Best of Frederick 2016 Winners
Sometimes it feels like “Best of Frederick” keeps getting bigger every year. Well, in fact, it is growing.
This year’s edition of the best things about Frederick County—the 24th year of the list—includes more than 100 categories, including a few new entries, such as best yoga studio, best hotdog and best fried chicken. But don’t worry, the traditional favorites are still there—the best food, the best drink, the best entertainment, the best outdoors activities and the best services.
Of course, “Best of Frederick” is only possible because of the votes cast by the readers of Frederick Magazine during a two-month online poll period last fall. As with any election, there was vigorous (and sometimes creative) campaigning taking place, as businesses and others seeking votes promoted themselves. Some handed out voting information to customers and others posted links to our poll site on social media pages. The predictable result was a flood of votes.
Finally, “Best of Frederick” changes every year mostly because of comments from our readers. If you would like to see new categories added next year—or have some removed—please let us know.
Now, on to the winners!
Best Overall Restaurant: The Tasting Room
2nd Place: VOLT
3rd Place: Madrones
Special Occasion/Romantic: The Tasting Room
2nd Place: VOLT
3rd Place: Dutch’s Daughter
Steak: The Tasting Room
2nd Place: The Red Horse
3rd Place: Madrones
Happy Hour: The Tasting Room
2nd Place: The Wine Kitchen
3rd Place: Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar
Cocktail and bar: The Tasting Room
2nd Place: Cafe Nola
3rd Place: The Wine Kitchen
New Restaurant: Reina
2nd Place: Manalù Italian Restaurant
3rd Place: Old Dominion Grill and Sushi
Service: VOLT
2nd Place: The Tasting Room
3rd Place: Dutch’s Daughter
Kid-Friendly: Roy Rogers
2nd Place: Family Meal
3rd Place: Brewer’s Alley
Italian: il Porto
2nd Place: Nido’s Little Italy Ristorante
3rd Place: Pistarro’s
Pizza: Il Forno Pizzeria
2nd Place: Pistarro’s
3rd Place: Coal Fire Pizza
Asian: China Garden
2nd Place: Sumittra
3rd Place: Lucky Corner
Sushi: Lazy Fish
2nd Place: China Garden
3rd Place: Old Dominion Grill and Sushi
Latin-American: Cacique and La Paz Mexican Restaurant (tie)
3rd Place: Café Bueno
Burrito: Chipotle Mexican Grill
2nd Place: Café Bueno
3rd Place: La Paz Mexican Restaurant
Seafood: May’s Restaurant
2nd Place: Dutch’s Daughter
3rd Place: Bonefish Grill
Crab Cake: Dutch’s Daughter
2nd Place: May’s Restaurant
3rd Place: Avery’s Maryland Grille
Best Breakfast: Cafe Nola
2nd Place: Family Meal
3rd Place: Glory Doughnuts
Sunday Brunch: Dutch’s Daughter
2nd Place: Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar
3rd Place: Madrones
Bagel: Beans & Bagels
2nd Place: Panera Bread
3rd Place: Zi Pani
Coffeehouse: Dublin Roasters
2nd Place: Frederick Coffee Co.
3rd Place: Cafe Nola
Specialty: Ayse Meze Lounge
2nd Place: The Orchard
3rd Place: (Tie) Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar & Le Parc Bistro
Lunch: Madrones
2nd Place: The Orchard
3rd Place: Family Meal
Dessert: Madrones
2nd Place: Family Meal
3rd Place: The Wine Kitchen
Best Bakery: Cakes to Die For
2nd Place: Stone Hearth Bakery
3rd Place: Angelcakes
Ice Cream/Frozen Treat: Rita’s
2nd Place: Bruster’s
3rd Place: sweetFrog
Chocolate: The Perfect Truffle
2nd Place: Zoe’s Chocolate Co.
3rd Place: Candy Kitchen
Deli/Carryout: Crabapple’s New York Delicatessen
2nd Place: a.k.a Friscos
3rd Place: Juliet’s Italian Market and Café
Sandwich: a.k.a. Friscos
2nd Place: Crabapple’s New York Delicatessen
3rd Place: South Market Street Sandwich Company
Best Hamburger: Wags
2nd Place: Madrones
3rd Place: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Hotdog: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
2nd Place: Sonic
3rd Place: Rex’s Downtown Grill
Fried Chicken: Family Meal
2nd Place: Roy Rogers
3rd Place: Giant Eagle
Chicken Wings: Buffalo Wild Wings
2nd Place: Black Hog BBQ & Bar
3rd Place: Glory Days Grill
Chili: Hard Times Cafeé
2nd Place: Juliet’s Italian Market and Café
3rd Place: Wag’s
Best Overall Barbecue: Black Hog
2nd Place: Famous Dave’s
3rd Place: CarterQue BBQ & Grilling Co.
