Best of Bowling Green

Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 3, 2007

During the first part of September, readers of the Daily News and the Amplifier were invited to nominate their favorites in 169 categories.

The top three (or more in the case of a tie) nominations in each category were then voted on by readers in an online survey during the last part of September.

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Here are the winners. The first business listed under each category was voted “Best” and the other businesses listed are favorites.

This is the Best of Bowling Green.

—Food and Eating Out—

Best Place for Breakfast

Cracker Barrel

Waffle House

Judy’s Castle

Best Breakfast Buffet

Shoney’s

Ryan’s

Country Mill

Best Sunday Brunch

Cracker Barrel

O’Charley’s

Hartland Cafe at the University Plaza

Best Place for Lunch

Cambridge Market

Mariah’s

Buckhead Cafe

Best Place for a Business Lunch

Mariah’s

Rafferty’s

440 Main

Best Cafe (limited menu)

Cambridge Market

Buckhead Cafe

Bread & Bagel

Best Casual Dining

Rafferty’s

Mariah’s

Longhorn

O’Charley’s

Best Fine Dining

Mariah’s

440 Main

Brickyard

Best Romantic Restaurant

Brickyard

440 Main

Mariah’s

Best Restaurant for Kids

Chuck E. Cheese

Chick-fil-a

McDonalds

Best Place for Cheap Eats

Wendy’s

Taco Bell

McDonalds

Best Fast Food

Chick-fil-a

Wendy’s

McDonalds

Best NEW Restaurant (open 12 months or less)

Panera Bread

Catfish House

Bistro

Best Restaurant Overall

Mariah’s

Longhorn

O’Charley’s

Best Restaurant Service

Rafferty’s

Mariah’s

Longhorn

Best Place for American Food

Cracker Barrel

Rafferty’s

Mariah’s

Best Place for Burgers

Culver’s

Steak-n-Shake

Wendy’s

Best Place for French Fries

McDonalds

Zaxby’s

Rally’s

Best Place for Barbeque

Smokey Bones

Split Tree

Smokey Pig

Best Place for Pizza

Pizza Hut

Mancino’s

Papa John’s

Best Place for Chinese Food

Beijing

China Buffet

China Express

Best place for Sushi

Shogun

Yuki

Ichiban

Best Place for Mediterranean Food (Italian, Greek, Bosnian, etc)

Brickyard

You and Me

Anna’s

Best Place for Mexican / Hispanic Food

Puerto Vallarta

El Mazatlan

Garcia’s

Pepper’s

Best Buffet (not breakfast)

