1. FOOD & DRINK

Best African

Winner: Horn of Africa (364 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Eri Café (953 Somerset), Blue Nile (577 Gladstone), Habesha (1087 Wellington)

Best all-you-can-eat

Winner: Tuckers Marketplace (61 York)

Honourable Mentions: East India Company (210 Somerset), Ceylonta (2920 Carling), Govinda’s (212 Somerset)

Best appetizers/tapas

Winner: The Manx (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: OZ Kafe (361 Elgin), Murray Street Restaurant (110 Murray), E18hteen Restaurant and Bar (18 York)

Best bakery

Winner: Rideau Bakery (384 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: The French Baker (all locations), Kettleman’s Bagel (all locations), The Wild Oat Bakery (817 Bank),

Best bistro

Winner: Chez Lucien (137 Murray)

Honourable Mentions: OZ Kafe (361 Elgin), Absinthe (1208 Wellington), The Wellington Gastropub (1325 Wellington)

Best brunch

Winner: The Manx Pub (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Cora’s (all locations), Stoneface Dolly’s (416 Preston), Lieutenant’s Pump (361 Elgin)

Best burger

Winner: The Works (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Chez Lucien (137 Murray), Manx Pub (370 Elgin), Zak’s Diner (14 Byward Market Square)

Best cheap eats

Winner: Pho Bo Ga (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Ikea (2685 Iris), Dirienzo’s Grocery (111 Beech), Ahora (307 Dalhousie)

Best catering

Winner: Whalesbone (504a Kent St)

Honourable Mentions: Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau), Epicuria (419 Mackay), Thyme & Again (1255 Wellington)

Best up-and-coming restaurants

Winner: Jak’s Kitchen (479 Bronson)

Honourable Mentions: Murray Street (110 Murray), Fraser Café (143 Putman), b/Side (323 Somerset), Navarra (93 Murray)

Best Chinese

Winner: So Good Restaurant (717 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Shanghai Restaurant (651 Somerset), Mekong (637 Somerset), Golden Palace (2195 Carling), Yangtze Dining Lounge (700 Somerset)

Best chip wagon

Winner: The Chip Wagon (Bank/ Sunnyside)

Honourable Mentions: The Blooming Onion (York/Dalhousie), Sasha’s (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York), Glen’s Chip Wagon (Richmond/Kirkwood)

Best tea/coffee house

Winner: Bridgehead (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Tim Hortons (all locations), Starbucks (all locations), Planet Coffee (24 York), Umi Café (610 Somerset)

Best cozy nook

Winner: The Manx (370 Elgin),

Honourable Mentions: Chez Lucien (137 Murray), Aunt Olive’s (209 Gilmour), Whalesbone (430 Bank), Avant-Garde Bar (135 Besserer)

Best deli

Winner: La Bottega (64 George)

Honourable Mentions: Dirienzo’s Grocery (111 Beech), Nicastro’s (all locations), Nate’s Deli (316 Rideau), Luciano’s (106 Preston)

Best dessert

Winner: Oh So Good (25 York)

Honourable Mentions: Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington), Three Tarts Bakers (1320 Wellington), Memories Restaurant (7 Clarence)

Best diner

Winner: Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Zak’s Diner (14 Byward Market Square), Mello’s Diner (290 Dalhousie), Mayflower (247 Elgin), Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)

Best farmers’ market

Winner: Byward Market

Honourable Mentions: Ottawa Farmers’ Market (Lansdowne), Parkdale Market, Ottawa Organic Farmers’ Market (Bank/Heron), Carp Farmers’ Market

Best French

Winner: Les Fougères Restaurant (783 Route 105, Chelsea)

Honourable Mentions: Metropolitan Brasserie (700 Sussex), L’Orée du Bois (15 Kingsmere, Chelsea), Le Panaché (634 Somerset), L’Aubergine (138 Wellington, Gatineau)

