Best of Bowling Green
Published 12:00 am Monday, November 3, 2008
- Best of Bowling Green
In August, readers of the Daily News and the Amplifier were invited to nominate their favorites in over 100 categories. In September, the top three (or more in cases of ties) nominees in each category were then voted on by the readers to determine the best. The Best of Bowling Green is not scientific and does not pretend to be. It is offered for entertainment purposes only.
Best Place for Breakfast
* Cracker Barrel
– Judy’s Castle
– Waffle House
– Teresa’s
Best Place for Lunch
* Cambridge Market
– Buckhead Cafe
– Mariah’s
Best Casual Dining
* Rafferty’s
– Mariahs
– Longhorn
– Buckhead Cafe
Best Fine Dining
* Montana Grill
– Brickyard
– 440 Main
– Mandolin
Best Romantic Restaurant
* Mandolin
– Brickyard
– 440 Main
– Mariah’s
Best Place for Family Friendly Dining
* Cracker Barrel
– O’Charley’s
– Ryan’s
Best Place for Cheap Eats
* Wendy’s
– Taco Bell
– McDonald’s
Best Restaurant Overall
* Mariah’s
– Montana Grill
– Longhorn
– Rafferty’s
Best Restaurant Service (Waiters/Waitresses)
* Rafferty’s
– Longhorn
– Montana Grill
Best Place for a Burger and Fries
* Culver’s
– Steak ‘n Shake
– Wendy’s
Best Place for Barbeque
* Smoky Bones
– Smoky Pig
– Split Tree
Best Place for Pizza
* Pizza Hut
– Mancinos
– Papa Johns
Best Place for a Steak
* Longhorn
– Outback
– Logan’s
Best Place for Fish
* Red Lobster
– Catfish House
– Captain D’s
Best Place for Chicken
* Zaxby’s
– Chic-fil-a
– Kentucky Fried Chicken
Best Place for Wings
* Buffalo Wild Wings
– Zaxby’s
– Toot’s
Best Place for a Salad
* O’Charley’s
– Rafferty’s
– Mariah’s
Best Place for Sandwiches
* Subway
– Cambridge Market
– Linzie’s Exceptional Sandiches
Best Place for Ice Cream
* Chaney’s
– Bruster’s
– Baskin-Robbins
Best Place for Asian food (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc)
* Shogun
– Ichiban
– Kyoto
Best Place for Mediterranean food (Italian, Greek, Bosnian, etc)
* Brickyard
– Anna’s
– Verdi
Best Place for Mexican / Hispanic food
* Puerto Vallarta
– El Mazatlan
– Pepper’s
Best Place for Coffee
* Starbucks
– Spencer’s Coffeehouse
– McDonald’s
Best Buffet
* Ryan’s
– Country Mill
– China One
Best Bakery
* Riley’s Bakery
– Panera Bread
– Vincent’s Bagels and Bites
Best Caterer
* Cambridge Market
– WKU – Aramark
– BBQ Junction
Best Dentist
* Eli Jackson
– John Buchanan
– Jeffrey Morgan
Best Physician
* William Wade
– Jack Glasser
– Tim Long
Best Pediatrician
* Debra Sowell
– Chris Smith
– Augusta Mayfield
Best Eye Doctor
* John Breiwa
– Tammy Love
– Trina Warden
Best LASIK doctor
* John Downing
– Jennifer Wentworth
– James Rynerson
Best Drug Store
* Walgreens
– Sheldon’s Express
(formerly Nation’s)
– CVS Pharmacy
Best Health Club or place to Workout / Exercise
* Bowling Green Athletic Club
– Total Fitness Connection
– BG Parks & Rec
– WKU – Preston Center
Best Personal Trainer
* Travis Langman
– Annette Finwood
– Charmaine Barlow
Best Place for a Massage
* Bella Salon and Spa
– Sun Suites
– Regina Webb’s Salon & Spa
Best Place for Martial Arts Instruction
* Jeremy Black’s Tae Kwon Do
– Total Fitness Connection
– East/West Kung-Fu Academy
Best place to help you lose weight
* Weight Watchers
– Total Fitness Connection
– Bowling Green Athletic Club
Best Chiropractor
* John Erskine
– Mark Woodward
– Brandon Crouch
Best Retirement Community
* Bowling Green Retirement Village
– Morningside
– Village Manor
Best Auctioneer
* Ken Byrd
– Joe Houchens
