Best of Columbia 2013

Original Article Located Here.

COMPILED BY LAUREN BROCK

The city of Columbia has spoken and so shall the awards be bestowed! During an enthusiastic online voting process, Columbians cast their votes and doubled any previous year’s ballot counts, with zealous battles over addictive restaurants, delicious foods, show-stopping entertainment and much more.
Many of the Best of Columbia winners have achieved award-winning status year after year. These winners have a special Hall of Fame logo included in their advertisements in this section that help them toot their horns about being the best. Winners who have won five or more years are inducted into the Hall of Fame and are eligible to distinguish their business with a gold logo.
Each year, the editorial department selects several winners to highlight in a zany photo spread. Special thanks this year goes out to Stanley Steemer, Jeffers McGill and Century Glass for allowing us to take some editorial liberty and celebrate with a little fun. It’s creative attitudes like these that help these winners reach the top.
Nobody says it better than the people of this great town, so explore the city with newfound adventure. This is your city, your magazine, and these are your choices for the Best of Columbia. See who won in this year’s categories and celebrate these wonderful businesses that make Columbia a wonderful place to live!

 

    FOOD

  • Best Appetizer
    Bonefish Grill
  • Best Bakery
    Tiffany’s Bakery and Eatery
  • Best Barbecue
    Hudson’s Smokehouse
  • Best Biscuit
    Bojangles’
  • Best Boiled Peanuts
    Cromer’s
  • Best Chicken Salad
    The Gourmet Shop
  • Best Cookie
    Blue Flour
  • Best Dessert
    Nonnah’s
  • Best Doughnuts
    Krispy Kreme
  • Best French Fries
    Five Guys Burgers and Fries
  • Best Fried Chicken
    Zesto
  • Best Frozen Yogurt
    Yumilicious
  • Best Grits
    Mr. Friendly’s
  • Best Hamburger
    Five Guys Burgers and Fries
  • Best Ice Cream
    Marble Slab Creamery
  • Best Iced Tea
    Bojangles’
  • Best Milkshake
    Rush’s
  • Best Pizza
    Mellow Mushroom
  • Best Ribs
    Hudson’s Smokehouse
  • Best Sandwich
    Groucho’s Deli
  • Best Steak
    Ruth’s Chris Steak House

    RESTAURANTS

  • Best Restaurant in Columbia
    Mr. Friendly’s
  • Best Restaurant in Irmo
    Alodia’s Cucina Italiana
  • Best Restaurant in Lexington
    Travinia Italian Kitchen
  • Best Restaurant in Northeast
    Solstice Kitchen
  • Best Restaurant in West Columbia/Cayce
    Terra
  • Best Chinese Restaurant
    Miyo’s
  • Best Greek Restaurant
    Zorba’s
  • Best Italian Restaurant
    Villa Tronco
  • Best Japanese Restaurant
    Inakaya
  • Best Mexican Restaurant
    Eric’s San Jose
  • Best Thai Restaurant
    Mai Thai Cuisine
  • Best Business Lunch
    Motor Supply Company Bistro
  • Best Coffee House
    Starbucks
  • Best Bang for the Buck
    Moe’s Southwest Grill
  • Best Family Restaurant
    Lizard’s Thicket
  • Best Fast Food Restaurant
    Chick-fil-A
  • Best Fine Dining Restaurant
    Garibaldi Café
  • Best Healthy Restaurant
    Zoës Kitchen
  • Best New Restaurant
    Café Caturra
  • Best Outdoor Dining
    Café Caturra
  • Best Romantic Dinner
    Al’s Upstairs
  • Best Seafood Restaurant
    Blue Marlin
  • Best Sunday Brunch
    DiPrato’s
  • Best Sushi Restaurant
    Inakaya
  • Best Wait Staff
    Mr. Friendly’s
  • Best Wine Menu
    Gervais & Vine
  •  

    RETAIL

  • Best Antique Store
    Worth Repeating
  • Best Appliance Store
    Jeffers McGill
  • Best Art Store
    City Art
  • Best Athletic Wear Store
    Todd & Moore
  • Best Bicycle Specialty Store
    Outspokin’
  • Best Bridal Wear Store
    Jo-Lin’s
  • Best Children’s Clothing Store
    Bumble Boutique
  • Best Children’s Shoe Store
    Tootsies
  • Best Consignment Shop (clothing)
    Revente
  • Best Consignment Shop (furniture)
    Consignment 1st
  • Best Fashion Accessories Store
    Just the Thing
  • Best Flooring/Floor Covering Store
    Redd Flooring and Design Center
  • Best Florist
    Rosewood Florist
  • Best Frame Shop
    HoFP Gallery
  • Best Gamecock Store
    Jewelry Warehouse
  • Best Gardening Store
    Woodley’s Garden Center
  • Best Gift Store
    Gibson’s on Devine
  • Best Glass Store
    Century Glass
  • Best Home Furnishing Store
    Strobler Home Furnishings
  • Best Hunting/Fishing Supply Store
    Barron’s Outfitters
  • Best Jewelry Store
    Sylvan & Dubose
  • Best Kitchen Store
    Mary & Martha’s
  • Best Lighting Store
    The Lite House
  • Best Mattress Store
  • Best Mattress
  • Best Men’s Clothing Store
  • Brittons

