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 June 23, 2011, you’ll have your chance to vote for your favorites at the second-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 2011 issue of puLse Lorain County’s Magazine, in which we’ll reveal the 2011 winners.



■ Food

Restaurant (Overall)
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Fine Dining
Nemo Grill, Avon
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Strip Steakhouse, Avon

Casual Dining
Diso’s Bistro at All Nations, Lorain
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Wood and Wine, Avon

Patio Dining
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Jackalope Bar & Rotisserie, Lorain
Winking Lizard, Avon

Sunday Brunch
Rose Café, Lorain
Oberlin Inn, Oberlin
Sugarcreek Restaurant, Elyria (tie)
The Feve, Oberlin (tie)

Family Dining
Nancy’s Main Street Diner, Grafton
Midway Oh Boy, Elyria
Blue Sky Restaurant, Amherst (tie)
Sugarcreek Restaurant, Elyria (tie)

Bar Food
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Rush Inn Bar & Grille, Avon

Cheap Eats
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Two Bucks, Avon
Hotdog Heaven, Amherst

Steak
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Moss’ Prime Rib & Spaghetti House, Elyria

Italian
Sorrento’s Ristorante Italiano, Elyria
Nino’s Italian Restaurant, North Ridgeville
Fratello’s, Avon Lake

Latin
Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant, Elyria
Mezcal, Grafton
Don Tequila’s, Amherst

Asian
Weia Teia, Oberlin
No. 1 Kitchen, Elyria
Thai House, 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, Elyria
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Wings
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst

Sandwich
Rubin’s Restaurant & Deli, Elyria
The Feve, Oberlin
Smitty’s Place, Elyria

Burrito
Agave Burrito Bar & Tequileria, Oberlin
Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant, Elyria
Fiesta Jalapenos Mexican Grill, North Ridgeville

Pizza
Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin
LaGrange Village Pizza, LaGrange
Angelina’s Pizza, Elyria

Donuts
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Becker’s Doughnut, North Ridgeville
Gibson’s Food Market & Bakery, Oberlin

Coffee
Arabica Coffee House, Elyria
Bread-N-Brew, Wellington
Café Ah-Roma, North Ridgeville

Desserts
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Carriage House Bakery & Market, Avon
Tea House Gallery & Tea Room, Avon

Chocolate
Suzan L. Chocolatier, Elyria
Catherine’s Chocolates, Avon
Malley’s Chocolates, Avon

Ice Cream
Hershey’s Ice Cream ’n More, Elyria
The Grafton Scoop, Grafton
Whistler’s Ice Creame Shoppe, Avon

Wine Shop
Paul’s Beverage Warehouse, Elyria
Minotti’s Wine & Liquor, North Ridgeville
The Wine Room, Avon

Deli
Rubin’s Restaurant & Deli, Elyria
The LCCC Marketplace, Elyria
Fligner’s Market, Lorain

Pastry Shop
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Gibson’s Food Market & Bakery, Oberlin
Mama Jo Homestyle Pies, Lorain

Fish Fry
St Peter Catholic Church,
North Ridgeville
American Legion, Wellington
Hanko’s Family Restaurant
at the Gin Mill, Elyria (tie)
Gibby’s, Elyria (tie)

Caterer
Spitzer Center, Elyria
Big Dog Catering, Wellington
Pink Peppercorn, Elyria


■ Entertainment

Sports Bar
Ziggy’s Sports Bar & Grill, Amherst
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Mulligan’s Pub & Grille, Avon

Happy Hour
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Creekside Brewhouse Tavern, Avon (tie)
Mulligan’s Pub & Grille, Avon (tie)

Local Festival
Elyria Apple Festival, Elyria
Lorain International Festival, Lorain
North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville

Live Music Venue
Stocker Arts Center, Elyria
Summer Concerts at Lakeview Park, Lorain
Black River Landing, Lorain

Best Bike Night
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield
Mulligan’s Pub & Grille, Avon
Stubby’s Pub & Grub, Elyria

Wine Tasting
The Wine Room, Avon
Matus Winery, Wakeman
Paul’s Beverage Warehouse, Elyria

Theater
Stocker Arts Center, Elyria
Palace Theatre, Lorain
TrueNorth Cultural Arts Center, Sheffield Village


■ Health

Fitness Center
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
PowerHouse Gym, Elyria
French Creek YMCA, Avon

Fitness Trail
Bridgeway Trail, Bur Oak, Black River Reservation, Elyria and Lorain
North Coast Inland Trail
Beaver Creek Reservation, Amherst

Place to Walk Dog
Carlisle Reservation, LaGrange
Bridgeway Trail, Bur Oak, Black River Reservation, Elyria and Lorain
Beaver Creek Reservation, Amherst

