hudspeth

3. Brenan Sharp

Best performing arts group (not venue)

1. Nashville Ballet

2. Tennessee Repertory Theatre

3. Nashville Opera

Best performing arts group (musical)

1. Nashville Opera

2. The Nashville Symphony

3. Nashville Chamber Orchestra

Best record store (chain)

1. Tower Records-Video-Books

2. Media Play

3. Border’s Books & Music

Best record store (non-chain)

1. Grimey’s

2. The Great Escape

3. Phonoluxe Records

Best musical instrument store

1. Corner Music

2. Sam Ash Music

3. Gruhn Guitars

Best local songwriter

1. Marcus Hummon

2. Phil Vassar

3. John Hiatt

Best local songwriter not yet signed

1. Sam Brooker

2. Nick Pagliari

3. Stacy Hogan

Best writer’s night

1. The Bluebird Cafe

2. 12th & Porter

3. Douglas Corner Cafe

Best place to have a showcase

1. The Bluebird Cafe

2. 12th & Porter

3. Exit/In

Best place to hear live music

1. Ryman Auditorium

2. The Bluebird Cafe

3. 12th & Porter

Best local music celebrity

1. Vince Gill

2. Johnny Cash

3. Amy Grant

Best local band who’s finally hit the big time

1. Will Hoge

2. Venus Hum

3. The Features

Best new local band

1. Fairfax

2. Verbena Court Strut Band

3. Pale Blue Dot

Best old local band

1. Jason & The Scorchers

2. The Features

3. The Mavericks

Best local rock band

1. Slack

2. Spout

3. Fairfax

Best local punk band

1. Slack

2. The Clutters

3. The Alcohol Stunt Band

Best local bluegrass artist/band

1. Alison Krauss & Union Station

2. The Del McCoury Band

3. Ricky Skaggs

Best local jazz artist/band

1. Annie Sellick

2. Sandra Dudley

3. Gypsey Hombres

Best local country artist/band

1. Tim McGraw

2. Alan Jackson

3. Vince Gill

Best local Christian artist/band

1. Michael W. Smith

2. Jars of Clay

3. Steven Curtis Chapman

Best church choir

1. Christ Church Cathedral

2. West End United Methodist Church

3. St. George’s Episcopal Church

Best religious leader

1. David Foster at Bellevue Community Church

2. Dr. Rubel Shelley at Woodmont Hills Family of God

3. Tom Laney at West End United Methodist Church

KIDS

Best pediatrician

1. Dr. Bob Mallard

2. Dr. Bill Long at Old Harding Rd. Pediatrics

3. Dr. Jonda Young

Best day care

1. Creative Care Center

2. Holly Street Day Care

3. La Petite Academy

Best school (K-8)

1. Donelson Middle School

2. University School of Nashville

3. Eakin Elementary School

Best school (9-12)

1. McGavock Comprehensive High School

2. Father Ryan High School

3. University School of Nashville

Best playground

1. Nashville Zoo Jungle Gym at Grassmere

2. Lily’s Garden at Dragon Park

3. Red Caboose in Bellevue

Best summer camp

1. Camp Widjiwagan (YMCA Camp)

2. Superstar Hillsboro Camp

3. Whippoorwill Farm Daycamp

Best local toy store

1. Phillips Toy Mart

2. Toys R Us

3. KB Toys

Best kid-friendly restaurant

1. O’Charley’s

2. Chuck E. Cheese’s

3. Rainforest Cafe at Opry Mills

Best place to take kids when it’s raining

1. Adventure Science Center (Cumberland Science Museum)

2. Bellevue Mall Kid’s Court

3. Chuck E. Cheese’s

BEST CATEGORY WE LEFT OUT

Best Ice Cream: Bravo Gelato @ Christie Cookies

Best Morning Show: Rick and Bubba

Best Hip Hop Artist: Cadence