Best Brunch

The Colony

Finalists: Hyatt, Word of Mouth

Brunch means never having to say you'll choose between breakfast and lunch. At The Colony, expect fancy resort fare in a relaxed, Gulfside elegance. The Hyatt makes brunch a celebratory experience for both hotel guests and locals who know a good thing when they taste it. At tiny Word of Mouth, the portions are huge, and the food so tasty and original, you'll be doing word-of-mouth advertising for this place, too.

Best Bar

Fred's

Finalists: Mi Pueblo (Venice), Patrick's

There has to be something more than a variety of well-priced drinks for an establishment to build a regular clientele, and all three of our winners have that something special. Fred's is a premier Generation-X hangout-noisy, chic, and full of beautiful people looking for the trendiest martini. Mi Pueblo attracts crowds to its cozy Latin ambience, and Patrick's urbane sports saloon offers friendly service and animated conversation.

Best Place to Eat Outdoors

Old Salty Dog

Finalists: Alley Cat Cafe, Ophelia's on the Bay

Refurbished, the Old Salty Dog on Sarasota's City Island still retains the charm of an "insider" place. Menu items are simple and satisfying both here and at the restaurant's Siesta Key location. Eating in the shaded garden at Alley Cat Cafe is a gracious Southern experience enriched by modern Continental food. (And we love the mismatched china.) Sophisticated Ophelia's has the luxury of a dock on the bay.

Best Early Bird Specials

Café Baci

Finalists: The Lazy Lobster, Rosebuds

Some say the official city bird of Sarasota is the early bird. Smart restaurateurs encourage this by offering value-conscious meals to patrons who want to get home in time for the evening news. Cafe Baci specializes in Northern Italian cuisine. The Lazy Lobster pleases afternoon diners with a variety of seafood specialties. And Rosebuds in Osprey offers a genteel Old World experience of Continental dining in a calm room full of faux red roses and mannerly servers.

Best Non-chain Pizza

Crusty's

Finalists: Demetrio's Restaurant and Pizza, Rico's Pizzeria & Deli

Pizza is a highly personal thing in America, where we're even more finicky than Italians. In this country, we have New York-style pizza, Chicago style, thin-crust, deep-dish, veggie pizzas, all-white pizzas, even pizza made (and expertly made, too) in a Greek restaurant and served with a big Greek salad. But you rose above the confusion and made your choices clear when you voted for these three winners.

Best Bagels

Einstein Brothers Bagels

Finalists: Manhattan Bagel, Panera

Freshness counts in this category, because a day-old bagel is not a good thing. Variety is important, too, because bagel devotees tend to eat them often. And it's nice to have a change-in the fall, Panera offered a pumpkin bagel. Manhattan does a fine sun-dried tomato bagel, and everything at Einstein is delish.

Best Dessert

Euphemia Haye

Finalists: Epicure, Yoder's

Euphemia Haye lavishly showcases its incredible desserts, pastries, pies, cakes and tortes in the upstairs Haye Loft. Regulars can't resist stopping in a few times a week for coffee and a piece of "whatever." At Epicure and Yoder's you can order in or take your goodie home. Epicure desserts look so pretty on the plate. Yoder's gives you the pies like grandmas used to bake.

Best Place for Salad

Sweet Tomatoes

Finalists: Chart House, Panera

At Sweet Tomatoes and the Chart House, you can see the options and compose your own colorful plate of crisp greens and accents both sweet and savory. At Panera, you order from a big menu board and let the staff orchestrate your salad experience. Either way, you win because this trio of taste-test victors understands what makes a great salad-only the freshest ingredients and plenty of variety.

Best Sushi

DaRuMa

Finalists: Pacific Rim, Taste of Tokyo

Sushi (and there are four principal types) was alien to most American palates a decade or so ago. Now even some supermarkets sell sushi. DaRuMa has the most elegant Asian ambience. Pacific Rim is sleek, modern and does a great job with fusion meals as well. Taste of Tokyo provides a rarefied sushi experience at the hands of raw fish experts.

Best Burger

Patrick's

Finalists: Hob Nob, Steak & Shake

It's big, juicy, fresh and full of flavor, that burger at Patrick's. Always reliable, always delicious. The Hob Nob burger is served in a more informal atmosphere, but the experience is satisfying and the clientele colorful. Steak & Shake establishments justly pride themselves on having the recipe for the all-American hamburger.