Lorain County residents have spoken. They have nominated their favorite restaurants, businesses, services, entertainment and people as the best of the best. We’ve tallied the results and listed the top three finalists in each category, and they come from every corner of the county. The finalists range from high-class restaurants to casual diners, galleries to farmers markets, festivals to theaters — and that’s only scratching the surface. But we still need your help. On June 3, 2010, you’ll have your chance to vote for your favorites at the first-annual Best of Lorain County celebration at the Spitzer Conference Center. The finalists will be on hand to show you why they deserve your recognition. Then, watch for the Fall 2010 issue of puLse Lorain County’s Magazine, in which we’ll reveal the 2010 winners.





■ Food

Restaurant
(overall excellence)
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Bar Symon, Avon Lake
Diso’s Bistro, Lorain

Fine Dining
Henry’s at the Barn, Avon
Nemo Grille, Avon
Moss’ Prime Rib &
Spaghetti House, Elyria

Casual Dining
Black River Café, Oberlin
Moosehead BBQ Grill, Amherst
Bootleggers Grill, Columbia Station

Patio Dining
Henry’s at the Barn, Avon
Winking Lizard Tavern, Avon
Lone Tree Tavern, North Ridgeville

Sunday Brunch
Jackalope Bar & Rotisserie, Lorain
Bread-N-Brew, Wellington
Farmers Boy Restaurant, Amherst
Family Dining (non-chain)
Nancy’s Main Street Diner, Grafton
Michelle’s Café, LaGrange
Oberlin Inn, Oberlin

Bar Food
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Rush Inn Bar & Grille, Avon
Stubby’s Pub & Grub, Elyria

Cheap Eats
Mezcal, Grafton
Hot Dog Heaven, Amherst and Avon
Rubin’s Restaurant & Deli, Elyria

Steak
The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton
Strip Steakhouse, Avon
Moss’ Prime Rib &
Spaghetti House, Elyria

Italian
Presti’s of Oberlin, Oberlin
Nino’s Italian Restaurant,
North Ridgeville
Fratello’s, Avon Lake

Latin Food
Don Tequila’s, Amherst
Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant, Elyria
Fiesta Jalapenos Mexican Grill,
North Ridgeville

Asian
Weia Teia, Oberlin
Atami Express, Elyria
No. 1 Kitchen, Elyria

Ribs
Rotuno’s Texas Style Barbeque, Elyria
Bubba’s-Q World Famous BBQ, Avon
Moosehead BBQ Grille, Amherst

Hamburger
Smitty’s Place, Elyria
Midway Oh Boy, Elyria
Rush Inn Bar & Grille, Avon

Wings
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield
Creekside Brewhouse Tavern, Avon
Z Z’s Big Top, Elyria

Sandwich
Rubin’s Restaurant & Deli, Elyria
Ace’s Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
The Feve, Oberlin

Burritos
Mezcal, Grafton
Agave Burrito Bar & Tequileria, Oberlin
Fiesta Jalapenos Mexican Grill, North Ridgeville

Pizza (non-chain)
Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin
LaGrange Village Pizza, LaGrange
Angelina’s Pizza, Elyria

Doughnuts (non-chain)
Kiedrowski’s Simply
Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Becker’s Doughnut, North Ridgeville
Fligner’s Market, Lorain

Coffee
Bread-N-Brew, Wellington
Arabica Coffee House, Elyria
Café Ah-Roma, North Ridgeville

Desserts
Kiedrowski’s Simply
Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Spitzer Café, Elyria
Tree House Gallery & Tea Room, Avon

Chocolate
Suzin L. Chocolatier, Elyria
Malley’s Chocolates, Avon
Catherine’s Chocolates, Avon

Ice Cream
The Grafton Scoop, Grafton
Whistler’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Avon
Twist-N-Shake, Elyria

Wine Shop
The Wine Room, Avon
Amherst Party Shop, Amherst
Paul’s Beverage Warehouse, Elyria

Deli
Rubin’s Deli, Elyria
Lenny’s Deli, Avon Lake
Larry’s Food & Deli, Elyria

Pastry Shop
Kiedrowski’s Simply
Delicious Bakery, Amherst
Gibson’s Food Market & Bakery, Oberlin
Mama Jo Homestyle Pies, Lorain

Fish Fry
United Polish Club, Elyria
St. Jude’s Church, Elyria
American Legion, Wellington

Caterer
Pink Peppercorn, Elyria
Spitzer Center, Elyria
DeLuca’s Place in the Park, Lorain


■ Entertainment

Sports Bar
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Mulligan’s Pub & Grille, Avon
Buffalo Wild Wings, Elyria

Happy Hour
Aces Bar & Grille, North Ridgeville
Mulligan’s Pub & Grille, Avon
Nemo’s Grille, Avon

Local Festival
Corn Festival
Lorain International Festival
Duct Tape Festival

bike night
Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield
Stubby’s Pub & Grub, Elyria

Live Music Venue
Music in the Park, Elyria
Black River Landing, Lorain
Stocker Arts Center, Elyria

