2020 Best of Erie Winners and Finalists

Nick Warren / seohwa

Given the historic challenge of 2020, few could be blamed for not being at their best. In the context of COVID-19, sometimes "doing your best" was just hanging in there. But to transcend all that, to continue to be a superlative asset to this city and this community despite all those trials and tribulations? That deserves recognition and celebration — sometimes in ways previously unthought 

Your 2020 Best of Erie winners reflect this. With categories such as Culture & Nightlife and Food & Drink disproportionately affected by the pandemic, new subcategories were created while others have gone on temporary hiatus. Before 2020 could you have imagined voting for Erie's Best Alcoholic Slushie (Altered State Distillery) while live-streaming an award-winning Erie Playhouse production? Perhaps you worked off some angst on Erie's Best Hiking Trails (Wintergreen Gorge) or with its Best Outdoor Adventure Activity (Peek'n Peak Adventure Course). 

In total, 345,132 votes were cast across 105 subcategories. The more some things changed, the more others stayed the same — we're clearly looking forward to meeting one another again at the Plymouth Tavern and will forever idolize Smith's hot dogs, Mighty Fine Donuts, and Romolo Chocolates.  Old or new, it's important that we passionately support our present to ensure a future where there's even more of the best to debate (maybe at a lounge or nightclub?) — and love.

Jump to Section: Culture & Nightlife | Food & Drink | People & Places

All photos by Jessica Hunter.

Goods and Services 

Best Local Business

Winner: Waldameer & Water World

Runners up: Erie Apparel, Erie Insurance

Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: The Cork 1794

Runners up: Altered State Distillery, Underdog BBQ

Best Locally Made Product

Winner: Smith's Hot Dogs

Runners up: Romolo Chocolates, Mighty Fine Donuts

Best Car Dealership

Winner: Bianchi Honda

Runners up: New Motors, Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram

Best Bank

Winner: Erie Federal Credit Union

Runners up: PNC Bank, Northwest Bank

Best Antique Shop

Winner: Oregon Antiques

Runners up: Pointe Foure Vintage Boutique, The Green Eyed Lady

Best Boutique

Winner: Grasshopper

Runners up: A La Carte Gift Shop, Pointe Foure Vintage Boutique

Best Consignment Shop

Winner: The Sassy Peacock

Runners up: Claudine's Consignment, Cobb's Second Time Around Thrift Shop

Best Jewelry Store

Winner: Dahlkemper's Jewelry Connection

Runners up: Breakiron Jewelers, Sacred Piercing

Best Furniture Store

Winner: John V. Schultz

Runners up: Arthur F. Schultz, Furniture Row

Best Local Book Store

Winner: Pressed

Runners up: Books Galore, Werner Books

Best Health Food Store

Winner: Whole Foods Co-op

Runners up: The Juice Jar, Zero Gravity

Best Barbershop

Winner: Ruiz Barber Shop

Runners up: Joe's Barber Shop, Colony Barber Shop

Best Spa

Winner: Coventina Day Spa

Runners up: Panache Salon and Spa, SandCille Spa

Best Beauty Salon

Winner: Panache Salon and Spa

Runners up: Moxi Hair Salon, Ambridge Rose Spa & Salon

Best Dog Groomer

Winner: Paws 'n Claws

Runners up: Erie Humane Society, Mud Puppies Self Serve Dog Wash

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

Winner: The ANNA Shelter

Runners up: Erie Humane Society, Because You Care, Inc.

Best Bike Shop

Winner: John Adams Cycling & Fitness

Runners up: Competitive Gear, Lake Country Bike

Best Auto Repair Shop

Winner: Bonnell's Collision Center

Runners up: Bianchi Honda, Bates Collision

Best Web Developer

Winner: Epic Web Studios

Runners up: ErieMultimedia, Snowberry Media

Best Graphic Designer

Winner: Megan Callaghan

Runners up: Ashley Tittle, Alice DeGeorge

Best Advertising Agency

Winner: ErieMultimedia

Runners up: RFrank Media, Epic Web Studios

Best Law Firm

Winner: MacDonald, Illig, Jones, & Britton LLP

Runners up: Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C.; Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto, Inc.

Best Real Estate Agency

Winner: Howard Hanna

Runners up: Marsha Marsh, Agresti Real Estate

Best Bed and Breakfast

Winner: Victoria Inn Bed and Breakfast

Runners up: Spencer House Bed & Breakfast, Grape Arbor Bed and Breakfast

Best Place to Get a Six Pack

Winner: U Pick Six

Runners up: Wegmans, 1000 Beers

Best Smoke/Vapor Shop

Winner: Vapor Cabana

Runners up: Smoker Friendly, Hippie and the Hound Vapor Store and Lounge

Best Tattoo Parlor

Winner: Ink Assassins

Runners up: Wayward Tattoo Studio, Mid-Town Tattoo

Best Florist

Winner: Potratz Floral Shop & Greenhouse

Runners up: Allburn Florist, Gerlach's Garden and Floral

Best Greenhouse

Winner: Stan's Garden Center

Runners up: Potratz Floral Shop & Greenhouse, Gerlach's Garden and Floral

Best Place to Camp

Winner: Sparrow Pond Family Campground

Runners up: Camp Sherwin (YMCA of Greater Erie), Sara Coyne Campground

Best Neighborhood Grocer

Winner: Whole Foods Co-op

Runners up: Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat, Erie County Farms