Ryan’s

Country Mill

Beijing

Best Place for Seafood

Red Lobster

Brickyard

440 Main

Captain D’s

Best Place for Catfish

Catfish House

Donita’s

Judy’s Castle

Cracker Barrel

Best Place for Chicken

Zaxby’s

Chick-fil-a

KFC

Best Place for a Salad

Rafferty’s

Mariah’s

Ruby Tuesday

Best Place for Ice Cream

Chaney’s Dairy Barn

Baskin-Robbins

Brewster’s

Best Bakery

Riley’s Bakery

Panera Bread

Vincent’s Bagels and Bites

Best Place for Sandwiches

Mancino’s

Cambridge Market

Subway

Linzie’s

Best Place for Vegetarian dishes

Cambridge Market

Brickyard

Bread and Bagels

Best Place for a Steak

Longhorn

Montana Grille

Outback

Best Place for Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings

Zaxby’s

Toot’s

—Drinks and Drinkers—

Best Place for Coffee

Starbucks

Panera

Spencers

Best Soft Drink

Coca-Cola

Diet Coke

Pepsi

Best Domestic Beer

Bud Light

Miller Light

Budweiser

Best Imported Beer

Corona

Heineken

Red Stripe

Best Sports Bar

Buffalo Wild Wings

Toot’s

Utley’s

Best Bar to Play Billiards

CueTime

Checks

Utley’s

Best Place for Karaoke

Betty’s

Froggy’s

City Limits

Best Dive Bar

Tidballs

Betty’s

3 Brothers

Best Place for Happy Hour

440 Main

Rafferty’s

Mariah’s

Montana Grille

Best Place for Cocktails

440 Main

Rafferty’s

Montana Grill

Best Nightclub / Bar for Live Music

Brewing Company

440 Main

Tidballs

Best Liquor Store

Chuck’s

Vette City

Greenwood Spirits

—Professional Services and Shopping—

Best Dentist

Eli Jackson

Tim Whittaker

Scott Barbee

Best Chiropractor

John Erskine

Mark Woodward

Brandon Crouch

Best Place for a Massage

Bella Salon and Spa

Sun Suites Salon and Spa

Regina’s Salon & Day Spa

Best Eye Doctor

Tammy Love

John Briewa

Gerald Sullivan

Best Place for Laser Vision Correction

Downing-McPeak

Rynerson Vision

Clear Choice Laser

Best Physician

Jack Glasser

Joseph Allen

James Burt

Best Pediatrician

Chris Smith

Pippa Pinkley-Stewart

Kelly Kries

Best Auctioneer

Joe Houchens

Ken Byrd

Steve Cherry

Best Real Estate Agent

Stacey Fergerson

Jeremy Dawson

Kyle Nunn

Best Attorney

Charlie Evans

Zachary Kafoglis

Dennie Hardin

Best Photographer

Kent Bryant

Alan Davis

Lori Dawson

Best Place for Photo Processing

Shutterbug

Wal-mart

Walgreens

Best Place for Custom Framing

Hobby Lobby

Deck the Walls

B&J Gallery

Suitable for Framing

Best Place for Creative Supplies (craft, art, scrapbooking, etc)

Hobby Lobby

Parent-Teacher Store

Mighty Dollar

Best Hair Salon

Bella Salon & Spa

Friendz Salon

Off Broadway

Best Place for a Haircut (women)

Bella Salon & Spa

Friendz Salon

Regina Webb Salon & Spa

SunSuites Salon and Spa

Best Place for a Haircut (men)

Bella Salon & Spa

Friendz Sallon

Off Broadway Hair Salon

Best Place to buy Beauty Supplies / Cosmetics

Bella Salon & Spa

Sally’s

State Beauty Supply

Best Place for a Tattoo / Body Piercing

Toppers

Carters

Outer Loop

Blue Wallace

Best Florist

Deemers

Stems & Thee

Flowers by Shirley

Canary Cottage

Best Place for Childcare

First Baptist Child Development Center

La Petite Academy

Scottsville Road Baptist Preschool

Best Bank

US Bank

South Central Bank

BB&T

Bank with the Best Tellers / Staff

US Bank

South Central Bank

BB&T

Best Credit Union

Service One Credit Union

Autotruck Federal Credit Union

Southeast Financial Federal Credit Union

Best Place for a Mortgage / Loan

US Bank

South Central Bank

Service One Credit Union

Best Investment Advisor

Jeff Mullins

Dena Nelson

Chris Wood

Hal Schmitt

Best Dry Cleaner

Big B

Hinton’s

Fabric Dry Cleaners

Best Place to have a Business Meeting

Carroll Knicely Conference Center

University Plaza / Sloan Convention Center

Mariah’s

Best Insurance Agency

State Farm

Blake, Hart, Taylor and Wiseman

Charles M. Moore Insurance Agency

Best Place to buy Pet Supplies

Petco

Wal-mart

Pets and More

Best Pet Specialist (groomers, breeders, kennels, trainers, etc)

