The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

Best Latin, Taco: Taco Love Grill

1065 S. Charles St. #128, Baltimore and 11550 Philadelphia Road, Suite 109-110, White Marsh. tacolovegrill.com

There’s not a more delicious way to show your love than to craft a dish from a family recipe. And that’s what Jimena and Gelmin Portillo, owners of Taco Love Grill, have done with their Mexican eateries in White Marsh and Baltimore’s Cross Street Market.

The Parkville couple, both graduates of the University of Baltimore with careers in accounting, said they had searched for a restaurant that would offer a taste similar to the favorites that Jimena Portillo enjoyed during her childhood in Jalisco, Mexico.

“[My wife] was always looking for good and authentic Mexican restaurants in the area. And we were having a hard time finding one, so we started our own,” Gelmin Portillo said.

In 2011, they opened Taco Love Grill with an idea to create a menu of authentic Mexican food, made from scratch using familiar ingredients.

“That’s one of the things that we implemented in the restaurant is family recipes that have been passed down by family for several generations,” said Portillo, whose two teen daughters and young son sometimes help out at the restaurant.

That level of authenticity infuses everything from the marinade to the tortillas. The menu offers standards like tacos and burritos, but also tortas — a Mexican sandwich made with breaded chicken or steak and beef birria, a menu item that is popular with customers.

“It’s a very elaborate recipe and we use somewhere around 25 ingredients into the [birria] recipe,” Portillo said. “Again, that’s something that we also make from scratch that is very labor consuming and time consuming. But that’s one of the things that we like to do, the way that it’s always been done instead of using premade.”

The birria has been such a hit that in December, the couple opened Birria Love in Parkville, offering a broad variety of birria dishes, including fries topped with birria, birria ramen and birria pizza.

“Baltimore is our home and Baltimore County is where we decided to grow roots,” Portillo said. “We’re happy to put our grain of salt into making the community better.”

— Michelle Deal-Zimmerman

Asian: Ekiben
Honorable mentions:

Chopstix
Lemon N Ginger Asian Grille
Fuji Sushi

Bakery: Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Honorable mentions:

Woodlea Bakery
Newberry Cafe & Bakery
Bertucco’s Bakery

Barbecue: Mission BBQ
Honorable mentions:

Andy Nelson’s Barbecue Restaurant & Catering
Braglio Farms Smokehouse
Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse

Bartender: C.J. Ransom, Union Jack’s
Honorable mentions:

Scott Waters, Covalent Spirits
Francisco Garduno, Taco Love Grill
John Allen, Liberatore’s (Westminster)

Breakfast/lunch: Sunny Day Cafe
Honorable mentions:

Zeke’s Coffee
Miss Shirley’s Cafe
Dutch Corner Restaurant (tie)
First Watch (tie)

Brewery: Independent Brewing Co.
Honorable mentions:

Slate Farm Brewery
Hopkins Farm Brewery
Union Craft Brewing

Burger: The Abbey Burger Bistro
Honorable mentions:

Braglio Farms Smokehouse
Five Guys
Island Green

Caribbean: Chef BobbyD Restaurant
Honorable mentions:

Little Havana
Konoko Jamaican Restaurant
Island Quizine

Caterer: The Classic Catering People
Honorable mentions:

Santoni’s Marketplace & Catering
Frank’s Pizza and Pasta
Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse

Chef: Joe Robinson, Zeke’s Coffee
Honorable mentions:

Cindy Wolf, Charleston
Zack Trabbold, The Local
Bryan Boessel, One Eleven Main

Chinese: Joey Chiu’s Greenspring Inn
Honorable mentions:

NiHao
Kim Wah Restaurant
Szechuan House Timonium

Cocktail: The Liquid Library
Honorable mentions:

Covalent Spirits
Taco Love Grill
The Bluebird Cocktail Room

Coffee: Zeke’s Coffee
Honorable mentions:

Dunkin’
Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Coffee Coffee

Crabcake: RockSalt Bar and Grille
Honorable mentions:

Pappas Restaurant
Box Hill Pizzeria
Koco’s Pub

Deli: DiPasquale’s Italian Market
Honorable mentions:

Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Attman’s Delicatessen
Rocco’s Market & Deli

Dessert: Flavor Cupcakery and Bake Shop
Honorable mentions:

Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry
Taharka Brothers Ice Cream
The Charmery

Diner: Double T Diner
Honorable mentions:

The Papermoon Diner
Dutch Corner Restaurant
Blue Moon Cafe

Distillery: Covalent Spirits
Honorable mentions:

Sagamore Spirit Distillery
Baltimore Spirits Co.
Patapsco Distilling Co.

Ethiopian: Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant
Honorable mention:

MA’EDE Ethiopian Market and Café

Farmers’ market: Bel Air Farmers’ Market
Honorable mentions:

Baltimore Farmers’ Market
Waverly 32nd Street Market
Hampstead Farmers’ Market

Farmers’ market stand: Brad’s Produce
Honorable mentions:

Zeke’s Coffee
The Farmer’s Daughter
Blacksauce Kitchen

Food hall: R. House
Honorable mentions:

Belvedere Square
Cross Street Market
Lexington Market

Food truck: La Migueleña Food Truck
Honorable mentions:

Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Braglio Farms Smokehouse
B’more Greek Grill

Gluten-free: Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Honorable mentions:

Harmony Bakery
Sweet 27
Tea by Two

Happy hour: Covalent Spirits
Honorable mentions:

Woodstock Inn
Bacco Italian + Wine Bar
The Oregon Grille

Ice cream: Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Honorable mentions:

Taharka Brothers Ice Cream
The Charmery
Prigel Family Creamery

Indian: Peerce’s Plantation
Honorable mentions:

The Mint Room
Ambassador Dining Room
Namaste Baltimore

Italian: Liberatore’s Ristorante
Honorable mentions:

Frank’s Pizza and Pasta
Sabatino’s
Fratelli’s Italian and Seafood

Japanese: Kobe Japanese Steak & Seafood House
Honorable mentions:

Sushi Q
Azumi
Yama Sushi Bar

Juice: Pure Raw Juice
Honorable mentions:

Sunset Raw Juice Bar
The Green House Juice Cafe

Korean: Ekiben
Honorable mentions:

Kong (Pocha)
Hot Pot Hero
B1 Korean BBQ (tie)
Brown Rice (tie)

Latin: Taco Love Grill
Honorable mentions:

Papi’s Tacos
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
Alma Cocina Latina (tie)
Mucho Gusto (tie)

Lunch: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
Honorable mentions:

Zeke’s Coffee
Vagabond Sandwich Co.
Braglio Farms Smokehouse

Mediterranean: Samos Restaurant
Honorable mentions:

Mr. Soulvaki
La Cuchara
Ouzo Bay

Middle Eastern: The Helmand
Honorable mentions:

Orchard Cafe & Market
Villagio Cafe
Lebanese Taverna (tie)
Maiwand Grill (tie)

Outdoor dining: Island Green
Honorable mentions:

Bowley’s on the Bay
Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen
Nick’s Fish House

Pizza: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta
Honorable mentions:

Kechy Pizza Co.
Pizza Johns
Ledo Pizza

Poke: Poke Bowl
Honorable mentions:

Blowfish Poke
Hilo Poke & Sushi
Shoyou Sushi

Ramen: Akira Ramen & Izakaya
Honorable mentions:

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar
Toki Underground
Ramen Utsuke

Raw bar: Ryleigh’s Oyster
Honorable mentions:

Thames Street Oyster House
Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant
Nick’s Fish House

Server: Keke Turner, RockSalt Grille
Honorable mentions:

Alex Shade, Zeke’s Coffee
Emily Coughlin, Dutch Corner Restaurant
Samuel Gutierrez, Taco Love Grill

Snowball: Snoasis
Honorable mentions:

Emmorton Snowballs & Ice Cream
The Snowball Stand
Sharon’s Shaved Ice Snowballs

Soul food: The Land of Kush
Honorable mentions:

Creole Soul Restaurant
Darker Than Blue Grille

Soup: Dutch Corner Restaurant
Honorable mentions:

Pairings Bistro
Soup’s On
Wargo’s Restaurant & Tavern

Steamed crabs: Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant
Honorable mentions:

The Crab Truck and Seafood Stop
Richard’s Fish and Crabs
Woodbine Inn

Taco: Taco Love Grill
Honorable mentions:

Papi’s Tacos
La Tolteca
Clavel Mezcaleria

Tea house: Tea by Two
Honorable mentions:

Emma’s Tea Spot
Cuples Tea House
Pillion Tea

Thai: Spice and Dice Thai Kitchen
Honorable mentions:

Thai Spice
Bodhi Corner
Thai Landing

Vegan: Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Honorable mentions:

The Land of Kush
Golden West Cafe
Harmony Bakery

View: Tidewater Grille
Honorable mentions:

Mountain Branch Golf Club
Sunset Cove
The Bygone

Wedding cake: The Yummery
Honorable mentions:

Flavor Cupcakery & Bake Shop
Yia Yia’s Bakery
Cake By Jason Hisley

Wine list: Boordy Vineyards
Honorable mentions:

Pairings Bistro
La Cuchara
The Vineyard Wine Bar

Winery: Boordy Vineyards
Honorable mentions:

Harford Vineyard & Winery
Old Westminster Winery
Linganore Winecellars

Wings: C.R. Wings
Honorable mentions:

Braglio Farms Smokehouse
iBar Baltimore
Island Green

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

More winners

• Personal Services
• Arts & Entertainment
• Lifestyle & Shopping
• People & Media
• Home & Garden

The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

Best HVAC: SM Mechanical

7110 Golden Ring Rd # 116, Essex. 443-559-5314. smmechanicalhvac.com.

When SM Mechanical owner Sean Mallonee opened the Essex-based plumbing, HVAC, electrical and home performance business in 2009, he worked solo. Now, he has a team of close to 20 employees — and HVAC repairs and installations make up the bulk of their work.

“That’s the most amount of work that we do, and we feel that’s where we really excel,” Mallonee, 44, said. “We’ve done a really good job at growing our customer bases and keeping them happy.”

Mallonee grew up in Middle River and has been doing plumbing and HVAC work since he was 13 years old and got a job working at the same company as his grandfather, which he continued through the summers as a student at Calvert Hall College High School and the University of Miami. Starting his own business felt like a “natural fit,” he said.

At SM Mechanical, summer is the busiest season for HVAC work, he said, because “people are just far more uncomfortable when they have no air conditioning” than if they’re without heat in the winter, when they can bundle up or get by with space heaters.

HVAC installations can typically be done within a week or two, but the wait can be longer in the summer depending on variables like weather, Mallonee said. Service calls can be handled as quickly as the same day.

The business focuses primarily on residential work in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Annapolis, Bel Air and Columbia.

“We’re always going to be empathetic. We’re always going to treat the customer’s home like it’s our own,” he said. “Not only with the install and not only with the work, but also in how we approach what the work’s going to be, what we’re going to do. I feel like that’s where we shine.”

“The best part of the job is making customers happy,” he added.

— Abigail Gruskin

Cleaning service: Polished
Honorable mentions:

Polished by Amanda
The Clean Castle
The Cleaning Authority

Electrician: Tim Kyle Electric, Heating & Cooling
Honorable mentions:

Maryland Electric
Mattingly Electric
Top Notch Electrical

Fence installation: Pyle Fence Co.
Honorable mentions:

Long Fence
Phelps Fence Co.
Olympic Fence & Guardrail

Flooring & carpeting: Jim Boyd’s Flooring America
Honorable mentions:

Top Notch Flooring America
Bel Air Carpet
Traynor’s Floors & Carpets

Furniture store: Jarrettsville Furniture
Honorable mentions:

Belle Patri
Charm City Furniture
The Painted Mill

Garden center: Valley View Farms
Honorable mentions:

The Mill of Bel Air
Lehnhoff’s Supply
Poor Boy’s Garden Center

Handyman: Clarksville Construction Services
Honorable mentions:

Smithouse Design + Build
PJ Fitzpatrick
Scherr Handyman Services

Hardware store: The Home Depot
Honorable mentions:

Clarks Ace Hardware
Falkenhan’s Hardware
Costello’s Ace Hardware

Home security installation: Clarksville Construction Services
Honorable mentions:

Elite Home Entertainment
Schott & Son Locksmith

Home staging: Kate Wunder Interiors
Honorable mentions:

Studio A Staging
Belle Patri
D’Fine Design & Build

Homebuilder: TP Contractors
Honorable mention:

Bob Ward Trademark Homes

HVAC repair: SM Mechanical
Honorable mentions:

Clarksville Heating & Air
Tim Kyle Electric, Heating & Cooling
A.J. Michaels

Interior design: Kate Wunder Interiors
Honorable mentions:

Anna Graham interiors
Smithouse Design + Build
Belle Patri

Landscaper: Vin’s Total Care Landscaping
Honorable mentions:

Akehurst Landscape Service
Lehnhoff’s Landscaping
Chesapeake Landscapes

Lighting: Wilson Lighting & Interiors
Honorable mentions:

Visual Comfort & Co.
The Home Depot
Elite Home Entertainment

Moving company: M.R. Crabb Moving and Storage
Honorable mentions:

Charm City Movers
Top Notch Moving & Storage
Shands Moving & Delivery

Painter: Goode Design Painting and Wallcovering
Honorable mentions:

Hands On Painters
Slater Painting
Scherr Handyman Services

Plumbing: Clarksville Plumbing
Honorable mentions:

Saffer Plumbing, Heating & Electrical
Len The Plumber Heating & Air
O’Neill Plumbing & Heating

Real estate agent: Holmes Glorioso Home Group of eXp Realty
Honorable mentions:

Caroline Meredith, Compass
Next Step Realty
Kim Parsons, American Premier Realty

Remodeling: Chesapeake Premier Remodeling
Honorable mentions:

Cornerstone Remodeling
Clarksville Construction Services
Smithouse Design + Build

Roofer: Westview Roofing Co.
Honorable mentions:

Tar Heel Construction Group
Clarksville Construction Services
EC Roofing & Home Services Direct

Rug cleaner: Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners
Honorable mention:

Aref’s Oriental Rugs

Solar installation: Maryland Solar Solutions
Honorable mention:

Top Notch Electrical

Upholstery and furniture refinishing: Belle Patri
Honorable mentions:

The Cavanagh House
Fox Custom Upholstering
Jim Adajian

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

More winners

• Food & Drink
• Personal Services
• Arts & Entertainment
• Lifestyle & Shopping
• People & Media

The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

Theater company: Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center

12 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore. 800-343-3103. baltimore.broadway.com

By all accounts, the past 12 months have been a landmark year for the 110-year-old Hippodrome Theatre, a former vaudeville palace that presents touring Broadway musicals and plays.

With the help of a new $2 million state tax credit, the Hippodrome mounted its first Broadway tryout in at least two decades. A revival of “The Wiz” celebrated its world premiere in Baltimore in September, embarked on a six-month national tour, and transferred to Broadway this spring.