Wine Tasting
John Christ Winery, Avon Lake
Single Tree Winery, Amherst
The Wine Room, Avon

Theater
Apollo Theatre, Oberlin
Palace Theatre, Lorain
Stocker Center, Elyria


■ Health

Fitness Center
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
World Gym, Sheffield Village
Powerhouse Gym, Elyria

Fitness Trail
North Coast Inland Trail
Bridgeway Trail, Bur Oak, Black River Reservation
Lorain County Metro Parks

Place to Walk Your Dog
Carlisle Reservation, LaGrange
The Duck Pond, LaGrange
Park 4 Paws Dog Park, Avon Lake

Charitable Race
Smiles for Sophie Forever
Relay for Life
Easter Seals Walk with Me

Health Food Selection
Oberlin Market, Oberlin
Mike’s Berries, Vegetables & More, Lorain
Heinen’s, Avon

Healthy Menu
Black River Café, Oberlin
Oberlin Inn, Oberlin
The Feve, Oberlin

Nursing Facility
Life Care Center, Elyria
Wesleyan Village, Elyria
Sprenger Health Care Systems, Lorain


■ Shopping

Florist
Botamer Florist & More, Elyria
Puffer’s Floral Shoppe, Elyria
Fluker’s Flowers & Gifts, Elyria

Garden Center
Pandy’s Premier Garden Center, Elyria
Petitti’s Garden Center, Avon
Gerber’s Garden Center & Landscape Supplies, Elyria

Beer Selection (retail)
Heinen’s, Avon
Minotti’s Wine & Liquor, North Ridgeville
Johnny’s Carry Out, Oberlin

Book Store
MindFair, Oberlin
Crystal Era Emporium, Elyria
Kelly Street Books, Wellington

Jeweler
Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria
Herrick Jewelry, Oberlin
Nielsen Jewelers, Lorain

Shopping Area
Avon Commons, Avon
Downtown Oberlin
Olde Avon Village, Avon

Farmers Market
Pickering Hill Farms Farm Market, Avon
Grobe’s Fruit Farm, Elyria
Spiegelberg Orchards, Lorain

Gallery
Ginko Gallery & Studio, Oberlin
Maine Light Studio, Avon Lake
The Art Gallery at Sandstone
Center, Elyria

Antique Store
The Mermaid’s Tale, Amherst
Main Street Antique Mall, Oberlin
Tree House Gallery & Tea Room, Avon

Outdoor Store
The Backpackers Shop,
Sheffield Village
Gander Mountain, Sheffield Village
Dave’s Army-Navy, Oberlin


■ Service

Landscaper
Don Mould’s Plantation Landscaping, North Ridgeville and Amherst
Schill Landscaping and Lawn Care Services Inc., Sheffield Village
Brian Kyles Construction, Avon

Home Remodeler
Schutz Builders, North Ridgeville
French Creek Cabinet
Company Ltd., Avon
Nickoloff Builders, Elyria

Day Spa
EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Head Quarters Salon & Spa, Lorain
That’s SKINcredible, Elyria

Manicures/Pedicures
EMH Center for Health
and Fitness, Avon
Aries Style Salon, Oberlin
Head Quarters Salon & Spa, Lorain

Dry Cleaner
Martinizing Dry Cleaning, Avon
Ridge Cleaners, North Ridgeville
Crystal Clear Cleaners, Sheffield Village

Car Wash
Splash N Dash, Elyria
West Ridge Water Works Car Wash, Elyria
J&L Car Wash, Grafton

Pet Pampering
TLC Pet Grooming, Wellington
Barking Barbers Inc., North Ridgeville
Designer Doggies, North Ridgeville


■ Children

Preschool
Kiddie Kollege, Sheffield Lake
Linden School, Elyria
Lorain County JVS Program, Oberlin

Gymnastics Center
Ten Point O Gymnastics, North Ridgeville
Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon
Little Flippers Gym Program, Avon

Dance/Theater
Miss Kristin’s Dance Studio, Avon Lake
Jillian Rian’s Dance School,
North Ridgeville
Dancetime Studio, Avon Lake

Music Instruction
Journey Around Music, Elyria
Oberlin Conservatory Community Music School, Oberlin
Avon Music School, Avon


■ People

Bartender
Ryan Finnegan, Creekside
Tavern, Avon
Chris Kaiser, Rush Inn, Avon
Cheryl Squires, Elks Lodge, Elyria

Local Male Celeb
Al “Bubba” Baker
Joe Thomas
Tom Hamilton

Local Female Celeb
Connie Dieken
Connie Schultz
Denise Zarrella

Chef
Paul Jagielski, Henry’s at the Barn, Avon
Bob Niemojewski, Nemo’s Grille, Avon
Eric Petrus, LCCC Spitzer Center, Elyria

Personal Trainer
Gina Shaffer, EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Cheryl Matey, EMH Center for Health and Fitness, Avon
Angel Cordero, World Gym,
Sheffield Village

Master Stylist
Jodie Smith, Aries Style Salon, Oberlin
Charlotte Tester, The Strand, Amherst
Melissa McLaughlin, A David Anthony
Salon & Spa, Lorain