Voters turned out by the thousands to cast ballots (overwhelmingly on the Internet) in the 4th Annual Chicago’s Choice Dining Poll, which asks readers’ opinions on 10 serious and semi-serious topics. The results, as always, include a few surprises, suggest more than a few get-out-the-vote campaigns (though again, as far as we can tell, everybody played by the rules) and should inspire plenty of water-cooler debate.
Better still, maybe it will inspire some readers to visit a few new restaurants. Congratulations to our category winners, and congratulations to Alec Rosofsky, Jennifer Wolf and Jenny Strang, all from Chicago. Rosofsky won our $500 prize, and Wolf and Strang, $250 each.
FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANT
Lakeview Supper Club, a sophisticated neighborhood spot, edged out BBQ specialist Bone Daddy in this hotly contested category. Close behind were the nuevo Mexicano Don Juan on Halsted, and Settimana Cafe, a hot Wicker Park Italian. Fine-dining spots Spring and Twelve 12 got good support, and stray votes were cast for Burrito King in Riverdale, 1960 Blue (presumably a misprint) and a host of other spots that weren’t new this year.
CHEF TO WATCH
Though the category was intended to recognize budding talent, voters instead went with a chef who has had four stars on her toque for some time now. Sarah Stegner, of the Dining Room in the Ritz-Carlton, ran away with the category. In her dust were Susan Goss of Zinfandel, Tony Priolo of Coco Pazzo, Michael Gaspard of Grace, Patrick Concannon of Don Juan on Halsted, and a zillion chefs with two or three votes each.
FAVORITE HOST OR MAITRE D’
The voters cried out for Ray Ray (real name Rachel More), the hostess-bartender-manager and probably emergency dishwasher at Twisted Spoke, a biker-themed bar at Ogden and Grand Avenues. A bit farther back were Steven Lande of the Dining Room, Demetri Koroyanis of D. Bob’s American Bistro in Park Ridge, Sean Herron of Meritage and Mario Rizzotti of Rosebud on Rush.
FAVORITE SUBURBAN RESTAURANT
The depth of the suburbs’ dining options was demonstrated clearly in this category, in which so many restaurants received support that a mere .43 percent of the vote total was good enough for a Top Ten finish. But there was substantial support for our winner, Campagnola; the Evanston Italian easily outdistanced Phil Smidt’s, the venerable seafooder in Hammond. But it was a good category for the north and northwest suburbs; top vote-getters included Dave’s Italian Kitchen (Evanston), D. Bob’s American Bistro (Park Ridge), Trio (Evanston again!) and Bob Chinn’s and Le Francais (both in Wheeling).
FAVORITE PLACE FOR TAKEOUT
Another wide-open category, with scads of carryout pizzerias, rib joints and sandwich shops garnering support. But the clear winner was Fox & Obel, the gourmet food market that opened recently in North Pier. Penny’s Noodle Shop was a close second; some distance back were L’il Guys, Pizza D.O.C., the Local Shack in Lincoln Park and Trotter’s to Go (which we picked to win).
FAVORITE PLACE TO WAIT OUT A BLIZZARD
Voters had lots of cozy restaurants in mind when they voted in this category. Dozens upon dozens of restaurants received a few votes each. But the landslide winner was Twisted Spoke, which apparently has lots of Internet-handy friends. Trailing the leader were Meritage (specifically, its enclosed garden), D. Bob’s, Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co., Goose Island Brewing Co. and Melrose Park’s venerable Come Back Inn.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR THIN-CRUST PIZZA
Competition in this category was fierce. Adorno’s and Pizza D.O.C. (which mounted an impressive get-out-the-vote campaign) made a strong showing, but the pie-prize goes to Piece. Cynics attribute the Bucktown pizzeria-brewpub’s popularity not to its New Haven-style pizza, but to the occasional presence of cast members from MTV’s “The Real World — Chicago,” which filmed over the summer in a loft across the street. Now that the cameras have gone, will Piece’s popularity endure?
WORST NEW TREND
Voters used this category as a repository for general restaurant gripes. For every objectionable trend, such as “Live sushi” and “Apple martinis,” there were 10 rants about “Bathroom attendants,” “Too-close tables” and “Constant cell-phone use.” But the most-mentioned gripe was “Rude, know-it-all customers,” which suggests that the restaurant industry participates in our poll as much as the dining public.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR PANCAKES
Lakeview newcomer Orange made a strong showing early in the poll, and the ever-popular Walker Bros. (with five suburban locations) pulled in plenty of votes. But the people threw most of their support behind the fabulous flapjacks at The Bongo Room in Wicker Park.
FAVORITE PLACE TO SAMPLE WINE
This category is meant to recognize restaurants that offer customers expert advice, a wide range of bottles at all price points and plenty of by-the-glass and/or tasting-portion pours. Salpicon and Bin 36, strong contenders in past years, put up a good fight, but The Tasting Room at Randolph Wine Cellars, which offers more than 100 wines by the glass or taste, put a cork in the competition.
