goTriad.com

It was nice to see some new faces make the list this year in Go Triad's Readers' Choice Awards.

I admit, I swing by Starbucks from time to time, but it was nice to see Tate Street Coffee knock the chain out of the winner's spot for Best Coffee House.

One noticeable trend this year was less of a presence of chain restaurants and more votes for locally owned businesses, which was a pleasant surprise.

A few new places you may never have heard of also made the list. One is #2 Grub Place, a roadside eatery that serves great takeout food, including a jerk chicken sandwich that's downright delicious.

There also was Delicious Bakery, which got a nod for Best Bakery. After recently trying their cupcakes, they deserve more than just a nod.

This year's responses also made me chuckle. One of my favorites came from a reader who voted Waffle House as the Best Restaurant for First Dates. The fact that this person voted for Waffle House wasn't what amused me; it was the comment that went with the vote: "Sounds like I'm kidding," the voter wrote, "But nothing breaks the ice like diner food."

Amen.

Unfortunately, Waffle House didn't make the cut.

And in the category for Best Neighborhood Bar, at least one reader claims, "We need one in Summerfield." Any takers?

But the one that made me laugh the most was from a reader who voted for the "smokin' hot" television anchor — who will remain nameless.

So, without further ado, here's how the votes came down.

-- Carla Kucinski

Food And Drink

Best New RestaurantWinners: P.F. Chang's and Mimi's Café (tie)Runner-up: Bravo! Nods: Backstreets; Muse Restaurant

Best Overall RestaurantWinner: Biancas'Runner-up: Green Valley GrillNods: The Village Tavern; Chop House; Undercurrent

Best Restaurant for LunchWinner: Liberty OakRunner-up: Panera BreadNods: Pita Delite; Lucky 32; Southern Lights

Best Outdoor DiningWinner: The Village TavernRunner-up: Green Valley GrillNods: Natty Greene's; Café Europa; M'Coul's

Best-Kept SecretWinner: Biancas'Runner-up: 2 Grub PlaceNods: Zaytoon; Saigon; Fishbones

Best Restaurant For First DatesWinner: Biancas'Runner-up: Melting PotNods: The Village Tavern; Green Valley Grill; 223 South Elm

Best BakeryWinner: Simple Kneads Runner-up: Ganache Nods: Panera Bread; Spring Garden Bakery; Delicious Bakery

BuffetWinner: Golden Corral Runner-up: Saffron Nods: Fire Mountain; India Palace; China King

BreakfastWinner: Tex & Shirley'sRunner-up: Smith Street DinerNods: IHOP; Biscuitville; Cracker Barrel

Best CafeteriaWinner: K&W Runner-up: J&S Nods: C&H Cafeteria

Best CoffeehouseWinner: Tate Street CoffeeRunner-up: Caribou Nods: Juice and Java; Robustah; Port City Java

Best DeliWinner: Jason's DeliRunner-up: First Carolina DelicatessenNods: Lox, Stock and Bagel; Jay's Deli; Giacomo's

Best Late NightWinner: Cook OutRunner-up: FincastlesNods: Jan's House, Waffle House

Best Takeout FoodWinner: Cook OutRunner-up: 2 Grub Place Nods: China's Best, Golden Dragon

Best SteakhouseWinner: Ruth's Chris Steak HouseRunner-up:Outback SteakhouseNods: Fleming's, Chop House, Long Horn Steakhouse

Best BarbecueWinner: Stamey's Runner-up: Carter Brothers Nods: Country Barbecue, Shane's Rib Shack, Little Richard's

Best DessertsWinner: Ganache Runner-up: Cheesecakes by Alex Nods: Maxie B's, Melting Pot, Delicious Bakery

Best HamburgerWinner: Cook OutRunner-up: Red Robin, FincastlesNods: Fuddruckers, Hardee's

Best Hot DogWinner: Yum Yum Runner-up: Cook Out Nods: 2 Grub Place, Fat Dogs, The Dog House

Best Ice CreamWinner: Cold Stone Creamery Runner-up: Yum YumNods: Emack & Bolio's, Bruster's, Ben & Jerry's