Jump to Section: Goods & Services | Culture & Nightlife | Food & Drink | People & Places

Culture & Nightlife

Best Museum

Winner: Erie Art Museum 

Runners up: ExpERIEnce Children's Museum, Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Best Art Gallery

Winner: Sparrow Gallery 

Runners up: Artlore Studio, PACA

Best Community Theater

Winner: Erie Playhouse 

Runners up: PACA, Mercyhurst University Theater Program

Best Dance School

Winner: Long's School of Dance

Runners up: Little Dance Studio, Marguerite's Academy of Dance

Best Photographer

Winner: Katie Mihalak 

Runners up: Rob Frank, Sarah Peach

Best Fine Artist

Winner: Kaitlyn Page

Runners up: Helen Tullio, Rachel Berlin

Best Band (Original)

Winner: Eric Brewer & Friends

Runners up: First to Eleven, Six Year Stretch

Best New Band/Musician (Last Two Years)

Winner: Phunkademic 

Runners up: LUCiD, Aria and the Voiceless

Best Cover Band

Winner: The Geek Army

Runners up: The Groove, Abbey Road

Best Vocalist

Winner: Lindsay Vendetti 

Runners up: Audra Miller, Mckenzie Sprague

Best MC

Winner: Charles Brown 

Runners up: Brandi "FRESCO" Carlini, Jonny Evans

Best Instrumentalist

Winner: Eric Brewer 

Runners up: Stephen Trohoske, Zack Orr

Best DJ

Winner: Millennium Sound

Runners up: DJ Bill Page, DJ Johnny B

Best Outdoor Music

Winner: Coconut Joe's

Runners up: Altered State Distillery, Sunset Grille

Best College Bar

Winner: Plymouth Tavern 

Runners up: Cornerstone Bar & Grill, The Edinboro Hotel

Best Happy Hour

Winner: U Pick 6 Taphouse

Runners up: U Pix Six Public House, Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Best Irish Pub

Winner: Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub 

Runners up: McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe, Lavery Brewing Company

Best Patio

Winner: Sloppy Duck

Runners up: Altered State Distillery, Shickalay's on the Bay

Jump to Section: Goods & Services | Culture & Nightlife | People & Places

Food & Drink

Best Restaurant

Winner: Federal Hill Smokehouse 

Runners up: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro, The Cork 1794 

Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: Underdog BBQ 

Runners up: Gem City Dinor, F & F Poke Bowl

Best Chef

Winner: Jean Paul (Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro)

Runners up: Mike Karle (The Cork 1794), Dan Kern (Noosa/1201 Kitchen)

Best Bakery 

Winner: Art's Bakery

Runners up: Icing On the Lake, Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Coffee Shop

Winner: Ember + Forge

Runners up: Brew Ha Ha, Tipsy Bean 

Best Ice Cream Shop

Winner: Sara's

Runners up: Creamland, Whippy Dip

Best Dessert

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners up: Icing on the Lake, Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe 

Best Chocolates or Candy 

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners up: Stefanelli's Candies, Pulakos Chocolates 

Best Donut Shop

Winner: Mighty Fine Donuts

Runners up: H & K, Jack Frost

Best Dinor

Winner: Flip Cafe

Runners up: The Breakfast Place, Gem City Dinor

Best Brunch

Winner: Flip Cafe 

Runners up: Peek'n Peak, The Cork 1794

Best Brewery

Winner: Voodoo Brewery Erie

Runners up: Erie Brewing Company, Lavery Brewing Company

Best Locally Made Beer

Winner: Railbender (Erie Brewing Company)

Runners up: Good Vibes (Voodoo), Dulachan (Lavery Brewing Company)

Best Winery

Winner: Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co

Runners up: Mazza Vineyards, 6 Mile Cellars

Best Distillery

Winner: Altered State Distillery

Runners up: Erie Distillery, Luminary Distilling

Best Cocktail

Winner: Plymouth Tavern

Runners up: Room 33, The Cork 1794

Best Bar Food

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille

Runners up: Plymouth Tavern, Calamari's Squid Row

Best Sandwich Shop

Winner: Picasso's

Runners up: Teresa's Italian Deli, Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

Best Deli

Winner: Teresa's Italian Deli

Runners up: Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat, Tickle's Deli

