Best & Worst 2015: Dining & Nightlife

Behold: the full list of Best & Worst 2015 survey winners, in the Dining & Nightlife category.

Best Restaurant for the View and Food: The Boathouse (either location: 4708 E. Old Main St., 622-2628; 4602 Millridge Parkway, 744-2545)

Precious few dining spots in Richmond boast waterway views, but The Boathouse managed to lock down two. The James River and the Swift Creek Reservoir provide silvery stage lighting for the likes of oysters on the half shell, strip steak with onion straws and crabmeat pizza with asparagus. Going for lunch? Try their unusual take on bánh mì: pickle-studded crispy catfish with a jalapeño remoulade.

2. Amuse  3. Legend Brewing Co.

Best Mexican: Plaza Azteca (6623 W. Broad St., 888-9984; 10099 Brook Road, 262-1523; 15801 WC Main St., 897-1124; 12020 W. Broad St., 360-7439)

Plaza Azteca goes hard on the “little extras,” highlighting fusion fare like a black kale jalapeño Caesar, beefy chorizo sliders with bacon and chicken-stuffed pineapple with al pastor sauce. And you just can’t resist the tableside guacamole. Get your requisite burritos, nachos, enchiladas and fajitas there, too.

2. Mexico Restaurant  3. Maya Mexican Grill and Tequileria

Best Italian: Edo’s Squid (411 N. Harrison St., 864-5488)

There’s a reason why people like Spike Lee eat at Edo’s when they’re in town. Actually, there are many reasons: the famous crispy-salty-tender eggplant Parm; the skillfully prepared, buttery rockfish; the seasonal additions like rabbit stew; the perfectly salty, lemony calamari. Oh, and every single pasta dish. It’s busy, it’s communal, and it’s brilliantly Northern Italian.

2. Mamma ‘Zu  3. La Grotta

Best Indian: Lehja (11800 W. Broad St., Suite 910, 364-1111)

When a Richmond eatery gets written up by D.C. critic Todd Kliman, it’s not to be taken lightly. His accolades were mighty: “Outside of DC’s Rasika, this might be the best Indian restaurant in the region.” You can get your classic Indian fare — like chicken tikka masala or lamb rogan josh — or you can venture into magical territory with tandoori lamb chops and a mushroom-potato sauté.

2. Lemon Cuisine of India  3. Curry Craft

Best Asian-Inspired Cuisine: Peter Chang China Café (11424 W. Broad St., 364-1688)

Peter Chang’s food inspires the kind of cravings that cannot be satisfied by any other hand, no matter how deft. There’s just something about the level of flavor achieved in dishes like the dry-fried eggplant and the tea-smoked duck with fried onions, not to mention the hearty gamut of ingredients he uses (pork belly, wild mushrooms, sour cabbage). The addiction is worth it.

2. Mekong  3. Fat Dragon

Best Takeout Place in Richmond: 8 1/2 (401 Strawberry St., 358-8505)

8 1/2, like many works of genius, is a polarizing force. If you’re on board with their particular brand of delicious, then you’re a proselyte for life, telling everyone that it’s the best Italian in town. What’s the difference between 8 1/2 and other pizza/pasta/sandwich joints? The pizza is golden-toasty on top, the pasta is a vision in fresh garlic, and the sandwiches are real heroes [rimshot].

2. Sticky Togogo  3. Alamo BBQ

Restaurant That Epitomizes Richmond: Lemaire (101 W. Franklin St., 649-4629)

It’s not only Lemaire’s longevity that cinches its place as a Richmond archetype; it’s chef Walter Bundy’s menu. Each entry is a tiny Virginia fairy tale unto itself (imagine the story of slow-braised Jamerson Farm rabbit strudel with Byrd Mill grits and garlic winter greens), and his use of local ingredients exemplifies what this city’s food scene does best: It supports its own.

2. The Tobacco Company  3. The Roosevelt

Best Happy Hour: Lemaire (The Jefferson, 101 W. Franklin St., 649-4629)

Sweeping staircase? Check. Bronze alligator? Check. Beautifully appointed bar? Check. Equally beautiful $5 happy hour drinks? [Insert record-needle scratch.] Every day of the week, Lemaire offers a few options, including Virginia wine and beer, for just five simoleons. Double deal and grab three appetizers off the bar menu for $20, too. Even if you aren’t a local, you certainly look like one from here.

