We've tallied the results and listed the top three finalists in each category. They range from dinner to dessert spots, galleries to farmers markets, festivals to theaters — and that's only scratching the surface.

On Aug. 1, 2019, you can vote for your favorites at the 10th annual Best of Lorain County celebration at the Spitzer Conference Center, Norton Culinary Arts Center and Stocker Arts Center at Lorain County Community College. The finalists will show you why they deserve your recognition. Then, watch for the Fall 2019 issue of puLse Lorain County's Magazine, in which we'll reveal this year's winners.

FOOD

Best Restaurant

  • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
  • Avon Brewing Co.,
  • Avon Strip Steakhouse, Avon

Best Fine Dining

  • Strip Steakhouse, Avon
  • Jackalope Lakeside, Lorain
  • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville

Best Casual Dining

  • Avon Brewing Co., Avon
  • Bar Nova,
  • Avon Ziggy’s Pub and Restaurant, Amherst

Best Patio

  • Jackalope Lakeside, Lorain
  • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
  • Brew Kettle, Amherst

Best Sunday Brunch

  • The Feve, Oberlin
  • Heck’s, Avon
  • Foundry Kitchen and Bar, Elyria

Best Family Dining

  • Parker’s Grille & Tavern, Avon
  • Lake Blue Sky Restaurant, Amherst
  • The Unicorn Restaurant & Pub, Grafton

Best Bar Food

  • Speak of the Devil, Lorain
  • Ziggy’s Pub and Restaurant, Amherst
  • Avon Brewing Co., Avon

Best Cheap Eats

  • Blue Sky Restaurant, Amherst
  • Two Bucks, Avon
  • Hot Dog Heaven, Amherst

Best Steak

  • Strip Steakhouse, Avon
  • Diso’s Bistro, Lorain
  • Black River Tavern, Elyria

Best Italian

  • Sorrento Ristorante & Pizzeria, Sheffield Village
  • Fratello’s, Avon Lake
  • Nino’s Italian Restaurant, North Ridgeville

Best Latin

  • Mi Casa Sabor Latino, Lorain
  • Don Tequila, Amherst
  • Fiesta Jalapeños Mexican Grill, North Ridgeville

Best Asian

  • Jin House, Amherst
  • Pine Garden, Lorain
  • Golden Crown, Amherst

Best Ribs

  • Moosehead, Amherst
  • Bubba’s-Q, Avon
  • The Pit, Vermilion

Best Burger

  • The Feve, Oberlin
  • Heck’s, Avon
  • Midway Oh Boy, Elyria

Best Appetizers

  • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
  • Mutt & Jeff’s, Lorain
  • Bar Nova, Avon

Best Wings

  • Maple Inn, Elyria
  • 83 & Chestnut Pub and Eatery, North Ridgeville
  • Winking Lizard, Avon

Best Sandwich

  • Melt Bar and Grilled, Avon
  • The Feve, Oberlin
  • Union Town Provisions, Lorain

Best Burrito

  • Don Tequila, Amherst
  • Agave Burrito Bar & Tequilaria, Oberlin
  • Fiesta Jalapeños Mexican Grill, North Ridgeville

Best Pizza

  • Lorenzo’s Pizzeria, Oberlin
  • Yala’s Pizzeria, Lorain
  • Olde Town Pizza House, Amherst

Best Doughnuts

  • Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
  • Becker’s Donuts, North Ridgeville
  • Peace, Love and Little Donuts, Avon

Best Coffee

  • Brew & Stew, Lorain
  • Arabica Coffee Bistro, Amherst
  • Union Town Provisions, Lorain

Best Desserts

  • Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes, Avon Lake
  • Little Devil Cupcakery, Amherst
  • Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst

Best Chocolate

  • Suzin L. Chocolatier, Elyria
  • Malley’s Chocolates, Lakewood
  • Faroh’s Candy and Gifts, Lorain

Best Ice Cream

  • Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Avon
  • Cowhaus Creamery, Oberlin
  • Divine Scoops, Avon Lake

Best Wine Shop

  • Minotti’s Wine & Spirits, Avon
  • The Wine Room, Avon
  • Matus Winery, Wakeman

Best Deli

  • Your Deli, Amherst
  • Fligner’s Market, Lorain
  • Sundays Plus, Amherst

Best Pastry Shop

  • Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery, Amherst
  • Little Devil Cupcakery, Amherst
  • Blue Rooster Bakehouse, Oberlin

Best Fish Fry

  • American Slovak Club, Lorain
  • St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Sheffield Village
  • United Polish Club of Elyria, Elyria

Best Caterer

  • Fligner’s Market, Lorain
  • LCCC, Elyria
  • Pink Peppercorn Catering, Elyria

Best Sushi

  • Jin House, Amherst
  • Fujiyama Steak House, Avon
  • Mark Pi’s China Gate, Avon Lake

ENTERTAINMENT

Best Sports Bar

  • Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria
  • Avon Brewing Co., Avon
  • Brew Kettle, Amherst

Best Happy Hour

  • Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
  • Speak of the Devil, Lorain
  • Wolfey’s Bistro & Pub, Elyria

Best Local Festival

  • North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville
  • FireFish Festival, Lorain
  • Lorain International Festival, Lorain

Best Wine Tasting

  • Matus Winery, Wakeman
  • John Christ Winery, Avon Lake
  • Vermilion Valley Vineyards, Wakeman

