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 Where to go, what to do, and who does it best
While it's only been six years since we painstakingly counted paper ballots that our readers submitted through the mail, it seems light years ago. The ways of pencil and postage have evolved seamlessly into mouse clicks and hitting the "send" key. That technological advance has not slowed our readers one bit — in fact, the volume and pace of voting for your favorites has quickened. This year, we received more than 1,200 qualified ballots. And, thanks to ever-improving software and a seasoned staff, fraud and ballot-stuffing have all but been eliminated. Our greatest challenge, it seems, is your creative spelling (we had nearly a dozen different ways to spell "Sh-Boom's," for example — and don't get us started on "Leitrim's" or "Wholly Cannoli"). We counted everything we could decipher (although we didn't count your many comments about the Turtle Boy statue). We believe this year's survey is a truer representation of our readers' choices than ever before. That accounts for the return of some old favorites to our list — and a number of new ones as well — from all over Worcester County. Congratulations to them all. There are some other things you should also know. The most common call we get after this issue appears in print or on our Web site is "So-and-so should have won — I know, because I voted for him/her/it and so did 50 of my friends." Given our sophisticated technology (and the aforementioned staff), the numbers are what they are — there's no margin of error. The totals have been checked and re-checked, and the votes speak for themselves. Also, your ballot was NOT counted if: You did not completely provide your name, address, phone number and e-mail address; you did not vote in at least 15 categories (voting for the same thing 15 times did NOT count); and/or you voted for chains (e.g., AAA, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Dunkin' Donuts, Home Depot, Panera, Newbury Comics and Starbuck's, to mention a few) doing business outside Worcester County. Also, votes in the "People" category were not counted if you did not provide the last name and place of employment for nominees as requested. And Denis Leary doesn't live here anymore, folks. Here we go. These are the categories as they appeared on the ballot, followed by the winners and their addresses and phone numbers (if applicable). The runners-up follow the winners. Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote. We were counting on you and you came through — proving once again that among the best of Worcester are the readers of Worcester Magazine. o 
ENTERTAINMENT Bowling alley AMF Town & Country Lanes
405 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury
508-754-7050 Runner-up: AMF Auburn Lanes College bar Leitrim's Pub
265 Park Ave.
508-752-0502 Runner-up: Mahoney's Dance club Rehab / The Irish Times
244 Main St.
508-797-9599 Runner-up: Sh-Boom's DJ (parties, etc.) Chris Charron
Runner-up: Dave Conte Driving range Auburn Driving Range
790 Southbridge St., Auburn
508-832-0559 Runner-up: Tatnuck Driving Range Family fun destination Davis Farmland
145 Redstone Hill, Sterling
978-422-6666 Runner-up: Crystal Caves Golf course / private Worcester Country Club
2 Rice St.
508-853-8064 Runner-up: Pleasant Valley Country Club Golf course / public Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
284 East Temple St., Boylston
508-869-9900 Runner-up: Green Hill Park Live music club Tammany Hall
43 Pleasant St.
508-791-6550 Runner-up: Lucky Dog Music Hall Local actor/actress Megan McIntosh
Runner-up: Andrea Ajemian Local attraction EcoTarium
222 Harrington Way
508-929-2700 Runner-up: Higgins Armory Museum Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury St.
508-799-4406 Runner-up: Higgins Armory Museum Place for a cheap date West Boylston Cinemas
101 W. Boylston St., West Boylston
508-835-8888 Runner-up: A Worcester Sharks game Pool hall The Green Room Billiard Club
535 Quaker Highway, Uxbridge
508-278-0188 Reason to visit Worcester The restaurants
Runner-up: Higgins Armory Museum Singles scene The Irish Times
244 Main St.
508-797-9599 Runner-up: McFadden's Sleazy bar The Dive Bar
34 Green St.
508-752-5802 Runner-up: Leitrim's Pub Theatre production It's A Wonderful Life at Foothills Theatre
Runner-up: The Buddy Holly Story at Foothills Theatre Tobacconist The Owl Shop
416 Main St.
508-753-0423 Runner-up: Victory Cigar Bar Wedding venue Mechanics Hall
321 Main St.
508-752-5608 Runner-up: Tower Hill Botanic Garden FOOD & DRINK Bagels Bagel Time
194 Park Ave.
508-798-0440 Runner-up: Bagel Inn Bakery Crown Bakery
133 Gold Star Blvd.
508-852-0746 Runner-up: Wholly Cannoli Breakfast Gold Star Restaurant
68 West Boylston St.
508-852-7900 Runner-up: Kenmore Diner Catering service Pepper's Fine Foods Catering
43 Hudson St., Northboro
508-393-6844 Runner-up: Struck Catering Cheeseburgers Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner
95 Prescott St.
508-753-9543 Runner-up: Cactus Pete's  Coffee
The Bean Counter
113 Highland St.
508-754-3125 Runner-up: Java Hut Desserts Caffe Dolce
154 Shrewsbury St.
508-754-3761 Runner-up: Wholly Canolli Diner Kenmore Diner
250 Franklin St.
508-792-5125 Runner-up: The Boulevard Diner  Dining bang for the buck
Annie's Clark Brunch
934 Main St.
508-756-1550 Runner-up: The Pleasant Street Grill Doughnuts Donut Cafe
399 Shrewsbury St.
508-798-9755 Runner-up: Donut Café II Grinders Regatta Deli
28 Lake Ave.
508-756-6916 Runner-up: Elsa's Bushel & Peck  Hot dogs
Coney Island Lunch
158 Southbridge St.
508-753-4362 Runner-up: Hot Dog Annie's Ice cream Pinecroft Dairy Inc.