– Lonnie Gann
Best Real Estate Agent
* Jeremy Dawson
– Andy Howell
– Zack Dawson
Best Plumber
* Raymond Hymer
– Millard Martin
– Joe Walton
Best Landscaper and/or Lawn Service
* A Cut Above Lawn Care
– Cutting Edge
– Grade A Lawn and Landscape
Best place for Lawn Equipment Sales & Service
* Lowes
– Faxon’s Outdoor Power Equipment
– Hartland Equipment
Best Pest Control Service
* Tobys Pest Control
– Guarantee Pest Control
– Wheeldon Company
Best Photographer
* Limestone Lake Photography
– Alan Davis
– Lori Dawson Photography
Best Place for Photo Processing
* Shutterbug
– Walmart
– Walgreens
Best Place for Custom Framing
* Hobby Lobby
– B&J Gallery
– Suitable for Framing
Best Place to buy Beauty Supplies / Cosmetics
* Sally’s
– Walmart
– Bella Salon & Spa
Best Hair Salon
* Bella Salon & Spa
– Regina Webb Salon & Spa
– Friendz Salon
Best Barber Shop
* Sports Cuts
– Hair Den
– Dye’s Barber Shop
Best Manicure / Pedicure
* Bella Salon & Spa
– Sun Suites
– Friendz Salon
Best Tanning Salon
* Express Tan
– Sun Tan City
– Solar Connection
Best Florist
* Deemer’s
– Stems & Thee
– Flowers by Shirley
Best Veterinarian
* Stan Snodgrass
– Jerry Smith
– Don Denton
Best Bank or Credit Union
* US Bank
– South Central Bank
– Service One Credit Union
Best Place for a Mortgage / Loan
* US Bank
– South Central Bank
– Service One Credit Union
Best Place for Investments (stocks, mutual funds, 401-k, IRA, etc)
* US Bank
– South Central Bank
– Monticello Banking Company
Best Insurance Agency
* State Farm
– Charles M Moore
– Blake, Hart, Taylor & Wiseman
Best Dry Cleaner
* Big B Cleaners
– Hinton’s Cleaners
– Fabric Dry Cleaners
Best Place for an Oil Change
* Walmart
– Vavoline Express Lube
– Tech Tune
Best Auto Service Shop
* Midas
– Brooks Auto Service
– Modern Automotive
Best Place to get your car washed
* Waterworks
– Regal Auto Wash
– Speedwash
Best Travel Agency
* AAA
– Paradise Vacations
– Let’s Travel
Best Place to have a Business Meeting
* WKU South Campus / Knicely Center
– Mariah’s
– University Plaza / Sloan Convention Center
– Hilton Garden Inn
Best Place to buy Pet Supplies
* Petco
– Walmart
– Fishey Business
Best Place for Creative Supplies (craft, art, scrapbooking, etc)
* Hobby Lobby
– Walmart
– Crafty Hands
Best Place for Music Supplies / Services (studios, instruments, etc)
* Royal Music
– Kentucky Music
– Musician’s Pro
– The Tone Shop
Best Place for Hardware / Lumber
* Lowes
– Ace Hardware
– Home Depot
Best Replacement Windows
* Capitol Window & Door
– Window World
– Window City
Best Place to buy Carpet and/or Tile
* Shop at Home
– Grinstead’s
– Deweese
Best Place to buy Gardening Supplies / Plants
* Lowes
– Schott Gardens
– Ace Hardware
Best Pool/Spa store
* Aqualand
– Pool & Spa Depot
– Atlantic Pools
Best Place to rent Videos/DVDs
* Family Video
– Hollywood Video
– More Than Video
Best local place to buy books
* Barnes & Noble
– Family Christian
– The Book Gallery
– Waldenbooks
Best Consignment / Vintage Shopping
* Beverly Hills Bargain Boutique
– Grandma’s Attic
– Elite Repeats
Best Place to Bargain Shop
* T.J. Maxx
– Dollar Tree
– Beverly Hill Bargain Boutique
– Goodwill
Best Pawn Shop
* Jewelry Barn & Pawn Shop
– EZ Money
– Westside Pawn
Best Place for Cell Phones/Service
* AT&T
– Bluegrass Cellular
– T-Mobile
Best Place to buy Electronics
* Best Buy
– HH Gregg
– Home Theater Solutions
– The Place
Best Furniture Store
* Ford’s Furniture
– Ashley Furniture
– Thorton’s Furniture
