Click on the links below to read stories about selected winners of this year’s “Best of Pittsburgh” readers’ poll.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best commercial art gallery
Concept Art Gallery
1031 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square, 412-242-9200
2nd: Boxheart Expressions
3rd: Mendelson Gallery
Best museum
Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History
4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3131
2nd: The Andy Warhol Museum
3rd: Mattress Factory
Best family museum
Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History
4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3131
2nd: Carnegie Science Center
3rd: Children’s Museum
Best movie theater (independent)
The Oaks Theater
301 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont, 412-828-6311
2nd: Regent Square Theater
3rd: Harris Theater
Best place to see live theater
Benedum Center for the Performing
Downtown, 412-456-6666
2nd: City Theatre
3rd: O’Reilly Theater
Best club to see a live band
Club Cafe
56-58 S. 12th St., South Side, 412-431-4950
2nd: Nick’s Fat City
3rd: Rosebud
Best dance club
Matrix
Station Square, 412-261-2220
2nd: The Upstage
3rd: Sanctuary
Best jazz club
Dowe’s on Ninth
121 Ninth St., Downtown, 412-281-9225
2nd: James Street Tavern
3rd: Crawford Grill
Best new bar/club
Tiki Lounge
2003 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-381-8454
2nd: Deja Vu
3rd: Matrix
Best shot-n-beer bar
Jack’s Bar
1121 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-431-3644
2nd: Dee’s Cafe
3rd: Gooski’s
Best gay/lesbian bar
Pegasus
818 Liberty Ave., Downtown, 412-281-2131
2nd: New York, New York
3rd: The Eagle
Best sports bar
Sports Rock Cafe
1400 Smallman St., Strip District, 412-552-1000
2nd: Dave & Busters
3rd: Philthy McNasty’s Bar & Grill
Best local acoustic artist(s)
Brad Yoder
2nd: Bill Deasy
3rd: Ceann Na Caca
Best local blues band
Jill West and the Blues Attack
2nd: Tony Janflone Jr.
3rd: Blues Orphans
Best local alt-country band
Soda Jerk
2nd: Povertyneck Hillbillies
3rd: Boxstep
Best local jazz band
Boilermaker Jazz Band
2nd: Phat Man Dee
3rd: Etta Cox
Best local hip-hop performers
Strict Flow
2nd: Grand Buffet
3rd: Sho-Nuff
Best local rock band
The Clarks
2nd: Buzz Poets
3rd: Gathering Field
Best radio station
WYEP 91.3 FM
2313 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-381-9131
2nd: WXDX 105.9 FM
3rd: WDVE 102.5 FM
Best talk radio
KDKA 1020 AM
One Gateway Center, Downtown, 412-575-2200
2nd: WDUQ 90.5 FM
3rd: WXDX 105.9 FM — Howard Stern
Best local morning radio show
WDVE 102.5 FM — Jim and Randy
200 Fleet St., Green Tree, 412-937-1441
2nd: WXDX 105.9 FM — Howard Stern
3rd: WBZZ 93.7 FM — Morning Buzz
Best place to see comedy
The Funnybone
Station Square, 412-281-3130
2nd: The Improv
3rd: City-County Building
Best place to see female strippers
Club Erotica
826 Island Ave., McKees Rock, 412-771-8872