2. Joe’s Inn  3. (Tie) Pearl Raw Bar; The Tobacco Company

Best Bloody Mary: Millie’s Diner (2603 E. Main St., 643-5512)

Half-hour wait for a brunch table? No problem. Millie’s will happily keep your tab on a Post-it note, tracking your Bloody Mary intake while you wait. Don’t let the speed and deftness with which the cocktail is made fool you. That tomato concoction hits you right in the feels — it should, too. It’s been nationally recognized in Time magazine.                                                          2. The Boathouse 3. Bellytimber Tavern

Best Church Hill Restaurant: The Roosevelt (623 N. 25th St., 658-1935)

Stop someone on the street in Richmond and ask for a dinner recommendation, and it’s highly likely that they’ll send you to The Roosevelt. Inventive, addictive, Southern-spun takes like a pimento cheese-spiked poutine are undeniable, and ingredients are sourced locally. Chef Lee Gregory notes, “It makes work feel right, when farmers are bringing in something new every day.”

2. The Hill Café  3. Dutch & Co.

Best South of the River Restaurant: Southbound (3036 Stony Point Road, 918-5431)

A trip to Southbound can be a family affair, a hot date, a business meeting or a night at the bar. It’s a versatile, well-appointed spot that prides itself on doing casual food very, very well: fried catfish, roasted chicken, pasta, wings. Casual, but your chicken might come out with heavenly smoked tomato, and your pasta might be squid-ink bucatini.

2. The Boathouse at Sunday Park  3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Best Place for a Healthy Lunch: The Daily Kitchen & Bar (2934 W. Cary St., 342-8990)

The list of responsibly sourced, health-boosting ingredients used by The Daily is far too long to list here, but know that when you sit down in the airy, green dining room, almost everything put in front of you is either local, organic, eco-certified or fair-trade. Gluten-free, vegan, nut-free and Paleo diets are also welcome (and the food still tastes good).

2. Ellwood Thompson’s  3. Urban Farmhouse

Best Carytown Restaurant: Can Can Brasserie (3120 W. Cary St., 358-7274)

Dining amid the shiny brass, glass and sass that is Can Can, one can definitely entertain delusions of grandeur. Or perhaps fantasies of the breezy French life one leads in a parallel universe. Classics like boeuf bourguignon and escargot are always available, and don’t miss out on whatever fresh delicacies are floating through the raw bar.

2. The Daily Kitchen & Bar  3. (Tie) Secco Wine Bar; Water Coastal Kitchen

Best Fan Restaurant: Heritage (1627 W. Main St., 353-4060)

“The Fan is such a unique neighborhood,” says Heritage co-owner Emilia Sparatta. “It has historical beauty, a thriving art scene, and there’s a sense of pride on every street. It’s a diverse and vibrant community, and we couldn’t be happier to be here.” And if they keep serving pork fries and house-made pasta with accoutrements like soft poached eggs and buratta, they’ll be there for a very long time.

2. Joe’s Inn  3. Acacia mid-town

Best Far West End Restaurant: Peter Chang China Café (11424 W. Broad St., 364-1688)

So, some trivia: Peter Chang has cooked for the James Beard House, the Chinese

Embassy in D.C. and Chinese President Hu Jintao. A film based on his food and followers was in the works for a while with Fox Searchlight Pictures. Followers, you ask? Yep — D.C. folks kept tight tabs on him as he moved from eatery to eatery earlier in his career. He’s a white tiger. Eat his food.

2. Tazza Kitchen  3. Patina

Best West End Restaurant: Stella’s (1012 Lafayette St., 358-2011)

Oh, Stella. She’ll woo you with complicated Greek masterpieces like artichoke moussaka just as readily as with her roasted chicken, which is the essence of succulence (and which you can now grab at sister location Stella’s Grocery, across the street, to take home and devour animalistically in the privacy of your own home). Pro tip: Take a comprehensive tour of Greek wines while you dine.

2. Toast  3. The Continental Westhampton

Best New Restaurant: Southbound (3036 Stony Point Road, 918-5431)

Southbound’s menu is a collaboration between The Roosevelt’s Lee Gregory and Heritage’s Joe Sparatta, and if you read the rest of this list, you might note that they’re two well-loved chefs around town. Mix in the expertise of farmer Matt Gottwald, and you’ve got an unbeatable team putting out fresh, local, creative dishes destined to take you straight to Pleasure Town.

