2009 BOB Awards – Reader Picks

View the winners with our Interactive Map

Shopping

• Women’s boutique: The Pink Hanger
• Men’s fashion: Nordstrom
• Women’s shoes: Nordstrom
• Men’s shoes: Nordstrom
• Vintage clothing: Hong Kong Vintage
• Maternity clothing: Belly Elan
• Bridal wear: Nitsa’s Apparel
• Evening gowns: Nitsa’s Apparel
• Place to buy lingerie: I.C. London
• Store to buy jeans: Nordstrom
• Jewelry: Handpicked
• Stylish gifts: Paper Skyscraper
• Antiques: Sleepy Poet Stuff
• Home accessories: BLACKLION
• Furniture: IKEA
• Hardware store: Blackhawk
• Bike shop/repair: Bicycle Sport
• Garden shop: Pike Family Nurseries
• Pet store: PetSmart
• Bookstore: Barnes & Noble
• Meat: The Fresh Market
• Fresh fish: The Fresh Market
• Cheese: Dean & DeLuca
• Fresh produce: Farmers Market
• Organic foods: Earth Fare
• Bakery: Nova’s Bakery

People

• Radio personality: Ace & TJ
• Television personality: Larry Sprinkle
• Television news station: WCNC
• Columnist/critic: Tom Sorensen
• Up-and-comer: Jennifer Plym
• Public servant: Mayor Pat McCrory
• CEO: Ken Lewis
• Blowhard: Ken Lewis
• Philanthropist: The Levines

Food & Drink

• Burger: Big Daddy’s Burger Bar
• Pizza: Hawthorne’s New York Pizza & Bar
• Restaurant for dessert: The Melting Pot
• Steak house: Sullivan’s Steakhouse
• Vegetarian selection: Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe
• Comfort food: Dish
• Breakfast: The Original Pancake House
• Brunch: Pewter Rose
• Barbecue: Mac’s Speed Shop
• Taco joint: Cabo Fish Taco
• Coffee shop (nonchain): Dilworth Coffee
• Wine bar: Dean & DeLuca
• Outdoor dining: The Village Tavern
• Late-night dining: Penguin
• Restaurant, overall: 131 Main
• Restaurant to splurge: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
• Restaurant for groups: Cantina 1511
• Hotel restaurant: Gallery Restaurant
• New restaurant: Mez
• Restaurant Décor: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse

Restaurant by Cuisine

• Caribbean: Anntony’s Caribbean Café
• Chinese: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
• Indian: Copper Restaurant
• Italian: Mama Ricotta’s
• Japanese/Sushi: Nikko
• Mexican: Cantina 1511
• Seafood: Upstream Restaurant
• Southern/soul: Mert’s Heart and Soul
• Thai: Thai Taste Restaurant
• Vietnamese: Lang Van Restaurant

Restaurant by Neighborhood

• Ballantyne/Piper Glen: Gallery Restaurant
• Dilworth: 300 East
• Downtown: Blue Restaurant & Bar
• Elizabeth/Plaza Midwood: Penguin
• Lake Norman (Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville): Dressler’s
• Matthews: Santé Restaurant
• Myers Park: Providence Café
• NoDa: Cabo Fish Taco
• South End: Mac’s Speed Shop
• SouthPark: M5 Modern Mediterranean
• University: The Melting Pot, Amalfi’s Pasta ‘n Pizza (tie)

Arts & Culture

• Gallery: Shain Gallery
• Museum: Mint Museum of Art
• Performing arts company: Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
• Local band: Simplified
• Visual artist: Selena Hudgens
• Performance in last 12 months: Rent

Essentially Charlotte

• Place to take visitors: U.S. National Whitewater Center
• Skyline view: Bentley’s on 27
• Picnic spot: Freedom Park
• Neighborhood: Dilworth
• Festival: Festival in the Park
• International event: Yiasou Greek Festival
• Free event: Symphony in the Park
• Noteworthy event of last 12 months: Wachovia demise
• Gossip/rumor: Prostitution ring/scandal
• Place to see a celebrity: Ballantyne Resort
• Place to feel like Charlotte 20 years ago: The Penguin

Nightlife

• Bar/lounge: Mez
• Sports bar: Picasso’s
• Pub: Ri Ra Irish Pub, Selwyn Avenue Pub (tie)
• Dance club: Suite
• Smoke-free: Loft 1523
• Hotel bar: Westin Bar 10
• Place to hear jazz: Blue Restaurant & Bar
• Live music venue: Neighborhood Theatre
• Place for karaoke: Jackalope Jack’s
• Boys’ night out: Uptown Cabaret
• Girls’ night out: Suite
• Martini selection: Therapy
• Beer selection: Flying Saucer
• Bar food: Moosehead Grill

Family & Kids

• Kids’ clothing: Chocolate Soup
• Kids’ haircuts: Doolittle’s
• Place to buy birthday cake: Edible Art
• Place for a birthday party: Sports Connection
• Family outing: U.S. National Whitewater Center
• Budget outing: Freedom Park
• Park for kids: Freedom Park
• Kid-friendly restaurant: Red Robin
• Place to go on a rainy day: Discovery Place

Sports

• Professional athlete: Jake Delhomme
• Amateur athlete: Stephen Curry
• Comeback athlete: Jake Delhomme
• Athlete with a heart: Steve Smith
• NASCAR driver: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
• Golf course: Quail Hollow Club
• Driving range: Ballantyne Resort
• Place to play (recreation): Freedom Park, U.S. National Whitewater Center (tie)
• Bowling alley: Strike City
• Game from most recent season: Panthers playoffs loss

Service

• Health club: YMCA
• Yoga/Pilates studio: Pilates with a Twist
• Spa: The Spa at Ballantyne Resort
• Barbershop: Emerson Joseph
• Salon: Modern Salon
• Dry cleaner: Long’s Dry Cleaning & Laundry
• Florist: Elizabeth House Flowers
• Caterer: Something Classic
• Framer: Art Aspects
• Concierge service: Ballantyne Resort
• Local blog: Charlotte Smarty Pants