In addition, the Hippodrome significantly enhanced its small, flexible, state-of-the-art, second performance space. The newly-renovated M&T Bank Exchange hosts local performing arts and community groups, giving them exposure to a different audience and bringing significant rental revenue into the historic — and expensive — performing arts center.

“The new space caught on like wildfire,” venue president Ron Legler said. “We had 40 events in that space in just two months.”

And during the post-pandemic era, in which performing groups have been losing audience members in droves, the Hippodrome has miraculously held onto its season ticket holders.

“We only lost one percent of our subscribers during the pandemic,” Legler said, adding that the runs of most Broadway tours sell out. “That’s insane.”

He expects that winning streak to continue, and pointed out that subscribers will be the first audiences anywhere to see two new national tours next season: “& Juliet,” a girl-power jukebox musical that cheekily provides a happy ending to Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and that features the tunes of Swedish hit-maker Max Martin, and “The Life of Pi,” a widely acclaimed musical about a teenage boy, tiger, orangutan, zebra and hyena stranded on the same life raft.

“Our audiences love seeing Broadway shows in their backyards,” Legler said. “I kind of feel like we’re firing on all cylinders right now.”

— Mary Carole McCauley

Bowling: Greenmount Bowl
Honorable mentions:

Parkville Bowling Lanes
Mustang Alley’s
Stratosphere Social

Casino: Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland
Honorable mentions:

Hollywood Casino Perryville
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore

Charity/nonprofit: Chesapeake Bay Association Inc.
Honorable mentions:

Harford County Public Library
American Visionary Art Museum
BARCS

College/university: Towson University
Honorable mentions:

Loyola University
Johns Hopkins University
University of Maryland College Park

Dog park: Best Friends Fur Ever
Honorable mentions:

Paw Point Dog Park, Lake Roland
Patterson Dog Park
Locust Point Dog Park, Latrobe Park

Gallery: American Visionary Art Museum
Honorable mentions:

The Walters Art Museum
The Baltimore Museum of Art
Crystal Moll Gallery

Golf course: Mountain Branch Golf Club
Honorable mentions:

Bulle Rock Golf Club
Country Club of Maryland
The Elkridge Club

Museum: American Visionary Art Museum
Honorable mentions:

Baltimore Museum of Art
The Walters Art Museum
The Baltimore Museum of Industry

Park: Patterson Park
Honorable mentions:

Cromwell Valley Park
Patapsco Valley State Park
Cylburn Arboretum

Private school: Loyola Blakefield
Honorable mentions:

Calvert Hall College High
The Catholic High School of Baltimore
The John Carroll School

Public school: Hereford High
Honorable mentions:

Baltimore School for the Arts
North Harford High
Eastern Technical High

Suburb: Bel Air
Honorable mentions:

Towson
Lutherville-Timonium
Parkville

Theater company: Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center
Honorable mentions:

Everyman Theatre
Center Stage
Fluid Movement

Tourist attraction: American Visionary Art Museum
Honorable mentions:

National Aquarium
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Wedding venue: American Visionary Art Museum
Honorable mentions:

Montagu Meadows
George Peabody Library
Rockfield Manor

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

More winners

• Food & Drink
• Personal Services
• Lifestyle & Shopping
• People & Media
• Home & Garden

The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

Best Bookstore: The Ivy Bookshop

5928 Falls Road, Baltimore, 410-377-2966, theivybookshop.com

Nearly a quarter of a century after publishing experts were predicting that retail giant Amazon.com would cause the death of brick-and-mortar, independent bookstores, Emma Snyder is proving the pundits wrong.

“We’re the strongest that we’ve ever been,” said Snyder, who owns The Ivy Bookshop and its sister site, Bird in Hand Cafe & Bookstore.

“We had over 300 events last year, with authors like Lorrie Moore and Alice McDermott.  An evening with Ann Patchett and R. Eric Thomas had an audience of more than a thousand people. And, we just started a new monthly children’s event series.”

The Ivy’s success is especially impressive given that Snyder’s staff was poised to begin renovating a new store with three levels, a covered back patio and three acres of gardens just before the COVID-19 pandemic descended on Maryland.

“Building permits were issued in late February of 2020,” Snyder said. “For a number of years, everything was so uncertain. We spent a lot of time just managing that transition.”

Nonetheless, the Ivy relocated to its new space eight months later, though temporarily the story was open just for private browsing.

Next up: Snyder plans to open a 700-foot-square reading room and community space ideal for book club meetings and other small, intimate events in 2025.

She’s also established close partnerships with local organizations from the Whitehall Mill to Baltimore Poets Theatre. And she’s encouraging her customers to use the stores in creative ways, from sponsoring $6 cocktails on Saturday nights at Bird in Hand to lawn games in the Ivy’s gardens.

“The role that best suits us is exploring in as many ways and spaces as possible the vibrancy that books can bring to our community,” Snyder said.

“What we’re doing is advocating for books in the world. That is our mission and our ethos. And there’s no upper limit on that.”

— Mary Carole McCauley

Antiques: Tommy’s on Main
Honorable mentions:

Jailhouse Antiques
The Painted Mill
The Parisian Flea

Barbershop: Old Line Barbers
Honorable mentions:

Floyd’s 99 Barbershop
Two Bits Barbershop
The Old Bank Barbers

Barre class: The J, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Honorable mention:

Downtown Yoga, Barre & Cycle

Bicycle shop: Joe’s Bike Shop
Honorable mentions:

Bike Doctor Bel Air
Bicycle Connection
Baltimore Bicycle Works

Bookstore: The Ivy Bookshop
Honorable mentions:

Barnes & Noble
Atomic Books
Snug Books

Bridal shop: K&B Bridals and Tux
Honorable mentions:

Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection
Love It! at Stella’s Bridal & Fashions
Francesca’s Bridal

Brow threading: Charm City Skin
Honorable mentions:

Brow Art
Rhea Eyebrow Threading

Car dealership: Jones Junction
Honorable mentions:

Adams Jeep of Maryland
O’Donnell Honda
Bill Kidd’s Volvo Cars

Children’s clothing: Carter’s
Honorable mentions:

Pied Piper Kids
The Shabby Button LLC

Clothing boutique: Bray & Em Boutique
Honorable mentions:

Gian Marco Menswear
Karma Fashion Boutique
Charm City Run

Consignment/resale shop: Belle Patri
Honorable mentions:

Uptown Cheapskate
The Shabby Button
The Turnover Shop

Day spa: About Faces Day Spa & Salon
Honorable mentions:

Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa
Spa on The Boulevard
Spa in The Valley
The Spa on West Main

Dispensary: GreenLabs
Honorable mentions:

Storehouse
Zen Leaf
Chesacanna

Gifts: Sideshow at AVAM
Honorable mentions:

In Watermelon Sugar
The Nest on Main
Found Studio | Shop

Grocery store: Wegmans
Honorable mentions:

Aldi
Eddie’s of Roland Park
Trader Joe’s

Gym: Coppermine
Honorable mentions:

Outlast Health and Performance
YMCA of Central Maryland
Brick Bodies Padonia

Hair salon: Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa
Honorable mentions:

HLK Hair
NVS Salon & Spa
Fringe Baltimore

Health food/supplement store: MOM’s Organic Market
Honorable mentions:

David’s Natural Market
OK Natural Food Store

Jeweler: Smyth Jewelers
Honorable mentions:

Saxon’s Diamond Centers
Charles Nusinov & Sons
The Parisian Flea

Liquor store: Total Wine & More
Honorable mentions:

The Wine Source
Ronnie’s Beverage Warehouse
Friendship Wine & Liquor

Martial arts: Coppermine
Honorable mentions:

ATA Martial Arts Maryland
U.S. Taekwondo Academy
Equilibrium (tie)
Baltimore Okinawan Karate (tie)

Maryland produced pre-roll: SunMed 0.5g Pre-Roll 2-Pack
Honorable mentions:

Curio Wellness
Evermore Cannabis Company

Medispa: Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates
Honorable mentions:

Manna Life Health & Wellness
Faces Med Spa
ProMD Health Bel Air

Menswear: Gian Marco Menswear
Honorable mentions:

Christopher Schafer Clothier
Marcia’s Luxury
Eddie Jacobs LTD

Music lessons: Baltimore School of Music
Honorable mentions:

Lutherville Music School
Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Stages Music Arts

Pet goods store: PetSmart
Honorable mentions:

The Mill of Bel Air
Howl
Baron’s K-9 Market

Pool: Padonia
Honorable mentions:

Pine Ridge Swim Club
Forest Hill Swim & Tennis Club
Roosevelt Park

Produced Maryland edible: SunMed’s Sunnies
Honorable mention:

Evermore Cannabis Company

Retirement community: Broadmead
Honorable mentions:

Forest Hill Heights
Pickersgill Retirement Community
Roland Park Place

Shoe store: Gian Marco Menswear
Honorable mentions:

DSW
Charm City Run
Van Dyke and Bacon

Spin class: Coppermine and Rev Cycle Studio (tie)

Thrift store: Tabitha’s House
Honorable mentions:

Savers
Goodwill
2nd Ave Thrift Store

Yoga studio: Yoga Center of Columbia
Honorable mentions:

Aluma Yoga
Downtown Yoga, Barre & Cycle
Yoga Union Baltimore

Category honorable mentions:

Braiding: Queen Aisha African Hair Braiding

Cannabis grower: SunMed Growers

Maryland-made shatter/wax: SunMed Golden Pineapple Live Resin Batter

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

More winners

• Food & Drink
• Personal Services
• Arts & Entertainment
• People & Media
• Home & Garden

The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson catches a line drive at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 26, 2023. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff)

Best Oriole: Gunnar Henderson

What can’t Gunnar Henderson do? The Orioles shortstop has enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, emerging not just as a candidate for the American League Most Valuable Player Award but also as a linchpin for an organization that expects to be perennial playoff contenders for the foreseeable future. Henderson boasts tantalizing home run power, strong instincts on the bases and a defensive skill set that can fill a highlight reel.

Only 23 years old, Henderson has already captured Baltimore’s attention and that of baseball fans around everywhere. He was among the leading vote-getters for a starting spot in this year’s MLB All-Star Game, the annual midsummer gathering of the sport’s best players. In true humble Henderson fashion, the Alabama native credited hard work and his coaching staff for getting him this far.

“It’s just kind of a testament to the development that I’ve had and then also just the work that I felt like I put in during the offseason and also getting to spring training and just being able to work with the infield coaches [and] the hitting coaches,” Henderson said. “Being able to just have guys like that in your corner and to go to work for them each and every day, it makes it fun coming to the ballpark.”

Baltimore’s newest superstar is a self-described “old soul” who listens to classic rock, builds LEGOs and takes his craft seriously. Revered in the minor leagues for his work ethic, he has won Orioles fans over with his blue-collar attitude and consistent production. As the club takes aim at ending its 36-year World Series drought this October, Henderson is leading the way. The future has arrived.

— Matt Weyrich

Activist: Frank Neighoff
Honorable mentions:

Steven Rivelis
Evan Woodard
Kate Cook

Author: Charmyra E. Fleming
Honorable mentions:

Jennifer Vido
John Waters
Laura Lippman

Clergyperson: Richard Dickens, New Metropolitan Baptist Church
Honorable mentions:

Ben Cachiaras, Mountain Christian Church
Jim Muratore, St. Luke’s Church on the Avenue
Bonnie McCubbin, Old Otterbein United Methodist Church

College professor: Alan Orr, Maryland Institute College of Art
Honorable mentions:

Mark Hubbard, Loyola University Maryland
Curtis Black, Coppin State University
Katie Moulton, Johns Hopkins University

DJ: DJ Steezy
Honorable mentions:

DJ Chuckspinz
DJ Kopec
DJ Groovy Twist

Instagram account: J.B. Shepard @Puptrait
Honorable mentions:

@thebaltimorefoodie
@themodestflorist
@Wine.Dine.Repeat

Meteorologist: Justin Berk, justinweather.com
Honorable mentions:

Tom Tasselmyer, WBAL-TV
Ava Marie, WBAL-TV
Tony Pann, WBAL-TV

Oriole: Gunnar Henderson
Honorable mentions:

Adley Rutschman
Cedric Mullins
Anthony Santander

Personal trainer: Kelly Whalen, Maryland Athletic Club
Honorable mentions:

Candice Hennessey, Yoga Centric
Dani K Gym & Wellness
Sean Shuman, Jewish Community Center

Podcast: No Pix After Dark
Honorable mentions:

Irreverent Health with Tom Ingegno and Matt Hampton
Conversations with Rich Bennett
Aaron Palmer, Native Tongues

Politician/government official: Tony Giangiordano, Harford County Council
Honorable mentions:

Gov. Wes Moore
Rep. Jamie Raskin
Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Council

Radio host: Josh Spiegel, 98 Rock Baltimore
Honorable mentions:

Tom Hall, WYPR 88.1FM
Bob Delmont, 93.1 WPOC
T.J. Smith, WBAL NewsRadio 1090

Radio station: WYPR 88.1 FM
Honorable mentions:

93.1 WPOC
98 ROCK, WIYY 97.9 FM
WTMD 89.7 FM

Raven: Justin Tucker
Honorable mentions:

Lamar Jackson
Mark Andrews
Roquan Smith

School principal: Erin Upton, St. Elizabeth School
Honorable mentions:

Carl Patton, The John Carroll School
Darryl Robbins, Sandymount Elementary
Bryan Pawlicki, North Harford High

Sports talk show: Ravens Gameday Radio, 98 Rock
Honorable mentions:

Big Bad Morning Show, 105.7 The Fan
Bob Haynie, CBS Radio 105.7 the Fan

Stage actor: Bruce Randolph Nelson, Everyman Theatre
Honorable mention:

Todd Krickler, Spotlighters Theatre

TV personality: Denise Koch, WJZ
Honorable mentions:

Ashley Hinson, WBAL
Kai Jackson, WBFF
Kevin Brown, Orioles ESPN

Twitter feed: Courtney Bindl @notmythirdrodeo
Honorable mentions:

Carol Ott @carolSOtt
Jake Leizear @jake_my_day

Visual artist: J.B. Shepard
Honorable mentions:

Collin Cessna
McFadden Art Glass
Joyce Scott

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

More winners

• Food & Drink
• Personal Services
• Arts & Entertainment
• Lifestyle & Shopping
• Home & Garden

The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

Best Florist: Radebaugh Florist and Greenhouses

120 Burke Ave., Towson. 410-825-4300. radebaugh.com.

For 100 years, Radebaugh Florist and Greenhouses has been making Baltimore-area residents feel a little more special. Whether it be bouquets for a wedding, plants for a new home or a gift box for a milestone birthday, the Towson purveyor of farm fresh flowers has delivered a centennial of customer service.