– Haverty’s Furniture
Best Place for Home Accessories
* Kirkland’s
– Hobby Lobby
– Ford’s Furniture
Best Place to buy Bedding
* Bandy Bedding
– Trent Bedding
– Just Bedding
– Sit and Sleep
Best Gift Store
* Heartstrings
– Werner-Lowe
– Hallmark
Best Jewelry Store
* Kay’s Jewelry
– Morris Jewelry
– Wanda’s Jewelry
Best Place for Men’s Clothing
* Kohl’s
– Dillards
– Golden Farley
– Jim & Gil’s
Best Place for Women’s Clothing
* Kohl’s
– Dillards
– Macys
Best Place for Kids’ Clothing
* Kohl’s
– Children’s Place
– Chatter’s
Best Place to buy Shoes
* Shoe Carnival
– Hyder’s
– Dillards
Best Place to buy Sporting Goods
* Nat’s Sporting Goods
– Dunham Sports
– Gander Mountain
– Duke Sporting Goods
Best Place to get WKU merchandise
* University Bookstore
– Greenwood Mall
– Walmart
Best Place to buy a new car
* Gary Force
– Jim Johnson
– Martin
Best Place to buy a Pre-Owned Vehicle
* Gary Force
– Campbell
– Bettersworth
Best Place to buy Tires
* Big O Tires
– S&R Tire
– Kentucky Tire
Best Public Park
* Basil Griffin / Three Springs
– Keriakes
– Covington Woods
Best Golf Course
* Olde Stone
– Crosswinds at Hartland
– Bowling Green Country Club
Best Place for a Date
* Great Escape
– The Cellar
– Southern Lanes
Best Place to People Watch
* Greenwood Mall
– Fountain Square / Downtown
– Walmart
Best Place for a Family Outing
* Jackson’s Orchard
– Beech Bend
– Lost River
– Southern Lanes
Best Place for Teens to have fun
* Beech Bend
– Southern Lanes
– Bowling Green Skatepark
– Greenwood Mall
Best Hotel
* University Plaza
– Hilton Garden Inn
– Drury Inn
Best Place for Party Supplies or Services
* Party One
– Hobby Lobby
– Big Fun Entertainment
Best Place to play Billards
* Cue Time
– Southern Lanes
– Checks
– Utley’s
Best Sports Bar
* Double Dogs
– Buffalo Wild Wings
– Toot’s
Best Place for Happy Hour
* 440 Main
– Sonic
– Rafferty’s
– Mariah’s
Best Nightclub / Bar for Live Music
* 440 Main
– Wah-Bah
– Brewing Company
– Tidballs
Best Place to Dance
* The Brewing Company
– Betty’s
– Utley’s
Best Liquor Store
* Chuck Evans
– Shenanigans
– Vette City
Best Museum / Art Gallery
* Kentucky Museum at WKU
– National Corvette Museum
– Houchens Gallery at Capitol
Best Visual Artist
* David Jones
– Andee Rudloff
– Misha Ambrosia
– Bonnie McBain
Best Local Band (Group)
* Skip Bond and the Fugitives
– Blue Light Special
– Exit 4
Best Local Musician /Singer (Individuals)
* Brennan Graves
– Trevor Martin
– Michael Gough
Best Live Concert / Performance Venue
* Fountain Square
– Capitol Arts
– Tidballs
Best local Radio Station
* WBVR – The Beaver 96.7
– WKLX – SAM 100.7
– WUHU – Woohoo 107.1
– WPTQ – 103.7 The Point
Best local radio personality
* Scooter Davis (WBVR)
– Tony Rose (WKLX)
– Brooke Summers (WUHU)
– Rockin’ Rhonda (WDNS)
Best local TV station
* WBKO (13)
– WNKY (40)
– WKYU (24)
Best Local TV personality
* Radar the Weather Dog
– Chris Allen
– Gene Birk
Best Local Performer (actor, actress, comedian, dancer, etc)
* Steve Wilson
– Broadway the Clown
– Husky Stache
Best Local Politician
* Mike Buchanon
– Jim Decesare
– Brett Guthrie
Best Charity / Non-Profit Organization
* Big Brothers Big Sisters
– United Way
– BRASS
Best Bowling Green Festival / Event
* Concerts in the Park
– Balloons Tunes & BBQ
– BG International Festival
Best WKU coach (any sport)
* Mary Taylor Cowles
– David Elson
– Ken McDonald
Business that you wish would come to Bowling Green
* Olive Garden
– Whole Foods
– IHOP
– Bed Bath & Beyond
– Chilis