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!

The points from people that are complaining are valid. I mean how many people do you see defending a topic they are unhappy about? None.

Sure you have people defending the editor (or whatever Eric is), but no one id defending the actual votes, which leads you to at least question the results - Especially the ones where one restaurant wins in 20 different spots.

@Anthony: What restaurant won in 20 different spots? I must have missed it.

I think it's silly to say that there must be validity to the complaints because no one's on here defending their votes. People are much more likely to submit a comment when they have something to complain about than when they are happy with the result of something -- that's just human nature.

Now, I will say that about 6 of the places I voted for won in their category and there are also quite a few that I disagree with, but does that make me think this is fixed? NO. It just makes me realize that sometimes my opinion is different than the opinion of others. What a shocker!

Anthony: If your point is that if nobody is defending the results they must be suspect, please allow me to address that directly: the results are not suspect. We take our Best Of Rochester voting very seriously, and we watch diligently for any kind of ballot stuffing or unfair campaigning. The businesses have no say in the balloting process whatsoever. The results are really, truly determined by the literally THOUSANDS of people who vote every year. I don't know how we could possibly make it more clear, or honest, than that.

Here's a list based in reality - not the same ole blah restaurants. Please don't edit this - I'd like to see if anyone else comments, or if I am the only person in Rochester who thinks the published list is completely bogus.

Best Pizza: Tony D's
Best Barbecue: Sticky Lips
Best Dessert: Mona Lisa Cafe
Best Asian Restaurant: (Asian???) Cantonese House - Chinese
Best Italian Restaurant: Pane Vino
Best Mexican Restaurant: No authentic Mexican food exists in Rochester
Best Greek Restaurant: (should be Mediterranean) King David
Best Sandwich Shop: Pinos
Best Restaurant For Kids: Natural Oasis
Best Restaurant for Vegetarians: Natural Oasis
BEST DINER: Mike's New York
BEST INDIAN: Udipi Cafe at Mysore Woodlands
BEST JAPANESE: Pirhana (Fusion) Edoya (Authentic)
BEST THAI: Esan
BEST KOREAN: Sodam
BEST RESTAURANT IN ROCHESTER: Good Luck

Kate, I agree with you on almost all of them. Asian foods are not my favourite so I cannot comment on those. I think Rochester does not have an amazing restaurant. 2vine is too loud and cramped, good luck, for me, is just over the top but I think tapas are a scam, I have been three times and the food is good but the atmosphere is distasteful. Anyways good list.