Who won?
All y’all are a consistent bunch.
LEO’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards leaned heavy on the usual gems, go-tos and glitterati that make this town so faab-you-lous.
We have great restaurants and bars and attractions, and, well — they don’t change much year to year. There were a few surprises. LMPD gets on the Best Twitter Feed list (probably for its “pew pew” snaps). There was turnover for Best Cocktail, as Hell or High Water, Alex&nder at Copper & Kings and Commonwealth Tap battled it out. We might demand a recount on Best Local Athlete because Muhammad Ali was pushed out of No. 3 by Rajon Rondo… The ignominy!
By definition, the category for Best Thing That’s Happened This Year was certain to feel fresh and new and maybe even surprising. How many times can Papa John Schnatter and Rick Pitino be run out of town? This time, one of the top vote getters was U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell breaking his shoulder. That people find pleasure in someone’s pain — even if it is Mitch’s — is, well… painful. So, he did not win or place. But, if Mitch feels we have stolen his glory, LEO will gladly deliver him a consolation plaque: Best Worst Senator Who Is Destroying Democracy And Ruining Dining Out For Everyone Else.
Now, on to the list.
[Or to read LEO’s staff choices, click here.]
A&E
Best Art Gallery (that is not a museum)
1. Tim Faulkner Gallery
2. Revelry Boutique Gallery
3. Art Sanctuary
Best Local Album in 2019
1. “I Sold My Soul To The Devil When I Was 12” — GRLwood
2. “Electric Garden” — Electric Garden
3. “A Different Shade Of Blue” — Knocked Loose
Best Local Song in 2019
1. I Hate My Mom — GRLwood
2. Thru The Night — Jack Harlow
3. Might Be Right — White Reaper
Best Band/Musician Performing Original Music
1. GRLwood
2. Katie Taupin
3. White Reaper
Best Cover Band
1. The Juice Box Heroes
2. Cover Me Badd
3. Tony and the Tan Lines
Best Local Comedian
1. Tom Mabe
2. Mandee McKelvey
3. Dustin Black
Best Place to See Comedy
1. The Caravan Comedy Club
2. Diamond Pub
3. Kaiju
Best Drag Queen
1. Jade Jolie
2. Leah Halston
3. Karmen Kazzi
Best Drag King
1. TB Sparrow
2. Mykul Jay Valentine
3. Camila Jasis-Wallace
Best Festival
1. Forecastle
2. Bourbon & Beyond
3. Louder Than Life
Best Jukebox
1. Magnolia Bar
2. Nachbar
3. Please & Thank You
Best Karaoke Bar
1. Akiko’s Karaoke Club
2. Patrick’s
3. The Bard’s Town
Best Live Music Venue
1. Headliners Music Hall
2. The Louisville Palace
3. Mercury Ballroom
Best Live Theater Venue
1. Actors Theatre of Louisville
2. The Kentucky Center
3. The Louisville Palace
Best Improv Troupe
1. Louisville Improvisors
2. Project Improv
3. Improv 502
Best Movie Theater
1. Baxter Avenue Theatres Filmworks
2. Xscape Theatres
3. Cinemark Tinseltown
Best Museum (that is not a gallery)