2. Metzger Bar and Butchery  3. Graffiato

Best Shockoe Restaurant: The Tobacco Company (1201 E. Cary St., 782-9555)

If a genteel interior with an “all the hits” menu is what you’re after, The Tobacco Company is your go-to spot. Everyone talks about the she-crab soup, the pimento cheese-adorned oysters and the slow-

roasted prime rib. Live music four nights a week (Thursday to Sunday) and a massive bar might turn your dinner into an all-night affair.

2. Julep’s  (which moved to Grace Street in June) 3. La Grotta

Best Burgers: Burger Bach (10 S. Thompson St., 359-1305; 2225 Old Brick Road, Glen Allen, 716-6748)

Aside from blissfully juicy, super-stacked burgers made from grass-fed New Zealand beef, Burger Bach slings “fresh, live and wild” seafood. (It’s not on the menu, but you can make your own moules frites with their bang-on fries.) Assistant General Manager Eric Dickens notes, “Our New Zealand wines are also a highlight, especially the sauvignon blancs. They’re a big hit.”

2. Carytown Burgers & Fries  3. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Best Downtown Restaurant: Comfort (200 W. Broad St., 780-0004)

The ol’ meat and three is an increasingly rare find at restaurants these days, but Comfort’s got you covered with your choice of anything from crispy fried chicken to buttery, fresh tilefish in the protein column, plus the accompanying small army of tender, Southern-inspired veggie sides and a basket of skillet cornbread. The fireworks-caliber special desserts (Cheerwine vinegar pie with corn cob-jelly cream? Hickory nut pie?) are absolutely not to be missed.

2. Max’s on Broad  3. Rappahannock

Best Restaurant Overall in the Region: The Roosevelt (623 N. 25th St., 658-1935)

James Beard nominations; nationally published Best Restaurant, Best Bar and Chef to Watch lists; Elby wins; “Rising Star” designations … these guys are going platinum with their luscious, Southern-inspired fare and gutsy bar moves. In a handful of years, The Roosevelt has secured its place as the quintessential Richmond dining experience, blazing a path for a full-scale food-and-drink renaissance.

2. Acacia mid-town  3. (Tie) Lemaire; Stella’s

Best Chop House: Buckhead’s (8510 Patterson Ave., 750-2000)

Finally, the age-old question has been answered: The beef is, in fact, at Buckhead’s. You can get it au poivre, fromage (with gorgonzola and walnuts), with béarnaise or just glistening in its own aged-to-perfection juices — and each cut is trimmed and chopped on the premises. Of course, you could also make a night (or five) of it drinking some of the most sought-after wines in the city; Buckhead’s has 700-plus bottles on its list.

2. Hondos Prime  3. (Tie) Morton’s The Steakhouse; Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Best Variety of Beer on Tap and/or Bottled (not a brewery): Mekong (6004 W. Broad St., 288-8929)

In 2013, Mekong added a new tap system, The Perlick Perl Flow Control, and it keeps all of the restaurant’s beer at a prime temperature for excellent quaffing. With rare kegs and aggressive rotation, you have 52 taps of local, regional, national and international brews. Try another 58 at The Answer Brewpub, Mekong’s sister spot next door. Beer is the answer.

2. Capital Ale House  3. Sedona Taphouse

Best Grocery Store: Kroger (Multiple locations at kroger.com.)

With growler stations in the Short Pump and Chesterfield locations and Murray’s Cheese Shops at several others, Kroger is positioning itself as a true go-to grocery. It’s merging your run-of-the-mill weekly shopping trip with entertaining and interesting necessities.

2. Fresh Market  3. Whole Foods Market

Best Barbecue: Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue (1119 N. Boulevard, 355-6055; 8205 W. Broad St., 346-4227)

The keyword here is smoke. Buz and Ned’s sets its barbecue apart with a seriously bold, smoky flavor — one that’s created a tribe of fanatics spreading over state lines. It’s a recipe that bonded Buz to Ned when they discovered each other decades ago. Prior to that magic moment, so the story goes, it had been handed down from family member to family member for 150 years. You can taste the history in it.

