We've all got opinions. That's why Riverfront Times always opens up its Best of St. Louis, issue to you, the readers. This year, you all nominated finalists and voted on some 90 different categories -- from Best Athlete's Butt to Best Farmers' Market. And while the readers' winners don't always jibe with our editorial board winners, there's one thing to be said about the people and businesses listed below: They are the readers' champions. So, congrats to everyone named here. RFT readers adore you!
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People & Places
Best Local Boy Made Good
Jon Hamm
www.twitter.com/JonHammOnline
Best Local Girl Made Good
Jenna Fischer
www.twitter.com/jennafischer
Best Local Politician
Francis Slay
www.mayorslay.com
Best Local Website
www.stltoday.com
Best Place for a First Date
Busch Stadium
700 Clark Avenue, St. Louis 63102, 314-345-9600, www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stl/ballpark/
Best Place for a Last Date
McDonald's
Multiple area locations including:
9131 West Florissant Avenue, Ferguson 63136, 314-524-4366, www.mcdonalds.com
Best Place to Live
Tower Grove South
www.towergrovesouth.org
Best Place to Meet Men
Ballpark Village
601 Clark Avenue, St. Louis 63102, 314-345-9481, www.stlballparkvillage.com
Best Place to Meet Women
Schnucks
Multiple area locations including:
10275 Clayton Road, Ladue 63124, 314-991-0510, www.schnucks.com
Best Place to Take Out-of-Town Guests
City Museum
750 North 16th Street, St. Louis 63103, 314-231-2489, www.citymuseum.org
Best Public Restroom
The Ritz-Carlton
100 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton 63105, 314-863-6300, www.ritzcarlton.com/St_Louis
Best Thing to Happen to St. Louis This Year
Ballpark Village
601 Clark Avenue, St. Louis 63102, 314-345-9481, www.stlballparkvillage.com
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Goods & Services
Best Bike Shop
Big Shark Bicycle Company
6133 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63112, 314-862-1188, www.bigshark.com
Best Book Store
Left Bank Books
399 North Euclid Avenue, St. Louis 63108, 314-367-6731, www.left-bank.com
Best Car Wash
Waterway Gas & Wash
Multiple area locations including:
10559 Old Olive Street Road, Creve Coeur 63141, 314-567-3670, www.waterway.com
Best CD/Record Store
Vintage Vinyl
6610 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63130, 314-721-4096, www.vintagevinyl.com
Best Clothing Store for Kids
Once Upon a Child
Multiple area locations including:
5626 Telegraph Road, St. Louis 63129, 314-293-1851, www.onceuponachild.com
Best Clothing Store for Men
Kohl's
Multiple area locations including:
9701 Watson Road, Crestwood 63126, 314-822-2933, www.kohls.com
Best Clothing Store for Women
Nordstrom Rack
1585 South Brentwood Boulevard, Brentwood 63144, 314-785-1030
and 1453 St. Louis Galleria, Richmond Heights 63117, 314-884-4900, www.shop.nordstrom.com
Best Hotel
Moonrise Hotel
6177 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63112, 314-721-1111, www.moonrisehotel.com
Best Mall
West County Mall
80 West County Center Drive, Des Peres 63131, 314-288-2020, www.shopwestcountycenter.com
Best Vintage Shop
Avalon Exchange
6388 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63130, 314-725-2760, www.avalonexchange.com
* * *
Sports & Recreation
Best Athlete's Butt
Yadier Molina
Best Blues Player
T.J. Oshie
Best Cardinals Player
Yadier Molina
Best Coach
Mike Matheny
www.mikematheny.com
Best Picnic Spot
Art Hill
5595 Grand Drive, St. Louis 63112, 314-367-7275, www.stlouis-mo.gov/citygov/parks/forestpark
Best Rams Player
Robert Quinn
Best Sports Bar
Hot Shots
Multiple area locations including:
12664 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights 63043, 314-485-3240, www.hotshotsnet.com
Best Sports Broadcast Personality
Mike Shannon
www.stlouis.cbslocal.com/personality/mike-shannon
* * *
Food & Drink
Best 3 a.m. Bar
Pin-Up Bowl
6191 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63112, 314-727-5555, www.pinupbowl.com