1. Speed Art Museum
2. Frazier History Museum
3. 21c Museum Hotel
Best Outdoor Art Show
1. St. James Court Art Show
2. Cherokee Triangle Art Fair
3. Art in Speed Park
Best Performing Arts Group
1. Louisville Ballet
2. CirqueLouis
3. Kentucky Shakespeare
Best Theater Production
1. “Dracula” —Actors Theatre of Louisvlle
2. “Pippin” —Acting Against Cancer
3. “Cabaret” —Pandora Productions
Best Visual Artist
1. John Brooks
2. Letitia Quesenberry
3. Antonio Pantoja
Attractions
Best Place for an Event/Party
1. Mellwood Art & Entertainment Center
2. Copper & Kings American Brandy Co.
3. Ice House
Best Reuse of a Historic Building
1. Old Forester Distilling Co.
2. Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery
3. Noche Mexican BBQ
Best Place for Free Entertainment
1. Waterfront Park
2. Jeffersonville Riverfront
3. 21c Museum Hotel
Best Neighborhood
1. The Highlands
2. Germantown/Schnitzelberg
3. Clifton/Crescent Hill
Best Place to Take your Dog
1. Cherokee Park
2. The Parklands of Floyds Fork
3. Waterfront Park
Best Parade
1. Kentuckiana Pride Parade
2. Pegasus Parade
3. St.Patrick’s Day Parade
Best Park
1. Cherokee Park
2. The Parklands of Floyds Fork
3. Seneca Park
Best Place to Take Kids in the Summer
1. Louisville Zoo
2. Kentucky Kingdom
3. The Parklands of Floyds Fork
Best Place to Swim
1. Lakeside Swim Club
2. American Turners Louisville
3. Kentucky Kingdom
Best Place to Play Soccer
1. Mockingbird Valley Sports Complex
2. Seneca Park
3. Tom Sawyer Park
Retail
Best Adult/Erotic Store
1. Cirilla’s
2. Adam & Eve
3. Love Boutique
Best Antique Store
1. Joe Ley Antiques
2. The Crazy Daisy Antique Mall
3. Architectural Salvage
Best Bicycle Shop
1. Scheller’s
2. Parkside Bikes
3. On Your Left Cycles
Best Chocolate/Candy Shop
1. Muth’s Candies
2. Cellar Door Chocolates
3. Schimpff’s Confectionery
Best Car Dealer
1. Oxmoor Auto Group
2. Neil Huffman Automotive Group
3. Bachman Auto Group
Best Clothing Boutique
1. Dot Fox Clothing Culture
2. Six Sisters Boutique
3. Collections Boutique
Best Comic Book Shop
1. The Great Escape
2. The Destination
3. Heroes Comics and Gaming
Best Consignment Shop
1. Sassy Fox
2. Margaret’s Fine Consignments
3. Mariposa Consignments
Best Farmers Market
1. Douglass Loop Farmers Market
2. Bardstown Road Farmers Market
3. St. Matthew’s Farmers Market
Best Flea Market
1. The Flea Off Market
2. Fleur de Flea
3. The Kentucky Flea Market
Best Instrument Shop
1. Doo Wop Shop
2. Guitar Emporium
3. Mom’s Music
Best Jewelry Store
1. Davis Jewelers
2. Koerber’s Fine Jewelry
3. Shane Co.
Best Liquor Store
1. Total Wine & More
2. Old Town Wine & Spirits
3. Liquor Barn
Best Store for Bourbon
1. Westport Whiskey & Wine
2. Total Wine & More
3. Old Town Wine & Spirits
Best Local Bookstore
1. Carmichael’s Bookstore
2. Nanny Goat Books
3. McQuixote Books & Coffee
Best Local Hardware Store
1. Brownsboro Hardware
2. Keith’s Hardware
3. Oscar’s Hardware
Best Local Health Food Store
1. Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets
2. Seeds and Greens Natural Market and Deli