2. Alamo BBQ  3. (Tie) Deep Run Roadhouse; Q Barbeque

Best Specialty/Gourmet Grocery Shop: Fresh Market (10 N. Nansemond St., 355-3190; 1527 N. Parham Road, 282-3823; 1200 Huguenot Road, Midlothian, 897-0300)

Three locations in Richmond offer the intriguing mix of wine, beer, nuts, flowers and prepared food that makes it hard to leave Fresh Market without spending way more than your budget. While the stores carry some great national and international brands, they also seek to have a local component in each location: Their Local 100 program is committed to selling goods from producers within 100 miles of each store.

2. Southern Season  3. Ellwood Thompson’s

Best Organic/Health Food Store: Ellwood Thompson’s (4 N. Thompson St., 359-7525)

Since 1989, Ellwood’s (as it is more affectionately referred to) has created a haven for the alternative eater and a welcoming spot for anyone who’s tiptoeing around or full-on embracing such a diet. This year, in order to more efficiently serve the hungry masses, store management added two parking lot attendants during the lunch rush.

2. Whole Foods Market  3. Good Foods Grocery

Best Late-Night Snack: Red Eye Cookie Co. (708 W. Grace St., 620-7280)

Milk and warm cookies ’til all hours may seem like a guilty pleasure reserved for college kids, but everyone can partake. Owner Brayden Pleasants says that while VCU is indeed their main source of cookie monsters, the rest of Richmond has developed a pretty significant sweet tooth as well. “There is just something about cookies,” Pleasants says.

2. (Tie) Don’t Look Back; Galaxy Diner   3. Weezie’s Kitchen

Best Chocolate and/or Candy Shop: For the Love of Chocolate (3136 W. Cary St., 359-5645)

For owners James Kinard and Brian Grygiel, it’s a numbers game — For the Love of Chocolate has been open for more than 23 years, with 6,000 different chocolate items, 300 different chocolates in the candy case and more than 15 local chocolate brands (not to mention thousands of candy-driven devotees).

2. Chocolates by Kelly  3. Gearharts Fine Chocolates

Best Locally Made Brew: Gingerbread Stout (Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, 2408 Ownby Lane, 420-2420)

In only three short years, the 9.2 percent Imperial Milk Stout brewed with baby ginger from Casselmonte Farm and Bearer Farms honey has become a cult favorite, with lines wrapping around the brewery for the annual bottle release. It could be the perfect 100 score on Beer Advocate, or it could be that it’s darn delicious. Either way, gear up — this years’ release is Nov. 7, 2015.

2. Hardywood Singel  3. Legend Brown

Best Restaurant That Accommodates Dietary Restrictions: The Daily Kitchen & Bar (2934 W. Cary St., 342-8990)

When the Daily opened in July 2013, gluten-free options were the most requested accommodation, food-wise. “They are still at the top of the list,” owner Michelle Williams says, “but we are seeing a sharp rise in guests following a Paleo diet. Our menu is already vegan-friendly, so modifications are unnecessary.”

2. Ipanema  3. (Tie) Lemaire; Toast

Best Local Frozen Treat Shop: Sweet Frog (3137 W. Cary St., 213-3089)

Think of it as the little fro-yo chain that could. With meager beginnings in Short Pump in 2009, Sweet Frog recently announced plans to take over the world … almost literally. Following its late-January acquisition by Boxwood Holding Partners, a downtown Richmond firm, the chain expects to open stores in Egypt and Asia in the near future.

2. Gelati Celesti  3. Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream

Best Deli Sandwiches: Coppola’s Deli (2900 W. Cary St., 359-6969)

The need for a meaty, tangy, pepper-studded Italian sub can be overwhelming if you’re caught unawares. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in the vicinity of Carytown, where you can sink your teeth into the Industrial at Coppola’s. Its 33 years of sandwich making are readily apparent in every flavor-packed, deli-stacked bite. From owner Tom Roukous: “It’s an authentic Italian deli — the Italian meats and cheese we carry, and the bread. The bread is so important.”

2. Perly’s  3. Chiocca’s

Best Noodle/Ramen Restaurant: Foo Dog (1537 W. Main St., 342-1800)

“I think the success in Foo Dog is because we are fluid,” says Chris Staples, director of hospitality for EAT Partners, the group that owns Foo Dog. “We have fun with the ramen styles and the food at Foo.” Chef Ken Liew creates his own riff on popular ramen recipes, and the most popular at Foo is his Malaysian ramen. Made with coconut milk, it’s vegan and vegetarian-friendly if you get it with tofu.