Best PizzaWinner: Elizabeth's PizzaRunner-up: Mario'sNods: New York Pizza, Brixx Pizza, Papa John's

Best SeafoodWinner: Bert's Seafood GrilleRunner-up: 1618 West Seafood GrillNods: Libby Hill, Bonefish Grill

Best SushiWinner: Sushi Republic (formerly Sushi 101)Runner-up: Asahi Japanese Steak HouseNods: Arigato, Wasabi, US Sushi

Best VegetarianWinner: Boba HouseRunner-up: Healthy Spice Nods: Taste of Thai, Zaytoon's, Jack's Corner

Best CaribbeanWinner: 2 Grub Place Runner-up: Montego BayNods: Jibaro, Caribbean Restaurant

Best ChineseWinner: P.F. Chang's Runner-up: Phoenix Asian Cuisine Nods: Golden Dragon, Panda Express, King House Restaurant

Best FrenchWinner: Bistro Sophia Runner-up: Undercurrent, Noble's Nods: Marisol

Best GreekWinner: AcropolisRunner-up: Jack's Corner Nods: Pita Delite, Ghassan's, Mykonos GrillIndianWinner: SaffronRunner-up: India Palace Nods: Tandoor, Gold India, Nawab

ItalianWinner: Biancas'Runner-up: Olive Garden Nods: Carrabba's, Elizabeth's Pizza, Bravo!

JapaneseWinner: Arigato Runner-up: Kabuto Nods: Asahi, Fire & Sticks Japanese Steakhouse, Sapporo

Best MexicanWinner: MexicoRunner-up: La FiestaNods: Wholly Guacamole, Monterrey, Mi Pueblo

Best ThaiWinner: Taste of ThaiRunner-up: Rearn ThaiNods: Thai Pan, Downtown Thai, Thai Garden

Best Neighborhood BarWinner: Fishers GrilleRunner-up: College Hill SundriesNods: Fishbones; Natty Greene's; M'Coul's

Best Sports BarWinner: JP Looneys Runner-up: Hugo'sNods: The Green Burrro, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cooper's Ale House

Best Beer SelectionWinner: Natty Greene'sRunner-up: M'Coul'sNods: Brixx, Liberty Steakhouse, Finnegan's Wake

Best Martini SelectionWinner: Churchill'sRunner-up: Bonefish GrillNods: Solaris, Much, The Village Tavern

Best Wine SelectionWinner: The PressRunner-up: Fleming'sNods: Melting Pot, The Village Tavern, Green Valley Grill

Shopping And Services

Best Shopping Mall/CenterWinner: Friendly CenterRunner-up: Four Seasons Town CentreNods: Hanes Mall, The Shops at Friendly Center, Bargain Hunter Thrift Store

Best Ladies' Apparel StoreWinner: Ann Taylor LoftRunner-up: BelkNods: Kohl's

Best Men's Apparel StoreWinner: BelkRunner-up: Jos. A. Bank ClothierNods: Brooks Brothers, Men's Warehouse, O' Kennedy's

Best Local Clothing BoutiqueWinner: Rebecca & Co.Runner-up: Design ArchivesNods: Paparazzi, Mack and Mack, Rag PoetsBest Children's Clothing StoreWinner: Lollipop Shop Runner-up: Children's Place Nods: Gymboree, Gap Kids, Kohl's

Best Jewelry StoreWinner: Schiffman'sRunner-up: Silver Express Nods: Bardy's, Mark Holder

Best Vintage Clothing BoutiqueWinner: Design ArchivesRunner-up: Hello BettyNods: Rag Poets

Best Thrift StoreWinner: GoodwillRunner-up: Carolina ThriftNods: Jamestown United Methodist Church Outreach Thrift Center, Bargain Box, Once Upon a Child

Best Shoe StoreWinner: SRI Shoe WarehouseRunner-up: Shoe MarketNods: Rack Room Shoes, Monkee's

Antiques StoreWinner: Thrill of the HuntRunner-up: Lions' Crown Antiques Nods: Lewis Street Antiques, Red Collection, Rhyne's Corner Cupboard

