2019 Best of Erie Winners

Erie is special for so many reasons. Whether it's in the heart of the city or on the edges of the county, there's something great to be found. Covering diners, barbershops, new local businesses, or just the best place to have happy hour, you have chosen the best of Erie. With nearly 376,000 votes across 110 categories, this year's voting proved that each business, product, or service comes with a loyal fan base – many of these races were incredibly close. So without further ado, here is the 2019 Best of Erie.

Runners up are listed in order of votes received.

Goods and Services

Best Local Business

Winner: Waldameer & Water World

Runners up: Erie Insurance, Kraus Department Store

Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: The Cork 1794

Runners up: Underdog BBQ, The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Best Locally Made Product

Winner: Smith's Hot Dogs

Runners up: Romolo Chocolates, Mighty Fine Donuts

Best Car Dealership

Winner: Bianchi Honda

Runners up: New Motors, Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram

Best Bank

Winner: Erie Federal Credit Union

Runners up: PNC Bank, Northwest Bank

Best Antique Shop

Winner: Oregon Antiques

Runners up: Main Street Antiques, The Green Eyed Lady

Best Boutique

Winner: Grasshopper

Runners up: Mama Mia's BOWtique, A La Carte Gift Shop

Best Consignment Shop

Winner: The Sassy Peacock

Runners up: Claudine's Consignment, Cobb's Second Time Around Thrift Shop

Best Jewelry Store

Winner: Dahlkemper's Jewelry Connection

Runners up: Breakiron Jewelers, Sacred Piercing

Best Furniture Store

Winner: John V. Schultz

Runners up: Arthur F. Schultz, Furniture Row

Best Local Book Store

Winner: Pressed

Runners up: Books Galore, Werner Books

Best Health Food Store

Winner: Whole Foods Co-op

Runners up: The Juice Jar, Zero Gravity

Best Barbershop

Winner: Ruiz Barber Shop

Runners up: Colony Barber Shop, Russo's Barbershop

Best Spa

Winner: Coventina Day Spa

Runners up: Panache Salon and Spa, Ambridge Rose Spa & Salon

Best Beauty Salon

Winner: Panache Salon and Spa

Runners up: Moxi Hair Salon, Ambridge Rose Spa & Salon

Best Dog Groomer

Winner: Paws 'n Claws

Runners up: Mud Puppies Self Serve Dog Wash, Buzz n' B's Aquarium and Pet Shop

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

Winner: The ANNA Shelter

Runners up: Erie Humane Society, Because You Care, Inc

Best Bike Shop

Winner: John Adams Cycling & Fitness

Runners up: Competitive Gear, Lake Country Bike

Best Auto Repair Shop

Winner: Bonnell's Collision Center

Runners up: Bianchi Honda, Bates Collision

Best Web Developer

Winner: Epic Web Studios

Runners up: Erie Multimedia, weCreate Website Design & Marketing

Best Graphic Designer

Winner: Alice DeGeorge

Runners up: Stephanie Bruce, Matt Texter

Best Advertising Agency

Winner: ErieMultimedia

Runners up: RFrank Media, SkyRocket Group

Best Law Firm

Winner: Vendetti & Vendetti Law Firm

Runners up: MacDonald, Illig, Jones, & Britton LLP, Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C.

Best Real Estate Agency

Winner: Howard Hanna

Runners up: Marsha Marsh, Agresti Real Estate

Best Bed and Breakfast

Winner: Victoria Inn Bed and Breakfast

Runners up: Spencer House Bed & Breakfast, Grape Arbor Bed and Breakfast

Best Place to Get a Six Pack

Winner: U Pick Six

Runners up: Wegmans, Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

^{Appropriately, U Pick 6 was again voted Best Place to Get a Six Pack in 2019 (beating out cheeky nominations for several local gyms).}

Best Smoke/Vapor Shop

Winner: Smoker Friendly

Runners up: Hippie and the Hound Vapor Store and Lounge, Vapor Cabana

Best Tattoo Parlor

Winner: Ink Assassins

Runners up: Wayward Tattoo Studio, Mid-Town Tattoo

Culture & Nightlife

Best Art Event

Winner: Gallery Nights

Runners up: Arts & Drafts Festival, Erie Art Museum Spring Show

Best Festival

Winner: Celebrate Erie

Runners up: Tall Ships, Erie's Blues & Jazz Festival

Best Music Series

Winner: 8 Great Tuesdays

Runners up: Sunset Music Series, Live Music at the Sunset Grill

Best Heritage Festival

Winner: Panegyri Greek Festival

Runners up: Zabawa Polish Festival, Erie Irish Festival

Best Museum

Winner: Erie Art Museum

Runners up: ExpERIEnce Children's Museum, Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Best Art Gallery