2nd: Bare Elegance
3rd: Club Elite
Best place to see male strippers
Club Erotica
826 Island Ave., McKees Rocks, 412-771-8872
2nd: Gloria’s Exotic Male Dance Club
3rd: My house
FOOD & DRINK
Best local family restaurant
Eat ’n Park
Multiple locations
2nd: King’s Family Restaurant
3rd: Del’s Bar & Ristorante
Best new restaurant
La Strada
620 Liberty Ave., Downtown, 412-697-2800
2nd: Zen Garden
3rd: Cafe du Jour
Best beer selection at a local restaurant
Sharp Edge Bar & Restaurant
302 S. Saint Clair St., Friendship, 412-661-3537
2nd: Fat Heads South Shore Saloon
3rd: Smokin’ Joe’s
Best brew pub/microbrewery
Church Brew Works
3525 Liberty Ave., Lawrenceville, 412-688-8200
2nd: Penn Brewery
3rd: Valhalla Microbrewery & Restaurant
Best Cajun restaurant
James Street Tavern
422 Foreland Ave., North Side, 412-323-2222
2nd: Kaya
3rd: Crawford Grill
Best Chinese Restaurant
China Palace
Multiple locations
2nd: Sesame Inn
3rd: New Dumpling House
Best French restaurant
Le Pommier
2104 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-431-1901
2nd: Le Perroquet Bistro Francais
3rd: La Foret
Best German restaurant
Max’s Allegheny Tavern
537 Suismon St., North Side, 412-231-1899
2nd: Penn Brewery
3rd: Kleiner Deutschmann
Best Greek restaurant
Christo’s Mediterranean Grille
130 Sixth St., Downtown, 412-261-6442
2nd: Amel’s Restaurant
3rd: Mike & Tony’s Gyros
Best Indian Restaurant
India Garden
328 Atwood St., Oakland, 412-682-3000 & 3813 William Penn Hwy., Monroeville, 412-372-0400
2nd: Prince of India
3rd: Taste of India
Best Irish restaurant
Piper’s Pub
1828 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-381-3977
2nd: Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle
3rd: Blarney Stone Restaurant
Best local Italian restaurant
Del’s Bar & Ristorante
4428 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield, 412-683-1448
2nd: Buca di Beppo
3rd: Rebecca Tambellini
Best Japanese restaurant
Kiku Japanese Restaurant
Station Square, 412-765-3200
2nd: Sushi Two
3rd: Umi
Best local Mexican restaurant
Mad Mex
Multiple locations
2nd: Cozumel
3rd: El Campesino
Best Middle-Eastern restaurant
Ali Baba Restaurant
404 S. Craig St., Oakland, 412-682-2829
2nd: Kassab’s Restaurant
3rd: Amel’s Restaurant
Best Polish restaurant
Bloomfield Bridge Tavern
4412 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield, 412-682-8611
2nd: Gooski’s
3rd: Old Europe
Best Spanish restaurant
Mallorca
2228 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-488-1818
2nd: N/A
3rd: N/A
Best Thai restaurant
Thai Place
5528 Walnut Street., Shadyside, 412-687-8586, 1034 Freeport Road, 412-784-8980
2nd: Thai Me Up
3rd: Spice Island Tea House
Best Vietnamese restaurant
Tram’s Kitchen
4039 Penn Ave., Bloomfield, 412-682-2688
2nd (tie): My Ngoc/Pho Minh
3rd: Lemongrass Cafe
Best outdoor dining
Harris Grill
5747 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside, 412-363-0833
2nd: Mallorca