Best Bakery
Lubeley's Bakery & Deli
7815 Watson Road, Shrewsbury 63119, 314-961-7160, www.lubeleysbakery.com
Best Bar Bar
Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63130, 314-727-4444, www.blueberryhill.com
Best Barbecue
Pappy's Smokehouse
3106 Olive Street, St. Louis 63103, 314-535-4340, www.pappyssmokehouse.com
Best Beer Selection
International Tap House
Three area locations including:
1711 South 9th Street, St. Louis 63104, 314-621-4333, www.internationaltaphouse.com
Best Breakfast
Uncle Bill's Pancake & Dinner House
3427 South Kingshighway, St. Louis 63139, 314-832-1973
and 14196 Manchester Road, Ballwin 63011, 636-394-1416
Best Burger
Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63130, 314-727-4444, www.blueberryhill.com
Best Chain Restaurant
Dewey's Pizza
Five area locations including:
124 North Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood 63122, 314-821-7474, www.deweyspizza.com
Best Chef
Gerard Craft
(Niche, Brasserie, Taste, Pastaria)
Best Coffeehouse
The Mud House
2101 Cherokee Street, St. Louis 63118, 314-776-6599, www.themudhousestl.com
Best Craft Brewery
Schlafly
2100 Locust Street, St. Louis 63103, 314-241-2337, www.schlafly/tap-room
and 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood 63143, 314-241-2337, www.schlafly.com/bottleworks
Best Deli/Sandwich Shop
Blues City Deli
2438 McNair Avenue, St. Louis 63104, 314-773-8225, www.bluescitydeli.com
Best Desserts
Jilly's Cupcake Bar
8509 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63124, 314-993-5455, www.jillyscupcakebar.com
Best Dive Bar
Hair of the Dog
1212 Washington Avenue, St. Louis 63103, 314-241-3644
Best Farmers' Market
Soulard Farmers' Market
730 Carroll Street, St. Louis 63104, 314-622-4180, www.soulardmarket.com
Best Fast Food
Lion's Choice
Multiple area locations including:
11265 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton 63044, 314-739-0544, www.lionschoice.com
Best French Fries
The Post Sports Bar & Grill
7372 Manchester Road, Maplewood 63143, 314-645-1109, www.thepostsportsbar.com
and 763 Old Ballas Road, Creve Coeur 63141, 314-736-1205, www.thepostsportsbar.com
Best Gay Bar
Just John
4112 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis 63110, 314-371-1333, www.justjohnclub.com
Best Happy Hour
Three Kings Public House
6307 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63130, 314-721-3355, www.threekingspub.com
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
6726 Chippewa Street, St. Louis 63109, 314-481-2652, www.teddrewes.com
and 4224 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis 63111, 314-352-7376, www.teddrewes.com
Best Indian Restaurant
House of India
8501 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63124, 314-567-6850, www.hoistl.com
Best Italian Restaurant (Cheap)
Zia's Restaurant
5256 Wilson Avenue, St. Louis 63110, 314-776-0020, www.zias.com
Best Italian Restaurant (Not Cheap)
Charlie Gitto's
Three area locations including:
5226 Shaw Avenue, St. Louis 63110, 314-772-8898, www.charliegittos.com
Best Mexican Restaurant
Mission Taco Joint
6235 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63130, 314-932-5430, www.missiontacostl.com
and 908 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis 63104, 314-858-8226, www.missiontacostl.com
Best New Restaurant
Salt + Smoke
6525 Delmar Boulevard, University City 63130, 314-727-0200, www.saltandsmokestl.com
Best Outdoor Dining
Vin De Set Rooftop Bar and Bistro
2017 Chouteau Avenue, St. Louis 63103, 314-241-8989, www.vindeset.com
Best Outdoor Drinking
John D. McGurk's Irish Pub
1200 Russell Boulevard, St. Louis 63104, 314-776-8309, www.mcgurks.com
Best Pizza (Thick Crust)
Pi
Five area locations including:
14870 Clayton Road, Chesterfield 63017, 636-527-5070, www.pi-pizza.com
Best Pizza (Thin Crust)
Imo's Pizza
Multiple locations including:
1000 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis 63139, 314-644-5480, www.imospizza.com
