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Best of Rochester 2013: Food & Drink

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Best Pizza Mark's Pizzeria. Many area locations. markspizzeria.com (Runners up: Pontillos | Salvatores | Pizza Stop)

Best Gourmet Burger Gate House. 274 N. Goodman St., 473-2090, thegatehousecafe.com. (Runners up: Brick 'n' Motor | Frog Pond | Good Luck | Tap & Table)

Best Barbecue Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. 99 Court St., 325-7090, dinosaurbarbque.com (Runners up: Beale Street | Good Smoke | Sticky Lips)

Best Wings Jeremiah's Tavern. 1104 Monroe Ave, 461-1313; 2200 Buffalo Road, Gates, 247-0022; jeremiahstavern.com (Runners up: Distillery | Pontillo's | Dinosaur)

Best Fish Fry The Old Toad. 277 Alexander St., 232-2626, theoldtoad.com. (Runners up: Bill Gray's | Captain Jim's | Davies Sea Food)

Best "Plate" Nick Tahou's. 320 W. Main St., 436-0184; 3070 W. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta, 272-1182; garbageplate.com. (Runners up: Dogtown | Empire Hots | Mark's Texas Hots)

Best Breakfast Jines. 658 Park Ave., 461-1280, jinesrestaurant.com. (Runners up: Frog Pond | Highland Park Diner | James Brown's Place)

Best Bagel Balsam Bagels. 288 N. Winton Rd, 482-5080, balsambagels.com. (Runners up: Bagel Land | Brownstein's Deli & Bakery | Soho Bagel Café)

Best Cookies Savoia Pastry Shoppe. 2267 Clifford Ave., 482-1130, savoiapastry.com. (Runners up: Classy Cookie & Deli | Gruttadauria Bakery | Leo's Bakery & Deli | Orange Glory)

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Custard/Frozen Yogurt Abbott's Frozen Custard. Many area locations. abbottscustard.com. (Runners up: Hedonist Artisan Ice Cream | Lugia's | Pittsford Farms Diary)

Best Food Truck Le Petit Poutine. @lepetitpoutine. (Runners up: Brick-N-Motor | Lettuce B. Frank | Marty's Meats)

Best Asian Restaurant The King & I. 1455 E. Henrietta Road, 427-8090, thekingandithaicuisine.com. (Runners up: Chen Garden | Flavors of Asia | Mamasan's)

Best Mexican Restaurant Salena's. 302 N. Goodman St. #247, 256-5980, salenas.com. (Runners up: John's Tex-Mex | La Casa | Monte Alban)

Best Italian Restaurant Mario's. 2740 Monroe Ave., Pittsford, 271-1111, mariosit.com. (Runners up: Guido's Pasta Villa | Ristorante Lucano | Rocco)

Best Indian Restaurant India House. 998 S. Clinton Ave., 461-0880, indiahouse.com. (Runners up: Amaya Bar and Grill | Tandoor of India | Thali of India)

Best Mediterranean Restaurant Aladdin's. Many area locations. myaladdins.com. (Runners up: Olives Greek Taverna | Sinbad's | Voula's Greek Sweets)

Best Sushi California Rollin'. Many area locations. californiarollin.com. (Runners up: Banzai | Plum House | Shiki)

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant Owl House. 75 Marshall St., 360-2920, owlhouserochester.com. (Runners up: Aladdin's | Natural Oasis | Voula's Greek Sweets)

Best Gluten-Free Options Owl House. 75 Marshall St., 360-2920, owlhouserochester.com. (Runners up: Ellie's Gluten-Free Bakery | Harry G's | Natural Oasis)

Best Restaurant for Delivery Mark's Pizzeria. Many area locations. markspizzeria.com. (Runners up: Chen Garden | Salvatore's | Sol Burrito)

Best Buffet Mario's. 2740 Monroe Ave., Pittsford, 271-1111, mariosit.com. (Runners up: China Buffet (Jefferson Road) | Espada | Thali of India)

Best Specialty Food Shop Lori's Natural Foods. 900 Jefferson Road, Henrietta, 424-2323, lorisnatural.com. (Runners up: Hedonist Artisan Chocolate | Little Bleu Cheese Shop | Mise en Place)

Best Coffee Shop Java's Cafe. 16 Gibbs St., 232-4820, javascafe.com. (Runners up: Boulder Coffee Co. | Joe Bean Coffee | Starry Nites)

Best Barista Frankie Katsampas (Java's) 16 Gibbs St., 232-4820, javascafe.com. (Runners up: Krystyna Buckhout (Dark Horse) | Tony Colon (Fuego) | Meredith Feary (Starry Nites))

Best Outdoor Dining Pomodoro. 3400 Monroe Ave., 586-7000, mypomodoro.com. (Runners up: Jines | Pelican's Nest | Tap & Table)

Best Cheap Eats Dogtown. 691 Monroe Ave., 271-6620, dogtownhots.com. (Runners up: Aladdin's | Harry G's | John's Tex Mex)

Best Upscale Eatery Good Luck. 50 Anderson Ave., 340-6161, restaurantgoodluck.com. (Runners up: 2Vine | Black & Blue | Lento)

Best New Restaurant TRATA. 145 Culver Road, 270-5460, tratarochester.com. (Runners up: Avvino | La Casa | The Revelry)

In This Guide...

  • Best of Rochester 2013

    Here's the deal
    Normally I start out the introduction to City Newspaper's annual Best of Rochester issue by blathering about the awesomeness of Rochester and making terrible puns based around that year's theme. I'm taking a different tactic this year — although there will probably still be puns.

  • Best of Rochester 2013: Goods & Services

    New Retail Store Little Bleu Cheese Shop. 684 South Ave., 730-8296, littlebleucheese.com.

  • Best of Rochester 2013: Local Color

    Best Local Politician Louise Slaughter. @louiseslaughter (Runners up: Lisa Jacques | Tom Richards | Joe Robach)

  • Best of Rochester 2013: Arts & Entertainment

    Best Local Band Something Else (Runners up: Bogs Visionary Orchestra | Cherry Bomb | Sirens & Sailors) Best Solo Musician Mikaela Davis (Runners up: Johnny Bauer | Hieronymus Bogs | Ted Nicolosi)

  • Best of Rochester 2013: Nightlife

    Best New Bar TRATA. 145 Culver Rd., 270-5460, tratarochester.com.

  • Best of Rochester 2013: CITY Critic Picks

    Best Way to Fool Others Into Thinking You Cooked From Scratch Newbury Park Pastries' Chicken Pot Pie

  • Best of Rochester 2013: Best Answers

    Off-the-cuff, sometime off-color responses to our Best of Rochester 2013 Primary Ballot
    Spelling bee "La Petite Pouting"; "La Petite Pouring"; "Pouting Truck"; "Me Petite Poutine"; "Poutite Poutine"; "Poutine: Have fun sorting through all of the spellings of that" (Best Food Truck)