3rd: Cafe du Jour
Best romantic restaurant
LeMont
1114 Grandview Ave., Mount Washington, 412-431-3100
2nd: Hyeholde Restaurant
3rd: The Tin Angel
Best local seafood restaurant
The Original Fish Market
1001 Liberty Ave., Downtown, 412-227-3657
2nd: Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
3rd: Poli’s Restaurant
Best soul food restaurant
Crawford Grill
Station Square, 412-281-2885
2nd: Mr. Ribbs
3rd: Kayla’s Place
Best sushi restaurant
Sushi Kim
1241 Penn Ave., Strip District, 412-281-9956
2nd: Sushi Two
3rd: Sushi Too
Best steakhouse
Pittsburgh Steak Company
1924 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-381-5505
2nd: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
3rd: Morton’s of Chicago
Best vegetarian selection at a local restaurant
East End Food Co-op Café
7516 Meade St., Point Breeze, 412-242-7726
2nd: Zenith Tea Room
3rd: Zen Garden
Best bagels
Bruegger’s
Multiple locations
2nd: Einstein Brothers Bagels
3rd: Panera Bread
Best barbecue
Damon’s the Place for Ribs
Multiple locations
2nd: Mr. Ribbs
3rd (tie): Red River BBQ & Grill/Smokey Bones BBQ
Best bread
Breadworks
2110 Brighton Road, North Side, 412-231-7555
2nd: Panera Bread
3rd: Mancini’s Bakery
Best breakfast
Pamela’s
Multiple locations
2nd: Eat ’n Park
3rd: DeLuca’s Restaurant
Best chocolates
Sarris Candies
511 Adams Ave., Canonsburg, 724-745-4042
2nd: The Chocolate Moose
3rd: Mon Ami
Best coffeehouse
Starbucks
Multiple locations
2nd: Beehive Coffeehouse
3rd: Crazy Mocha
Best deli
Carson Street Deli
1610 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-381-5335
2nd: Pittsburgh Deli Company
3rd: Kazansky’s Delicatessen
Best desserts
Gullifty’s Restaurant
1922 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-521-8222
2nd: Prantl’s Bakery
3rd: Crazy Mocha
Best French fries
The Original Hot Dog Shop
3901 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-621-7388
2nd: Potato Patch at Kennywood
3rd: Primanti Brothers
Best fish sandwich
Wholey’s Fish Market
1711 Penn Ave., Strip District, 412-391-3737
2nd: Benkovitz Seafoods
3rd: Armand’s Bar
Best hamburger
Tessaro’s
4601 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield, 412-682-6809
2nd: Max & Erma’s
3rd: Fat Heads South Shore Saloon
Best ice cream
Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt
207 Atwood St., 412-681-9906 & Station Square, 412-232-3600
2nd: Bruster’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream
3rd: Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor
Best Pierogie
Bloomfield Bridge Tavern
4412 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield, 412-682-8611
2nd: Pierogies Plus, Inc.
3rd: Clara’s Pittsburgh Pierogies
Best Pizza
Mineo’s Pizza House
2128 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-521-9864 & 713A Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, 412-344-9467
2nd: Vincent’s Pizza Park
3rd: Pi Pizza
Best sandwich
Primanti Brothers
Multiple locations