Best Greek

Winner: Greek on Wheels (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Greek Souvlaki House (1200 Prince of Wales), Pilos Restaurant (876 Montreal), Dolmades (460 Bronson), Theo’s Greek Taverna (911 Richmond)

Best ice cream/gelato

Winner: Pure Gelato (350 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Piccolo Grande (all locations), The Purple Cow (798 Bank), Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston), La Cigale (241 Old Chelsea, Chelsea), Truffle Treasures (All locations)

Best South Asian

Winner: Ceylonta (403 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Light Of India (730 Bank), Haveli (39 Clarence), East India Company (210 Somerset)

Best Italian

Winner: Giovanni’s (362 Preston)

Honourable Mentions: Mamma Teresa Ristorante (300 Somerset), Vittoria Trattoria (35 William), Mamma Grazzi’s (25 George)

Best Japanese

Winner: Kinki (41 York)

Honourable Mentions: Wasabi (41 Clarence), Suisha Gardens/Kaedeya Mart (208-210 Slater), Japanese Village (170 Laurier), Genji (175 Lisgar)

Best Korean

Winner: Seoul House (601 Somerset)

Honourable Mentions: Joy (315 Somerset), Korea Garden (470 Rideau), Kwon’s Korean BBQ (332 Wilbrod)

Best Mexican/South American

Winner: Ahora (307 Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Mexicali Rosa’s (1800 Bank), Pancho Villa (361 Elgin), Feleena’s (742 Bank St.), Agave Grill (1331 Wellington)

Best Middle Eastern

Winner: Maroush (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Middle East Bakery (all locations), Saffron Restaurant (426 Rideau), Jericho (840 Bank)

Best natural food store

Winner: Herb & Spice (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Natural Food Pantry (both locations), The Wild Oat (817 Bank), Rainbow Foods (1487 Richmond), Market Organics (126 York)

Best patio

Winner: The Courtyard (The Black Tomato, Mamma Grazzi’s, The Courtyard Restaurant, Social, Helsinki)

Honourable Mentions: Dominion Tavern (33 York), Elgin Street courtyard (The Lieutenant’s Pump/Oz Kafé/Pancho Villa), Pub Italia ( 434 Preston), The Irish Village (67 Clarence), Murray St. Charcuterie (110 Murray)

Best pizza

Winner: Colonnade (280 Metcalfe)

Honourable Mentions: Gabriel’s (all locations), Pavarazzi’s ( 443 Somerset W ), Piz’za-za (36 Laval, Gatineau), Cheesey Luigi’s (Wakefield), The Place Organic Pizzeria (368 Kent)

Best poutine

Winner: Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Sasha’s (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York), The Chip Wagon (Bank & Sunnyside), The Works (all locations), La Pataterie Hulloise (311 St. Joseph, Gatineau)

Best pub

Winner: The Manx Pub (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Pub Italia (434 Preston), Chez Lucien (137 Murray), Darcy McGee’s ( 44 Sparks ), Irene’s (885 Bank)

Best romantic restaurant

Winner: OZ Café (6-361 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Black Tomato ( 11 George ), Absinthe (1208 Wellington), Savana Café (431 Gilmour), L’Orée du Bois (15 Kingsmere, Chelsea)

Best sandwich

Winner: DiRienzo’s Grocery (111 Beech)

Honourable Mentions: La Bottega (64 George), Gooney’s Sandwich Works (360 Laurier), Aunt Olive’s (209 Gilmour)

Best seafood

Winner: Whalesbone Oyster House (430 Bank)

Honourable Mentions: LaPointe’s (all locations), Pelican Grill (1500 Bank),

Best shawarma

Winner: Shawarma King (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Maroush (380 Elgin St.), Shawarma Palace (464 Rideau), Really Lebanese Garlic King (321 Dalhousie)

Best splurge

Winner: Beckta (226 Nepean)