A Cut Above Pet Salon

Alpha Pet Boarding

Magic’s Pet Salon

Best Veterinarian

Stan Snodgrass

Pat McGrath

Doug Peterson

Best Place for Hardware / Lumber

Lowes

Home Depot

Ace Hardware

Best Replacement Windows

Lowes

Capitol Window and Door

Window World

Best Place to buy Carpet and/or Tile

Lowes

Deweese

Shop at Home Carpets

Best Place to buy Gardening Supplies / Plants

Lowes

Schott’s Nursery

Home Depot

Best Landscaper

Adam Cassady

Long Lawn and Landscape

Scott Franklin

Best Lawn Service

A Cut Above

Cutting Edge Lawn Care

Lawn Doctor

Best Pool/Spa store

Pool and Spa Depot

AquaLand

Atlantic Pools and Spa

Best Tanning Salon

Express Tan

No Lines

Sun Suites

Best Health Club

Total Fitness Connection

Bowling Green Athletic Club

BG Fitness for Women

Best Martial Arts Instruction

Jeramy Black’s Tae Kwon Do

Sam Smith

East West Kung Fu

Best Place to get pampered

Bella Salon & Spa

Sun Suites

Regina Webb’s Salon & Day Spa

Best Apartment / Condo Complex

Chandler

College Suites

Campus Point

Cedargate

Best Retirement Community / Home

BG Retirement Village

Morningside

Village Manor

Best Place to rent Videos/DVDs

Hollywood Video

Blockbuster

More than Video

Best Place to buy Music

Best Buy

Walmart

The Great Escape

FYE

Best Place to buy Electronics

Best Buy

Home Theatre Solutions

HH Gregg

Walmart

Best Check Cashing / Paycheck Advance

Check into Cash

Checks, etc

Best Pawn Shop

Jewelry Barn

Guns and More

Hilltopper

Best Travel Agency

Winner Tie — AAA Kentucky

Winner Tie — Let’s Travel

Paradise Vacations

Davenport Travel

Best Place to buy a Computer

Best Buy

Office Depot

The Place

Best Place for Cell Phones/Service

AT&T (Cingular)

Bluegrass Cellular

Sprint

Best Place for Antiques

Smiths Grove

Vette City Antiques

Flealand

Riverbend Antiques

Best Furniture Store

Ford’s Furniture

Ashley Furniture

Haverty’s

Thorton’s Furniture

Best Place for Home Accessories

Kirkland’s

Ford’s Furniture

Hobby Lobby

Best Place to buy Bedding

Ford’s Furniture

Bandy Bedding

Trent Bedding

Best Place to buy Gifts

Target

Bella Spa and Salon

Heartstrings

Werner-Lowe

Best Department Store

Kohls

Dillards

Macy’s

Best Place for Men’s Clothing

Kohl’s

Dillard’s

Golden-Farley

Best Place for Women’s Clothing

Kohl’s

Dillards

Bloom

Best Place for Kids’ Clothing

Kohl’s

Children’s Place

Chatters

Best Place to buy Shoes

Shoe Carnival

Dillards

Hyders

Best Place to buy WKU merchandise

WKU Bookstore

Dawahares

Walmart

Kohl’s

Best Place to buy Sporting Goods

Dunham’s

Nat’s

Hibbett’s

Duke’s

Best Place to Bargain Shop

TJ Maxx

Wal-mart

Target

Best Place to buy a Car

Gary Force

Jim Johnson

Martin

Best Place to buy an SUV

Gary Force

Campbell

Martin

Best Place to buy a Luxury Car

BG Imports / BMW

Gary Force

Martin

Best Place to buy a Pre-Owned Vehicle

Gary Force

Bettersworth

Martin

Best Place to buy a Pickup Truck

Gary Force

Campbell

Greenwood

Martin

Best Auto Service Shop

Gary Force

Mark Muffler

Modern Automotive

Best Auto Body Shop

Gary Force

Martin

Jim Johnson

Best Place for Custom Auto Detailing

Waterworks

Fields Detailing

Gary Force

Best Place for an Oil Change

Gary Force

Walmart

Mark Muffler

Best Place to buy Tires

B & B Tire

S & R Tire

Kentucky Tire

Walmart

Best Place for Party Supplies

Party One

Hobby Lobby

Target

Big Fun

Best Party Services (mobile DJs, inflatables, novelty acts, etc)

Party One

Hooks

Big Fun

Best Caterer

Cambridge Market

Sugarbakers

Elegant Occasions

Best Place for a Kids’ Party

Chuck E. Cheese

Imagination Stations

Greenwood Skate Center

Best Jewelry Store

Kay

Jewelry Barn

Morris

Best Jewelry Repair Shop

Goldsmith

Morris

Wanda’s

Best Place to get your car washed

Waterworks

Regal (formerly Tender Touch)

Best Choice

—Fun and Entertainment—

Best Music Radio Station

Sam 100.7

Beaver 96.7

WGGC 95.1

Best Talk Radio Station

WBGN – 1340am

WKCT – 930am

Best local radio personality

Scooter Davis

Tony Rose

Rockin’ Rhonda

Chris the part-timer

Best local radio show

Scooter and Myla (WBVR)

Tony Rose (WKLX)

