Lorain County residents nominated their favorite restaurants, businesses, services and entertainment options. We’ve tallied the results and listed the top three finalists in each category. They range from high-class restaurants to casual diners, galleries to farmers markets, festivals to theaters — and that’s only scratching the surface.

On July 13, 2017, you can vote for your favorites at the eighth annual Best of Lorain County celebration at the Spitzer Conference Center and Norton Culinary Arts Center. The finalists will show you why they deserve your recognition. Then, watch for the Fall 2017 issue of puLse Lorain County’s Magazine, in which we’ll reveal this year’s winners.

Food

Best Restaurant
Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Strip Steakhouse, Avon

Fine Dining
Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Nemo Grille, Avon
Strip Steakhouse, Avon

Casual Dining
Avon Brewing Co., Avon
Cole’s Public House, Amherst
The Feve, Oberlin

Patio
Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Elyria
Jackalope Lakeside, Lorain

Sunday Brunch
The Feve, Oberlin
Foundry Kitchen and Bar, Elyria
1833 Restaurant, Oberlin

Family Dining
Sugarcreek Restaurant, 
Sheffield Village
The Jailhouse Taverne, Grafton
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Bar Food
Avon Brewing Co., Avon
The Jailhouse Taverne, Grafton
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Cheap Eats
Two Bucks, Avon
Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst
Blue Sky Restaurant, Elyria

Steak
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
Diso’s Bistro, Lorain
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton

Italian
Lenoci’s Spaghetti House, Lorain
Nino’s Fine Italian Restaurant, 
North Ridgeville
Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria, 
Sheffield Village 

Latin
Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Amherst
El Kefon, Lorain
Fiesta Jalapenos, North Ridgeville

Asian
Golden Crown, Amherst
Jin House, Amherst
Wild Mango-Oberlin, Oberlin

Ribs
Bubba-Q’s, Avon
Moosehead Grill, Amherst
Your Pit BBQ, Vermilion

Hamburger
Heck’s Café, Avon
The Jailhouse Taverne, Grafton
Midway Oh Boy Restaurant, Elyria

Appetizer
Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst
Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Wings
Scorcher’s Casual Eatery & Draft House, Lorain
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield Village
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Sandwich
Smitty’s Place, Elyria
YOUR Deli, Amherst
Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant, Elyria

Burrito
Agave Burrito Bar & Tequilaria, Oberlin
Don Tequila Bar & Grill, Amherst
Fiesta Jalapenos, North Ridgeville

Pizza
Antonio’s Pizza, Avon
Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin
Yala’s Pizza, Lorain

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

Coffee
Arabica Coffee Bistro, Amherst
The Slow Train Café, Oberlin
The Local Coffee & Tea, Oberlin

Desserts
Cupcake Wishes, Avon
Little Devil Cupcakery, Lorain
Small Town Sweets, Vermilion

Chocolate
Malley’s Chocolates, Avon
Gibson’s Food Mart & Bakery, Oberlin
Suzin L. Chocolatier, Elyria

Ice Cream
CowHaus Creamery, Oberlin
Krieg’s It’z the Berries Frozen Custard, Amherst
Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Avon

Wine Shop
Amherst Party Shop, Amherst
Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst
The Wine Room, Avon 

Deli
Fligner’s Market, Lorain
Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant, Elyria
YOUR Deli, Amherst

Pastry Shop
Blue Rooster Bakehouse, Oberlin
Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Little Devil Cupcakery, Lorain

Fish Fry
American Slovak Club, Elyria
St. Teresa of Avila Parish, 
Sheffield Village
The United Polish Club of Elyria, Elyria

Caterer
Fligner’s Market, Lorain
Pink Peppercorn Catering, Elyria
LCCC Dining Services, Elyria

Sushi
Jin House, Amherst
Mandarin Chinese Restaurant, Oberlin
Fujiyama Steak House, Avon

Entertainment 

Sports Bar
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst
The Jailhouse Taverne, Grafton

Happy Hour
Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Ziggy’s Pub & Restaurant, Amherst

Local Festival
FireFish Festival, Lorain
Dancing on Main Street, Amherst
Lorain International Festival, Lorain

Wine Tasting
Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst
Matus Winery, Wakeman
John Christ Winery, Avon Lake

Theater
Apollo Theatre, Oberlin
Stocker Arts Center (of Lorain County Community College), Elyria
The Lorain Palace Theatre, Lorain

Health 

Fitness Center
9Round Fitness, Avon
UH Avon Health Center, Avon
Mercy Health & Recreation Center, Amherst

Fitness Trail
Bur Oak, Elyria
Don J. Pease Memorial Bike Path, Oberlin
Sandy Ridge Reservation, 
North Ridgeville