3. Paul’s Fruit Market
Best Local Record Store
1. Guestroom Records
2. Better Days Records
3. Matt Anthony’s Record Shop
Best Local Wine Shop
1. Old Town Wine & Spirits
2. Westport Whiskey & Wine
3. The Wine Rack
Best New Store/Business
1. 502 Hemp
2. One Love Hemp dispensary
3. The Spa at Norton Commons
Best Outdoor Sporting Goods Store
1. Quest Outdoors
2. Dick’s Sporting Goods
3. Academy Sports
Best Pet Shop
1. Feeders Supply
2. Sandy’s Pet Shop
3. PetSmart
Best Head Shop
1. Electric LadyLand
2. Puff Puff Pass
3. Natural Mystic
Best Tobacco Store
1. Cox’s Smokers Outlet
2. J Shepherd Cigars
3. Liquor Barn
Best Vape Shop
1. One Love Hemp Dispensary
2. Vapor Lab
3. Derb E Cigs
Best Vintage Clothing Store
1. The Nitty Gritty
2. Vintage Banana
3. Dot Fox Clothing Culture
Best Place to Buy a Unique Gift
1. Work the Metal
2. Revelry Boutique Gallery
3. Regalo
Best Place to Buy CBD Products
1. 502 Hemp
2. One Love Hemp Dispensary
3. Louisville CBD Company
Best CDB Oil
1. 502 Hemp
2. Louisville CBD Company
3. One Love Hemp Dispensary
Services
Best Advertising Agency
1. Mightily
2. Scoppechio
3. RedTag.Digital
Best Apartment Complex
1. Main & Clay
2. Amp Apartments
3. Germantown Mill Lofts
Best Barbershop
1. Derby City Chop Shop
2. Handsome Fellows Barber Shop
3. Woody’s Barbershop(s)
Best Local Bank
1. Republic Bank
2. Stock Yards Bank and Trust
3. Central Bank
Best Caterer
1. Masterson’s Catering
2. LadyFingers Catering Inc.
3. Wiltshire Pantry
Best Credit Union
1. Park Community Credit Union
2. L&N Federal Credit Union
3. Commonwealth Credit Union
Best Furniture Store
1. Bliss Home
2. Furniture Dudes
3. Eyedia
Best Dry Cleaner
1. Highland Cleaners
2. Nu-Yale Cleaners
3. Holiday Cleaners
Best Grocery Store
1. Kroger
2. Trader Joe’s
3. Whole Foods
Best Gym/Fitness Club
1. Planet Fitness
2. YMCA of Greater Louisville
3. Louisville Athletic Club
Best Hair Salon
1. Z Salon
2. Under the Dryer
3. Cobalt Hair Lab
Best Hotel
1. Omni Louisville Hotel
2. 21c Museum Hotel
3. The Seelbach Hilton Louisville
Best Lawyer
1. Nick Neumann
2. Chauncey Hiestand
3. Gregory D. Simms
Best Doctor
1. Clayton Smith
2. Rachel Busse
3. Kathy Nieder
Best Local Pet Grooming
1. The Pet Station Salon and Boutique
2. See Spot Grooming & Daycare
3. Bark Avenue
Best Mechanic
1. Reece Service Center
2. Gates Automotive Service
3. McCormick MotorSports
Best PR Firm
1. Lemonade PR
2. Tandem
3. Boxcar PR
Best Travel Agency
1. My World Travel
2. AAA
3. Platinum Travel
Best Skate Shop
1. Home Skateshop
2. Tiny Sk8Shop
Best Tattoo Studio
1. Tattoo Charlie’s
2. Acme Ink
3. Mama Tried
Best Yoga Studio
1. Bend and Zen Hot Yoga
2. 502 Power Yoga
3. Yoga East
Best Roofer
1. Highland Roofing
2. Bone Dry Roofing
3. Carlon Roofing and Sheet Metal
Best Plumber
1. BC Plumbing
2. Tom Drexler Plumbing, Air and Electric
3. St. Matthews Plumbing
Best Vet Clinic
1. Shively Animal Clinic & Hospital
2. Middletown Animal Clinic
3. VCA Fairleigh Animal Hospital
Best Doggie Day Care
1. The Pet Station Country Club
2. The Paw Zone