Charitable Race
Race for the Cure
Smiles for Sophie
Skeleton Run

Health Food Selection
Heinen’s, Avon
Oberlin Market, Oberlin
Mike’s Berries, Vegetables & More, Lorain

Healthy Menu
Black River Café, Oberlin
Oberlin Inn, Oberlin
Café 83, North Ridgeville

Nursing Facility
Wesleyan Village, Elyria
Abbewood Senior Living Community, Elyria
Sprenger Health Care Systems, Lorain (tie)
Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin (tie)


■ Shopping

Florist
Puffer’s Floral Shoppe, Elyria
Zelek Flower Shop, 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
Minotti’s Wine & Liquor, North Ridgeville
Heinen’s, Avon

Book Store
Crystal Era Emporium, Elyria
MindFair, Oberlin
Kelly Street Books, Wellington

Jeweler
Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria
Nielsen Jewelers, Lorain
Peter & Co. Jewelers, Avon Lake

Shopping Area
Avon Commons, Avon
Downtown Oberlin, Oberlin
Olde Avon Village, Avon

Boutique
Crystal Era Emporium, Elyria
Mermaid’s Tale, Amherst
Bead Paradise, Oberlin

Farmers Market
Oberlin Farmers’ Market, Oberlin
Vermilion Farm Market, Vermilion
Penton’s Farm Market, Amherst

Gallery
Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery, Elyria
FAVA, Oberlin
Ginko Gallery & Studio, Oberlin (tie)
Art Gallery at Sandstone Village, Elyria (tie)

Antique Store
Black River Antiques, Wellington
Jamie’s Flea Market, South Amherst
Cat’s Meow Antiques, North Ridgeville

Outdoor Store
The Backpacker Shop, Sheffield Village
Gander Mountain, Sheffield Village


■ Service

Landscaper
Gerber Landscaping, Elyria
Pandy’s Premier Garden Center, Elyria
Don Mould’s Plantation Landscaping, North Ridgeville and Amherst (tie)
Schill Landscaping and Lawn Care Services Inc., Sheffield Village (tie)

Home Remodeler
Hutman & Sons Builders Inc., Elyria
Creative Construction Solutions, Avon Lake
Nickoloff Builders, Elyria

Day Spa
That’s SKINcredible, Elyria
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
A David Anthony Salon & Spa, Lorain

Manicures/Pedicures
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
A David Anthony Salon & Spa, Lorain
Lorain County JVS, Oberlin

Dry Cleaner
Ridge Cleaners, North Ridgeville
Elyria Dry Cleaners, Elyria
Pat’s Cleaners, North Ridgeville

Car Wash
Splash-N-Dash, Elyria
West Ridge Water Works Car Wash, Elyria
Hurricane Laser Wash, North Ridgeville

Pet Pampering
Forever Friends Pet Center, Grafton
Paws by the Lake, Avon Lake
Barking Barbers Inc., North Ridgeville (tie)
Dog Gone Dirty Dog, Vermilion (tie)


■ Children

Preschool
Kiddie Kollege, Sheffield Lake
Lorain County JVS Early Childhood Education Program, Oberlin
The Acorn Child Care Center, Avon

Gymnastic
Ten Point 0 Gymnastics, North Ridgeville
Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon
The Little Gym, Avon

Learning Center
LCCC’s Children’s Learning Center, Elyria
The Acorn Child Care Center, Avon
Elyria Public Library, Elyria

Dance/Theater
Stocker Center, Elyria
Miss Jacqui’s Dance, Avon Lake
Oberlin Dance Theatre, Oberlin

Music Instruction
Journey Around Music, Elyria
Oberlin Conservatory Community Music School, Oberlin
Avon Music School, Avon


■ People

Bartender
Tabbie Ziegman, Wolfey’s
Michelle Lauley, Unicorn
Ryan Finnegan, Creekside Tavern, Avon

Local Male Celeb
John Laufman
Ron Jantz
Al “Bubba” Baker

Local Female Celeb
Ravenna Miceli
Connie Dieken
Betty Sutton

Chef
Eric Petrus, Spitzer Center, Elyria
Heath Barnard, Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Tim Michitsch, Lorain County JVS, Oberlin

Personal Trainer
Jana Fehlan, Kingston of Vermilion, Vermilion
Cheryl Matey, EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Jeanette Benjamin, BW Fitness, Lorain

Master Stylist
Mick McLaughlin, A David Anthony Salon & Spa, Lorain
Linda Chaplin, Cutting Edge, South Amherst
Charlotte Tester, The Strand, Amherst