Here are the highly anticipated results of the Hyattsville Wire’s third annual Best of Route 1 Reader Poll!
Best Place to Get Coffee: Vigilante Coffee
Vigilante again won this category by an overwhelming margin. Notable runners-up include Zeke’s, Shortcake Bakery, Starbucks, Board and Brew, The Bagel Place and Kah Vie.
Best Restaurant: Franklins Restaurant
Hometown favorite Franklin’s once again did well but some new additions to the dining scene also got a number of votes, including Pizzeria Paradiso, Banana Blossom Bistro, Burtons Grill and Bar, Riviera Tapas, Taqueria Habanero, Shagga Ethiopian and Northwest Chinese.
Best Sunday Brunch: Busboys and Poets
Busboys easily took the top spot for the third year in a row. Runners up included Franklins Restaurant, Shortcake Bakery, Milk and Honey Cafe, Riviera Tapas, Burton’s Grill and Bar, and Board and Brew.
Best Pizza: Pizzeria Paradiso
Pizzeria Paradiso handily won in this category for the second year in a row. Other notable mentions include The Original Ledo Restaurant, Dumm’s Pizza and Subs, Potomac Pizza, MOD Pizza and Blaze Fast-Fired Pizza.
Best Asian Restaurant: Banana Blossom Bistro
Riverdale Park’s new Vietnamese restaurant dethroned critics’ darling Northwest Chinese in this category. Other notable mentions included Tara Thai, Pho Thom, Aroy Thai, Hanami, Qu Japan, Momo Yakitori and CB Chinese Grill.
Best Latin American Restaurant: Taqueria Habanero
College Park’s new Mexican restaurant took the top spot. Other notable mentions include Riviera Tapas, Cafe Azul, La Fondita, Las Comadres, El Comalito and District Taco.
Best Take-Out or Delivery: Spice 6
The Arts District favorite won this category for a third time, followed by Dumm’s, Tara Thai, Shagga, District Taco and Marathon Deli.
Best Place for Date Night: Burton’s Grill and Bar
The Riverdale Park Station won for a second year in a row. Other notable mentions included Busboys and Poets, Pizzeria Paradiso, Franklins Restaurant, Maryland Meadworks, Streetcar 82 and Momo Yakitori.
Best Place to Go Late at Night: Denizens Brewing Co.
The Riverdale Park brewery and restaurant took the prize, beating out MilkBoy ArtHouse, Franklins Restaurant and Marathon Deli.
Best Brewery: Streetcar 82 Brewing Co.
The Hyattsville brewery took the top spot for the first time, beating previous favorite Franklins and newcomer Denizens Brewing Co.
Best Distillery: Sangfroid Distilling Co.
The Hyattsville distillery may be the only one in this category, but it received a lot of votes.
Best Meadery: Maryland Meadworks
The Hyattsville meadery is also the only one of its kind, but it also received a lot of support.
Best Halal Restaurant: Food Factory
The College Park restaurant, which serves Middle Eastern and Indian fare, took the top spot. Other notable mentions include Pizza Roma, Marathon Deli and Elevation Burger.
Best Restaurant for Food Allergy Sufferers: Burton’s Grill and Bar
Burton’s again won easily, followed by Busboys and Poets and Banana Blossom Bistro.
Best Place to See Live Music: Milkboy Arthouse
The College Park restaurant and music venue again took the top spot, but it faced stiff competition from Maryland Meadworks. New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt also received a number of votes.
Best Public Park: Magruder Park
Hyattsville’s recreation-oriented park again traded the top spot with Lake Artemesia. Other notable mentions Bladensburg Waterfront Park and Greenbelt National Park.
Best Playground: University Park Playground
The playground next to the University Park Elementary took the top spot for the second time, followed by the playground at Riverdale Park Station.
Best Place to Take the Kids: College Park Aviation Museum
The museum again took the top spot for its indoor and outdoor play areas and ERCO plane they can climb in, but it was followed closely by the splash fountain at Riverdale Park Station. Other notable mentions include Franklins General Store, Artworks Now and Wells Ice Rink.
Best Apartment Building: Studio 3807
The new apartment building in Brentwood features an art gallery, a popular new food hall and solar power.
