Best of the Valley 2009, reader survey results

We asked, you told us. Here are the results of what you think is the best in the Valley.





















FOOD & RESTAURANTS

Bagels
Einstein Bros.

Bakery
Paradise Bakery

Bar Food
Yard House

Barbecue
Famous Dave’s

Beer Selection
Yard House

Bread Store
Wildflower

Breakfast
Good Egg

Brew Pub
Four Peaks

Burger
In-N-Out

Burrito
Chipotle

Business Lunch
Houston’s

Candy Store
See’s

Cheese Shop
AJ’s Fine Foods

Chef
Robert Graham, Arizona Grand Resort

Chinese Food
Flo’s

Chips & Salsa
Aunt Chilada’s

Chocolate Chip Cookie
Paradise Bakery

Croissants
Starbucks

Deli
Chompie’s

Diner
5 & Diner

Farmers Market
Vincent on Camelback

French Fries
In-N-Out

Fruit Stand
TIE:
Sprouts
Ranch Market

Gourmet Supermarket
AJ’s Fine Foods

Greasy Spoon
Texaz

Greek Restaurant
Daphne’s

Happy Hour
Sapporo

Health Food Restaurant
Sweet Tomatoes

High Tea
The Phoenician

Hot Dogs
Ted’s

Ice Cream/Yogurt
TIE:
Coldstone Creamery
Mojo Yogurt

Indian Restaurant
Bombay Spice

Inexpensive Breakfast
McDonald’s

Inexpensive Lunch
Costco

Inexpensive Dinner
Pei Wei

Italian Restaurant
Olive Garden

Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Famous Dave’s

Ladies Lunch
Arcadia Farms

Late-Night Grub
Filiberto’s

Margarita
Z Tejas

Mexican Restaurant
Arriba

New Restaurant
TIE:
Blanco Tacos & Tequila
The Mission
True Food Kitchen

Outdoor Dining
Aunt Chilada’s

People-Watching
Sky Harbor Airport

Pizzeria
Oregano’s

Restaurant with A View
Rustler’s Rooste

Romantic Dinner
Melting Pot

Sandwich
TIE:
Chompies
Subway

Seafood Restaurant
Eddie V’s

Special-Occasion Restaurant
TIE:
Mastro’s
Rustler’s Rooste  

Southwest Restaurant
Z Tejas

Steak House
Mastro’s

Sunday Brunch
El Chorro

Sushi
Kona Grill

Thai Restaurant
Thai Pan

Tortillas
Carolina’s

Under-appreciated Restaurant
Amano Bistro

Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant
Pita Jungle

Wine Selection
AJ’s

MEDIA
Blogger
Jaimee Rose, azcentral.com

Columnist
E.J. Montini, Arizona Republic

Radio DJ/Team
Beth & Bill, 99.9FM KEZ

Radio Station
99.9 FM KEZ

Radio Talk Show Host
Darrell Ankarlo, 92.3FM KTAR

TV News Anchor
Rick D’Amico, FOX 10

TV Sportscaster
Bruce Cooper, NBC Channel 12

TV Station
FOX 10

TV Weather Person
TIE:
Bill Bellis, ABC 15
Sean McLaughlin, CBS 5

Traffic Report
Detour Dan Beach, CBS 5

SPORTS
Arizona Cardinals Player
Kurt Warner

Arizona Diamondbacks Player
Brandon Webb

Phoenix Coyotes Player
Shane Doan

Phoenix Mercury Player
Diana Taurasi

Phoenix Suns Player
Steve Nash

Play-by-Play Announcer
Al McCoy

LIFESTYLE
Annual Event
TIE:
FBR Open
Scottsdale Culinary Festival

Blues Bar
Rhythm Room

Bowling Alley
AMF Bowling

Casino
Casino AZ

Caterer
Famous Dave’s BBQ

Cigar Bar
Magnum

City Park
Encanto, Phoenix

Coffee House
Starbucks

Day Spa
Massage Envy

Dive Bar
Ernie’s

Example of Old Arizona Charm
El Chorro

Fitness Club
TIE:
LA Fitness
The Village

Irish Pub
TIE:
Casey Moore’s
Rosie McCaffrey’s
Rula Bula

Jazz Bar
Rhythm Room

Live Music
TIE:
Marquee Theater
Yucca Tap Room  

Place to Run
The canal

Place to Take Visitors
Desert Botanical Garden

Place to Find Romance
Mill Avenue

Place to See a Saguaro
Desert Botanical Garden

Place to Take the Kids
Oasis Water Park, Arizona Grand Resort

Place to Walk the Dog
South Mountain

Roadtrip in Arizona
Sedona

Nightclub
Barcelona

Valley Hike
Camelback Mountain

Yoga Studio
Bikram Yoga Institute

SERVICES
Car Mechanic
Metro Tune

Computer Repair
Geek Squad

Custom Tailor
Danese

Dog-sitting
Petsmart

Dry Cleaner
TIE:
Maroney’s
Prestige

Facial
Arizona Grand Resort Spa

Flower Delivery
Cactus Flower

Full-Service Barber
TIE:
Floyd’s Barber Shop
V’s Barbershop

Full-Service Gas Station
Danny’s Family Car Wash

Manicure/Pedicure
Ocean Luxury Nails

Massage
Massage Envy

Men’s Haircut
Arizona Grand Resort

Personal Trainer
Andrew Fodge, Fitness by Andrew

Phoenix Internet Site
azcentral.com

Shoe Repair
Cobblestone

Ticket Agency
ShowUp.com

Woman’s Haircut
Scissors, Rox, Paper

SHOPPING
Antiques
E-bay

Baby Gifts
Babies R Us

Bath & Body Store
Bath & Body Works

Bicycles
Tempe Bicycle

Books
Barnes & Noble

Children’s Clothing
Children’s Place

Florist
Cactus Flower

Furniture
IKEA

Gift Shop
Hallmark

Golf Gear
Van’s

Health Food Store
Sprouts

Hiking/Outdoor Gear
REI

Kitchen Store
Sur La Table

Men’s Clothing
Men’s Wearhouse

Music Store
Zia Records

Native American Art
Heard Museum Gift Shop

Off-Beat Gift Store
Changing Hands

Paper Store
Papyrus

Pet Boutique
Mackie’s Parlor

Sports Gear
Dick’s Sporting Goods

Vintage Store
Buffalo Exchange

Women’s Clothing
Nordstrom

Women’s Shoes
DSW