2. Shoryuken Ramen  3. (Tie) Mekong; My Noodle & Bar

Most Underrated/Under-the-Radar Restaurant (Tie) Belmont Food Shop (27 N. Belmont Ave., 358-7467); Lunch/Supper (1213-1215 Summit Ave., 353-0111)

Belmont chef Mike Yavorsky reveals, “It really is a one-, two-man show here. We have an event space that can accommodate 15 to 20 people and an outdoor marble patio that is perfect for happy hour.” Meanwhile, Lunch/Supper owner Rick Lyons is happy to be under the radar: “We are all about the experience, and we sell that experience — cold beer, great food and good service.”

2. The Savory Grain  3. (Tie) Balkan Restaurant; Dinamo

Best Biscuit Sandwich: Early Bird Biscuit Co. & Bakery (5411 Lakeside Ave., 335-4570)

On an average Saturday, Early Bird bakers are whisking up 500 biscuits. That’s more than a biscuit a minute (the spot is only open from 7 a.m. to noon). Available flavors change every day, but their consistent good taste is strictly enforced by owner and baker Tim Laxton, who says, “We make biscuits until people stop buying them.” The lunch menu contains the sandwiches.

2. Saison Market  3. Lunch/Supper

Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Breakfast: Joe’s Inn (205 N. Shields Ave., 355-2282; 2616 Buford Road, 320-9700)

At the South Side location, kids eat free all day on Monday and Tuesday. Breakfast is served in epic quantities, with no dish priced above $13 (and that’s for steak). The Fan location is considered a Richmond institution by locals. A good reason behind such a following could be the tenure in the kitchen. Manager Matthew McDonald says Joe’s Inn has three cooks who’ve been working there for over 20 years, with four others cooking for more than a decade.

2. McLeans Restaurant  3. Boychik’s Deli

Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Lunch: Lunch (1213 Summit Ave., 353-0111)

With three years under Lunch’s belt, owner Rick Lyons says they have to be creative while keeping things simple. “It is hard for me to change the menu around,” he says. If we move anything, it is noticed.” At $10, the Lyons Den — roast beef and Swiss on a challah roll — is a popular midday meal for anyone on a budget.

2. Christopher’s Runaway Gourmay  3. (Tie) Alamo BBQ; The Black Sheep; Boychik’s Deli; Dot’s Back Inn; Mekong

Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Dinner: Joe’s Inn (205 N. Shields Ave., 355-2282; 2616 Buford Road, 320-9700)

Matthew McDonald of the Fan location credits great neighbors and a great neighborhood for Joe’s Inn’s longevity and consistency. “Having seven cooks with that much experience allows the customer to come in and get the same experience time and time again,” he says. Popular menu items are Spaghetti a la Greek at $13.95 and the Spaghetti a la Joe at $12.95, both packed with sauce and large enough to sink your ship.

2. Mamma ‘Zu  3. (Tie) Dutch & Co.; Supper

Best Bagels and Lox: Cupertino’s NY Bagels and Deli (3621 Cox Road, 747-4005)

Up before the sun, Cupertino’s owner Walter Baietti Sr. has been making bagels for 10 years; Nino Palazzoto, the manager of the Short Pump location, has been at it for five. Baietti, Palazzotobe and family make more than 4,000 kettle-boiled bagels every day to be enjoyed at their own store, at coffee shops across the region or as the bread base for sandwiches in restaurants all over the city. The chewy rings of dough will soon be available at Whole Foods, too.

2. Perly’s  3. New York Deli

Best Cocktail Menu: The Rogue Gentlemen (618 N. First St., 477-3456)

Artful, seductive food and a killer cocktail list make up the dichotomy that is The Rogue Gentlemen. It’s the place to go if you want to learn something new; both chef and bartender love perfecting recipes with rare ingredients and flavor profiles. From owner John Maher: “I’ve been obsessing over rum for a while now, and I fell in love with the funky, grassy weirdness of rhum agricole. It’s entirely underrated.”

2. Heritage  3. The Roosevelt

Best Seafood Entrées: Rappahannock (320 E. Grace St., 545-0565)

Travis Croxton, owner of Rappahannock, and Dylan Fultineer, the restaurant’s chef de cuisine, know they’re putting out a great product because they are using great products. The Croxtons have been in seafood, mainly oysters, since 1899. Seafood expertise aside, both Croxton and Fultineer recommend that after you try Rappahannock’s seafood, you should return for their pork chop, sourced locally from Harmony Hill Farm in Glen Allen.