Best Piece of Public Art: The Arts District Murals
The set of Instagram-ready murals, including the Handmade in Hyattsville wall, caught readers’ eyes. Other favorites include the Bear at Riverdale Park Station and the kinetic light mural at Franklins Restaurant.
Best Place to Go Running: Lake Artemesia Trail
The 1.4 mile trail’s greatest asset is connections to Paint Branch Trail, Indian Creek Trail and Northeast Branch Trail. Other notable runners-up included the Trolley Trail and Paint Branch Trail.
Best Place to Go Biking: Anacostia River Trail
The 2.6 mile trail runs along the Anacostia River, including Bladensburg Waterfront Park and Colmar Manor Community Park. Other notable runners-up included the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, Lake Artemesia and the Paint Branch Trail.
Best Local Event: Hyattsville Arts & Ales Festival
The annual event again picked up the top prize. Other notable runners-up included University Park’s Porchfest, Hyattsville’s Zombie Run and College Park Day.
Best Hidden Gem: 2Fifty Barbecue
The barbecue vendors, who have been operating at the Riverdale Park Farmer’s Market, will open a restaurant soon. Runners-up include OpenBarre Studios and pinball at MOM’s Organic Market.
Best Bookstore: My Dead Aunt’s Books
Busboys and Poets came in second.
Best Locally Owned Shop: Proteus Bicycles
The College Park bicycle shop, which moved to a new space recently, narrowly edged out OpenBarre Studios and Tanglewood Works. Other notable mentions include Three Little Birds Sewing Co., Franklins Restaurant, Shortcake Bakery, Arrow Bicycle, Green Owl Design and Numi Yoga.
Best Woman-Owned Business: OpenBarre Studios
The College Park barre studio took the top spot. Other notable mentions include Numi Yoga, Crossfit Hyattsville, Proteus Bicycles, Tanglewood Works, Love Yoga, Shortcake Bakery, Denizens Brewing Co., Green Owl Design and Pizzeria Paradiso.
Best Bike Shop: Proteus Bicycles
The College Park bike shop again took the top spot, followed by Hyattsville’s Arrow Bicycle, College Park Bicycles and then the Mount Rainier Bike Co-Op.
Best Vintage Shop: Tanglewood Works
Other notable mentions include Suffragette City, Peg Leg Antiques, Cookie Wear and Community Forklift.
Best Grocery Store: Whole Foods at Riverdale Park Station
The Riverdale Park grocery store took the top spot but faced tough competition from MOM’s Organic Market and Lidl in College Park as well as Yes! Organic Market in the Arts District, Aldi in Hyattsville and the Glut Food Co-Op in Mount Rainier.
Best Community Supported Agriculture: ECO City Farms
The non-profit teaching farm in Edmonston was again the far-away favorite in this category. Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-Op and New Brooklyn Farms also got votes.
Best Place to Get Beer on Tap: Town Center Market
The Riverdale market won for a second year in a row, followed by Franklins Restaurant, Streetcar 82, Denizens Brewing Co., and Pizzeria Paradiso.
Best Place to Buy Alcohol By the Bottle: Town Center Market
The Riverdale Park store was far and away the winner, although Old Line Fine Wine and Franklins also received votes.
Best Place to Get a Haircut: Today’s Hair
The College Park spot took the top spot for the second year. Bananas, The Hair Cuttery and Red Door also got votes.
Best Yoga Studio: Numi Yoga
The College Park yoga studio took the top spot, followed by Love Yoga, Yoga Space in Hyattsville and Bikram Yoga in Riverdale Park.
Best Fitness Studio: OpenBarre Studios
The College Park barre studio was the hand’s down winner. Runners-up included Crossfit Hyattsville, Gold’s Gym in Riverdale Park, OrangeTheory and Posh Fitness.
Best Veterinarian: Lynn Animal Hospital
Best Local Artist: Margaret Boozer-Strother
Best Local Musician(s): The Wild Anacostias
Best Barista: Claire Giunta at Vigilante Coffee
Best Bartender: Alex Chacon at Franklins Restaurant
Best Doctor: Dr. Michael Berard
Best Dentist: Dr. Tricia Boyce
Best Lawyer: Donald L. Bell
Best Real Estate Agent: Tamera Beauchard
Runners up included Emily Jackson, Ann Barrett and Jean Pirovic.
Best Hair Stylist: Kathleen Hellington at Bananas
Best Plumber: Fred Werth