Thursday, February 13, 2025

Best of Toledo Redux

Toledoans take pride in our unique community. Every March Toledo City Paper celebrates top vote getters in our “Best of Toledo” issue. Here’s a look back at a sampling of our most recent winners and why they were selected as the Best. Hey, winners celebrate all year long!

Rosie’s Italian Grill

606 N. McCord Rd., 419-866-5007. rosiesitaliangrille.com
Winner: Best Italian Restaurant
House-made pizza, traditional Italian pasta dishes, and fresh seafood–it’s no wonder Toledoans voted Rosie’s as the best in Italian cuisine. Rosie’s lunch and dinner menus offer plenty of ways to indulge. Eat in the comfortably-lit serenity of the dining room, or relax on the patio listening the live, local tunes. This place is no longer “Toledo’s best kept secret.”

Glass City Federal Credit Union

Multiple locations. glasscityfcu.com
Winner: Best Credit Union
Glass City Federal Credit Union has been serving the Northwest Ohio community since 1947. With a long-time history of dedicated service, City Paper readers’ trust in Glass City’s premier financial management is confirmed by this award.

Great-Lakes-Audiology-2

Great Lakes Audiology

2780 King Rd. #2C, 419-327-2273. glaudiology.com
Winner: Best Audiologist
When it comes to hearing healthcare, patients want only the best in the practice. Great Lakes Audiology generated the votes with trustworthy doctors and high quality services, along with providing educational resources on hearing and hearing loss on the website, “Toledo Hearing Doctor” at toledohearingdoc.com.

Georgjz419 Fun Food & Spirits

1205 Adams St., 419-842-4477. facebook.com/GeorgjzToledo
Winner: Best Club to Dance All Night & Best LGBTQ+ Bar.
Georgjz419 has folks of every persuasion feeling at home in the Glass City. Since the closing of Bretz, Georgjz419 has become the de facto place to hit the dance floor and celebrate who you are. With weekly events, like drag shows, dance parties and more, you’re sure to be surrounded by good company, great drinks and terrific ambiance.

Needlemasters

Needle Masters Tattoo Studio

5801 Telegraph Rd., 419-476-9015. Needlemasters.com
Winner: Best Tattoo Shop
Rule of thumb for tattoo places: do your homework, look at the artist’s work and get lots of reviews and recommendations. Inking Toledo since 1999, Needle Masters takes great care of walk-ins and regulars and has operated without a single health code violation ever. If you’re thinking ink, think Needle Masters first.

Otto-

Carpets by Otto

Multiple locations. carpetsbyotto.com
Winner: Best Flooring Store
From carpet, to tile, to hardwood and laminate, Otto has the floor covered. Their inventory options make this place a winner among City Paper readers. Helpful staff and installation expertise make Otto a winning choice.

Doc

Doc Watson’s

1515 S. Byrne Rd., 419-389-6003. docwatsonstoledo.com
Winner: Best Trivia Night
Every Monday and Thursday night, people crowd to Doc Watson’s for Sporcle Live Trivia. Coupled with great food and drink specials, City Paper readers selected this popular spot as the best free trivia with good times and fun prizes.

Schmucker's

Schmucker’s Restaurant

2103 N. Reynolds Rd., 419-535-9116. schmuckersrestaurant.com
Winner: Best Diner
Most people have a sweet tooth, but some are fated with a mouthful. For Toledoans who never turn down dessert, Schmucker’s Restaurant has served as an oasis since first opening in 1948.
In addition to more than 20 varieties of homemade pies— ranging from traditional fruit pies to decadent options, like Chocolate Peanut Butter— this family-owned and operated diner has proved themselves as a Toledo tradition. Current owner, Doug Schmucker— who started working for his dad at the restaurant when he was 12— brings three generations of experience to the diner.
“My grandfather was 1 of 14 children and came from a Mennonite farm where cooking was a central part of life. It was just a dream of his to open this restaurant,” says Doug.
From the Americana, comfort food basics loved by his family, to the same stools installed when the diner first opened, Doug says he not much as changed at the restaurant in its 70 years of business— and customers love him for it.
Just like the Schmucker’s family who own the restaurant, generations of Toledo families flock to the cozy diner for real-deal home cooking at a good price. Find homestyle dinners just like Schmucker’s grandma used to make, like roast beef and swiss steak, or select diner classics from the variety of burgers and sandwiches. Just don’t fill up too fast— it’s not (yet) Toledo law, but you simply can’t make a trip to Schmucker’s without a piece of their famous pie.
Join Doug and the whole Schmucker’s family in celebrating their 70th anniversary on Tuesday, July 31. Vy for door prizes, enjoy special menu items at 1948 prices, and feel good knowing 70 percent of dine-in proceeds will go directly to Sunshine Inc.

