I do NOT understand why Jeremiah's keeps getting these votes. There are places in Rochester with better food and much better service

I agree with JT- Also, I think people are paying to be put on here or people just aren't voting cause really Alladin's for outdoor patio? When Virtu or Pier 45 have the best ...really .

To SLD: Feel free to disagree with the readers' choices, but know: nobody paid any money to be involved in Best of Rochester. It's the readers' call from the primary ballot all the way to the finals.

The same places keep winning year after year, it seems. I think patrons of certain places get together and fill out dozens of these, or fill out even though they may not have been there.

I really don't understand the results of the poll... As an example, Dibella's winning for best sandwiches doesn't make sense, if you are voting on a best "food", oe "Quality".
Dibella's, which is maybe a step up from Subway, probably won on "popularity". Park & Oxford Cafe should have taken this category - their sandwiches are works of art!

To Linda: It's possible what you're suggesting is going on, but we watch very carefully for ballot stuffers, and weed out any suspect ballots. I personally counted every print ballot this year and I am confident that we did a good job discounting those.

And honestly, the print ballots were such a small figure compared to the online votes, they had a very small impact on the overall standings. (And it's nearly impossible to stuff the web ballot since it blocks the computer's IP address once the ballot has been taken on it.)

So multiple ballots from the same IP are discounted? Looks like none of my coworkers or my votes counted then :-(

Travis: If you were able to take the survey online, it counted. The software just prevents the same computer from taking the survey more than once.

Having never been to Bill Gray's, and seeing that they've won best burger six times, some of my friends and I went to check it out. And what a huge disappointment. We all had terrible, flavorless, greasy burgers with flavorless condiments. It literally tasted like a cheeseburger from The Ritz, an RIT cafeteria. I'd say it was on par with McDonald's quality meat. It simply cannot compare to places like Five Guys or Gatehouse. I do not understand why Bill Gray's wins these awards when there are so many alternatives that are vastly superior.

Don't get too excited folks; it's obvious The Best Of is merely a popularity contest. I mean come on: Best Fish Fry?? Simply not true. Best Original Band?? The majority of music is not even original. A highly disappointing number of results are extraordinarily poor and pathetic representations of this city's flavor and culture. I only read this stuff to laugh year after year and treasure the true hidden bests while trying to assist increased patronage to restaurants and bars deserving said titles in ways tried and true: word of mouth.

This is obviously not a true best of Rochester but more like a best of who decided to vote. Some of the choices I think are valid. Best New Restaurant and Best Restaurant for Kids are the only only ones I can think of. I love Hogan's and think it is a great place to eat, much better then most places, but Best Established? Who thinks of the categories. I think these awards are like the Peoples choice awards on TV.(hmm do they even do that any more)

I don't understand the rampant complaining. Does anyone honestly expect to see their personal favorites listed in every single category? Anyone can vote and anyone will vote.

Anyway, woot to Tap & Mallet!

Has anyone EVER had Windjammers Burgers and Wings? They are soo much better than Bill Grays and Jeramiahs! I dont think enough people get involved with this around the different parts of the city. WIndjammers has flippin awesome wings and burgers!! Like the guy makes his own mixture and all those good wings gotta have them!

I agree with most comments re: best burger ... my personal favorite is Red Robin whom I did vote for. Theirs does cost a little bit more, but, I feel it is well worth it. Dibella's is just the local favorite, Quiznos is far better .... However, because Dibella's is home grown Quiznos does not get the respect they deserve.

A) I feel sorry for Eric. Good Job Eric. I do research for a living & not easy to deliver the results. You can't please ALL of the people.
B) Why are people arguing? Real people voted, these are their answers. Yes, YOU may have had a burger that was better, but maybe not a lot of people frequented the place you did. It might be a popularity contest, but what is wrong with that? Popular means successful for a reason. Lighten up, people.

Unless I'm blind, you listed Asian food as a cross section of Asian foods as a food style unto itself. Are you afraid you may use up too much space? Chinese is different from Thai which is different from Japanese which is different from Korean which is different from Indian and so on. Each of those deserves a separate category!
You can't roll all of those into one! The King and I is far from the best. Who are these people that vote? Terrible choices!