From across the Houston area, thousands of you weighed in on what you are certain are the city’s best people, restaurants, services, sights and sites. Read on to see what most of you love best, and check out our picks to see how we compared.
Readers’ Poll Winners:
SHOPPING & SERVICES
Best Antiques Store
Heights Station Antiques
121 Heights Blvd.
713-868-3175
www.heightsstationantiques.com
Best Asian Grocery
99 Ranch Market
1005 Blalock
713-932-8899
www.99ranch.com
Best Barber
Big Kat’s Tattoo and Barbershop
3622 Main
713-533-9545
www.bigkatshouston.com
Best Bike Shop
Bike Barn
multiple locations
bikebarn.com
Best Car Wash
Bubbles Carwash
multiple locations
www.bubblescarwash.com
Best Comics Store
Bedrock City Comic Company
multiple locations
www.bedrockcity.com
Best Doggie Daycare
Bed & Biscuits Pet Spa
1612 Waugh
713-520-5535
www.bedandbiscuitspetspa.com
Best Farmers’ Market
Canino’s Produce
2520 Airline
713-862-4027
caninoproduce.com
Best Flea Market
Traders Village
7979 N. Eldridge Pkwy.
281-890-5500
tradersvillage.com/houston
Best Florist
House of Blooms
16093k City Walk
Sugar Land
281-242-1555
www.sugarlandhouseofblooms.com
Best Gun Store
Carter’s Country
multiple locations
www.carterscountry.net
Best Liquor Store
Spec’s
multiple locations
www.specsonline.com
Best Meat Market
Revival Market
550 Heights Blvd.
713-880-8463
revivalmarket.com
Best Mexican Bakery
El Bolillo Bakery
multiple locations
www.elbolillo.com
Best Record Store
Cactus Music
2110 Portsmouth
713-526-9272
www.cactusmusictx.com
Best Spectacles/Glasses/Optometry
Memorial Park Vision
5535 Memorial, Suite I
281-888-9256
www.memorialparkvision.com
Best Vintage Clothing
Buffalo Exchange
multiple locations
www.buffaloexchange.com
Best Yoga Studio
Joy Yoga Center
4500 Washington
713-868-YOGA (9642)
www.joyyogacenter.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Alternative Venue
Fitzgerald’s
2706 White Oak Blvd.
713-862-3838
fitzlivemusic.com
Best Art Gallery
East End Studio Gallery
708C Telephone
www.eestudiogallery.com
Best Bar Atmosphere/Decor
Boheme Cafe & Wine Bar
307 Fairview
713-529-1099
barboheme.com
Best Bar Games
Kung Fu
5317 Washington
Avenue #A
713-864-0642
kungfusaloon.com/houston
Best Bingo Night
Bingo in the Heights
1435 Beall
713-869-5767
Best Blues Club
House of Blues
1204 Caroline
888-402–5837
www.houseofblues.com
Best Concert Venue
Fitzgerald’s
2706 White Oak Blvd.
713-862-3838
fitzlivemusic.com
Best Dance Club
Numbers
300 Westheimer
713-521-1121
numbersnightclub.com
Best Dive
Poison Girl
1641 Westheimer
713-527-9929
Best Downtown Bar
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
705 Main
713-228-9472
www.beerknurd.com
Best Festival
Free Press Summer Fest
fpsf.com
Best Gay Bar
JR’s Bar & Grill
808 Pacific
713-521-2519
Best Happy Hour
Benjy’s
multiple locations
www.benjys.com
Best Honky-Tonk
Whiskey River
7637 W. FM 1960
281-477-0528
whiskeyriverhouston.com
Best Hotel Bar
Hotel ZaZa
5701 Main
713-526-1991
www.hotelzaza.com
Best Icehouse
West Alabama Ice House
1919 W. Alabama
713-528-6874
Best Jukebox
Grand Prize Bar
1010 Banks
713-526-4565
Best Latin Club
Belvedere
1131-01 Uptown Park Blvd.
713-552-9271
www.belvedereinfo.com
Best Movie Theater
Sundance Cinemas Houston
510 Texas
713-223-3456
www.sundancecinemas.com/houston
Best Museum
Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park Dr.
713-639-4629
www.hmns.org
Best Neighborhood Bar — the Heights
Onion Creek
3106 White Oak
713-880-0706
www.onioncreekcafe.com/home.html
Best Neighborhood Bar — Montrose
Boheme Cafe & Wine Bar
307 Fairview
713-529-1099
barboheme.com
Best Neighborhood Bar — the Village
The Ginger Man Pub
5607 Morningside Dr.
713-526-2770
houston.gingermanpub.com
Best New Bar
Cottonwood
3422 N. Shepherd
713-802-0410
www.cottonwoodhouston.com
Best Patio
Cedar Creek
3422 N. Shepherd
713-802-0410
www.cedarcreekcafebargrill.com
Best Place for Cocktails
Anvil Bar & Refuge
1424 Westheimer
713-523-1622
anvilhouston.com
Best Pool Hall
Slick Willie’s Family Pool Hall
Multiple locations
www.slickw.com/sites/houston.htm
Best Sports Bar
Christian’s Tailgate Bar & Grill (Heights)