555 Prospect St., West Boylston
508-853-0717 Runner-up: Meola's Dairy Lunch spot Annie's Clark Brunch
934 Main St.
508-756-1550 Runner-up: Block 5 Martini Block 5
139 Green St.
508-767-3483 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor New restaurant (in business one year or less) Bocado
82 Winter St.
508-797-1011 Runner-up: Haiku Pizza joint Blue Jeans Pizza
270 Park Ave.
508-753-3777 Runner-up: The Corner Grille Pub restaurant O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar
1160 West Boylston St.
508-853-0789 Runner-up: The Boynton Restaurant  Restaurant
111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St.
508-799-4111 Runner-up: O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar Restaurant / barbecue Firefly's
In Framingham and Marlboro
Runner-up: Cactus Pete's Restaurant / beer selection Brew City Grill & Brew House
104 Shrewsbury St.
508-752-3862 Runner-up: O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar Restaurant / bread Sturbridge Bread Co.
139 Main St., Sturbridge
508-347-0060 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor Restaurant / buffet Nancy Chang
372 Chandler St.
508-752-8899 Runner-up: Imperial Buffet Restaurant / Chinese Nancy Chang
372 Chandler St.
508-752-8899 Runner-up: Ping's Garden Restaurant Restaurant / cleanest 111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St.
508-799-4111 Runner-up: Block 5 Restaurant / country Carmella's Italian Kitchen
Rte. 9, Brookfield
508-867-5475 Runner-up: Spencer Country Inn Restaurant / family-friendly The Webster House
1 Webster St.
508-757-7208 Runner-up: O'Connor's Restaurant
& Bar Restaurant / Indian Surya Indian Cuisine
299 Shrewsbury St.
508-752-3700 Runner-up: Bollywood Grill Restaurant / Italian Dino's Ristorante
13 Lord St.
508-753-9978 Runner-up: Rovezzi's Restaurant / Japanese / sushi Sakura Tokyo
640 Park Ave.
508-792-1078 Runner-up: Haiku Restaurant / Latin Maria's Kitchen
826 Main St.
508-797-3380 Runner-up: Bocado Restaurant / Mexican Tortilla Sam's
107 Highland St.
508-756-7267 Runner-up: Jose Murphy's Restaurant / Middle Eastern El Basha
Various locations in Worcester and Westboro
Runner-up: Shiraz Restaurant / romantic Tribeca
92 Shrewsbury St.
508-754-7600 Runner-up: 111 Chop House Restaurant / seafood Sole Proprietor Seafood and Spirits
118 Highland St.
508-798-3474 Runner-up: Ronnie's Restaurant / service 111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St.
508-799-4111 Runner-up: Sole Proprietor Restaurant / Southeast Asian (Thai, Vietnamese) Dalat Restaurant
425 Park Ave.
508-753-6036 Runner-up: The Green Bamboo Restaurant Restaurant / traditional American The Webster House
1 Webster St.
508-757-7208 Runner-up: The Boynton Restaurant / wine list 111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St.
508-799-4111 Runner-up: The Sole Proprietor Restaurant for a working lunch The Sole Proprietor
118 Highland St.
508-798-3474 Runner-up: The Flying Rhino Salad 111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St.
508-799-4111 Runner-up: Ciao Bella Soup Spoodles
358 Main St.
508-755-0800 Runner-up: Lucky's 
Steaks 111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St.
508-799-4111 Runner-up: Willy's Steak House Sunday brunch Maxwell Silverman's Restaurant
Worcester Center Boulevard
508-755-1200 Runner-up: Beechwood Hotel Vegetarian food The Living Earth
232 Chandler St.
508-753-1896 Runner-up: Nancy Chang MEDIA Columnist Dianne Williamson, Telegram and Gazette
Runner-up: Clive McFarlane, Telegram and Gazette News (radio or TV) Radio station WTAG
Runner-up: Channel 3 Print reporter Scott Zoback
Worcester Magazine Runner-up: Milton Valencia Radio personality Jordan Levy
WTAG Runner-up: Jen Carter Radio station WXLO
250 Commercial St.
508-752-1045 Runner-up: WAAF TV personality Kevin Shea
Channel 3 Runner-up: Julie Tremmel, Channel 3 MERCHANDISE/SERVICE Antique store Brickyard Place Antiques & Collectibles
65 Water St.
508-755-4500 Runner-up: Ray's Wayside Antiques Car wash Ernie's Car Wash
Various locations in Worcester County Runner-up: Gervais Auto Body & Car Wash Autos / new cars Bancroft Motors
Various locations in Worcester and Auburn Runner-up: Ragsdale Autos / used cars Linder's Inc.