Winner: Erie Art Gallery

Runners up: Glass Growers Gallery, Artlore Studio

Best Community Theatre

Winner: Erie Playhouse

Runners up: PACA, Mercyhurst University Theater Program

Best Dance School

Winner: Long's School of Dance

Runners up: Little Dance Studio, Lake Erie Ballet School

Best Photographer

Winner: Sarah Peach

Runners up: Rob Frank, Paul Gibbins

Best Fine Artist

Winner: Kaitlyn Page

Runners up: Rachel Berlin, Evan Everhart

Best Band (Original)

Winner: Eric Brewer & Friends

Runners up: First to Eleven, Six Year Stretch

Best New Band/Musician (Last Two Years)

Winner: Tiny Paper Boats

Runners up: Scarlett, Save Yourself

Best Cover Band

Winner: The Geek Army

Runners up: The Groove, Abbey Road

Best Vocalist

Winner: Lindsay Vendetti

Runners up: Brittany Morton, Brooke Surgener

Best MC

Winner: Charles Brown

Runners up: Brandi "FRESCO" Carlini, Ducky

Best Instrumentalist

Winner: Eric Brewer

Runners up: Stephen Trohoske, Brooke Surgener

Best DJ

Winner: Millennium Sound

Runners up: DJ Bill Page, DJ Nitro

Best Venue for Local Music

Winner: Coconut Joe's

Runners up: Basement Transmissions, King's Rook Club

Best Night Club

Winner: Coconut Joe's

Runners up: Bourbon Barrel, Big Bar

Best College Bar

Winner: Plymouth Tavern

Runners up: Cornerstone Bar & Grill, Edinboro Hotel

Best Sports Bar

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Runners up: Coach's Sports Bar & Grill, Cornerstone Bar and Grill

Best Bar for Hooking Up

Winner: Coconut Joe's

Runners up: Plymouth, The Zone Night Club

Best Lounge

Winner: Room 33

Runners up: Cloud 9 Wine Bar, Sneaky Pete's

Best Happy Hour

Winner: U Pick 6 Taphouse

Runners up: Cloud 9 Wine Bar, Tap House

Best Irish Pub

Winner: Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub

Runners up: McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe, Sullivan's

Best New Bar or Club (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: The Cork 1794

Runners up: Riverside Brewing, The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Food & Drink

Best Restaurant

Winner: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Runners up: Federal Hill Smokehouse, The Cork 1794

Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: The Skunk and Goat Tavern

Runners up: Underdog BBQ, Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

Best Chef

Winner: Jean Paul (Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro)

Runners up: Joe Perino (The Cork 1794), Ashley Sayre de Rivas (Lavery Brewing Co.)

Best Bakery

Winner: Art's Bakery

Runners up: Icing On the Lake, Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Coffee Shop

Winner: Ember + Forge

Runners up: Brew Ha Ha, Tipsy Bean

Best Ice Cream Shop

Winner: Sara's

Runners up: Whippy Dip, Fat Lenny's

Best Dessert

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners up: Icing on the Lake, Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Chocolates or Candy

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners up: Stefanelli's Candies, Pulakos Chocolates

Best Donut Shop

Winner: Mighty Fine Donuts

Runners up: H & K Donut Shop, Jack Frost Donut Shop

Best Dinor

Winner: The Breakfast Place

Runners up: Flip Cafe, New York Lunch

Best Brunch

Winner: Peek'n Peak

Runners up: Voodoo Brewery Erie, Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Best Brewery

Winner: Voodoo Brewery Erie

Runners up: Erie Brewing Company, Lavery Brewing Company

Best Locally Made Beer

Winner: Voodoo Love Child (Voodoo)

Runners up: Railbender (Erie Brewing Company), Dulachan (Lavery Brewing Company)

Best Winery

Winner: Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co

Runners up: Mazza Vineyards, Heritage Wine Cellars

Best Distillery

Winner: Erie Distillery

Runners up: Luminary Distilling, Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing

^{Pour one out for newcomer Erie Distillery, winner of the 2019 Best of Erie award for Best Distillery.}

Best Patio

Winner: Rum Runners

Runners up: Sloppy Duck, Calamari's Squid Row

Best Bar Food

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Runners up: Plymouth Tavern, U Pick 6 Tap House

Best Sandwich Shop

Winner: Picasso's

Runners up: Teresa's Italian Deli, Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

Best Deli

Winner: Teresa's Italian Deli

Runners up: Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat, Tickle's Deli

Best Burger

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Runners up: Avonia Tavern, Voodoo Brewery Erie

