Lorain County residents have spoken. They have nominated their favorite restaurants, businesses, services, entertainment and people as the best of the best. We’ve tallied the results and listed the top three finalists in each category, and they come from every corner of the county. The finalists range from high-class restaurants to casual diners, galleries to farmers markets, festivals to theaters — and that’s only scratching the surface. But we still need your help.
On July 12, 2012, you’ll have your chance to vote for your favorites at the third-annual Best of Lorain County celebration at the Spitzer Conference Center. The finalists will be on hand to show you why they deserve your recognition. Then, watch for the Fall 2012 issue of
puLse Lorain County’s Magazine, in which we’ll reveal this year’s winners.
Food
Restaurant (Overall)
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
Moosehead BBQ Grille, Amherst
Diso’s Bistro at All Nations, Lorain
Fine Dining
Nemo Grill, Avon
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Cork’s Wine Bar & Bistro, Amherst
Casual Dining
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Jackalope Bar & Rotisserie, Lorain
Wood and Wine, Avon
Patio Dining
Jackalope Bar & Rotisserie, Lorain
Cork’s Wine Bar & Bistro, Amherst
Mulligan’s Pub & Grill, Avon
Sunday Brunch
Rose Café, Lorain
Oberlin Inn, Oberlin
The Feve, Oberlin
Family Dining
Nancy’s Main Street Diner, Grafton
Midway Oh Boy Restaurant, Elyria
Blue Sky Restaurant, Amherst
Bar Food
Wolfey’s Bar & Grill, Elyria
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Stubby’s Pub & Grub, Amherst
Cheap Eats
Two Bucks, Avon
Midway Oh Boy Restaurant, Elyria
Hot Dog Heaven, Amherst
Steak
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Moss’ Prime Rib & Spaghetti House, Elyria
Italian
Lenoci’s Spaghetti House, Lorain
Rino’s Italian Restaurant, Lorain and Avon Lake
Fratello’s, Avon Lake
Latin
Don Tequila Bar & Grille, Amherst
El Kefon Puertoriqueno, Lorain
Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant, Elyria
Asian
Golden Crown, Amherst
Weia Teia, Oberlin
No. 1 Kitchen, Elyria
Ribs
Bubba’s-Q World Famous BBQ, Avon
Moosehead BBQ Grille, Amherst
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Hamburger
Smitty’s Place, Elyria
Midway Oh Boy Restaurant, Elyria
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Wings
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield Village
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Church Street Bar & Grille, Amherst
Sandwich
Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant, Elyria
Midway Oh Boy Restaurant, Elyria
Your Deli, Amherst
Burrito
Don Tequila Bar & Grille, Amherst
Quesadillas, Amherst
Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant, Elyria
Pizza
Olde Town Pizza, Amherst
Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin
Coleone’s Pizza, Avon
Donuts
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Becker’s Doughnut, North Ridgeville
Gibson’s Food Market & Bakery, Oberlin
Coffee
Perk Avenue Coffee Shop, Amherst
Bread-N-Brew, Wellington
Rio Coffee Brewery, Avon Lake
Desserts
Sweets by Maggie, Amherst
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Mamma Jo Homestyle Pies, Amherst
Chocolate
Suzin L. Chocolatier, Elyria
Catherine’s Chocolates, Avon
Faroh’s Candies & Gifts, Lorain
Ice Cream
Twist N Shake, Elyria
K-Kream Korner, Lorain
CowHaus Creamery, Oberlin
Wine Shop
Amherst Party Shop, Amherst
Paul’s Beverage Warehouse, Elyria
The Wine Room, Avon
Deli
Your Deli, Amherst
Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant, Elyria
Fligner’s Market, Elyria
Pastry Shop
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Sweets by Maggie, Amherst
Mamma Jo Homestyle Pies, Amherst
Fish Fry
American Slovak Club, Lorain
United Polish Club of Elyria, Elyria
St. Theresa’s, Sheffield Village
Caterer
Fligner’s Market, Elyria
Pink Peppercorn Catering Services, Elyria
LCCC Food Service, Elyria
■ Entertainment
Sports Bar
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Wolfey’s Bar & Grill, Elyria
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Happy Hour
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Wolfey’s Bar & Grill, Elyria
Mulligan’s Pub & Grill, Avon
Local Festival
Lorain International Festival & Bazaar, Lorain
Elyria Apple Festival, Elyria
Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, Avon
Live Music Venue
Stocker Arts Center, Elyria