Barbecue Ribs: Black Hog BBQ & Bar
2nd Place: Famous Dave’s
3rd Place: CarterQue BBQ & Grilling Co.
Overall Bar: Bushwaller’s
2nd Place: Firestone’s Culinary Tavern
3rd Place: Brewer’s Alley
Singles Bar: Firestone’s Culinary Tavern
2nd Place: Brewer’s Alley
3rd Place: The Tasting Room
Sports Bar: Champion Billiards Sports Cafe
2nd Place: Buffalo Wild Wings
3rd Place: Brewer’s Alley
Dance Club/Bar: Champion Billiards Sports Cafe
2nd Place: Olives
3rd Place: Cafe Nola
Billiards: Champion Billiards Sports Cafe
2nd Place: Hard Times Cafe and Cue
3rd Place: Belles’ Sports Bar & Grill
Local Beer: Flying Dog Brewery
2nd Place: Brewer’s Alley
3rd Place: Barley and Hops
Liquor Store: Ye Old Spirit Shop
2nd Place: Riverside Liquors
3rd Place: Old Farm Liquors
Reception Venue: Ceresville Mansion
2nd Place: Morningside Inn
3rd Place: Dutch’s Daughter
Local Wine: Black Ankle Vineyards
2nd Place: Big Cork Vineyards
3rd Place: Linganore Winecellars
Caterer: Canape’s
2nd Place: The Savory Spoon
3rd Place: Renaissance Chef
Best Worth the Drive: Bavarian Inn
2nd Place: Antrim 1844
3rd Place: Old South Mountain Inn
Charitable/Social Event: An Evening on the Riviera
2nd Place: Kidstock
3rd Place: Catoctin Affair
Festival/Event: In The Street
2nd Place: The Great Frederick Fair
3rd Place: Festival of the Arts
Entertainment Value: Weinberg Center for the Arts
2nd Place: Maryland Ensemble Theatre
3rd Place: Holiday Cinemas
Theater Troupe/Group: Maryland Ensemble Theatre
2nd Place: Way Off Broadway
3rd Place: Comedy Pigs
Museum: National Museum of Civil War Medicine
2nd Place: Rose Hill Manor Park and Children’s Museum
3rd Place: Roads and Rails Museum
Blog: Housewives of Frederick County
2nd Place: A Year on Market
3rd Place: (a)Musing Foodie
Radio Station: WFMD-AM
2nd Place: WFRE-FM
3rd Place: WAFY-FM
Radio Personality: Bob Miller (WFMD-AM)
2nd Place: Tom Whalen (WFRE-FM)
3rd Place: Dave Conrad (WFRE-FM)
Best Cover Band: The Reagan Years
2nd Place: Vinyl Rhino
3rd Place: Guys in Thin Ties
Best Original Music Band: Hard Swimming Fish
2nd Place: Heavy Lights
3rd Place: Old Indian
High School Marching Band: Linganore High School
2nd Place: Frederick High School
3rd Place: Gov. Thomas Johnson High School
High School Sports Teams: Linganore High School
2nd Place: Frederick High School
3rd Place: Middletown High School
Park: Baker Park
2nd Place: Gambrill State Park
3rd Place: Carroll Creek Linear Park
Swimming Pool: Edward P. Thomas Jr. Memorial Swimming Pool (Baker Park)
2nd Place: Braddock Heights Swimming Pool
3rd Place: YMCA of Frederick County
Hiking Trail: Cunningham Falls State Park
2nd Place: Gambrill State Park
3rd Place: Sugarloaf Mountain
Golf Course: Clustered Spires Golf Club
2nd Place: Musket Ridge Golf Club
3rd Place: Holly Hills Country Club
Fitness Center: IN-Fit Studio
2nd Place: Frederick Indoor Sports Center
3rd Place: Achieve Fitness
Personal Trainer: Kip Jawish (IN-Fit Studio)
2nd Place: Rick Davis (Achieve Fitness)
3rd Place: Josh Pleasant (Frederick Indoor Sports Center)
Yoga Studio: IN-Fit Studio
2nd Place: Sol Yoga
3rd Place: Ananda Shala
Auto Repair: Carriage House Automotive
2nd Place: Fountaindale Auto Center
3rd Place: Spectra Auto Services
Car Wash: Fredericktowne Auto Spa
2nd Place: Rosemont Car Wash
3rd Place: Frederick Shell
Hair Salon: Thomas Scott Salon & Spa
2nd Place: New York, New York Salon and Day Spa
3rd Place: Sam Wong Salon
Day Spa: New York, New York Salon and Day Spa
2nd Place: Thomas Scott Salon & Spa