Best Burger

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille 

Runners up: Avonia Tavern, The Brewerie at Union Station 

Best Pizza

Winner: John's Wildwood Pizza

Runners up: Virgil's Plate, Valerio's

Best Wings

Winner: Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grille 

Runners up: John's Wildwood Pizza, One Way Inn

Best Sushi

Winner: Samurai Kitchen + Sushi 

Runners up: Chopstix, 1201 Kitchen

Best Food Truck

Winner: The Que Abides 

Runners up: The Big Cheese, The Atacolypse

Best Place for Vegan or Vegetarian Food

Winner: Whole Foods Co-op 

Runners up: The Juice Jar, Like My Thai

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Winner: Federal Hill Smokehouse 

Runners up: Underdog BBQ, Three B Saloon 

Best Seafood Restaurant

Winner: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro 

Runners up: Smugglers' Wharf, 1201 Kitchen

Best Asian Restaurant 

Winner: Chopstix

Runners up: Golden Wok, Like My Thai

Best Italian Restaurant

Winner: Serafini's

Runners up: Mi Scuzi, Valerio's 

Best Mexican Restaurant 

Winner: El Canelo

Runners up: Torero's, El Amigo

Best Thai Restaurant

Winner: Like My Thai

Runners up: Khao Thai, Thai Eatery

Best Mediterranean or Middle Eastern Restaurant 

Winner: Casablanca Grill

Runners up: Habibi, Alkeme

Best Alcoholic Slushie

Winner: Altered State Distillery

Runners up: Country Fair, Sloppy Duck 

Jump to Section: Goods & Services | Culture & Nightlife | Food & Drink 

People & Places

Best Place to Work

Winner: Wegmans

Runners up: Erie Insurance, UPMC Hamot

Best Place for a First Date

Winner: Presque Isle State Park

Runners up: The Cork 1794, Erie Zoo

Best Place to Take Your Dog

Winner: Presque Isle State Park

Runners up: Asbury Woods, Frontier Park

Best Radio Station

Winner: HAPPI 927

Runners up: Star 104, The Wolf 93.9

Best Radio Personality (or Radio Team)

Winner: Jessica Curry and Ted Hallowell

Runners up: Sammy Stone, Captain Dan

Best TV Personality

Winner: Sean Lafferty

Runners up: David Belmondo, Kara Coleman

Best Filmmaker

Winner: John C. Lyons

Runners up: MenajErie Studio, Len Kabasinski

Best Yoga Space

Winner: yogaErie

Runners up: Rise Up Erie, YMCA

Best Tattoo Artist

Winner: "Gentle" Josh Makowski

Runners up: Rachel Travis, Jennifer Christina

Best Local Actor

Winner: Shawn Clerkin

Runners up: Chris Bucci, Luke Bongiorno

Best Local Actress

Winner: Adele Crotty

Runners up: Kate Neubert-Lechner, Amanda Hurd

Best Nonprofit

Winner: ANNA Shelter

Runners up: Shriners Hospitals for Children Erie, Emma's Footprints

Best Bartender

Winner: Caitlin Smith (Coconut Joe's/Big Bar) 

Runners up: Kristin Walker (The Cork 1794), Shawn McCall (Room 33)

Best University

Winner: Penn State Behrend

Runners up: Edinboro University, Gannon University

Best Fitness Club

Winner: Planet Fitness

Runners up: YMCA, Iron Oxygen Fitness

Best Bowling Alley

Winner: Greengarden Lanes

Runners up: Eastway Lanes, Rolling Meadow Lanes

Best Team to Root for

Winner: Erie Otters

Runners up: Erie SeaWolves, Eerie Roller Girls

Best Lawyer

Winner: John Knox

Runners up: Rebeka Seelinger, Adam Williams

Best Dentist

Winner: David Demarco

Runners up: Maria Orlando and Carla Orlando, Kenneth A. Doleski and Marian S. Wolford

Best Golf Course

Winner: Whispering Woods Golf Club

Runners up: Peek'n Peak, Kahkwa Club

Best Real Estate Agent

Winner: Levi A. Marsh

Runners up: Sarah Parsons O'Neill, Nancy Placidi

Best Local Entrepreneur(s)

Winner: Hannah Kirby (Ember + Forge)

Runners up: R.J. Messenger (Underdog BBQ, Iron Empire), Jason and Nicole Lavery (Lavery Brewing Company)

Best Podcast

Winner: Idiotville – Erie PA's Favorite Podcast

Runners up: Lake Erie Gumbo, Barber Beast on the Block

Best Hiking Trails

Winner: Wintergreen Gorge

Runners up: Asbury Woods, Erie Bluffs State Park

Best Park

Winner: Presque Isle State Park

Runners up: Frontier Park, Asbury Woods

Best Local Streaming

Winner: Erie Playhouse

Runners up: Gannon University's Schuster Theatre, PACA

Best Outdoor Adventure Activity

Winner: Peek'n Peak Adventure Course

Runners up: Scallywags Pirate Adventures, Victorian Princess

Jump to Section: Goods & Services | Culture & Nightlife | Food & Drink | People & Places