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The Best of
the Best. That is what we call the winners of the third annual
Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine’s
Best of Warrenton Awards as chosen by thousands of our readers.
A few months ago we urged our readers to tell us what they felt were the best
of our great Warrenton area businesses, people, places and organizations in 90
categories. The citizens responded well, both online and in writing, and the
winners are personally being told in advance this year of their great fortune.
One of our missions with The Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine is to continually celebrate
all of the terrific things we have in Warrenton. Another is to give greater exposure
of our businesses and organizations to the people that live here, over half of
whom are commuters, without promoting their competition from other tax bases.
We also think it is important to continually revisit our community because changes
occur on a daily basis. We feel there are so many positive features of Warrenton
that we will never run out of material.
This year we included 90 categories, up
from last year’s
78, based on recommendations from you, our readers. We also eliminated
categories where less than 10% of the ballots had responses.
We will continue to streamline this process each year.
Submitted ballots were up incredibly over previous years. The stacks of faxes
and mailed ballots kept intern Chad Barbaris busy for several weeks manually
inputting the results into a database.
This year the results page is more extensive
because Mike Tedeschi wrote a brief background on most of the
winners. Also,
we decided to continue to publish runners-up that received a
significant percentage of the votes. They represent the many
more wonderful businesses and people that did not finish first
but are obviously well-loved.
The list of winners is as varied as Warrenton itself. National
chains, mom and pop businesses, new stores and long-time landmarks
were all winners. For example, 37 different restaurants received
votes in the Best All-Around Restaurant category. So consider
the Best Of list as just a “slice” of the thousands
of wonderful businesses, places, and people we have to offer.
People will debate the winners. The most important thing is that local residents
have an opinion and passion about our great Town and region. We believe most
competition makes for better business and better choices for our residents.
In no categories were the winners anywhere near unanimous, although there were
some large margins of victory. In others, there were tightly contested races
that came down to the final days, with one category ending up in a dead heat.
There were some great surprises, but in our opinion, no real disappointments.
So, agree with the people who voted or
not, but we urge you to take the time to find out your own favorites
for next year. It could be someplace you haven’t
even heard of until today.
Thank you to our team at Piedmont Press & Graphics
and especially to you, the readers of The Warrenton Lifestyle
Magazine for caring enough to vote.
And now to the winners… |
FOOD
Best All-Around Restaurant
Claire’s at the Depot
Best Catering
Claire’s at the Depot Caterer
Best Fine-Dining Restaurant
Claire’s at the Depot
Best Business Lunch
Claire’s at the Depot
Best Asian Food
Faang
Best Ethnic Cuisine
Faang Restaurant
Best Bakery/Desserts
Mom’s Apple Pie, Café Torino
Best Meal under $10
Chick-Fil-A
Best Meal in a Hurry
Chick-Fil-A
Best Breakfast Place
Frost Diner
Best Casual/Family Restaurant
Applebee’s
Best Coffee
Starbucks
Best Deli Food
Jimmie’s Market
Best Grocery Store
Safeway
Best Healthy Food
Natural Marketplace
Best Ice Cream
Carousel
Best Lunch Place
Panera
Best Salad
Panera
Best Sandwich
Panera
Best Mexican/Latin Food
El Agave
Best Pizza
Pizza Hut
Best Steak
Outback
Best Take-Out
Waterloo Cafe
Best Wings
The Wing Fanatic
Best
Place to Watch Sports
The Wing Fanatic
Best Shopping
Best Antique Store
Fox Den Antiques
Best Appliance Store
Tolson’s Appliance Center
Best Cell Phone Store
Verizon Wireless
Best Electronics Store
Radio Shack
Best Flower Shop
Designs by Teresa
Best Furniture Shop
Rankin’s Furniture
Best Gift Shop
The Town Duck
Best Hardware/Home Improvement Store
Rankin’s Hardware
Best Jewelry Store
Hartman Jewelers
Best Men’s Clothes
Peebles
Best New Business
Chick-Fil-A
Best Paint Store
The Paint Shop
Best Pharmacy
Walgreens
Best Picture Framing
Framing by Cyndy
Best Place for Wine
Iron Bridge Restaurant
and Wine Company
Best Place for Shoes
Peebles
Best Specialty Store
A Formal Affair
Best Thrift Store
White Elephant
Best Women’s Clothes
Christine Fox |
BEST ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION
Best Annual Event
Old Town Warrenton Spring Festival
Best Dance Studio
For a Dancer, Inc.
Best Local Entertainer/Band
Elizabeth Lawrence
Best Nightspot
Molly’s Irish Pub
Best Performing
Art Venue
Rice Theater at Highland School
Best Place for a Picnic
Rady Park
Best Place to Have a Reception
Fauquier Springs Country Club
Best Place to Meet People
Molly’s Irish Pub
Best Place to Play Sports
WARF
Best Place to Watch Sports
The Wing Fanatic
Best Saturday Night Date Spot
Molly’s Irish Pub
BEST - MISCELLANEOUS
Best Artist/Photographer
Sunny Reynolds
Favorite Local Charity Organization
Fauquier Habitat for Humanity
Favorite Elected Official
Mayor George B. Fitch
Best Local Journalist
Don del Rosso – Fauquier Times-Democrat
Best Place to Work
Fauquier Hospital
Best Local Area School
Fauquier High School
Best Teacher
Richard Deardoff |
BEST SERVICES
Best Accounting Firm
Scheulen, Patchett & Edwards
Best Auto Dealership
Country Chevrolet
Best Auto Repair Center
Joe’s Service Center
Best Bank/Financial Institution
The Fauquier Bank
Best Barber Shop
Siggi’s Sports Barber Shop
Best Chiropractor
Dr. Doug Smith, DC
Best Computer Service
Dok Klaus Computer Care
Best Contractor/Handyman
Blackwood Construction
Best Customer Service
A Formal Affair
Best Day Care Center/Preschool
Warrenton Baptist Tiny Tots Care Center
Best Dental Office
The Office of Sentz, Griffin, Tudor and Woodside, DDS
Best Doctor
Steven von Elten – Piedmont Family Practice
Best Dog Groomer
Hound N Hair
Best Dry Cleaners
Acclaim Cleaners
Best Financial Advisor
Tom Tucker – Edward Jones Investments
Best Hair Salon
Salon Emage
Best Health Club
Old Town Athletic Club
Best Hotel/Lodging
Holiday Inn Express
Best Insurance Firm
Carr & Hyde Insurance
Best Law Firm
Gulick, Carson & Thorpe, P.C.
Best Massage/Spa Service
Salon Emage
Best Mortgage Broker
Andreas Keller – Mid-Atlantic Mortgage Corporation
Best Nursery/Gardening
Meadows Farms
Best Opthamologist/Optometrist
The Office of Dr. Samuel L. Weir, O.D.
Best Pediatrician
Dr. Joshua Jakum
Best Physical Therapy
Blaser Physical Therapy
Best Plumber
Appleton Campbell
Best Real Estate Office
Long & Foster Realtors
Best Veterinarian
Dr. Elaine Lutz, DVM – Piedmont Pets |
