Here are the winners of this year’s reader’s poll.

I was taken to task by several readers for including a category for best beach bar. Beaches? In Tampa? They’re right. Last year I was willing to encompass more territory. This year I’m trying to keep the focus more local, so no more beach bar category. (Last year’s winner can be found here).

La Casa Dolce is deeply missed. Last year they won Best Dessert and best gelato. This year Best Gelato got a total of zero votes.

The new kid on the block is Cafe Hey which won Best Soup, Best Coffee, and Best Cuban Sandwich. After eating there last weekend I agree that it’s a welcome addition to the Tampa dining scene.

There are several ties this year. Last year I held run-offs in the case of a tie, I’m not sure if I’ll do that again. I’ll make that decision when I start posting the individual reviews.

In the categories where there is no clear winner there must be an editorial decision. It was trying to arrive at this decision about burgers that lead to my search for the best burger in Tampa at the beginning of the year. This year I’ll be searching for the Best Buffet. It’s a heavy burden I bear (or will be after I finish eating at all those buffets) but Eating Tampa readers deserve to know. Everybody has a different different idea about best buffets, and over the course of the next couple of months we’re going to get to the bottom the Tampa buffet scene.

Other categories that demand some editorial intervention are Best Columbian, Best Fish Sandwich, Best Ice Cream, Best Veggie Food, and Best Wine Bar. There will also be a taste-test run-off in Best Sandwich. The best sandwich isn’t necessarily in the best sandwich shop. My example is the meatball sandwich at Stephanno’s – great sandwich, not a sandwich shop.

Everyone also seemed to have a different idea about best bar. New World won by default because that’s where the original “eater’s” hang out.

When I put up the individual posts I’ll also include runners-up, last year’s winner, and some editorial comment.

And, finally, thanks to everyone who voted for Eating Tampa as the best food blog. Humility requires that I remove myself from the running, nonetheless it was nice to be noticed!

Winners of the 2008 Eating Tampa Reader’s Poll – Best Places to Eat in Tampa

Best 24-hour Restaurant – 3 Coins

Best Bagel – Bagels Plus

Best Bakery – tie Pane Rustica/Alessi

Best Bar – New World Brewery

Best Barbecue – Big John’s Alabama Barbecue

Best Bay-area Food Writer – Laura Reiley

Best Beach Bar – There are no beach bars in Tampa!

Best Locally Brewed Beer – Dunedin Brewery

Best Beer Garden – New World Brewery

Best Breakfast – tie Nicki’s Restaurant & J. Christopher’s

Best Buffet – no clear winner – Time to start the Hey, Hey Buffet search

Best Burgers (chain) – 5 Guys

Best Burgers (non-chain) – tie Green Iguana & Tampa Bay Brewing Company

Best Chinese – Yummy House

Best Crepes – La Creperia

Best Coffee (non-chain) – Cafe Hey

Best Colombian – No clear winner

Best Cuban Food – La Teresita

Best Cuban Sandwich – Cafe Hey

Best Deli – Merino’s

Best Desserts – NoHo Bistro

Best Diner – Nicko’s

Best Falafel – Pita Republic

Best Fish Market – Cox’s Seafood Market

Best Fish Sandwich – no clear winner

Best Food Blog – no clear winner

Best French Fries – tie – 5 Guys & Honey’s

Best Fried Chicken – Publix

Best Fried Potato/Stuffed Potato – Papa Joe’s

Best Gelato – No winner

Best German Food – Mr. Dunderbak’s

Best Greek – Acropolis

Best Grocery Store – Publix

Best Gyro – Acropolis

Best Hot Dogs – Mel’s

Best Ice Cream – No clear winner

Best Indian Restaurant – Angithi

Best Italian – Laughing Cat

Best Jamaican – Jerk Hut

Best Mall Food – Chick-fil-a

Best Middle Eastern – Byblos

Best Nachos – Front Porch

Best Peruvian – Machu Picchu

Best Pho – Trang Viet

Best Pizza – Cappy’s

Best Place that Allows Dogs – New World Brewery

Best Place to Take a First Date – Samurai Blue

Best Place to Take Out-of-towners for Dinner – Columbia Restaurant

Best Place to Watch the Sun Set – Somewhere other than Tampa

Best Sandwich (local) – Run-off

Best Sandwich Shop (chain) – Publix

Best Sandwich Shop (non-chain) – Cafe Hey

Best Southern Cooking – not in Tampa

Best Steak – Bern’s

Best Sushi – Ichiban

Best Sweet Tea – (best response – yeccch) tie McAllister’s & Lupton’s

Best Tex-Mex/Mexican – Taconazo the Taco Bus

Best Thai – Jasmine Thai

Best Vegan – Grass Root

Best Veggie – no clear winner

Best Vietnamese – Trang Viet

Best Wine Bar – No clear winner

NEW CATEGORIES

Best Boba Tea – Got Tea

Best Soup – Cafe Hey

Best non-fried Chicken – ?

Best Salad Bar – Sweet Tomato

Best Bistro – NoHo Bistro

Best Korean – Sa Ri One Korean Bulgogi Restaurant

Best Fish & Chip – Mad Dogs & Englishmen

Best Buffalo Wings – Honey’s

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