3. Almost Home Boarding & Training
Food & Dining
Best Appetizers
1. LouVino
2. Bristol Bar & Grill
3. Havana Rumba
Best Bakery
1. Plehn’s Bakery
2. Nord’s Bakery
3. Blue Dog Bakery and Café
Best BBQ
1. Feast BBQ
2. Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ
3. F.A.B.D.
Best Breakfast
1. Wild Eggs
2. Highland Morning
3. Con Huevos
Best Boozy Brunch
1. Le Moo
2. Louvino
3. Wild Eggs
Best Burger
1. Mussel & Burger Bar
2. Grind Burger Kitchen
3. Le Moo
Best Burrito
1. New Wave Burritos
2. El Mundo
3. Bandido Taqueria Mexicana
Advertisement
Best Cajun
1. Couvillion
2. J. Gumbo’s
3. Selena’s at Willow Lake Tavern
Best Chef
1. Josh Moore, Volare Italian Ristorante
2. Edward Lee, Milkwood
3. John Varanese, Varanese
Best Chili
1. Skyline Chili
2. Check’s Cafe
3. The Village Anchor
Best Chinese Restaurant
1. Double Dragon
2. August Moon
3. Oriental House
Best Coffee Shop
1. Heine Brothers’
2. Quills Coffee
3. Sunergos Coffee
Best Cuban Restaurant
1. Havana Rumba
2. Mojito Tapas Restaurant
3. Habana Blues Tapas Restaurant
Best Deli/Sandwich Shop
1. Stevens & Stevens Deli
2. Morris Deli
3. Another Place Sandwich Shop
Best Delivery
1. Jimmy John’s
2. Postmates
3. New Wave Burritos
Best Fine Dining
1. Jack Fry’s
2. Le Moo
3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
Best Fish Sandwich
1. The Fish House
2. Mike Linnig’s Restaurant
3. The Village Anchor
Best Fried Chicken
1. Royals Hot Chicken
2. Joella’s Hot chicken
3. The Eagle
Best Food Truck/Cart
1. Traveling Kitchen
2. FlavaVille
3. V-Grits
Best Guacamole
1. Guaca Mole
2. El Mundo
3. Havana Rumba
Best Hot Dog
1. Red Top Gourmet Hotdogs
2. Lonnie’s Best Taste of Chicago
3. Dairy Kastle
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
1. Louisville Cream
2. The Comfy Cow
3. Graeter’s
Best Indian Restaurant
1. Kashmir Indian Restaurant
2. Shalimar Restaurant
3. Dakshin South Indian Restaurant
Best Italian Restaurant
1. Volare Italian Ristorante
2. Come Back Inn
3. Ciao Ristorante
Best Kids’ Restaurant
1. Chik-fil-A
2. McDonald’s
3. WW. Cousin’s
Best Korean Restaurant
1. Charim Korean Restaurant
2. Sarang
3. Lee’s Korean Restaurant
Best Late-Night Bite
1. The Back Door
2. White Castle
3. HIlltop Tavern
Best Latin Restaurant
1. Seviche, A Latin Restaurant
2. Havana Rumba
3. Mojito Tapas Restaurant
Best Lunch Spot
1. The Cafe
2. Taco Luchador
3. The Table
Best Mexican Restaurant
1. El Mundo
2. El Nopal
3. Taco Luchador
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant
1. Safier Mediterranean Deli
2. Shiraz
3. The Falafel House
Best New Restaurant
1. Noche Mexican BBQ
2. Biscuit Belly
3. V-Grits
Best Outdoor Dining
1. Captain’s Quarters
2. River House Restaurant Raw Bar
3. Mike Linnig’s Restaurant
Best Patio for Pets
1. Garage Bar
2. Double Dogs
3. Couvillion
Best Pho
1. Vietnam Kitchen
2. Pho Ba Luu
3. Pho Cafe
Best Pizza
1. The Post
2. Bearno’s
3. Impellizzeri’s Pizza
Best Place for a Romantic Dinner
1. Jack Fry’s
2. Volare italian Ristorante
3. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
Best Ramen
1. Mirin