2. The Hard Shell  3. The Boathouse (either location)

Best Selection of Soups: Zoup! (10835 W. Broad St., 823-6446)

Franchisees Jeff and Betsy Lee selected their location because of its potential to attract lunch seekers from the nearby Innsbrook office park. And it has worked. The West End business community has embraced the eatery’s daily rotation of 12 soups, with flavors like split pea and chicken potpie. Currently on the menu are summer offerings, including a bright gazpacho.

2. (Tie) Ellwood Thompson’s; Tarrant’s Café; Union Market

Best Pizza by the Slice: Bottoms Up Pizza (1700 Dock St., 644-4400)

Bottoms Up General Manager Charlie Lichter’s got some pointers for you: “Our most uncommon slice is our Chesapeake, which is a white-sauce pizza with fresh crabmeat and onions — and lots of mozzarella. It’s one that people don’t always think about ordering, but when they try it, they always come back. Most popular on the list is our Loaded Pizza — a red-sauce slice for which you have to love veggies and you have to love meat.”

2. Mary Angela’s Pizzeria  3. Belmont Pizzeria

Best Coffee Shop: Lamplighter Roasting Co. (116 S. Addison St., 728-2292; 26 N. Morris St.; 1719 Summit Ave., 447-2648)

It seems the expansions keep coming from the Lamplighter crew. Now you can get your favorite coffee in three locations in Richmond, all with the same easygoing vibe. Recognition flows freely for this urban coffeehouse — earlier this year, Food Network star Alton Brown set up camp at the Addison Street location before his AB Road Eats tour stop in Richmond, tweeting his experience complete with photos.

2. Rostov’s Coffee & Tea  3. Black Hand Coffee Co.

Best Homemade Sausages: Sausage Craft (sausagecraft.com, 354-0672)

Owner Chris Mattera says we can expect some new sausages to debut and maybe, just maybe, an all-beef hot dog. Also, they are unveiling color-coded packaging for the sausages sold at Kroger. Can’t remember the name of that sausage with Sriracha and Devil’s Backbone lager? (It’s called Saturday Nite, by the way.) Not a problem — it will have its own package color.

2. Belmont Butchery  3. Metzger Bar and Butchery

Best Shop That Serves Sweets: Shyndigz (1903 W. Cary St., 938-3449)

Shyndigz makes Richmond look really good. It’s not every city that can boast an entire restaurant dedicated to serving massive slabs of painstakingly crafted desserts. Not motivated by a rotating 15-item dessert repertoire? (Really?) They also have a great wine list. And sangria.

2. Pearl’s Cupcake Shoppe  3. Sugar Shack

Best Off-the-Menu Brunch: Millie’s Diner (2603 E. Main St., 643-5512)

Whether you’ve lived in Richmond all your life or just for a few months, someone has implored you to visit Millie’s for brunch. Their plea most likely went something like this: The Bloody Mary is tight, the open kitchen is a must-see, or the Devil’s Mess is a must-have. Or they told you that Millie’s has been making good food for more than 20 years, and that it shouldn’t be missed. Heed their cries.

2. Tarrant’s Café/West  3. (Tie) Heritage; Stella’s

Best Restaurant for a Business Meeting: (Tie) Lemaire (The Jefferson Hotel, 101 W. Franklin St., 649-4629); The Tobacco Company (1201 E. Cary St., 782-9555)

“We work with a lot of companies that return again and again,” says Shannon Siriano Greenwood, director of marketing for the Tobacco Company. Lemaire offers all you could want for a business meeting: an award-winning restaurant and rooms for meeting with just a few colleagues or all of them.

2. (Tie) Can Can Brasserie; Hondos Prime  3. The Grapevine

Best Farmers Market Vendor: Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen

Five years ago, Mrs. Yoder’s was selling just 100 doughnuts per market day. Now the output can range from 2,000 to 3,000. The demand for these delicious sourdough rings creates one of the longest lines at the South of the James Market, with people often waiting half an hour or longer for their fix. A new addition this year is a fresh strawberry-cream donut. If Saturdays don’t work for you, catch them Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Westbury Pharmacy or Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Great Big Greenhouse.

2. Amy’s Garden  3. Victory Farms