Honourable Mentions: Whalesbone ( 430 Bank), E18hteen (18 York), Sweetgrass (108 Murray)

Best steakhouse/steak

Winner: The Keg (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Al’s Steakhouse ( 327 Elgin), Hy’s Steakhouse (170 Queen), Empire Grill (47 Clarence ), Prime 360 (407 Laurier W )

Best sushi

Winner: Kinki (41 York)

Honourable Mentions: Wasabi (41 Clarence), Suisha Gardens (208 Slater), Genji (175 Lisgar),

Best take-out

Winner: Greek on Wheels (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington), Indian Express Food & Sweets (1104 Somerset W ), Sushi Go + Tea Express (48 Byward Market Square), The Red Apron (All locations)

Best Thai

Winner: Green Papaya (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Royal Thai (272 Dalhousie), Coriander Thai (282 Kent), Hot Peppers (495 Somerset W),

Best vegetarian

Winner: Green Door (198 Main)

Honourable Mentions: The Table (1230 Wellington), So Good (717 Somerset W),

Best Vietnamese/pho

Winner: Pho Bo Ga (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: New Pho Bo Ga La (763 Somerset W), Other, New Mee Fung (350 Booth), Vietnam Noodle House (706 Somerset)

Best wings

Winner: The Clock Tower Brew Pub (575 Bank)

Honourable Mentions: Local Heroes (all locations), Wild Wings (1263 Donald),

Best watering hole

Winner: The Royal Oak (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: The Manx (370 Elgin), Dominion Tavern (33 York), Aloha Room (323 Bank), The Elmdale Tavern

2. ARTS & CULTURE

Best alternative to a multiplex movie theatre

Winner: ByTowne Cinema

Honourable Mentions: Mayfair Theatre, Rainbow Theatre, Centretown Movies (summer only)

Best art gallery (besides the National Gallery of Canada!)

Winner: SAW Gallery (2 Daly)

Honourable Mentions: La Petite Mort (306 Cumberland), Ottawa Art Gallery (2 Daly), Cube Gallery (7 Hamilton)

Best dance performance in 2008

Winner: Dance Lab: The House

Honourable Mentions: Marie Chouinard Company: Orphee et Eurydice @ Canada Dance Festival ’08, Hit The Deck, Akram Khan Company & The National Ballet of China: Bahok (NAC)

Best festival of 2008

Winner: Bluesfest

Honourable Mentions: Westfest, Winterlude, Ladyfest Ottawa

Best film by a local filmmaker in 2008

Winner: Brookstreet Pictures: Jack Brooks Monster Slayer

Honourable Mentions: Lee Demarbre: The Dead Sleep Easy, Lee Demarbre : Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero, Will Inrig: The Depose of Bolskivoi Hovannes; Brett Kelly: Pray For The Beast

Best film festival of 2008

Winner: Ottawa International Animation Festival

Honourable Mentions: One World Film Festival, Painted Lips and Lolly Licks: The Sexy Film Festival, Saturday Night Sinema, Inside Out Festival

Best folk/country album/EP of 2008

Winner: Kathleen Edwards: Asking For Flowers

Honourable Mentions: The Sadies: New Seasons, Kyrie Kristmanson: Pagan Love, The Habit: The Sacred And Profane, Marie-Josee Houle: Monsters, Mackenzie McBride: An Outsiders Heart

Best live music show of 2008

Winner: Foo Fighters

Honourable Mentions: Feist @ Bluesfest, Snoop Dog @ Bluesfest, Black Crowes @ Bluesfest, Broken Social Scene @ Folk Festival

Best lounge

Winner: Mercury Lounge (56 Byward)

Honourable Mentions: Aloha Room (323 Bank), Avant-Garde Bar (135 Besserer), Helsinki (15 George)

Best museum

Winner: National Gallery of Canada

Honourable Mentions: Museum of Civilization, War Museum, Science and Technology Museum