2. Chik’n & Mi
3. Ramen House
Best Raw Bar (that is not sushi)
1. River House Restaurant Raw Bar
2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
3. Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar
Best Restaurant to take a Large Party
1. River House Restaurant Raw Bar
2. Mesh
3. Bristol Bar & Grille
Best Restaurant: Butchertown
1. Butchertown Grocery
2. Butchertown Pizza Hall
3. Naive
Best Restaurant: Downtown
1. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
2. Proof on Main
3. Vincenzo’s
Best Restaurant: East Louisville
1. Grassa Gramma
2. The Village Anchor
3. Louvino
Best Restaurant: Germantown/Schnitzelburg
1. Eiderdown
2. The Post
3. Check’s Cafe
Best Restaurant: Clifton/Crescent Hill
1. Volare Italian Ristorante
2. El Mundo
3. The Irish Rover
Best Restaurant: Highlands
1. Jack Fry’s
2. Dragon King’s Daughter
3. Seviche, A Latin Restaurant
Best Restaurant: NuLu
1. The Mayan Cafe
2. Royals Hot Chicken
3. Feast BBQ
Best Restaurant: South Louisville
1. Vietnam Kitchen
2. Rubbies Southside Grill & Bar
3. Mike Linnig’s Restaraunt
Best Restaurant: St. Matthews
1. Simply Thai
2. Taco Luchador
3. Havana Rumba
Best Restaurant: West Louisville
1. The Table
2. Big Momma’s Soul Kitchen
3. Lucretia’s Kitchen
Best Salad
1. Green District
2. Volare italian ristorante
3. Decca
Best Steakhouse
1. Le Moo
2. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
3. Pat’s Steakhouse
Best Sushi
1. Sapporo Grill & Sushi
2. Dragon King’s Daughter
3. Sake Blue Japanese Bistro
Best Taco
1. Taco Luchador
2. Migo
3. El Mundo
Best TakeOut
1. Yang Kee Noodle
2. Simply Thai
3. The Joy Luck
Best Thai Restaurant
1. Simply Thai
2. Time 4 Thai
3. Mai’s Thai Restaurant
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
1. V-Grits
2. Heart & Soy
3. Half-Peach Bakery
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
1. Vietnam Kitchen
2. NamNam Cafe
3. Pho Ba Luu
Best Wings
1. Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ
2. Roosters
3. The Back Door
Drinks
Best Bartender
1. Eron Plevan, Alex&nder at Copper & Kings
2. Kenny Andreozzi, Commonwealth Tap
3. Travis Phelps, PLAY
Best Bar: Butchertown
1. The Butchertown Social
2. Lola at Butchertown Grocery
3. Odeon
Best Bar: Downtown
1. Hell or High Water
2. Proof on Main
3. 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen
Best Bar: East Louisville
1. Commonwealth Tap
2. Grassa Gramma
3. RecBar
Best Bar: Germantown/Schnitzelburg
1. The Pearl of Germantown
2. Nachbar
3. Check’s Cafe
Best Bar: Clifton/Crescent Hill
1. Hilltop Tavern
2. The Silver Dollar
3. Le Moo
Best Bar: Highlands
1. Highlands Taproom
2. Big Bar
3. Chill Bar
Best Bar: NuLu
1. Garage Bar
2. Taj Louisville
3. Galaxie
Best Bar: South Louisville
1. Rubbies Southside Grill & Bar
2. Hoops Grill & Sports Bar
3. New View Bar & Grill
Best Bar: St. Matthews
1. Gerstle’s Place
2. Tin Roof
3. Saint’s Pizza and Pub
Best Hotel Bar
1. Proof on Main (21c Museum Hotel)
2. Pin + Proof (Omni Louisville Hotel)
3. 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen (Hilton Garden inn)