Toledoans take pride in our unique community. Every March Toledo City Paper celebrates top vote getters in our “Best of Toledo” issue. Here’s a look back at a sampling of our most recent winners and why they were selected as the Best. Hey, winners celebrate all year long!

Rosie’s Italian Grill

606 N. McCord Rd., 419-866-5007. rosiesitaliangrille.com
Winner: Best Italian Restaurant
House-made pizza, traditional Italian pasta dishes, and fresh seafood–it’s no wonder Toledoans voted Rosie’s as the best in Italian cuisine. Rosie’s lunch and dinner menus offer plenty of ways to indulge. Eat in the comfortably-lit serenity of the dining room, or relax on the patio listening the live, local tunes. This place is no longer “Toledo’s best kept secret.”

Glass City Federal Credit Union

Multiple locations. glasscityfcu.com
Winner: Best Credit Union
Glass City Federal Credit Union has been serving the Northwest Ohio community since 1947. With a long-time history of dedicated service, City Paper readers’ trust in Glass City’s premier financial management is confirmed by this award.

Great-Lakes-Audiology-2

Great Lakes Audiology

2780 King Rd. #2C, 419-327-2273. glaudiology.com
Winner: Best Audiologist
When it comes to hearing healthcare, patients want only the best in the practice. Great Lakes Audiology generated the votes with trustworthy doctors and high quality services, along with providing educational resources on hearing and hearing loss on the website, “Toledo Hearing Doctor” at toledohearingdoc.com.

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Georgjz419 Fun Food & Spirits

1205 Adams St., 419-842-4477. facebook.com/GeorgjzToledo
Winner: Best Club to Dance All Night & Best LGBTQ+ Bar.
Georgjz419 has folks of every persuasion feeling at home in the Glass City. Since the closing of Bretz, Georgjz419 has become the de facto place to hit the dance floor and celebrate who you are. With weekly events, like drag shows, dance parties and more, you’re sure to be surrounded by good company, great drinks and terrific ambiance.

Needlemasters

Needle Masters Tattoo Studio

5801 Telegraph Rd., 419-476-9015. Needlemasters.com
Winner: Best Tattoo Shop
Rule of thumb for tattoo places: do your homework, look at the artist’s work and get lots of reviews and recommendations. Inking Toledo since 1999, Needle Masters takes great care of walk-ins and regulars and has operated without a single health code violation ever. If you’re thinking ink, think Needle Masters first.

Otto-

Carpets by Otto

Multiple locations. carpetsbyotto.com
Winner: Best Flooring Store
From carpet, to tile, to hardwood and laminate, Otto has the floor covered. Their inventory options make this place a winner among City Paper readers. Helpful staff and installation expertise make Otto a winning choice.

Doc

Doc Watson’s

1515 S. Byrne Rd., 419-389-6003. docwatsonstoledo.com
Winner: Best Trivia Night
Every Monday and Thursday night, people crowd to Doc Watson’s for Sporcle Live Trivia. Coupled with great food and drink specials, City Paper readers selected this popular spot as the best free trivia with good times and fun prizes.

Schmucker's

Schmucker’s Restaurant

2103 N. Reynolds Rd., 419-535-9116. schmuckersrestaurant.com
Winner: Best Diner
Most people have a sweet tooth, but some are fated with a mouthful. For Toledoans who never turn down dessert, Schmucker’s Restaurant has served as an oasis since first opening in 1948.
In addition to more than 20 varieties of homemade pies— ranging from traditional fruit pies to decadent options, like Chocolate Peanut Butter— this family-owned and operated diner has proved themselves as a Toledo tradition. Current owner, Doug Schmucker— who started working for his dad at the restaurant when he was 12— brings three generations of experience to the diner.
“My grandfather was 1 of 14 children and came from a Mennonite farm where cooking was a central part of life. It was just a dream of his to open this restaurant,” says Doug.
From the Americana, comfort food basics loved by his family, to the same stools installed when the diner first opened, Doug says he not much as changed at the restaurant in its 70 years of business— and customers love him for it.
Just like the Schmucker’s family who own the restaurant, generations of Toledo families flock to the cozy diner for real-deal home cooking at a good price. Find homestyle dinners just like Schmucker’s grandma used to make, like roast beef and swiss steak, or select diner classics from the variety of burgers and sandwiches. Just don’t fill up too fast— it’s not (yet) Toledo law, but you simply can’t make a trip to Schmucker’s without a piece of their famous pie.
Join Doug and the whole Schmucker’s family in celebrating their 70th anniversary on Tuesday, July 31. Vy for door prizes, enjoy special menu items at 1948 prices, and feel good knowing 70 percent of dine-in proceeds will go directly to Sunshine Inc.

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