2820 White Oak
713-863-1207
christianstailgate.com
Best Wine Bar
Max’s Wine Dive
4720 Washington
713-880-8737
www.maxswinedive.com
FOOD & DRINKS
Best Atmosphere
Down House
1801 Yale
713-864-3696
downhousehouston.wordpress.com
Best Barbecue Restaurant
Goode Co. Texas Bar-B-Q
Muliple locations
www.goodecompany.com
Best Bloody Mary
Beaver’s
2310 Decatur St.
713-864-2328
www.beavershouston.com
Best Breakfast
the breakfast klub
3711 Travis
713-528-8561
www.thebreakfastklub.com
Best Breakfast Tacos
Tacos A Go-Go
3704 Main
713-807-8226
www.tacosagogo.com
Best Brunch
Backstreet Cafe
1103 S. Shepherd
713-521-2239
www.backstreetcafe.net
Best Burger
Hubcap Grill
2 locations
www.hubcapgrill.com
Best Chicken-Fried Steak
Hickory Hollow
2 locations
www.hickoryhollowrestaurant.com
Best Chinese Restaurant
Auntie Chang’s Dumpling House
2621 S. Shepherd
713-524-8410
www.auntiechangs.com
Best Coffee
Boomtown Coffee
242 W. 19th St.
713-862-7018
www.boomtowncoffee.com
Best Comfort Food
Jus’ Mac
Multiple locations
www.jusmac.com
Best Crawfish
Ragin Cajun
Multiple locations
www.ragin-cajun.com
Best Deli
Kenny & Ziggy’s Delicatessen Restaurant
2327 Post Oak Blvd.
713-871-8883
www.kennyandziggys.com
Best Dim Sum
Kim Son
Multiple locations
www.kimson.com
Best Doughnuts
Shipley Do-Nuts
Multiple locations
www.shipleydonuts.ws
Best Drive-Through
Whataburger
Multiple locations
www.whataburger.com
Best Enchiladas
Chuy’s
Multiple locations
www.chuys.com
Best Fajitas
The Original Ninfa’s on
Navigation
2704 Navigation
713-228-1175
www.ninfas.com
Best Family Restaurant
Skeeter’s Mesquite Grill
Multiple locations
www.skeetersgrill.com
Best French Fries
Bernie’s Burger Bus
www.berniesburgerbus.com
Best Fried Chicken
Frenchy’s Chicken
Multiple locations
www.frenchyschicken.com
Best Ice Cream/Gelato
Amy’s Ice Creams
2 locations
www.amysicecreams.com
Best Italian Restaurant
Maggiano’s Little Italy
2019 Post Oak Blvd.
713-961-2700
www.maggianos.com
Best Late-Night Restaurant
House of Pies
2 locations
www.houseofpies.com
Best Mac and Cheese
Jus’ Mac
Muliple locations
www.jusmac.com
Best Margarita
El Tiempo Cantina
Multiple locations
www.eltiempocantina.com
Best Martini
Anvil Bar & Refuge
1424 Westheimer
713-523-1622
www.anvilhouston.com
Best Milkshake
59 Diner
Multiple locations
59diner.com
Best New Restaurant
Uchi
904 Westheimer
713-522-4808
uchirestaurants.com/houston
Best Oysters
Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar
1050 Studewood
713-802-0533
libertykitchenoysterbar.com
Best Pasta
Spaghetti Western Italian Cafe
1608 Shepherd
713-861-1313
www.spagwesthouston.com
Best Pho
Pho Saigon Noodle House
Multiple locations
www.phosaigonnoodlehouse.com
Best Pizza
Star Pizza
2 Locations
starpizza.net
Best Restaurant
Uchi
904 Westheimer
713-522-4808
uchirestaurants.com/houston
Best Salsa
Chuy’s
Multiple locations
www.chuys.com
Best Service
Brennan’s of Houston
3300 Smith
713-522-9711
www.brennanshouston.com
Best Sushi
Uchi
904 Westheimer
713-522-4808
uchirestaurants.com/houston
Best Tex-Mex Restaurant
Chuy’s
Multiple locations
www.chuys.com
Best Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurant
Hobbit Cafe
2243 Richmond
713-526-5460
www.myhobbitcafe.com
Best Wine List
Max’s Wine Dive
4720 Washington
713-880-8737
www.maxswinedive.com
SPORTS & RECREATION
Best Beach
Surfside
1304 Monument Dr.
Surfside Beach, Texas
979-233-1531
Best Bike Trail
Heights Bike Trail
Best Bowling Alley
Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge
1201 San Jacinto
713-343-3300
www.bowlluckystrike.com/locations/texas/houston
Best Cheap Seats
Miller Outdoor Theatre
6000 Hermann Park Dr.
832-487-7102
milleroutdoortheatre.com
Best Dog Park
Boneyard Drinkery
8150 Washington
832-494-1600
www.boneyardhouston.com
Best Golf Course
TopGolf
1030 Memorial Brook Blvd.
281-406-3176
topgolf.com/houston
Best Jogging Trail
Memorial Park
6501 Memorial
Best Picnic Spot
Hermann Park
6201 Hermann Park Dr.
Best Place to Hike
Brazos Bend State Park
21901 FM 762
Needville
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/brazos-bend
Best Public Swimming Pool
Memorial Park
6501 Memorial
CATEGORIES WE FORGOT
Best Geek Hangout
Asgard Games
3302 S. Shepherd
Houston
713-677-0699
www.asgardgames.net
Best Drag Bar
F Bar
202 Tuam
Houston
713-522-3227
www.fbarhouston.com
Best Romantic Spot
Fountains at Waterway Square
31 Waterway Square Place
The Woodlands
www.thewoodlandscvb.com
Best Karaoke
Glitter Karaoke
2621 Milam
Houston
713-526-4900
www.glitterkaraoke.com
Best Specialty Foods Store
Houston Dairymaids
2201 Airline Dr.
Houston
713-880-4800
www.houstondairymaids.com
Best Pet Supplies
Natural Pawz
514 W. 19th
Houston
713-864-4779
www.naturalpawz.com
Best Local Brewery
No Label
5351-A 1st St.
Katy
281-693-7545
nolabelbrew.com
Best Wings
Wingstop
Multiple Locations
wingstop.com
This article appears in Oct 10-16, 2013.