Throughout that time, the family-owned florist started in 1924 by George W. Radebaugh has connected to generations of clients, neighbors and friends. At the center of its success is a staff that focuses on filling customer’s needs and a superb product that is mostly locally grown, said Kaitlin Radebaugh, the fourth-generation owner of the business launched by her great-grandfather.

“We grow a lot of our own plants — that definitely sets us apart, and we work very hard to source the best flowers that we can from all over the world,” said Radebaugh, 42, who returned to the family business about 15 years ago to work with her father, Steve.

“So I think the thing that I see consistently, like on our Google reviews, are things like ‘Oh, the flowers are even more beautiful than I thought’… ‘the picture on the website didn’t do it justice,’ which is obviously what we want to hear.”

Radebaugh said the business continues to evolve and grow, expanding product lines to include luxury gift crates — thanks to securing a liquor license, as well as adding a local market within the garden center and even a snowball stand.

A centennial celebration is being planned to thank community supporters, past and current employees — and family, too. Radebaugh, however, will not be resting on her laurels.

“I have not forecast 100 years into the future,” she said with a laugh. “But I certainly have a list of projects I would like to tackle in the next couple of years.”

— Michelle Deal-Zimmerman

Acupuncturist: Tiffany Houchins, Woodberry Wellness
Honorable mentions:

Brittany Phillips-Kurek, Arrowhead Acupuncture
Charm City Integrative Health
Hyeon-Jin Kwon, Redesign Acupuncture

Audiologist: Bay Area Audiology
Honorable mentions:

Liz McGinnis, Costco
Harmony Hearing & Audiology (Festival at Bel Air)
Mary Donahue, Johns Hopkins

Auto repair: Jones Junction
Honorable mentions:

K & S Auto Services, Inc.
G&M Automotive
Tim’s Automotive

Bank/credit union: First Financial Federal Credit Union of Maryland
Honorable mentions:

Freedom Federal Credit Union
M&T Bank
APGFCU

Car wash: Canton Car Wash
Honorable mentions:

Flagship Carwash
Bel Air Auto Spa Express
WashWorks

Child care: TLC Preschool and Daycare
Honorable mentions:

Padonia Park Child Centers
Sunshine’s Daycare
ABC Care

Chiropractor: Pamela Woodward, First Step Chiropractic
Honorable mentions:

Sharon Dongarra, Thrive Chiropractic
Dr. Poane’s Chiropractic Office
Lewis Chiropractic Center

Computer repair: Byte Right Support
Honorable mentions:

Cheaper Than A Geek
Repairology
Cyber Rescue

Dentist: Dental Designs of Maryland
Honorable mentions:

Catonsville Dental Care
Laurel Bush Family Dentistry
White Marsh Family Dentistry

Dog trainer/facility: Sit Means Sit Dog Training
Honorable mentions:

Best Friends Fur Ever
K9 Koncepts
K9 College Dog Training

Dog walker: Sit Means Sit Dog Training
Honorable mentions:

Your Pet AuPair
Mohr Paws To Please Pet Care, LLC
Diana Bevensee

Dry cleaner: Zips
Honorable mentions:

Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners
J & J Alteration & Cleaning
Sanitate Dry Cleaners

Eye/vision care: Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates
Honorable mentions:

The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute
MyEyeDr
Katzen Eye Group Towson

Financial advisor: Williams Asset Management
Honorable mentions:

Harford Financial Group
Adam Ariosa SFG Wealth Management
Chesapeake Financial Advisors

Florist: Radebaugh Florist and Greenhouses
Honorable mentions:

Richardson’s Florist, Gifts & Flower Delivery
The Modest Florist
Flowers by Evelyn

Funeral home: McComas Family Funeral Homes
Honorable mentions:

Highview Funeral and Cremation Services
Haight Funeral Home & Chapel
Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc. Funeral Home

General practitioner: Amanda Kathleen Kelly, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Water’s Edge
Hampstead Primary Care
University of Maryland Family & Community Medicine at Paca Street (tie)
Honorable mentions:

David W. McClure, MD, UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Services
Marion C. Kowalewski, MD, Mercy Personal Physicians at Overlea

Hospital: The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Honorable mentions:

Greater Baltimore Medical Center
University of Maryland Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center

Insurance company: Greg Marsh, Allstate Insurance
Honorable mentions:

AAG Insurance Enterprises
Fuller & Associates Insurance
USAA

Laundromat: Amy’s Laundry
Honorable mention:

Falls Road Laundromat

Locksmith: Schott & Son Locksmith Service
Honorable mentions:

Easter’s Lock & Security Solutions
Robert’s Key Service
Baltimore Lock & Hardware

Marina: Bowleys Quarters Marina
Honorable mention:

Tidewater Marina

Nail salon: About Faces Day Spa & Salon Towson
Honorable mentions:

Jordan Thomas Salon at AmyClae
Polished Day Spa
Charm City Skin

OB/GYN practice: Capital Women’s Care
Honorable mentions:

Dana Roque, MD, University of Maryland Women’s Health
St. Joseph Women’s Health Associates
Johns Hopkins Medicine Gynecology & Obstetrics – Eldersburg

Orthodontist: Bel Air Orthodontics
Honorable mentions:

Isaacs, Nawy, Stern & Isaacs Orthodontics
Joseph LaPonzina Orthodontics
PSJ Orthodontics

Pediatric dentist: Growing Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
Honorable mentions:

Chesapeake Pediatric Dental Group
Bel Air Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Susanne Wallengren, Joppa Green Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric practice: Bright Oaks Pediatric Center
Honorable mentions:

University of Maryland Pediatrics
Pediatric Partners Towson
Pavilion Pediatrics

Pest control: Atlantic Pest Control
Honorable mentions:

EcoShield Pest Solutions
Firefly Pest Protection Services
RPC & Services, LLC

Pet day care: Best Friends Fur Ever
Honorable mentions:

Camp Bow Wow Towson
Falls Road Animal Hospital
Dogtopia of Bel Air

Pet groomer: Best Friends Fur Ever
Honorable mentions:

Ruff Riders Mobile Grooming, LLC
Snazzy Jazzy’s Pet Salon
Crystal Cuthbertson

Physical therapist: Revive Physical Therapy
Honorable mentions:

Will Power PT, Sports Physical Therapy
Gold Medal Physical Therapy
Drayer Physical Therapy

Tax preparer: Friedman & Associates
Honorable mentions:

Taylor & Company, LLC
DiNatale Accounting & Tax Services, LLC
Thomas M. Wagner & Associates

Urgent care: Patient First
Honorable mentions:

ExpressCare Urgent Care
University of Maryland Urgent Care
MedStar Health: Urgent Care at Bel Air

Veterinary practice: Urgent Vet Care
Honorable mentions:

Falls Road Animal Hospital
Bel Air Veterinary Hospital
Chadwell Animal Hospital (tie)
Northwind Animal Hospital (tie)

Category honorable mentions:

Auto glass: Safelite

Storage facility: Devon Self Storage

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

More winners

• Food & Drink
• Arts & Entertainment
• Lifestyle & Shopping
• People & Media
• Home & Garden

Nominations for The Baltimore Sun’s Best 2024 Readers’ Choice contest close at 5 p.m. April 26.

Voting will take place from 9 a.m. May 20 to 5 p.m. June 7.

Results will appear online in July at baltimoresun.com/best.

Thanks for your participation.

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Editor’s note: The nominations and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. Winners and honorable mentions (listed alphabetically) are determined by popular vote. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

The poll includes nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 80,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

For more categories, go to baltimoresun.com/best.

Best DJ

DJ Steezy

Steve Backmon, also known by his stage name “DJ Steezy,” grew up in a family of educators and musicians. He discovered his passions as an academic and an artist working as a teacher during the week and a disc jockey on the weekends.