Best Used Book StoreWinner: Edward McKay's Used Books & MoreRunner-up: Empire BooksNods: Pages Past-Used and Rare Books

Best Used CD/Record StoreWinner: Edward McKay'sRunner-up: B.B.'s Compact DiscsNods: Collectables Too, Gerry's News and Music

Best Farmers MarketWinner: Piedmont Triad Farmers MarketRunner-up: Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market (Yanceyville Street)

Best Health Food StoreWinner: Earth Fare Runner-up: Deep RootsNods: Whole Foods, House of Health, Fresh Market

Best Wine ShopWinner: Total Wine and MoreRunner-up: ZetoNods: Wine Warehouse, The Wine Shop

Best Day SpaWinner: Balance Runner-up: ChakrasNods: Spa at Grandover Resort, Avanti, The Spa at Highland Oaks, Jewel Day Spa

Best Hair SalonWinner: Leon's SalonRunner-up: Chakras Nods: Salon Blu, Great Clips, Jade Aveda

Best Massage TherapyWinner: Balance Day SpaRunner-up: ChakrasNods: Massage Envy, Kneaded Energy

Best Nail SalonWinner: AtirRunner-up: Elegant Nails, Happy Nails (tie)Nods: Balance Day Spa, J Nails, Bella Nails

Best Tanning SalonWinner: Got Sun, Sun HutRunner-up: Aah-Som-Rays Nods: Tahiti Tan; Tan Maker

Best Yoga StudioWinner: Family YogaRunner-up: Triad Yoga InstituteNods: Yoga Cafe

Best Health Club/GymWinner: YMCARunner-up: Pyramids Nods: Fitness Today, Gold's Gym, The Club

People

Best BartenderWinner: Jason Skipper at Big Shotz Tavern Runner-up: John at Churchill's, Eric at Undercurrent

Best ChefWinner: Salvatore Vito Matthews at Biancas' Runner-up: Brad Semon at Painted PlateNods: Ben Roberts at Undercurrent, Jason Jones at 223 South Elm, Yoshi at Arigato, George C. Neal III at 1618 West Seafood Grille

Best Local TV PersonalityWinner: Rosemary Plybon (WFMY)Runner-up: Sandra Hughes (WFMY)Nods: Cindy Farmer (WGHP), Eric Chilton (WFMY)

Best Local Radio PersonalityWinner: Jeff Wicker (WSMW, 98.7 FM) Runner-up: Jack Murphy (WKZL, 107.5 FM)Nods: Chris Kelly and Chris Dem (Two Guys Named Chris, Rock 92 FM), Skip the Prize Guy (98.7 FM)

Best Morning Radio ShowWinner: "Two Guys Named Chris" (Rock 92)Runner-up: "The Wicker Show" (98.7 FM) Nods: "Murphy in the Morning" (107.5 FM), Chuck Marsh and Leanne Petty (The WOLF 93.1 FM)

Best College Radio StationWinner: WUAG (103.1 FM)Runner-up: WQFS (90.9 FM)Nods: WNAA (90.1 FM), WFDD (88.5 FM)

Best Tattoo ArtistWinner: Sean Carey at Golden Spiral and Chris Walton at Little John's Runner-up: Holly Azzarra at Little John's and Daniel Ferguson at Ink Well

Entertainment/ Arts And Culture

Art GalleryWinner: TwoArtChicksRunner-up: Marshall Art Gallery Nods: Weatherspoon, Lyndon Street Artworks, Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art

Best Comedy ClubWinner: Comedy Zone Runner-up: Idiot Box

Best Dance ClubWinner: Inferno Runner-up: The N ClubNods: Heaven, Greene Street, Warehouse 29

Best Karaoke BarWinner: Ham'sRunner-up: The Green BurroNods: JP Looneys, Leftfield Tavern

Best Live Music VenueWinner: Ziggy'sRunner-up: TwoArtChicksNods: N Club, Greene Street

Best Live TheaterWinner: Triad StageRunner-up: Community Theatre of GreensboroNods: Broach Theatre, Barn Dinner Theatre

Best Movie TheaterWinner: The Grande (Greensboro)Runner-up: Carousel Luxury CinemasNods: Palladium Cinemas