211 Granite St.
508-756-5125 Runner-up: Ragsdale Bank / credit union Flagship Bank
Various locations in Worcester County Runner-up: Webster Five Cents Savings Bank Bike shop Bicycle Alley
1067 Main St.
508-752-2230 Runner-up: Barney's Bicycle Bookstore Tatnuck Bookseller Westboro
18 Lyman St., Westboro
508-366-2548 Runner-up: Ben Franklin Bookstore Butcher shop Fairway Beef Co.
48 Grafton St.
508-756-8808 Runner-up: Emerald Meats Clothing boutique Ike's Den
284 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury
508-752-4014 Runner-up: Unique Boutik College Worcester State College
486 Chandler St.
508-929-8000 Runner-up: Clark University  Day spa
Paul Conzo Day Spa & Hair Salon
490 Shrewsbury St.
508-754-5418 Runner-up: Jeffrey Robert Salon & Spa Dry cleaners Dooley's Cleaners
Various locations in Worcester and Auburn Runner-up: Town & Country Ethnic market Ed Hyder's Mediterranean Market Place
408 Pleasant St.
508-755-0258 Runner-up: Tom's International Delicatessen Fish market West Boylston Seafood Co.
1078 West Boylston St.
508-853-3655 Runner-up: A.P. Fish Flower shop Sprout
118 June St.
508-757-5300 Runner-up: The Perfect Package Frame store Gastonart & Frame
257 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury
508-754-3700 Runner-up: Framed In Tatnuck Furniture store Rotmans
725 Southbridge St.
508-755-5276 Runner-up: Charlton Furniture Gift shop Bhadon Gift Gallery
Various locations in Worcester and Holden Runner-up: The Perfect Package Gym / health club Worcester Fitness
Various locations in Worcester
Runner-up: Greendale YMCA Hair salon D'Iorio's
335-A Plantation St.
508-756-7791 Runner-up: Jeffrey Robert Salon & Spa Hardware store I. B. Barrows
15 Webster St.
508-752-7191 Runner-up: Elwood Adams Insurance agency Anastasi Insurance Agency Inc.
512 West Main St., Shrewsbury
508-845-7497 Runner-up: Sullivan, Garrity & Donnelly Jewelry store Sharfman's Jewelers
19 Glennie St.
508-792-2211 Runner-up: Sach's Jewelers Limousine service Joey's Limousine Service
76 West Mountain St.
508-754-9575 Runner-up: Knight's Limousine Service Liquor store Austin Liquors
Various locations in Worcester County
Runner-up: Yankee Spirits Music / records / CDs Jelly's Discs
246 Park Ave.
508-752-9056 Runner-up: Al-Bum's Musical instruments store Kurlan Music Center
17 East Mountain St.
508-853-6417 Runner-up: Union Music Nursery / garden center Shrewsbury Nurseries
957 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury
508-842-2831 Runner-up:
Bigelow Nurseries Inc. Optician Atchue Opticians
1464 Grafton St., Millbury
508-755-5253 Runner-up: Bello Opticians Tanning salon Sun City
846 West Boylston St.
508-852-0900 Runner-up: Indian Summer Tattoo parlor Out of the Dark World
256 Grafton St.
508-459-5798 Runner-up: The Piercing Emporium Tire store C & R Tire Co.
111 Randolph Road
508-852-6464 Runner-up: Harding Tire Travel agency All Cruise and Travel
325 Southbridge St., Auburn
800-832-4802 Runner-up: Liberty Travel Video store Dollar Videos & More
638 Chandler St.
508-752-1008 Runner-up: Jelly's Discs Yoga / holistic / wellness center Auburn Wellness Complex
489 Washington St., Auburn
508-832-2220 Runner-up: Manning Chiropractic PEOPLE Bartender Jay Barron
Block Five
139 Green St.
508-767-3483  Chef
Chris Rovezzi
Rovezzi's Restaurant
108 Grove St.
508-753-4511 City councilor Konstantina Lukes Hair stylist Jeffrey Kilcoyne
Jeffrey Robert Salon and Spa
1 Kelley Square
508-792-4247  Massage therapist
Jared Chrudimsky
Worcester Fitness
440 Grove St.
508-852-8209 Short-order cook Annie Jenkins
Annie's Clark Brunch
934 Main St.
508-756-1550 State Representative Robert Spellane State Senator Harriette Chandler Waiter Kwame Opoku-Duku
Bocado
82 Winter St.
508-797-1011 Waitress Casey Starr
Annie's Clark Brunch
934 Main St.
508-756-1550
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