  • Best Men’s Formal Wear Store
    Granger Owings
  • Best Men’s Shoe Store
    Granger Owings
  • Best Office Furnishings Store
    McWaters
  • Best Office Supply Store
    Staples
  • Best Outdoor Store
    The Backpacker
  • Best Pet Boutique
    Pupcakes Pet Boutique
  • Best Pet Supply Store
    PetSmart
  • Best Running Specialty Store
    Strictly Running & Walking
  • Best Shopping Venue
    Village at Sandhill
  • Best Sporting Goods Store
    Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Best Supermarket
    Publix
  • Best Toy Store
    BeBeep, a toy shop
  • Best Vision Wear Store
    Sansbury Eye Center
  • Best Wallpaper/Wall Covering Store
    Wallpaper Additions
  • Best Wine Shop
    Total Wine & More
  • Best Women’s Clothing Store
    Round Robin
  • Best Women’s Evening Wear Store
    Coplon’s
  • Best Women’s Shoe Store
    Kicks

    HOME

  • Best Apartment Complex
    42 Magnolia
  • Best Assisted Living Facility
    Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
  • Best Condominiums
    Adesso
  • Best Home Builder
    The Mungo Companies
  • Best Home Remodeler
    Remodeling Services Unlimited
  • Best New Home Community
    Saluda River Club
  • Best Retirement Community
    Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community

    RECREATION

  • Best Boat Dealer
    Mid-Carolina Marine
  • Best Exercise Facility
    Gold’s Gym
  • Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday
    Monkey Joe’s

    SERVICE

  • Best Auto Repair
    Andrews Auto Service
  • Best Bridal Photographer
    Neva Loftis
  • Best Car Dealer
    Jim Hudson
  • Best Car Rental Agency
    Enterprise Rent-A-Car
  • Best Carpet Cleaner
    Stanley Steemer
  • Best Caterer
    Southern Way
  • Best Chimney Sweep
    Top Hat Sweepers
  • Best Facial
    Urban Nirvana
  • Best Dry Cleaner
    Tripp’s Fine Cleaners
  • Best Event Planner
    Cricket Newman
  • Best Fence Company
    Brabham Fence
  • Best Furniture Refinisher
    Colonial Woodwork
  • Best Hair Salon
    Shear Xpectations
  • Best Hardscape Company
    Hay Hill Services
  • Best Heating/Air Service
    2nd Wind Heating & Air Conditioning
  • Best Insurance Agency
    State Farm
  • Best Insurance Agent
    Brad Everhart
  • Best Interior Designer (commercial)
    Katherine J. Anderson
  • Design/Interior

  • Best Interior Designer (residential)
    Evon Kirkland Interiors
  • Best Landscaping
    Company
  • Hay Hill Service

  • Best Lodging
    Hilton
  • Best Massage
    Urban Nirvana
  • Best Modeling Agency
    Millie Lewis of Columbia
  • Best Moving Company
    Two Men & A Truck
  • Best Nail Salon
    Soak Nail Spa
  • Best Outdoor Lighting
    Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
  • Best Pest Control Service
    Home Pest Control
  • Best Pet Boarding
    Wescott Acres Luxury Pet Resort
  • Best Pet Grooming
    Groomingdales
  • Best Plumbing Company
    Superior Plumbing & Gas
  • Best Real Estate Agent
    Jill Moylan
  • Best Real Estate Agency (commercial)
    Grubb & Ellis|Wilson Kibler
  • Best Real Estate Agency (residential)
    Home Advantage Realty
  • Best Staffing Agency
    Roper Staffing
  • Best Swimming Pool Company
    Jack Oliver’s Pool, Spa & Patio
  • Best Travel Agency
    Forest Lake Travel
  • Best Wedding Venue
    701 Whaley

    MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT

  • Best Art Gallery
    Columbia Museum of Art
  • Best Live Theatre
    Trustus
  • Best Museum
    South Carolina State Museum
  • Best Radio Station
    89.7 WMHK
  • Best Radio Personality
    Jonathon Rush
  • Best TV Station
    WIS-TV
  • Best TV News Anchor
    Dawndy Plank
  • Best TV Sportscaster
    Rick Henry
  • Best TV Weatherperson
    Ben Tanner