There weren’t just changes in the results of the fourth annual Advocate Community Newspapers Readers’ Taste Awards – there was a revolution.
Gone are such old faithfuls and perpetual top-finishers as Matt’s Rancho Martinez, Snuffer’s, Sweet Temptations, Thai Soon, and Angelo’s. Sweet Temptations, for instance, has been named Favorite Restaurant for three years in a row; this year, it didn’t even earn a runner-up status. Thai Soon has won the Asian award every year there has been an Asian category, and Snuffer’s has always won the top hamburger honor – until this year.
Even more interestingly, they weren’t usually replaced on the list by new restaurants, but by the competition from years past. One new place made its mark, though: La Dolce Vita, which was selected as our readers’ favorite restaurant.
In fact, this was one of the most intriguing years ever, best explained by one reader: “I didn’t know who to vote for this year,” he wrote. “All of our favorite restaurants are gone.”
Consider that 18 restaurants received votes in the Mexican category, 16 earned mention in the hamburger and elegant groups, 27 were named in the inexpensive class, and the readers selected 28 different places in the favorite section.
Here are the winners:
Chinese
Winner: Bobo China, 10630 Church, 349-2600
Runners-up: Szechwan Pavilion, 1152 N. Buckner, 321-7599; Snow Pea, 2007 Abrams, 824-4354
1994 winner: Szechwan Pavilion
Asian
Winner: Bangkok Inn, 6033 Oram, 821-8979
Runners-up: Kalchandiji’s, 5430 Gurley, 821-1048; Bangkok City, 4301 Bryan, 824-6200
1994 winner: Thai Soon, 2018 Greenville, 821-7666
Italian
Winner: Terilli’s, 2815 Greenville, 827-3993
Runners-up: Angelo’s Spaghetti House, 6341 La Vista, 823-5566; Prego Pasta, 4930 Greenville, 363-9204
1994 winner: Angelo’s
Mexican
Winner: Martin’s Cocina, 7726 Ferguson, 319-8834
Runners-up: Kokopelli, 9090 Skillman, 503-0242; Zuzu’s, 4140 Abrams, 828-2231
1994 winner: Zuzu’s
Cafeteria
Winner: Luby’s, 12230 Forestgate, 480-9599
Runners-up: Highland Park Cafeteria, 1200 N. Buckner, 327-3663
1994 winner: Highland Park Cafeteria
Club or pub
Winner: Tipperary Inn, 5815 Live Oak, 823-7167
Runners-up: Lakewood Bar & Grill, 6340 Gaston, 826-3888; Yegua Creek Brewing Co., 2920 N. Henderson, 824-2739
1994 winner: Yegua Creek
Dining with kids
Winner: EZ’s, 3519 Greenville, 823-9100
Runners-up: Dixie Lakewood, 6400 Gaston, 826-2412; McDonald’s, 5960 Greenville, 369-6256
1994 winner: EZ’s
Fast food
Winner: Zuzu’s, 4140 Abrams, 828-2231
Runners-up: McDonald’s, 5960 Greenville, 369-6256; Taco Bell, 5502 E. Mockingbird, 821-5751
1994 winner: Jack in the Box, 6308 Gaston, 823-3881
Hamburger
Winner: Jake’s, 6606 Skillman, 349-1422
Runners-up: Snuffer’s, 3526 Greenville, 826-6850; Joe Willy’s, 7033 Greenville, 691-8930
1994 winner: Snuffer’s
Elegant
Winner: St. Martin’s, 3020 Greenville, 826-0940
Runners-up: The Grape, 2808 Greenville, 828-1981; Gershwin’s, 8442 Walnut Hill, 373-7171
1994 winner: The Grape
Inexpensive
Winner: ZuZu’s, 4140 Abrams, 828-2231
Runners-up: Barbec’s, 8949 Garland Road, 321-5597; Cici’s, 6516 E. Northwest Highway, 739-2424
1994 winner: Barbec’s
Pizza
Winner: Campisi’s, 5610 E. Mockingbird, 827-0355
Runners-up: Sali’s, 1002 Garland Road, 321-2700; Spasso Pizza & Pasta Co., 3711 Greenville, 828-2240
1994 winner: Campisi’s
Favorite
Winner: La Dolce Vita, 1924 Abrams, 821-6208
Runners-up: Natchez, 2810 Henderson, 821-4552; Martin’s Cocina, 7726 Ferguson, 319-8834
1994 winner: Sweet Temptations, 9090 Skillman, 503-6007