2nd (tie): Fat Head’s South Shore Saloon/Pittsburgh Deli Company
3rd: Carson Street Deli
Best wings
Quaker Steak & Lube
110 Andrew Drive, Robinson Twp., 412-494-3344 & 1298 Freedom Road, Cranberry, 724-778-9464
2nd: Fat Head’s South Shore Saloon
3rd: Buffalo Blues
Best happy hour/drink special
Mad Mex
Multiple locations
2nd: Sports Rock Café
3rd: Deja Vu
Best late-night special
Mad Mex
Multiple locations
2nd: Eat ’n Park
3rd: Tom’s Diner
Best Sunday brunch
Grand Concourse
Station Square, 412-261-1717
2nd: Eat ’n Park
3rd: Pamela’s
GOODS & SERVICES
Best local bookstore
Jay’s Book Stall
3604 Fifth Ave., Oakland, 412-683-2644
2nd (tie): Mystery Lovers Bookshop/City Books
3rd: Eljay’s Used Books
Best used bookstore
Half Price Books
Multiple locations
2nd: Eljay’s Used Books
3rd: Three Penny Books
Best adult bookstore
Adult Merchandise Mart
4611 McKnight Road, North Hills, 412-931-1166
2nd: Monroeville Newsstand
3rd: N/A
Best comic bookstore
Eide’s Entertainment
1111 Penn Ave., Strip District, 412-261-0900
2nd: Phantom of the Attic
3rd: Duncan Comics
Best health food store
East End Food Co-op
7516 Meade St., Point Breeze, 412-242-3598
2nd: GNC
3rd: Whole Foods
Best bicycle shop
Gatto Bicycle Shop
Multiple locations
2nd: Biketek
3rd: Dirty Harry’s
Best furniture store
Perlora
2220 E. Carson St., South Side, 412-431-2220
2nd: Ikea
3rd: Weisshouse
Best clothing store (women’s)
Kaufmann’s
Multiple locations
2nd: Luxx
3rd: Ann Taylor
Best clothing store (men’s)
Moda
5401 Walnut St., Shadyside, 412-681-8640
2nd: Kaufmann’s
3rd (tie): Men’s Wearhouse/Larrimor’s
Best clothing store (children’s)
Newman’s Children’s Clothing
5834 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-421-4000
2nd: Tots ’n’ Tweeds
3rd: Old Navy
Best used clothing (thrift)
Goodwill
Multiple locations
2nd: Red, White & Blue thrift stores
3rd: Salvation Army
Best used clothing (vintage)
Hey Betty
5892 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside, 412-363-0999
2nd: Eons Fashion Antique
3rd: Yesterday’s News
Best shoe store
Little’s Shoes
5850 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-521-3530
2nd: Best Made Shoes
3rd: DSW Shoe Warehouse
Best jewelry store
Orr’s Jewelers
5857 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-421-6777
2nd: Henne Jewelers
3rd: King’s Jewelers
Best place to buy eyeglasses
Eyetique
Multiple locations
2nd: Pearle Vision
3rd: Lenscrafter
Best day spa
The Sewickley Spa
337 Beaver St., Sewickley, 412-741-4240
2nd: Eva Szabo European Skin Care
3rd: Jacques Dessange
Best hair salon
Philip Pelusi
Multiple locations
2nd: Supercuts
3rd: Izzazu International Salon
Best tattoo parlor
Inka Dinka Doo
3627 Butler St., Lawrenceville, 412-683-4320
2nd: South Side Tattoo
3rd: Jester’s Court Tattoos & More
Best body piercer
Hot Rod Piercing Co.
93 S. 16th St., South Side, 412-431-6077 & 115 Oakland Ave., Oakland, 412-687-4320
2nd: Z-Spot Body Art Studio Inc.