Best new musical artist/group

Winner: Lindsay Ferguson

Honourable Mentions: Other, Giant Hand, Politique, Sadie Hell, Julie Corrigan, Amanda Rheume

Best night out

Winner: Retro ’80 s Night @ Barrymore’s

Honourable Mentions: Rock N Roll Pizza Party (Bytown Tavern), Timekode @ Eri Café, Sunday’s Mod Club @ Babylon,

Best place to hear live music

Winner: Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield)

Honourable Mentions: Barrymore’s (323 Bank), Zaphod’s (27 York), Babylon (317 Bank),

Best punk/metal/hard rock band of 2008

Winner: Muffler Crunch

Honourable Mentions: The Creeps, Evil Farm Children, Fuck The Facts

Best rock/pop/dance/other band of 2008

Winner: HiLo Trons

Honourable Mentions: Love Machine, Tokyo Sex Whale, Trevor Walker, Ukrainia!, Amanda Rheume, Julie Corrigan, Loudlove

Best theatrical performance in 2008

Winner: Cirque Du Soleil’s Corteo

Honourable Mentions: Macbeth @ NAC, Die Roten Punkt @ Ottawa Fringe Festival, Plan B @ GCTC, Other

Best visual arts exhibit of 2008

Winner: The 1930′s: Making of the New Man @ NAG

Honourable Mentions: World Press Photo ’08 @ The War Museum, Hollywood In Cambodia @ La Petite Mort, Dave Cooper @ La Petite Mort, Hayden Menzies @ Art Guise, Moncton Rock @ SAW

Best work of fiction/non-fiction/poetry by local writer

Winner: Stolen Angels by Kathy Cook (non-fiction)

Honourable Mentions: Canadian Animation: Looking for a place to happen by Chris Robinson (non-fiction), Ballad of a thin man: In search of Ryan Larkin by Chris Robinson (non-fiction), Remembering the bones by Frances Itani (non-fiction)

3. AROUND TOWN

Best art supplies

Winner: Wallack’s (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: The Sassy Bead Company (all locations), Omer DeSerres (499 Bank),

Artguise (590 Bank)

Best bar staff

Winner: Manx (370 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Zaphod’s (27 York), Other, Chez Lucien (Murray), Dominion Tavern (33 York), The Elmdale Tavern

Best beauty salon/spa

Winner: Le Nordik Scandinavian Spa (16 Nordik, Chelsea)

Honourable Mentions: York Street Spa (11 York), Le Spa (429 MacLaren)

Best bike shop

Winner: Joe Momma’s (216 Pretoria)

Honourable Mentions: Pecco’s (both locations), The Bike Dump (407 Catherine), Fresh Air Experience (Wellington St)

Best bookstore

Winner: Octopus Books (116 Third)

Honourable Mentions: Collected Works (1242 Wellington), Nicholas Hoare Bookstore (419 Sussex), The Book Bazaar (417 Bank)

Best comic/gaming store

Winner: The Comic Book Shoppe (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Silver Snail (391 Bank), Fandom II (162 Laurier), Wizard’s Tower (all locations),

Best flowers

Winner: Tivoli (both locations)

Honourable Mentions: Scrims (262 Elgin), Bel Fiore (276 Elgin),

Best fun outdoors

Winner: A hike/bike in Gatineau Park

Honourable Mentions: Skating on the Rideau Canal, walking around the Byward Market, ziplining at LaFleche

Best furniture store

Winner: Ikea (2685 Iris)

Honourable Mentions: Phillip Van Leeuwen (10 Byward Market Square), EQ3 (60 Byward Market Square), Found Design (1090 Bank)

Best independent record/CD store

Winner: End Hits (407 Dalhousie)

Honourable Mentions: Compact Music (all locations), Vertigo (193 Rideau), Sounds Unlikely (5 Arlington), Birdman Sound (593 Bank)

Best jewellery store

Winner: Magpie (all locations)

