| Louisville Magazine presented the 20th annual Best of Louisville ® awards on Monday, June 27th at the Kentucky Center. Celebrity presenters, including Houston (from The Ellen Show), "Outback Jack" couple Vadim Dale and Natalie Franzman, Derby-winning jockey Mike Smith and local TV personalities Jackie Hays, Liz Everman and Candyce Clifft, handed out 38 awards to businesses and individuals chosen by Louisville Magazine readers as the "Best of Louisville." (See list of winners and finalists, below.) In honor of the awards' 20th anniversary, Louisville Magazine publisher Dan Crutcher also awarded a dozen "Best of the Best" glass plaques to businesses and people who had won 10 or more Best of Louisville awards in the past 20 years. Vincenzo's restaurant topped the list of multiple winners, with 20 awards since 1986, followed by Bacons Department Store with 18 Bristol Bar & Grille with 17 awards and Lilly's/La Peche with 16 BOLs. The "Best of the Best" winners were given glass plaques specially designed for the event by Ken van Roenn of Architectural Glass Art. | |
| Best of Louisville Award Winners (and Finalists) | |
| TV News Personality 1st Dawne Gee 2nd Jackie Hays 3rd Barry Bernson 4th Gary Roedemeier 5th Carrie Harned |  |
| Columnist 1st Bob Hill 2nd Byron Crawford 3rd Rick Bozich 4th David Hawpe 5th John Yarmuth |  |
| Male Athlete 1st Francisco Garcia 2nd Larry O'Bannon 3rd Stefan LeFors 4th Taquan Dean 5th Brian Brohm |  |
| Female Athlete 1st Jazz Covington (U of L) 2nd Carly Ormerod (Sacred Heart) 3rd Rachel Komisarz (Lakeside swimmer) 4th Katie Olson (U of L) 5th Crystal Kelly (Sacred Heart, WKU) |  |
| Radio Personality 1st Terry Meiners 2nd Laura Shine 3rd Tony Cruise 4th Julie Kredens 5th Wayne Perkey |  |
| Metro Council Member 1st Tom Owen 2nd Tina Ward-Pugh 3rd Kelly Downard 4th Ellen Call 5th George Unseld |  |
| Visual Artist 1st Ed Hamilton 2nd Julius Friedman 3rd Barry Motes 4th Penny Sisto 5th Billy Hertz` |  |
| Bartender 1st (tie) Joy Perrine/Jack's Lounge 1st (tie) Mike Downs/Barret Bar 3rd (tie) Becca MacGilvray/Bluegrass Brewing Co. 3rd (tie) Brad Devlin/Baxter Station | |
| Radio DJ 1st Laura Shine 2nd Scott Mullins 3rd Bobby Jack 4th Wayne Perkey 5th Peter B. | |
| Celebrity You'd Most Like to Meet 1st Rick Pitino 2nd Muhammed Ali 3rd Jerry Abramson 4th Heather French Henry 5th Diane Sawyer |  |
| Department Store 1st Macy's 2nd Dillard's 3rd Von Maur 4th Kohl's 5th Target |  |
| Men's Apparel Store 1st Rodes 2nd Dillard's 2nd Brooks Bros. 4th Men's Wearhouse 4th Macy's |  |
| Women's Apparel Store 1st Talbots 2nd Dillard's 3rd Macy's 4th She of Louisville 5th Chico's |  |
| Home Furnishings Store 1st Cherry House 2nd Ashley's 3rd Bittner's 4th Contemporary Galleries 5th Burdorf's |  |
| Vintage Clothing Store 1st Elizabeth's Timeless Attire 2nd Cherry Bomb 3rd Margaret's 3rd Nitty Gritty 5th Goodwill | |
| Bookstore 1st Carmichael's 2nd Border's 3rd Barnes & Noble 4th Books-A-Million | |
| Local Gift Shop 1st Edenside Gallery 2nd Dolfinger's 3rd Hallmark 4th Taste of Kentucky 5th Celebrations | |
| Downtown Restaurant 1st Vincenzo's 2nd Artemisia 3rd Kunz's 4th Morton's 5th Mayan Gypsy |  |
| Favorite Restaurant 1st Jack Fry's 2nd Azalea 3rd Lilly's 4th Cafe Metro 4th Porcini |  |
| New Restaurant 1st Cafe Lou Lou 2nd Havana Rumba 2nd Volare 4th Melting Pot 5th Smokey Bones BBQ |  |
| Romantic Dinner 1st Le Relais 2nd Buck's 3rd Vincenzo's 4th Jack Fry's 5th Ruth's Chris | |
| Business Lunch 1st Bristol Bar & Grille 2nd Vincenzo's 3rd Jack Fry's 4th KT's 5th Saffron's |  |
| Dining Atmosphere 1st Jack Fry's 2nd Buck's 3rd Le Relais 4th Vincenzo's 5th Avalon | |
| Pizza 1st Wick's 2nd Tony Boombozz 3rd Papa John's 4th Bearno's 5th Clifton's |  |
| Desserts 1st Desserts by Helen 2nd Cafe Metro/Uptown Cafe 3rd Sweet Surrender 4th Homemade Pie Kitchen 5th Jack Fry's | |
| Brunch 1st Bristol Bar & Grille 2nd Lynn's Paradise Cafe 3rd North End Cafe 4th Oak Room (Seelbach) 5th 211 Clover Lane | |
| Wine List 1st L&N Wine Bar and Bistro 2nd Napa River Grill 3rd Vincenzo's 4th Jack Fry's 5th The Oak Room |  |
| Outdoor Dining 1st Azalea 2nd Avalon 3rd Captain's Quarters 4th Mike Linnig's 5th Napa River Grill |  |
| Place to Dance 1st Jim Porter's 2nd Connections 3rd Red Cheetah 4th Red Lounge 5th Phoenix Hill |  |
| Coffee Shop 1st Heine Brothers Coffee 2nd Starbuck's 3rd Java Brewing Co. 4th Highland Coffee 5th Panera |  |
| Bakery 1st Plehn's Bakery 2nd Blue Dog 3rd Heitzman 4th Desserts by Helen 5th Breadworks | |
| Caterer 1st The Silver Spoon 2nd Masterson's 3rd Wiltshire Pantry 4th Upper Crust 5th Stevens & Stevens | |
| Florist 1st Nanz & Kraft Florists 2nd Colonial Designs 3rd Schulz's 4th Panache 5th Susan's |  |
| Hair Salon 1st Z Salon & Spa 2nd Joseph's 3rd Blades 4th Jerry Heston 5th Chopping Block |  |
| Wedding Reception Site 1st The Olmsted 2nd Gardencourt 3rd Whitehall 4th Locust Grove 5th Seelbach |  |
| Neighborhood Bar 1st Shenanigan's Pub 2nd Gerstle's 3rd Jack's 4th Irish Rover 4th Red Lounge | |
| Live Music Venue 1st Headliners 2nd The Jazz Factory 3rd The Palace 4th Stevie Ray's 5th The Rudyard Kipling |  |
| "Best of the Best" Awards — for winning 10 or more Best of Louisville awards in 20 years. | |
| Vincenzo’s — 20 awards Bristol Bar & Grille — 19 Bacons Department Store — 18 Lilly’s/La Peche — 16 Jackie Hays — 14 Rodes — 14 Terry Meiners — 13 Phoenix Hill Tavern — 12 Nanz & Kraft Florists — 12 KT’s Restaurant & Bar — 11 John Belski — 10 Hawley-Cooke Booksellers — 10 | |