Best Pizza

Winner: John's Wildwood Pizza

Runners up: Virgil's Plate, Stevo's Pizza

Best Wings

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Runners up: One Way Inn, The Park Tavern

^{Odis 12 remains one of Erie's comfort food institutions, winning Best Bar Food, Best Burger, and Best Wings in 2019. [bottom] Since reopening in the West Erie Plaza, The Cork 1794 has been very well-received, evidenced by its dual recognition as Erie's Best New Business and Best New Bar or Club.}

Best Sushi

Winner: Chopstix Asian Restaurant

Runners up: Samurai Kitchen + Sushi, 1201 Kitchen

Best Food Truck

Winner: The Que Abides

Runners up: The Big Cheese Food Truck, A Waffle Miracle

Best Place for Vegan or Vegetarian Food

Winner: Whole Foods Co-op

Runners up: The Juice Jar, Like My Thai

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Winner: Federal Hill Smokehouse

Runners up: Underdog BBQ, Three B Saloon

Best Seafood Restaurant

Winner: Smugglers' Wharf

Runners up: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro, 1201 Kitchen

Best Asian Restaurant

Winner: Chopstix Asian Restaurant

Runners up: Golden Wok, Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

Best Italian Restaurant

Winner: Serafini's Restaurant

Runners up: Mi Scuzi, Valerio's Italian Restaurant

Best Mexican Restaurant

Winner: El Canelo

Runners up: Torero's, El Amigo Mexican Grill

Best Thai Restaurant

Winner: Like My Thai

Runners up: Khao Thai Restaurant, Thai Eatery

Best Mediterranean or Middle Eastern Restaurant

Winner: Casablanca Grill

Runners up: Habibi Mediterranean Cuisine, Shish Kabob

Best Romantic Restaurant

Winner: Mi Scuzi

Runners up: The Cork 1794, Cloud 9 Wine Bar

People & Places

Best Place to Work

Winner: Wegmans

Runners up: Erie Insurance, UPMC Hamot

Best Place for a First Date

Winner: Presque Isle

Runners up: The Cork 1794, Sara's Restaurant

Best Place to Take Your Dog

Winner: Presque Isle

Runners up: Frontier Park, Asbury Woods

Best Radio Station

Winner: HAPPI 927

Runners up: The Wolf 99, Star 104

Best Radio Personality (or Radio Team)

Winner: Jessica Curry Star 104 Mornings

Runners up: Shari McBride, Captain Dan

Best TV Personality

Winner: Sean Lafferty

Runners up: David Belmondo, Kara Coleman

Best Filmmaker

Winner: MenajErie Studio

Runners up: John Lyons, Brittany Hills

Best Yoga Studio

Winner: yogaErie

Runners up: YMCA, LECOM

Best Tattoo Artist

Winner: "Gentle" Josh Makowski

Runners up: Rachel Travis, Jennifer Christina

Best Local Actor

Winner: Shawn Clerkin

Runners up: Brandon Vogt, Chris Bucci

Best Local Actress

Winner: Adele Crotty

Runners up: Jessica Annunziata, Kate Neubert-Lechner

Best Nonprofit

Winner: ANNA Shelter

Runners up: Shriners Hospitals for Children Erie, Emma's Footprints

Best Bartender

Winner: Brittany Stowe (Plymouth Tavern)

Runners up: Sarah Mazzone (Lavery Brewing Co.), Kristin Walker (The Cork 1794)

Best University

Winner: Penn State Behrend

Runners up: Edinboro University, Gannon University

Best Fitness Club

Winner: Planet Fitness

Runners up: YMCA, LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center

Best Athletic Competition

Winner: Barber Beast on the Bay

Runners up: Presque Isle Triathlon, Highmark QUAD Games

Best Bowling Alley

Winner: Greengarden Lanes

Runners up: Eastway Lanes, Rolling Meadow Lanes

Best Team to Root for

Winner: Erie Otters

Runners up: Erie SeaWolves, Eerie Roller Girls

Best Lawyer

Winner: Erin Connelly

Runners up: David Ridge, John Knox

Best Dentist

Winner: Shawn Casella

Runners up: Ronald Merski, Nicole Johnson

Best Golf Course

Winner: Peek'n Peak

Runners up: Whispering Woods Golf Club, Mound Grove Golf Course

Best Real Estate Agent

Winner: Sarah Parsons O'Neill

Runners up: Levi A. Marsh, Stacey Santos

Best Local Entrepreneur(s)

Winner: R.J. Messenger (Underdog BBQ, Iron Empire)

Runners up: Jason and Nicole Lavery (Lavery Brewing Company), Hannah Kirby (Ember + Forge)