Honourable Mentions: Sassy Bead (all locations), Milk (234 Dalhousie), Bija Bijoux (1307 Wellington)

Best men’s clothing store (not a chain)

Winner: Top of the World (158 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Norml Clothing (41 William), Milk (234 Dalhousie), Trustfund (493 Sussex)

Best musical instrument store

Winner: Steve’s Music Store (308 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: Ottawa Folklore Centre (1111 Bank), Spaceman Music (388 Gladstone), Long & McQuade (2631 Alta Vista)

Best outdoor store

Winner: Mountain Equipment Co-op (366 Richmond)

Honourable Mentions: Bushtukah (203 Richmond), Trailhead (1960 Scott), The Expedition Shoppe (43 York)

Best pool hall

Winner: MacLaren’s (301 Elgin)

Honourable Mentions: Orange Monkey (250 City Centre), Dooly’s (2277 Gladwin), Cue and Cushion (319 Bank)

Best sex/erotica shop

Winner: Venus Envy (320 Lisgar)

Honourable Mentions: Adult Fun Superstore (1565 St. Laurent), Aren’t We Naughty? (1531 Merivale), Classixxx Adult Store (all locations)

Best skate shop

Winner: Top of the World (158 Rideau)

Honourable Mentions: On Deck (141 Bentley), West 49 (both locations), Slaysh (775 Bank)

Best tattoos/piercing

Winner: Planet Ink (306 Rideau),

Honourable Mentions: Five Cents (201 Dalhousie), New Moon Tattoo (all locations), Living Colour (412 Dalhousie),

Best video rentals store

Winner: Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar)

Honourable Mentions: Elgin Video (258 Elgin), Blockbuster (all locations), Glebe Video International (2-779 Bank St.)

Best vintage clothing

Winner: Ragtime (43 Flora)

Honourable Mentions: Value Village (all locations), Aunt Olive’s (209 Gilmour), MaryAnn Harris/ Ottawa Antique Market (1179a Bank), Young Janes (203 Dalhousie)

Best women’s clothing store (not a chain)

Winner: Allegro (55 William)

Honourable Mentions: Milk (234 Dalhousie), Red Velvet (253 Elgin), Workshop Boutique (242 Dalhousie), Victoire (238 Dalhousie)

4. LOCAL LORE

Best architectural addition to the city

Winner: Somerset footbridge

Honourable Mentions: War Museum (1 Vimy Place), The Gladstone Theatre (910 Gladstone), Swap Box Project, Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (1233 Wellington)

Best architectural eyesore

Winner: American Embassy

Honourable Mentions: Bank St., Barrymore’s (exterior only), Rideau Centre

Best Ottawa neighbourhood to live in

Winner: Centretown

Honourable Mentions: The Glebe, Westboro, Other

Best new idea for the city

Winner: Cross walks that give ten second count down for hard of hearing

Honourable Mentions: 10 soccer fields at Lansdowne, Different transit design (a la Parisian bike/ car integration), an end to Bank St. construction

Best radio station

Winner: CBC 91.5

Honourable Mentions: CKCU 93.1, Live 88.5, Hot 89.9

Best reason to cheer the city

Winner: Finally upgrading the 100+year old sewage system

Honourable Mentions: last winter’s snowfall, Transit Plan approved, Daniel Alfredsson, 2008/ 2009 Ottawa Senators

Best reason to jeer the city

Winner: Larry O’Brien

Honourable Mentions: How long it is taking to replace a 100 + year old sewage system, last winter’s snowfall, 2007/ 2008 Ottawa Senators

Best scandal

Winner: When Larry O’Brien’s assistant disguised his voice to call into CFRA and support his boss

Honourable Mentions: Poop overflow in the river, Harper’s Defence guy with the biker chick, OC Transpo driver motoring off with toddler, The Ray Emery saga, Jack Layton refusing to take part in official debates if Elizabeth May and Green Party included