Backmon has been mixing music for almost five years, inspired by his dad, who was also a disc jockey. He received his first mixer from a member of a local community of disc jockeys, and started working gigs as a feature artist. Backmon, who primarily plays at bars and restaurants in Baltimore and Annapolis, said he is looking to expand his business as a headliner for festivals. He said since becoming a DJ, he hasn’t looked back and that winning Baltimore’s Best proves that his years of hard work have not been in vain.

He said it’s also rewarding to see people come to multiple shows.

“The versatility of being able to play for multiple different crowds and multiple different places and still being able to draw on a crowd … has helped me branch out and be able to play so many places around the city,” he said.

Backmon said his two careers occasionally overlap. He works as a special education teacher at St. Elizabeth School in Baltimore, following the career paths of his grandmother and his aunts. He began as a paraeducator and gym teacher assistant and later went back to school at the University of Notre Dame for his masters in teaching. He also DJs for his school’s events including proms, school dances, company parties, and co-workers’ kid’s birthday parties.

Like any other gig, Backmon draws on the energy of his audience to determine what music to play, and lets his mood drive his playlist.

“Music isn’t a sound, it’s a feeling,” Backmon said, quoting a popular phrase for house-music DJs. “I like the idea that music isn’t what you listen to, it’s how you feel when you listen to it.”

— Hailey Closson

Activist: Frank Neighoff, Chesapeake Bay Association Inc.

Honorable mentions:

Kate Cook, Hands on HIIT

Devin Allen

Letrice Gant, Baltimore Ceasefire 365

Author: Charmyra E. Fleming

Honorable mentions:

Laura Lippman

D. Watkins

Anne Tyler

Clergyperson: Brian Nolan, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church

Honorable mentions:

Chesky Tenenbaum, Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland

Craig McLaughlin, Mt. Zion UMC

Jim Muratore, St. Luke’s Church on the Avenue

College athlete: Angel Reese, LSU

College professor: Gina Laupert, Towson University

Honorable mentions:

D. Alan Orr, MICA

Rebecca Bradley, MICA

Shawntaye Adams, Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville

DJ: DJ Steezy

Honorable mentions:

Global Quan

DJ Kopec

DJ Chuckspinz

Instagram account: @BmoreFood

Honorable mentions:

Krystal Washington, @bubblytv

Wave KD @kingdoue1

Samantha Stern @baltimorefoodscene

Meteorologist: Ava Marie, WBAL

Honorable mentions:

Justin Berk, Just In Weather

Justin Chambers, Fox 45

Tony Pann, WBAL

Oriole: Adley Rutschman

Honorable mentions:

Cedric Mullins

Bruce Zimmermann

Personal trainer: Jessica Kern, INLINE Barre

Honorable mentions:

Lily Pohlenz, F45 Fells Point

Matt Wilson, Do Work Factory

Justin Inman, Dr. Baltimore Big House Fitness

Podcast: No Pix After Dark

Honorable mentions:

The Mo & Katy Show

Just LIV

Stavvy’s World (tie)

The City That Breeds (tie)

Politician/government official: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore

Honorable mentions:

Rep. Jamie Raskin

Tony Giangiordano, Harford County Council

Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Council

Radio host: Laurie DeYoung, WPOC-FM/Baltimore

Honorable mentions:

Justin, Scott, and Spiegel, 98 Rock

C4, WBAL

Tom Hall, WYPR

Radio station: WYPR 88.1 FM

Honorable mentions:

98 Rock Baltimore – WIYY FM

93.1 WPOC

WTMD 89.7 FM

Raven: Justin Tucker

Honorable mentions:

Lamar Jackson

Mark Andrews

Redditor: J.B. Shepard, Puptrait

Honorable mentions:

Jill Lauren, Jill853

Ping Regis, call_me_ping

School principal: Charles Stembler, Calvert Hall College High School

Honorable mentions:

Sister Patricia McCarron, Notre Dame Preparatory

Chris G. Cook, Homestead – Wakefield Elementary

Sister Susan Louise Eder, Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sports talk show: Big Bad Morning Show, 105.7

Honorable mention:

Mike Popovec, 105-7 The Fan

Stage actor: Emily Karol, Maryland Renaissance Festival

Honorable mentions:

Deborah Hazlett, Everyman Theatre

Jordan B. Stocksdale, Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Cori Dioquino, Strand Theater Co.

TV personality: Denise Koch, WJZ

Honorable mentions:

Jamie Costello, WMAR

Marty Bass, WJZ

Rick Ritter, WJZ

Twitter feed: Archdiocese of Baltimore Catholic Schools, @ArchBaltSchools

Honorable mentions:

Carol Ott, @carolsott

The Modest Florist, @ModestFlorist

Courtney Bindl, @notmythirdrodeo (tie)

J.B. Shepard, @Puptrait (tie)

Visual artist: Joyce Scott

Honorable mentions:

Juliet Ames

Matt Muirhead

Reed Bmore

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

The poll includes nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal Services and People & Media. More than 80,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.

For more categories, go to baltimoresun.com/best.

Best Furniture Store

Jarrettsville Furniture

3743 Federal Hill Road, Jarrettsville. 410-557-7961. jarrettsvillefurniture.com

Purchase a mattress and the staff will deliver it, remove the old one and even make the new bed. Drag a reluctant spouse here to shop and watch the mood change: There’s a big-screen TV where one can watch sports, eat popcorn and down a beer or two.

Customer service is paramount at Jarrettsville Furniture, said Frank Avena, co-owner of a family-owned business celebrating its 50th year. The showroom, one-eighth of a mile long, is filled with bedroom, dining room and living room sets on parade for the company’s 10,000 clients. As Maryland’s top politico, Larry Hogan outfitted several bedrooms and sitting rooms in the governor’s mansion. Former Orioles manager Buck Showalter and his family are patrons, as are several judges, who have dressed up their chambers with high-end tables and desks.

“We have furnished entire homes, more than we can count,” Avena said. His staff of 25 includes 6 designers who visit clients’ residences to scope out the premises and chat with buyers before signing off.

“The more we learn from our customers, the better we can help them,” Avena said.

Furniture, from love seats to lounge chairs, hails from artisans in Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, among others. In the four years since they bought the business, the current owners have quadrupled annual sales to more that $7 million. A big slice of that comes from moving mattresses which, curiously, weren’t on the menu before.

“If people come for bedroom sets, we want to sell them something they can sleep on, as well,” Avena said.

Stepped-up advertising, on TV, radio and social media, has brought a new set of shoppers to the showroom which, when built half a century ago, flanked farmland and pastures. Last month, the business began making its pitch on the scoreboard behind home plate at Camden Yards.

— Mike Klingaman

Cleaning service: Dave’s Cleaning Consultants

Honorable mentions:

Cornerstone Cleaning

Butts’ Best Cleaning

Molly Maid of Hunt Valley

Electrician: Dan Flowers Electric

Honorable mentions:

Constellation Home

Clinton Electric Co.

Brothers Services Co.

Fence installation: Pyle Fence Co. Inc.

Honorable mentions:

Long Fence

Abbey Fence & Deck Co.

Fence Masters Inc.

Flooring and carpeting: Bode Floors

Honorable mentions:

Jason Brown Wood Floors

The Vertical Connection Carpet One Floor & Home

Jim Boyd’s Flooring America

Furniture store: Jarrettsville Furniture

Honorable mentions:

Urban Interiors

Su Casa Furniture

Second Chance Inc.