Best Theater

  • Lorain Palace Theatre, Lorain
  • Stocker Arts Center (of Lorain County Community College), Elyria
  • Amherst Cinema, Amherst

HEALTH

Best Fitness Center

  • Splash Zone, Oberlin
  • UH Avon Health Center, Avon
  • Mercy Health & Recreation Center, Amherst

Best Fitness Trail

  • Beaver Creek, Amherst
  • French Creek, Sheffield Village
  • Bur Oak, LaGrange

Best Senior Living

  • Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin
  • Sprenger Health Care Systems, Avon Lake
  • St. Mary of the Woods, Avon

Best Yoga

  • 3 Sisters, Avon
  • Unwind Yoga, Amherst
  • Threads of Wellness, Lorain

Best Healthy Menu

  • Aladdin’s Eatery, Lakewood
  • Black River Café, Oberlin
  • Salad Kraze, Avon Lake

Best Charitable Event

  • Difference Makers Gala, Elyria
  • L’Amour du Vin/Arthritis Foundation, Avon
  • LCADA Way Pearls of Wisdom, Lorain

SHOPPING

Best Florist

  • Puffer’s Floral Shoppe, Elyria
  • Off Broadway Floral & Gift, Lorain
  • Zelek Flower Shop, Lorain

Best Garden Center

  • Petitti Garden Centers, Avon
  • Don Mould’s Plantation Garden Center and Nursery, North Ridgeville
  • Pandy’s Premier Garden Center, Elyria

Best Retail Beer Selection

  • Heinen’s Grocery Store, Warrensville Heights
  • Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar, Amherst
  • Johnny’s Carryout, Oberlin

Best Book Store

  • Ben Franklin & Mindfair Books, Oberlin
  • Commodore Books & More, Elyria
  • Central Bookstore, Amherst

Best Jeweler

  • Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria
  • Peter & Co., Avon
  • Lake Nielsen Jewelers, Lorain

Best Shopping Center

  • Downtown Amherst, Amherst
  • Avon Commons/First Interstate Properties, Lyndhurst
  • Olde Avon Village, Avon

Best Boutique

  • The Mermaid’s Tale, Amherst
  • Puffer’s Floral Shoppe, Elyria
  • Etc. Boutique & Gifts, Amherst

Best Farmers Market

  • Vermilion Farm Market, Vermilion
  • Elyria Farmers Market/Invest Elyria, Elyria
  • Oberlin Farmers Market, Oberlin

Best Gallery Creative

  • Space Avon, Avon
  • FAVA Gallery, Oberlin
  • Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery, Elyria

Best Health Food Selection

  • Dietary Health Foods, Elyria
  • Heinen’s Grocery Store, Warrensville Heights
  • Aladdin’s Eatery, Oberlin

Best Dry Cleaner

  • Ridge Cleaners, Avon Lake
  • Hale’s & Kern’s Cleaners, Elyria
  • Crystal Clear Cleaners, Lorain

SERVICES

Best Mani Pedi

  • Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon
  • A David Anthony Salon + Spa, Lorain
  • Blue Water Salon & Spa, Grafton

Best Pet Boutique

  • Alpha-Dog Pet Center, Amherst
  • Paws by the Lake, Avon
  • Lake Bevan’s Pet Center, Lorain

Best Car Wash

  • Blue Falls Car Wash, Avon
  • Goo Goo, Avon
  • Ridgeville Wash Wizzard, North Ridgeville

Best Day Spa

  • Westwinds Massage Therapy, Amherst
  • Exhale Spa at UH Avon Health Center, Avon
  • The Kneaded Touch, Amherst

CHILDREN

Best Dance Studio

  • JAM Dance Academy, North Ridgeville
  • Miss Jacqui’s Dance, Avon
  • Lake Miss Kristin’s Dance Studio, Avon Lake

Best Gymnastics

  • Ten Point O, North Ridgeville
  • Flippers Gym Program, Avon
  • Great Lakes Gymnastics, Avon Lake

Best Learning Center

  • Laura’s Learning Treehouse, Avon
  • The Child Garden Oberlin, Oberlin
  • LCCC Children’s Learning Center, Elyria

Best Music Instruction

  • The Woodshed, Oberlin
  • Koss Music Center, Lorain
  • Avon School of Music, Avon

PEOPLE

Bartender

  • Jamie Smith - Fort’s Tavern, Wellington
  • Jeff Gresko - Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
  • Kurt Hernon - Speak of the Devil, Lorain

Best Local Volunteer

  • Keith Brown - United Way, Lorain
  • Ed Wacker - Love INC of Lorain County, Elyria
  • Al Harsar - Lorain Historical Society, Lorain

Best Board Member

  • Dr. Jeremy Watson - Amherst Rotary Club, Amherst
  • KeriAnn Roach - North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville
  • Dr. Donald Sheldon - Lorain County Free Clinic, Lorain

Best Chef

  • Anthony Martorello - Bistro 83, North Ridgeville
  • Brian Weaver - Avon Brewing Co., Avon
  • Jason Herman - LCCC, Elyria

Best Personal Trainer

  • Linda Vilagi - Mercy Health & Recreation Center, Amherst
  • Jordan Smith - Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center, Avon
  • Gina Shaffer - Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center, Avon

Best Master Stylist

  • Kelsey Watson - Hairess Salon, Amherst
  • Shanna Freeman - A David Anthony Salon Spa + Hair Studio, Lorain
  • Bergan Dickinson - A David Anthony Salon Spa + Hair Studio, Lorain