Black River Landing, Lorain
Best Bike Night
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield Village
Mulligan’s Pub & Grill, Avon
Wine Tasting
Cork’s Wine Bar & Bistro, Amherst
Matus Winery, Wakeman
John Christ Winery, Avon Lake
Theater
Stocker Arts Center, Elyria
Palace Theatre, Lorain
Apollo Theatre, Oberlin
■ Health
Fitness Center
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
A-Team Fitness, Amherst
French Creek YMCA, Avon
Fitness Trail
Bur Oak Black River Reservation, LaGrange
French Creek Reservation, LaGrange
Beaver Creek Reservation, LaGrange
Place to Walk Dog
Mill Hollow, LaGrange
Bur Oak Black River Reservation, LaGrange
Beaver Creek Reservation, LaGrange
Charitable Race
Karen P. Nakon Breast Cancer Foundation, Turkey Dash, Avon
Tough Mudder, Amherst
Lorain County Heart Walk, Avon
Health Food Selection
Heinen’s, Avon
Oberlin Market, Oberlin
Dietary Health Foods Store, Elyria
Healthy Menu
Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin
Café 83, North Ridgeville
Salad Kraze, Avon Lake
Nursing Facility
Wesleyan Village, Elyria
Abbewood Senior Living Community, Elyria
Sprenger Health Care Systems, Lorain
■ Shopping
Florist
Puffers Floral Shoppe, Elyria
Off Broadway, Lorain
Botamer Florist & More, Elyria
Garden Center
Petitti’s Garden Center, Avon
Pandy’s Premier Garden Center, Elyria
Don Mould’s Plantation Landscaping, North Ridgeville and Amherst
Beer Selection (retail)
Paul’s Beverage Warehouse, Elyria
Johnny’s Carryout, Oberlin
Heinen’s, Avon
Book Store
Commodore Books and More, Elyria
Oberlin Book Store, Oberlin
MindFair, Oberlin
Jeweler
Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria
Nielsen Jewelers, Lorain
Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake
Shopping Area
Avon Commons, Avon
Main Street Amherst, Amherst
Downtown Oberlin, Oberlin
Boutique
Etc., Amherst
Nicole Kay, Elyria
The Mermaid’s Tale, Amherst
Farmers Market
Vermilion Farm Market, Vermilion
Penton’s Farm Market, Amherst
Oberlin Farmers Market, Oberlin
Gallery
Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery, Elyria
FAVA, Oberlin
Art Gallery at Sandstone Village, Elyria
Antique Store
Tree House Gallery, Avon
Jamie’s Flea Market, South Amherst
Country Side Antiques, Avon
Outdoor Store
The Backpackers Shop, Sheffield Village
Gander Mountain, Sheffield
Molnar Outdoor, Elyria
■ Service
Landscaper
Gerber Landscaping, Elyria
Brian-Kyles Construction, Avon
Schill Landscaping and Lawn Care Services Inc., Sheffield Village
Home Remodeler
Fraley and Fox Construction Inc., Amherst
Creative Construction Solutions, Avon
Day Spa
A David Anthony Salon & Spa, Lorain
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Headquarters Salon and Spa, Lorain
Manicures/Pedicures
A David Anthony Salon & Spa, Lorain
Massotherapy Arts Center, Elyria
Exhale/EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Dry Cleaner
Crystal Clear Cleaners, Amherst
Ridge Cleaners, North Ridgeville and Avon Lake
Hale and Kern’s, Elyria
Car Wash
Avon Laser Wash, Avon
Splash-N-Dash, Elyria
Liberty Auto Wash, Vermilion
Pet Pampering
Spotted Dog, Avon
Forever Friends Pet Center, Grafton
Paws by the Lake, Avon Lake
■ Children
Preschool
Horizon Activities Center, Lorain
Kiddie Kollege, Sheffield
LCCC’s Children’s Learning Center, Elyria
Gymnastics
Ten Point 0 Gymnastics,
North Ridgeville
Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon Lake
Flippers Gym, Avon
Learning Center
LCCC’s Children’s Learning Center, Elyria
Horizon Activities Center, Lorain
The Child Garden, LaGrange, Grafton and Oberlin
Dance/Theater
Ohio Dance Theatre, Oberlin
Midwest Ballet, Amherst
Stocker Center, Elyria
Music Instruction
Oberlin Choristers, Oberlin
Ron Zehel Guitar Center, Amherst
Journey Around Music, Elyria
■ People
Bartender
Mary Goetz, The Unicorn, Grafton
Kiki Bildstein, Mutt & Jeffs, Elyria
Ryan Finnegan, Corks Wine Bar & Bistro, Amherst
Local Male Celeb
Ron Jantz
Al “Bubba” Baker
Paul Kiska
Local Female Celeb
Ravenna Miceli
Connie Dieken
Connie Schultz
Chef
Eric Petrus, LCCC Spitzer Center, Elyria
Robb Koscho, Wood and Wine, Avon
Gerard LeGrand, The Unicorn, Grafton
Personal Trainer
Jana Fehlan, Kingston of Vermilion, Vermilion
Andy Dito, LCCC Fitness Center, Elyria
Gina Schaffer,EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Master Stylist
Charlotte Tester, The Strand, Amherst
Mick McLaughlin, A David Anthony Salon & Spa, Lorain
Mary Velez, Elements, Avon Lake