Dog Walk
Amherst Beaver Creek Reservation, LaGrange
Bur Oak, Elyria
Lakeview Park, Lorain

Senior Living
Avon Oaks Caring Community, Avon
Sprenger Health Care Systems, Lorain
Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin

Charitable Race
Turkey Dash/The Karen P Nakon Breast Cancer Foundation, Avon
James A. Kerstetter 5K Run & Family Fun Walk, Elyria
Love-A-Stray Fur Fun 5K, Avon Lake

Yoga Studio
LaGrange Yoga, LaGrange
The Hive, Elyria
Threads of Wellness, Lorain

Healthy Menu
Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin
Café Melissa, Avon Lake
Tree House, Avon 

Charity Event
EMC Foundation Classic, Elyria
L’Amour du Vin/Arthritis Foundation, Avon
Read Between the Wines/Grafton-Midview Public Library, Grafton

Shopping 

Florist
Off Broadway Floral & Gift, Lorain
Puffers Floral Shoppe, Elyria
Zelek Flower Shop, Lorain 

Garden Center
Don Mould’s Plantation Garden Center and Nursery, North Ridgeville
Pandy’s Premier Garden Center, Elyria
Petitti Garden Centers, Avon

Beer Selection (Retail)
Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst
Johnny’s Carryout, Oberlin
Heinen’s Grocery Store, Avon

Book Store
Ben Franklin & Mindfair Books, Oberlin
Commodore Books & More, Elyria

Jeweler
Herrick Jewelry, Oberlin
Nielsen Jewelers, Lorain
Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria

Shopping Area
Avon Commons/First Interstate Properties, Avon
Downtown Oberlin, Oberlin
Main Street Amherst, Amherst

Boutique
Etc. Boutique & Gifts, Amherst
The Mermaid’s Tail, Amherst
Nicole Kay’s Boutique, Elyria

Farmers Market
Vermilion Farmers Market, Vermilion
Elyria Farmers Market/Invest Elyria, Elyria
Oberlin Farmers Market, Oberlin

Gallery
Ginko Gallery & Studio, Oberlin
Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery, Elyria
FAVA Gallery, Oberlin

Healthy Food Selection
Dietary Health Foods Store, Elyria
Heinen’s Grocery Store, Avon
The Oberlin Market, Oberlin

Services

Dry Cleaner
Crystal Clear Cleaners, Lorain 
Elyria Dry Cleaners, Elyria
Ridge Cleaners, Avon Lake

Mani-Pedi
Arz Salon, North Ridgeville
Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon
The Strand Salon & Day Spa, Amherst

Pet Boutique
Forever Friends Pet Care Center & Hospital, Grafton
Gone to the Dogs, North Ridgeville
Polished Paws Salon & Boutique, Avon Lake

Car Wash
Blue Falls Car Wash, Avon
Ridgeville Wash Wizzard, North Ridgeville
Ryan’s Auto Detailing, Amherst

Day Spa
Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon
Fine Bella, Avon Lake
Spa B Skincare Boutique, Grafton

Children

Dance Studio
Avon Dance & Martial Arts, Avon
Miss Jacqui’s Dance, Avon Lake
Miss Kristin’s Dance Studio, Avon Lake

Gymnastics
Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon Lake
Ten Point O Gymnastics, North Ridgeville
The Little Gym of Avon, Avon 

Learning Center
Acorn Child Care Center, Avon
Kendal Early Learning Center, Oberlin
The Child Garden, Oberlin

Music Instruction
Community Music School, Oberlin
Avon School of Music, Avon
Woodshed Lesson Studio, Oberlin

People 

Bartender
Jeff Gresko, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Jamie Smith, Fort’s Tavern, Wellington
Ryan Finnegan, Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Local Volunteer
Chris Kish, Leadership Lorain County
Liz Hui, Oberlin College
Gregory Willey, FAPL Friendship Animal Protective League of Lorain County

Board Member
Greg Kulow, United Way of Greater Lorain County
Gregory Willey, FAPL Friendship Animal Protective League of Lorain County
Ben Norton, Lorain Historical Society

Chef
Robby Lucas, Cole’s Public House, Amherst
Anthony Martorello, Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
Chef Chase Wilcox, LCCC Catering, Elyria

Personal Trainer
Lea Goldsmith, Maximize Fitness, North Ridgeville
Gina Shaffer, UH Avon Health Center, Avon
Linda Vilagi, Mercy Health & Recreation Center, Amherst

Master Stylist
Arianne Metera, Fine Bella, Avon Lake
Charlotte Tester, The Strand Salon & Day Spa, Amherst
Bergan Krek-Dickinson, A David Anthony Salon Spa + Hair Studio, Lorain