Strongest Cup of Joe
Bleak House Coffee
520 Madison Ave.
419-740-1125
www.bleakhousecoffee.com
We’re not sure what the secret behind Bleak House’s brews are — the pour-over technique or co-owner and barista Stephanie Wandtke’s magic touch.
Runner Up / Black Kite Coffee
Best Breakfast
Star Diner
For locations, visit www.thestardiner.com
Everything's generous at Star Diner, from the portions to the bustlines. It’s a kitschy and delicious morning meal.
Runner Up / Cafe Marie
Best Specialty Pizza
Best Specialty PizzaThe Village Idiot
309 Conant St., Maumee
419-893-7281
www.villageidiotmaumee.com
The generosity of The Village Idiot chefs works out well for pizza lovers — their pies are so loaded with toppings you made need a fork and knife to get through their delicious slices.
Runner Up / Vito’s Pizza and Subs
Most Mammoth Meal
The Haymaker at Glass City Cafe
1107 Jackson St.
419-241-4519
www.glasscitycafe.com
“An open-faced biscuit or English muffin topped with two eggs, two strips of bacon, two sausage patties, cheese, home fries and smothered with sausage gravy!” All for about 10 bucks.
Runner Up / The Godfather at Rockets Cafe
Best Midnight Munchie
The House of Eats (inside Bier Stube)
5333 Monroe St.
419-841-6723
bierstubetoledo.com
Built up an appetite while indulging your inner Idol on the Stube’s karaoke stage? The House of Eats has all your good old greasy bar favorites until 2 am.
Runner Up / Bar Louie
Kiersen Brewer of Star Bar & Grille
Most Addictive Appetizer
Fried Green Beans at Bar 145
5305 Monroe St.
419-593-0073
www.bar145toledo.com
Bar 145 executive chef Robby Lucas may have a tattoo of the cuts of a pig on his arm, but he’s a whiz with vegetables, too. His battered and fried green beans give new meaning to the term “eat your veggies.” If it means looking more like Bar 145 server Shelby, count us in.
Runner Up / Feta Dip at Poco Piatti
Most Creative Menu
Registry Bistro
144 N. Superior
419-725-0444
registrybistro.com
Toledoans are more used to seeing sea rays on Animal Planet than on their plates, but on the insistence of Registry Bistro’s fine waitstaff you will try these unusual dishes, and you will be surprised to find they are delicious. Chef Erika Rapp attended one of the world’s most prestigious training grounds for cooks, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and brings an inventiveness to cooking meats like no one else in town. Rabbit pot pie, duck prosciutto, bacon jam, soy grilled pork — it’s all as challenging as it is delightful.
Runner Up / Burger Bar 419
Most Adventurous Meal
Roasted Bone Marrow at Bar 145
5305 Monroe St.
419-593-0073
www.bar145toledo.com
Cow’s bone marrow, that exotic delicacy brought stateside by Julia Child, looks like the luscious version of your dog’s bone. But dogs don’t get the luxury of salivating over the parmesan, bleu cheese and bread crumb adorned version at Bar 145.Split clean down the middle, you can eat it gingerly with the tiny spoon they provide, or you can let the juices seep out and down your arms as you dig in teeth first, as Bar 145’s Lydia Sanders (pictured) did during our shoot. Either way, your friends will applaud your adventurousness.
Runner Up / Sea urchin sushi at Sakura
Best Pub Food
The House of Eats (inside Bier Stube)
5333 Monroe St.
419-841-6723
bierstubetoledo.com
The House of Eats is the thinking man’s pub food, with a made-to-order menu and a build-your-own meal concept that puts the diner in charge. Yelp fans rave that it far surpasses typical bar fare (“mouth-watering,” “knock your socks off”) and our readers agree.
Runner Up / Doc Watson’s
Most Scorching Hot Dish
Curry at Bangkok Kitchen
582 W. Dussel Dr., Maumee
419-897-7777
While you can dial Bangkok Kitchen’s curries down, what’s the fun in that? Readers love the restaurant’s ability
to take their dishes to DEFCON-1 level spiciness.
Runner Up / Wings at Swig
Most Tempting Dessert
Tennessee Whiskey Cake at Bar Louie
4105 Levis Commons Blvd.,
Perrysburg
419-874-9774
www.barlouieamerica.com
The fruits that garnish and infuse this delicious dessert aren’t the star. It’s the Jack Daniel’s whiskey glaze that steals the show in this fresh baked apple caramel cake. We should probably mention the whipped cream, too. And if you’re lucky, Ashley (pictured), Bar Louie’s resident gamine, may be the one to present you with this indulgence.
Runner Up /Chocolate-Covered Bacon Sundae at Swig
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Jessica Bennett of Burger Bar 419
Most Creative Burger
Three Little Pigs Burger at Burger Bar 419
4400 Heatherdowns Blvd.
419-724-5844
www.burgerbar419.com
Chef Tony House has made a name for himself concocting hearty new takes on American classics at Burger Bar 419. His Three Little Pigs creation is a mammoth mix of ground pork, BBQ pork shoulder and bacon, made only more delicious by a thick slice of smoked cheddar. Add the Southern touch of sweet and tangy slaw and it becomes a delicious challenge to try to fit all five elements into one mouthful. Burger Bar 419 server Jessica makes it look easy, of course.
Runner Up / Build Your Own Burger at Bar 145