3rd: South Side Tattoo
Best new-age shop
Hocus Pocus
113 Meyran Ave., Oakland, 412-622-0113
2nd: Journeys of Life
3rd: The Culture Shop
Best hotel
Omni William Penn
530 William Penn Place, Downtown, 412-281-7100
2nd: Renaissance Fulton Hotel
3rd (tie): Hilton Pittsburgh & Towers/Sheraton Station Square
Best music store
Paul’s CDs
4526 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield, 412-621-3256
2nd: Dave’s Music Mine
3rd: Record Exchange
Best place to still buy vinyl
Jerry’s Records
2136 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-421-4533
2nd: Dave’s Music Mine
3rd: Eide’s Entertainment
Best neighborhood bakery
Prantl’s
5525 Walnut St., Shadyside, 412-621-2092
2nd: Paddy Cake Bakery
3rd: Oakmont Bakery
Best neighborhood grocer
Giant Eagle
Multiple locations
2nd: Whole Foods
3rd (tie): Donatelli’s/Merante
Best local video store
Heads Together
1914 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill, 412-521-1151
2nd: Hollywood Video
3rd: Incredibly Strange Video
Best dating service
Match.com
2nd: Match Maker International
3rd: Lava Life
Best bowling alley
Arsenal Lanes
212 44th St., Lawrenceville, 412-683-5992
2nd: Forward Lanes
3rd: Funfest
Best day trip
Ohiopyle State Park
2nd: Fallingwater
3rd: Kennywood
Best golf course
Oakmont Country Club
1233 Hulton Rd., Oakmont, 412-828-5335
2nd: Schenley Park Golf Course
3rd: Nevillewood
Best health club
Bally’s Total Fitness
Multiple locations
2nd (tie): Club One/Extreme Fitness
3rd: Oxford Athletic Club
Best martial arts studio
C. S. Kim Karate Inc.
Multiple locations
2nd: Rothrock’s Kung Fu & Tai Chi
3rd: Tri Mudra
Best miniature golf
Cool Springs
1530 Hamilton Rd., Bethel Park, 412-831-5080
2nd (tie): Putt-Putt/Scally’s Golf Center
3rd: Wildwood Highlands Family Fun Center
Best place to skateboard
Mr. Small’s Skatepark
40 Riverfront Dr., Millvale, 412-821-8388
2nd (tie): UPMC Parking lot/William Penn Rec. Center
3rd: McKinley Park
Best ice skating rink
Schenley Skating Rink
Schenley Park, Oakland, 412-422-6547
2nd: PPG Place
3rd: South Park Rink
Best ski resort
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Champion, 814-352-7777
2nd: Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort
3rd: Boyce Park
Best trail to break a sweat
Frick Park
2nd: Montour Trail
3rd: Schenley Park
PEOPLE, PLACES & PROPAGANDA
Best place to take Rick Santorum on a date
Pegasus Lounge
818 Liberty Ave., Downtown, 412-281-2131
2nd: New York New York
3rd: The Eagle
Best example of a local celebrity who’d buy a Hummer
Jerome Bettis
2nd: Plaxico Burress
3rd: Mario Lemieux
Best thing to name one of the new sharks at the zoo
Jaws
2nd: Mayor Murphy
3rd: Fluffy
Best place to put the Ten Commandments if they’re removed
By the churches
2nd: County jail
3rd: Up Santorum’s ass
Best untried means of raising city tax revenue
Gambling/casino
2nd: Tax to enter or leave the city
3rd: Legalize prostitution
Best way to lure young people to Pittsburgh
Create more jobs
2nd: Lower taxes
3rd: Better nightlife
Best place to hide from the young people that have been lured
Stay at home
2nd: Downtown at night
3rd: Any library
Best public place to take a nap
Schenley Park (Flagstaff Hill)
2nd: Point State Park
3rd: Cathedral of Learning lawn
Best location for a new casino
Along one of the rivers
2nd: The Waterfront
3rd: Station Square
Best use for Pittsburgh International Airport if US Airways abandons it
Casino
2nd: NASCAR racetrack
3rd: Shopping mall
Best place to hide Weapons of Mass Destruction in Pittsburgh
Downtown
2nd: The bottom of a river
3rd: City-County Building
Best-looking male local personality
Jeff Verszyla — KDKA TV
2nd: Ken Rice — KDKA TV
3rd: Scott Blasey — The Clarks
Best-looking female local personality
Julie Bologna — WPXI TV
2nd: Phat Man Dee — Singer and performer
3rd: Susan Barnett — KDKA TV
Best punishment for the revamped school board if it misbehaves again
Send them back to Pittsburgh public schools
2nd: Paddling/spanking/public flogging
3rd: Fire them
Best art dinosaur
Rick Bach’s “Nino the Crusher”
2nd: Fred Rogers
3rd: Doctor Rex
Worst art dinosaur
Dollar Bank
2nd: All of them
3rd: N/A
Best local street fair
South Side Summer Street Spectacular
2nd: Arts on Ellsworth, Shadyside
3rd: Walnut Street Arts Festival, Shadyside
Best way to save local public transit
Use it!
2nd: Lower fares
3rd: Expand routes — serve more areas
Your categories. Your winners. (You’re medicated?)
After City Paper readers — God help you all — had filled out two full pages of readers’ poll categories, we asked you to make up your own categories, winners and explanations. Amazingly, even after all that, many of you obliged. The responses enlighten, amuse and, frankly, make us hope that some of you are not operating heavy machinery.
Click here for some of this year’s responses.
This article appears in Oct 16-22, 2003.