3rd Place: NUVO Salon & Spa
Nail Care Salon: New York, New York Salon and Day Spa
2nd Place: Thomas Scott Salon & Spa
3rd Place: Rose Nails
Barber Shop: Wastlers’ Barber Shop
2nd Place: All About Men
3rd Place: Citizen Frederick
Dry Cleaners: ZIPS Dry Cleaners
2nd Place: Prospect Cleaners
3rd Place: Town Cleaners
Carpentry/Home Improvement: Talon Construction
2nd Place: Anthony Owens Remodeling and Repair
3rd Place: Dorman Home Remodeling
Men’s Fashion: Men’s Wearhouse
2nd Place: Citizen Frederick
3rd Place: Jos. A. Bank
Women’s Fashion: Velvet Lounge
2nd Place: Aspire
3rd Place: Chico’s
Women’s Shoes: DSW
2nd Place: Off Broadway Shoes
3rd Place: Macy’s
Best Fine Jewelers: Colonial Jewelers
2nd Place: Gold Thumb Jewelry Creations
3rd Place: Estate at Landis Jewelers
Antiques: Emporium Antiques
2nd Place: Echo Consignments
3rd Place: Great Stuff by Paul
Best Gift/Specialty Shop: Retro-Metro
2nd Place: The Muse
3rd Place: Ec’clectibles
Bookstore: Curious Iguana
2nd Place: Barnes & Noble
3rd Place: Wonder Book and Video
Home Furnishings: Wolf’s Furniture
2nd Place: HomeGoods
3rd Place: Gladhill Furniture
Comic Book Store: Brainstorm Comics & Gaming
2nd Place: Wonder Book & Video
3rd Place: Beyond Comics
Best “I Wish Frederick Had…”: Chili’s
2nd Place: Trader Joe’s
3rd Place: Cheesecake Factory
Best “I Wish Frederick Would Bring Back”: White Star
2nd Place: Freez King
3rd Place: A roller rink
Grocery Store: Wegmans
2nd Place: Giant Eagle
3rd Place: Common Market
Farmer’s Market: West Frederick Farmer’s Market
2nd Place: Shab Row
3rd Place: YMCA of Frederick County
Garden Center: The Dutch Plant Farm
2nd Place: Stadler Garden Center
3rd Place: Thanksgiving Farms
Florist: Abloom
2nd Place: En Masse
3rd Place: Flower Fashions
Landscaping: Clearwater Landscape & Nursery
2nd Place: Haga Lawn
3rd Place: Poole’s Stone & Garden
Heating/Air Conditioning: N.E. “Bob” Waltz Plumbing & Heating
2nd Place: Frederick Air
3rd Place: TriState Home Services
Electrician: Provident Electric
2nd Place: Brandenburg Electric
3rd Place: TriState Home Services
Plumbing: TriState Home Services
2nd Place: N.E. “Bob” Waltz Plumbing & Heating
3rd Place: Warner Service
Best Art Gallery: The Delaplaine
2nd Place: TAG/The Artists Gallery
3rd Place: Griffin Art Center
Tattoo Parlor: Marks of the Spark Tattoos
2nd Place: Classic Electric Tattoo
3rd Place: Black Label Tattoo
Computer Tech/Repair: Computer Enhancement Systems
2nd Place: Mac Business Solutions
3rd Place: Clark Computer Service
Hotel: Marriott
2nd Place: Hampton Inn
3rd Place: Hilton Garden Inn
Car Dealer: Shockley Honda
2nd Place: Frederick Motor Company
3rd Place: Fitzgerald Auto Mall
Doctor: Dr. Joseph Ashwal
2nd Place: Dr. Stephen Williams
3rd Place: Dr. Amir Rashidian
Dentist: Dr. Mark Pitts
2nd Place: Pediatric Dental Center of Frederick
3rd Place: Premiere Dental Arts
Lawyer: Beth Beam
2nd Place: David Weaver
3rd Place: Scott Morrison
Financial Planner: Murray Financial Group
2nd Place: Key Financial Group
3rd Place: McCaskill Financial
Bank: Frederick County Bank
2nd Place: My Bank! First United Bank & Trust
3rd Place: PNC
Veterinary Hospital: Buckeystown
2nd Place: Glade Valley Animal Hosptial
3rd Place: CARE Veterinary Center
Pet Store: PetSmart
2nd Place: Petco
3rd Place: Paws in the City
Pet-Friendly Venue: Baker Park
2nd Place: Downtown Frederick
3rd Place: La Paz
Neighborhood: Downtown Frederick
2nd Place: Walkersville
3rd Place: Lake Linganore
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