Garden center: Valley View Farms

Honorable mentions:

Green Fields Nursery

Kroh’s Nursery

Sun Nurseries

Handyman: Clarksville Construction Services Inc.

Honorable mentions:

Brothers Services Co.

Ace Handyman Services Columbia

Just-IN-Time Roofing & Renovations

Hardware store: Courtland Ace Hardware & Hearth

Honorable mentions:

Clarks Ace Hardware Ellicott City

Falkenhan’s Hardware

Kendall Hardware Inc.

Home security installation: Elite Home Entertainment

Honorable mention:

Westminster Security Co.

Home staging: Kate Wunder Interiors

Honorable mentions:

Studio A Staging

Urban Interiors

Staging Solutions, LLC

Homebuilder: Keystone Custom Homes – Eva Mar Farms

Honorable mentions:

Brockton Homes Inc.

Point Modular Homes

Gemcraft Homes

HVAC repair: Clarksville Heating and Air, LLC

Honorable mentions:

BTR HVAC Services

Krause Companies

A.J. Michaels

Interior design: Anna Graham Interiors

Honorable mentions:

Kate Wunder Interiors

Urban interiors

Jenkins Baer Associates

Landscaper: Vin’s Total Care Landscaping, LLC

Honorable mentions:

Lazo Landscaping

Rhine Landscaping

Oaklawn Landscaping

Lighting: Jones Lighting Specialists

Moving company: Von Paris Moving & Storage

Honorable mentions:

Thompson’s Moving Inc.

Senior Transitions

Perry Moving & Storage

Painter: Goode Design Painting & Wallcovering Inc.

Honorable mentions:

Painter Girl

Baltimore Paint Authority

Abbyart Home Services

Plumbing: Saffer Plumbing, Heating & Electrical

Honorable mentions:

PlumbCrazy

Ken Griffin Plumbing Services Inc.

O’Neill Plumbing & Heating

Real estate agent: Kim Kazaras, Cummings & Co. Realtors

Honorable mentions:

Stephanie Bamberger, Real Broker LLC

Destination Home Group of Long and Foster Real Estate

Kim Parsons, American Premier Realty (tie)

Melissa Barnes, Cummings & Co. Realtors (tie)

Remodeling: Chesapeake Premier Remodeling Inc.

Honorable mentions:

Clarksville Construction Services Inc.

Cornerstone Remodeling

Bearded Builders, Baltimore

Roofer: Tar Heel Construction Group LLC

Honorable mentions:

Westview Roofing Co.

Badger Contracting

Allied Remodeling (tie)

Brothers Services Co. (tie)

Rug cleaner: Kleenize Rug Cleaners

Honorable mentions:

Main Street Oriental Rugs

Borhani Rug Co.

Solar installation: Maryland Solar Solutions Inc.

Honorable mentions:

American Sentry Solar

Nu Look Home Design Inc.

Upholstery & furniture refinishing: W. Savage Upholstery & Furniture Repair

Honorable mention:

Ibello Upholstery Inc.

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.

The poll includes nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal Services and People & Media. More than 80,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors and more.

For more categories, go to baltimoresun.com/best.

Best Bakery and Best Gluten-free

Flavor Cupcakery

118 N. Tollgate Road, Bel Air. 443-371-6664. flavorcupcakery.com

Shelley Stannard, the owner of Flavor Cupcakery, isn’t a baker “by passion or trade,” she said.

The mom of three, who once worked in advertising and marketing, originally wanted to open a home décor store. When she noticed that people weren’t inclined to spend as much on their homes in 2008 and 2009, during the recession, she ran with her sister’s idea to open a cupcake shop instead.

“We did not have a good high-end bakery in the area,” Stannard, 56, said. “We needed that go-to place that was local.”

It was a “huge learning curve” opening the bakery in 2010, Stannard said.

Prior to launching her business, she baked to formulate the recipes. Now, Flavor Cupcakery has 11 full-time pastry chefs, whipping up favorites including a “black bottom” chocolate cupcake with cream cheese filling and chocolate chips.

Stannard’s pick is a cheesecake cupcake with graham cracker crust, vanilla cake and a cream cheese filling.

“A lot of our cupcakes are pretty intricate, with crusts, with fillings, with special garnishes,” she said. “Most people come in looking for things that are a little bit more extravagant.”

Stannard appreciates the process, taking inspiration from a childhood neighbor in Massachusetts who “always baked from scratch,” she recalled.

At Flavor Cupcakery, Stannard sources all of her ingredients from a Maryland distributor. She even serves up sweets that are vegan, gluten free and “glegan” — a combination of the two.

The shop takes custom orders for events and special occasions. New or limited-edition flavors are announced on Instagram.

“We’re consistent with what we’ve offered throughout the years,” Stannard said. “But we also are always trying to keep it exciting. … We’re always bringing something new to the table that keeps people coming in the door.”

“It’s just a little escape from life,” she said of the world she’s created in the shop.

— Abigail Gruskin

Best Lunch, Pizza

Frank’s Pizza & Pasta

6620 Belair Road, Baltimore. 410-254-2900. frankspizzaandpasta.com

It may be named for just one man, but Frank’s Pizza & Pasta is the definition of a family affair.

Cousins Frank Mastrantuono and Armando Buontempo flipped a coin to decide whether they would call their Overlea restaurant Frank’s or Armando’s. Mastrantuono won the flip, and in 1985 the two opened Frank’s, a laid-back, genial spot specializing in pizza, subs and other Italian favorites.

Tragedy almost closed the restaurant just four years after it opened. In 1989, Mastrantuono was at work when the neighboring pharmacy was robbed. A stray bullet flew through the wall and struck the restaurateur, killing him on his 32nd birthday.

The restaurant’s strip-mall setting may lead some diners to pass Frank’s by, but don’t overlook this pizzeria, which serves up friendly service, hearty pasta and high-quality New York- and Detroit-style pies.

After nearly 40 years, Buontempo is still a fixture at the restaurant, making the rounds to greet customers and check in on the kitchen. The day-to-day operations, however, have fallen to his sons, Gennaro and Daniel Buontempo, who grew up at Frank’s and now have some innovations of their own for the family business.

When the brothers took over in 2020, the pizza recipe they inherited was guided more by gut feeling than precise measurements.

“It was like a traditional, New York-style pizza shop, where you don’t have recipes,” Daniel said. “My brother took it to the next level and made it into a science.”

Gennaro, who goes by Gerry, uses a natural starter to make the pizza dough at Frank’s, and then allows it to ferment for 72 hours before baking to develop a more robust flavor. Though the pies are New York-style, the restaurant adds a char to the crust that’s reminiscent of a Neapolitan slice.

That care extends to the rest of the menu: The chicken cheesesteak, for instance, uses fresh chicken breasts, marinated for several days before being chopped on the grill and layered with provolone and your choice of toppings. The Rosa pasta, farfalle noodles topped with vodka sauce, chicken, shrimp and lump crab meat, is a Frank’s specialty and a standout of the restaurant’s extensive pasta menu.

Gerry and Daniel recently purchased a mobile brick oven to make pizza on the road, so you can now find Frank’s pizza at local breweries and private events. The brothers are also thinking about expanding with another restaurant of their own.

Whatever comes next, Frank’s won’t be going anywhere.

“We want to keep our father’s legacy going,” said Gerry. That includes the restaurant’s recipe for success: “Really good food will keep them coming back,” he said, “but with us it’s a family atmosphere.”