Best Place for Cocktails
Drunken Fish
Multiple locations including:
639 Westport Plaza Drive, Maryland Heights 63146, 314-275-8300, www.drunkenfish.com
Best Place for Late-Night Dining
Courtesy Diner
Three area locations including:
3155 South Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis 63139, 314-776-9059, www.courtesydiner.com
Best Restaurant for Vegetarians
Mai Lee
8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood 63144, 314-645-2835
Best Restaurant When Someone Else Pays
Tony's
410 Market Street, St. Louis 63102, 314-231-7007, www.saucecafe.com/tonys
Best Steak
Citizen Kane's Steak House
133 West Clinton Place, Kirkwood 63122, 314-965-9005, www.citizenkanes.com
Best Sushi
Drunken Fish
Multiple locations including:
1 Maryland Plaza, St. Louis 63108, 314-367-4222, www.drunkenfish.com
Best Thai Restaurant
King & I
3155 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis 63118, 314-771-1777, www.kingandistl.squarespace.com
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Pho Grand
3195 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis 63118, 314-664-7435, www.phogrand.com
Best Wine & Liquor Store
Randall's Wines and Spirits
Four area locations including:
1910 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis 63104, 314-865-0199, www.shoprandalls.com
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Arts & Entertainment
Best All-Ages Venue
The Pageant
6161 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63112, 314-726-6161, www.thepageant.com
Best AM Radio Personality
Doug Vaughn
www.wgnu920am.com
Best Art Gallery
Saint Louis Art Museum
1 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis 63110, 314-721-0072, www.slam.org
Best Band
The Urge
www.theurge.net
Best Band Name
Sleepy Kitty
www.sleepykitty.bandpage.com
Best Casino
River City Casino & Hotel
777 River City Casino Boulevard, St. Louis 63125, 314-388-7777, www.rivercity.com
Best Concert of the Past 12 Months
Billy Joel
Best Dance Club
HandleBar
4127 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis 63110, 314-652-2212, www.handlebarstl.com
Best FM Radio Personality
Guy Phillips
www.y98.cbslocal.com/personality/guy-phillips/
Best Hair on a Local TV Personality (Female)
Jasmine Huda
www.twitter.com/jhuda
Best Hair on a Local TV Personality (Male)
Mike Bush
www.twitter.com/mikebushksdk
Best Karaoke
Double D's Den
5204 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis 63109, 314-481-4794, www.facebook.com/DoubleDsDen
Best Live-Music Venue
The Pageant
6161 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63112, 314-726-6161, www.thepageant.com
Best Local Album of the Past 12 Months
Joe Mancuso - Cut to the Chase
www.mancusojazz.com
Best Movie Theater
Moolah Theatre & Lounge
3821 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis 63108, 314-446-6868, www.stlouiscinemas.com/moolah
Best Music Festival
LouFest
www.loufest.com
Best Musical Act (not a band)
Joe Mancuso
www.mancusojazz.com
Best New Arts Organization
The Improv Shop
510 North Euclid Avenue, St. Louis 63115, 314-459-5372, www.theimprovshop.com
Best Radio Show (Music)
Greaser's Lunchbox
www.kdhx.org
Best Radio Station (Music)
KDHX
www.kdhx.org
Best Radio Station (Talk)
KMOX
www.kmox.com
Best Rock Club
The Pageant
6161 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis 63112, 314-726-6161, www.thepageant.com
Best Theater Company
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
130 Edgar Road, Webster Groves 63119, 314-968-4925, www.repstl.org
Best Theater Production
Addams Family
www.muny.org
www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com
Best TV News Anchor
Mike Bush
www.twitter.com/mikebushksdk
Best Vocalist (Female)
Miss Jubilee
www.miss-jubilee.com
Best Vocalist (Male)
Steve Ewing
www.steveewingmusic.com
Best Weathercaster
Dave Murray
www.twitter.com/DaveMurrayFOX2
Best Zoo Animal
Penguin
www.stlzoo.org
All material © 2024 Riverfront Times, St. Louis, MO. All rights reserved.