Summers and Winters (WUHU)

Best local TV station

WBKO

WNKY

WKYU

Best Local TV personality

Chris Allen

Amy Bingham

Whitney Ray

Best Place to People Watch

Greenwood Mall

Downtown / Fountain Square

WKU

Best Place to Swim

Russell Sims Aquatic Center at Preston Miller Park

Beech Bend

Southland

Best Fishing Hole

Barren River

Basil Griffin Park / Three Springs

Drakes Creek

Trammel Creek

Best Golf Course

Olde Stone

Crosswinds

Indian Hills

Best Golf Pro Shop

Crosswinds

Indian Hills

Otte Golf

Best Public Park

Basil Griffin Park

Keriakes Park

Covington Woods Park

Best Place to take a Walk

Keriakes Park

Greenwood Mall

Preston Miller Park

Best Place for a Date

440 Main

Mariah’s

Rafferty’s

Great Escape Theater

Best Place for a Family Outing

Jackson’s Orchard

Beech Bend

Basil Griffin Park

Best Place to take a Daytrip (outside of Warren Co)

Nashville

Mammoth Cave

Barren River Lake

Best Place for Free Fun

Concerts in the Park

Basil Griffin Park

Skatepark

Best Place for Teens to Hangout

Greenwood Mall

Skatepark

Southern Lanes

Best Local Blog

Sam’s Blog – http://www.bowlinggreensam.com

Brown Knows Blog – http://www.socu.com/about_blog.cgi

Shotgun Marketing Blog – http://shotgunconcepts.blogspot.com

—Arts and Entertainment—

Best Museum / Art Gallery

Kentucky Museum

L&N Depot

Capitol Arts Gallery

Riverview

Best Visual Artist

Andee Rudloff

C. David Jones

Clarke Willey

Best Local Performance Group

Skip Bond and the Fugitives

Public Theatre of Kentucky

Exit 4

Husky Stache

Best Local Rock Band

Skip Bond and the Fugitives

Exit 4

The Secret

5 Man Trio

Best Local Rap/Hip-Hop Artist or Group

Nappy Roots

Blue Collar Boys

Best Local Country Artist or Group

RhymShot

Curtis Burch and Friends

Lee Harvey

Pryor Express

Best Local Gospel Group

The Crossmen

Glorybound Quartet

Best Local Musician /Singer (individuals)

Steve Wilson

Brennan Graves

Charles Emberton

Stan Snodgrass

Kenny Lee

Lee Harvey

Dana Hester

Joe Meany

Best Song by a Local Artist

“Tennessee” by Floord

“Green Car” by DryLand Fish

“Jealous of the River” by Pat Haney

“Small Town” by Sixth Floor

“Pretty as She Gets” by The Secret

“Ain’t no Room in this House” by Mighty Jeremiahs

“Worn out and Tattered” by Lee Harvey

“Congratulations” by Jay Sizemore

“Irreplacable” by Jason Gregory

“Turn the Screw” by Saint Phoenix

“Indian” by Andy Brasher

“Mafia Man” by My Perfect Apathy

Best Local Songwriter

Pat Haney

Lee Harvey

Daniel Murphy

Best Live Concert / Theatrical Performance Venue

Fountain Square

Capitol Arts

Corvette Ampitheater

Tidballs

Best Local Actor

Trevor Martin

Regina Newell

Zack Smith

Adam Winter Winegarden

Best Local Writer

Gary West

Jim Gaines

Mitchell Plumlee

Best Place for Dancing

Lost River Cave

Brewing Company

440 Main

Best Place for Music Supplies (instruments, sound gear, etc)

Musician’s Pro

Royal Music

KY Music

Best Music Services (recording studios, sound engineering, promotion, etc)

KY Music

Star Studio

Start’n Go

—Only in Bowling Green

Best (or maybe worst) Local Speedtrap

Cemetary Road between the interstate and the Bypass

I-65 between the Corvette Exit and Oakland

Louisville Road between the interstate and the river

Best Local Politician

Mike Buchanon

Jim DeCesare

Elaine Walker

Favorite Famous Person from Bowling Green

Duncan Hines

John Carpenter

Sam Bush

Pauline Tabor

Best Annual Bowling Green Event

Concerts in the Park

Balloons Tunes and BBQ

International Festival