Best Beer List
1. HopCat
2. Sergio’s World Beers
3. World of Beer
Best Bourbon List
1. Silver Dollar
2. Commonwealth Tap
3. Bourbons Bistro
Best Local Brewery
1. Gravely Brewing Co.
2. Against The Grain Brewery and Smokehouse
3. Mile Wide Beer Co.
Best Local Craft Beer
1. Gravely Brewing Co.
2. Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse
3. Mile Wide Beer Co.
Best Cocktail
1. Hell or High Water
2. Alex&nder at Copper & Kings
3. Commonwealth Tap
Best Local Distillery
1. Angel’s Envy
2. Copper & Kings American Brandy Co.
3. Old Forester Distillery
Best Dive Bar
1. The Back Door
2. Magnolia Bar
3. Third Street Dive
Best Wine List
1. Louvino
2. Commonwealth Tap
3. Nouvelle Bar & Bottle
Best Margarita
1. El Mundo
2. Havana Rumba
3. Taco Luchador
Nightlife
Best Bar
1. Play
2. Commonwealth Tap
3. The Back Door
Best Club DJ
1. Glittertitz DJZ
2. DJ S.Y.I.M.O.N.E
3. DJ Sam Sneed
Best Gay Bar/Club
1. Play
2. Nowhere Bar
3. Chill Bar
Best Happy Hour
1. Dragon King’s Daughter
2. Napa River Grill
3. Volare Italian Ristorante
Best Neighborhood Bar/Pub
1. Hilltop Tavern
2. Shenanigans Irish Grille
3. NachBar
Best New Bar/Club
1. The Merryweather
2. 21st Amendment Tavern
3. Trouble Bar
Best Place to Dance
1. Play
2. Nowhere Bar
3. Barbarella
Best Place to Find a Date
1. Play
2. Garage Bar
3. Nowhere Bar
Best Place to Shoot Pool
1. Diamond Pub & Billiards
2. The Back Door
3. Barret Bar
Best Strip Club
1. PT’s Showclub Louisville
2. Trixie’s Entertainment Complex
3. The Godfather
Media
Best Instagram
1. Kentucky Kingdom
2. Louisville Cream
3. (Tie) Instagrammers of Louisville Ky, The Kentucky Gent
Best Local Blog
1. Card Chronicle
2. Lou What Wear
3. (Tie) JCP Eats, The Kentucky Gent, The Bar Belle
Best Local Podcast
1. Crazy Zen Life
2. Strange Fruit
3. Bardstown
Best Local Publication
1. LEO Weekly
2. Louisville Magazine
3. The Courier Journal
Best Local Radio Personality
1. Ben Davis & Kelly K.
2. Terry Meiners
3. Laura Shine
Best Local Radio Station
1. 91.9 WFPK
2. 89.3 WFPL
3. 99.7 DJX
Best Local TV Personality
1. Dawne Gee
2. Angie Fenton
3. Candyce Clifft
Best Local TV Station
1. WDRB 41
2. WAVE 3
3. WHAS 11
Best Local Website
1. Do502.com
2. (Tie) LEOweekly.com, InsiderLouisville.com,
WDRB.com
Best Place to Pick up a LEO Weekly
1. Heine Brothers’
2. Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets
3. Please & Thank You
Best Twitter Feed
1. Card Chronicle
2. Gilda Wabbit
3. LMPD
Best Local Writer
1. (Tie) Kevin Gibson, Michael Rutherford
2. (Tie) Eric Crawford, Joe Sonka
Best Community Role Model
1. Dawne Gee
2. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth
3. Mayor Greg Fischer
Best Place You Wish had Never Gone out of Business
1. ear X-tacy
2. Morels Cafe
3. Lynn’s Paradise Cafe
Best Place to Worship
1. Southeast Christian Church
2. Northeast Christian Church
3. Sojourn Church
Best Thing That’s Happened this Year
1. New Louisville City FC Stadium
2. Chris Mack’s First Season as UofL Basketball Coach
3. Waterfront Botanical Gardens Opening
Best Local Athlete
1. Lamar Jackson
2. Justin Thomas
3. Rajon Rondo