— Amanda Yeager

Asian: Ekiben

Honorable mentions:

Chopstix Gourmet and Sushi Bar

Fuji Sushi

Bamboo Garden

Bakery: Flavor Cupcakery

Honorable mentions:

The Yummery

Cake By Jason Hisley

Woodlea Bakery

Barbecue: Mission BBQ

Honorable mentions:

Chaps Pit Beef Baltimore

Andy Nelson’s Barbecue Restaurant & Catering

Blue Pit BBQ & Whiskey Bar

Bartender: Jessica Kern, Massoni’s Italian Restaurant

Honorable mentions:

Ashlee Wiley, DeSantis Restaurant and Bar

Marijo Paterniti, Lib’s Grill Perry Hall

Brendan Forsythe, Little Havana

Breakfast/brunch: Sunny Day Cafe

Honorable mentions:

Miss Shirley’s Cafe, Roland Park

Sunshine Grille Bistro & Catering

Blue Moon Cafe

Brewery: Independent Brewing Co.

Honorable mentions:

Hopkins Farm Brewery

Checkerspot Brewing Co.

UNION Craft Brewing

Burger: The Abbey Burger Bistro

Honorable mentions:

Vagabond Sandwich Co.

Fuzzies Burgers

The Local

Caribbean: Little Havana

Honorable mentions:

Island Spice Grille & Lounge

Judy’s Island Grill

Jerk Taco

Caterer: The Classic Catering People

Honorable mentions:

Pairings Bistro

The Local

Lib’s Grill Perry Hall

Chef: Zack Trabbold, The Local

Honorable mentions:

Joe Lancelotta, Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant

Cindy Wolf, Charleston

Austin Karrasch, Ouzo Bay

Chinese: NiHao

Honorable mentions:

Joey Chiu’s Greenspring Inn

The Orient Restaurant

Bamboo Garden Restaurant

Cocktails: The Bluebird Cocktail Room

Honorable mentions:

Dutch Courage

Clavel

The Local

Coffee: Morning Mugs Coffee

Honorable mentions:

Zeke’s Coffee

Coffee Coffee

Artifact Coffee

Crabcake: Koco’s Pub

Honorable mentions:

Pappas Restaurant and Sports Bar

Box Hill Pizzeria & Crab Cakes

G&M Restaurant

Deli: Di Pasquale’s Marketplace

Honorable mentions:

Attman’s Delicatessen

Savona – Fine Italian Foods and Wine

Ravage Deli

Dessert: Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop

Honorable mentions:

Flavor Cupcakery

Cake By Jason Hisley

Diablo Doughnuts

Diner: EC Diner

Honorable mentions:

Blue Moon Cafe

Double T Diner

Nautilus Diner

Distillery: Sagamore Spirit Distillery

Honorable mentions:

Baltimore Spirits Co.

Old Line Spirits

Ellicott Distilling Co.

Ethiopian: Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant

Farmers market: Bel Air Farmers’ Market

Honorable mentions:

Baltimore Farmers’ Market

32nd Street Farmers Market

PA Dutch Market Cockeysville

Food hall: R. House

Honorable mentions:

Cross Street Market

Belvedere Square

Lexington Market

Food truck: B-More Greek Grill

Honorable mentions:

Vagabond Sandwich Co.

Mr. Souvlaki

Pizza di Joey

Gluten-free: Flavor Cupcakery

Honorable mentions:

Harmony Bakery

Ekiben

Papi’s Tacos Towson

Happy hour: Bacco Italian + Wine Bar

Honorable mentions:

Looney’s Pub Perry Hall

Nick’s Fish House

Pappas Restaurant and Sports Bar

Ice cream: Broom’s Bloom Dairy

Honorable mentions:

Taharka Brothers Ice Cream

Bmore Licks

The Charmery

Indian: Peerce’s

Honorable mentions:

Sizzling Bombay

The Mint Room

Ambassador Dining Room

Italian: Massoni’s Italian Restaurant

Honorable mentions:

Frank’s Pizza & Pasta

Italian Sensation

La Scala Ristorante Italiano

Japanese: Fuji Sushi

Honorable mentions:

Shoyou Sushi

Azumi

Yama Sushi Bar

Juice: Pure Raw Juice

Honorable mentions:

YogaFresh

Berri Purple

Gangster Vegan Organics (tie)

Z Vault (tie)

Korean: Ekiben

Honorable mentions:

Jong Kak

Shin Chon

Brown Rice Korean Grill

Latin American: Taco Love Grill Inc.

Honorable mentions:

La Cuchara

Plaza México

Cocina Luchadoras

Lunch: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta

Honorable mentions:

Vagabond Sandwich Co.

Sunshine Grille Bistro & Catering

Gertrude’s

Mediterranean: Samos Restaurant

Honorable mentions:

Mr. Souvlaki

Ouzo Bay

Samos Greek Island Grill

Middle Eastern: The Helmand

Honorable mentions:

Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen

Ammoora (tie)

Maggie’s Farm (tie)

Villagio Cafe (tie)

Outdoor dining: Nick’s Fish House

Honorable mentions:

Bowley’s on the Bay

Peerce’s

Little Havana (tie)

The Valley Inn (tie)

Pizza: Frank’s Pizza & Pasta

Honorable mentions:

Pizza di Joey

Pizza John’s

Margherita Pizza Of Bel Air

Poke: Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz

Honorable mentions:

Poke Bowl

Hilo Poke & Sushi

Blowfish Poke & Grill

Ramen: Akira Ramen & Izakaya

Honorable mentions:

Ramen Utsuke

EJJI Ramen

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar

Raw bar: Thames Street Oyster House

Honorable mentions:

Lib’s Grill Perry Hall

Dylan’s Oyster Cellar

Ryleigh’s Oyster

Server: Jaidyn Humphrey, Frazier’s On the Avenue

Honorable mentions:

Jimmy Neilson, Maggie’s Farm

Dennis Bushee, Massoni’s Italian Restaurant

Jenna Brouse, True Chesapeake Oyster Co. (tie)

Jessica “Cheeks” Haines, Charly’s (tie)

Snowball: Snoasis

Honorable mentions:

Emmorton Snowballs & Ice Cream

Sharon’s Shaved Ice Snowballs

Ice Queens Snowball Shop

Soul food: Southern Blues

Honorable mentions:

Blacksauce Kitchen

PlattaKing

Papi Cuisine

Soup: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood

Honorable mentions:

Petit Louis Bistro

One Eleven Main

Soup’s On

Steamed crabs: Conrad’s Seafood Restaurant

Honorable mentions:

Richard’s Fish & Crabs

Costas Inn

Mr. Bill’s Terrace Inn Crab House

Taco: Taco Love Grill Inc.

Honorable mentions:

Clavel

La Tolteca

Mucho Gusto

Tea house: Tea by Two

Honorable mentions:

Emma’s Tea Spot

Grace Table Tea Room

Kung Fu Tea X TKK Chicken

Thai: Spice and Dice Thai Kitchen

Honorable mentions:

Bodhi Corner

Thai Spice

Thai Arroy

Vegan: Golden West Cafe

Honorable mentions:

Great Sage

The Land of Kush

Harmony Bakery (tie)

One World Cafe (tie)

View: The Bygone

Honorable mentions:

Rusty Scupper Restaurant & Bar

Nick’s Fish House

Bowleys on the Bay

Wedding cake: The Yummery

Honorable mentions:

Cake by Jason Hisley

SugarBakers Cakes

Flavor Cupcakery

Wine list: Pairings Bistro

Honorable mentions:

Linganore Winecellars

Harford Vineyard & Winery

The Wine Collective

Wings: C.R. Wings

Honorable mentions:

Kislings Tavern

iBar

Route 24 Ale House

Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.