Pegasus News‘ Ultimate Best 2011 winners announced

by Sarah Blaskovich

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The answers may surprise you.

Ultimate Best Contest 2011

Thanks to the nearly 11,000 votes that poured in for our Ultimate Best contest, we have the winners!

Our contest pitted already-existing winners of "best-of" contests against each other. Because, let's face it, best-of lists are a dime a dozen these days. Our goal is to tell you, dear readers, which businesses in Dallas-Fort Worth really are the best. If there are restaurants, bars, theaters, or more on this list that you haven't been to yet, here's your directive to try them out for yourself. They really are the best in North Texas.

Congratulations to all the winning businesses. Click on the links below to learn more about each winner or to tell us something unique about your favorites.

Dining:

• Best taqueria/taco shop: Fuel City
• Best Indian: India Palace
• Best French: The French Room
• Best coffee shop: Starbucks
• Best vegetarian/vegan: Kalachandji's
• Best Thai: Royal Thai
• Best Japanese/sushi: Blue Fish
• Best pizza: Zini's
• Best Mexican/Tex-Mex: Agave Azul
• Best Italian: Patrizio
• Best breakfast/brunch: Blue Mesa
• Best seafood: Pappadeaux
• Best burger: Square Burger
• Best chef: Stephan Pyles
• Best Chinese: PF Chang's
• Best place to eat dessert: Tiff's Treats
• Best Middle Eastern/Mediterranean: Ali Baba
• Best Vietnamese: Mai's
• Best steakhouse: Pappas Bros.
• Best barbecue: Rudy's

Drinks & bars:

• Best dive bar: The Loon
• Best place to get a cocktail: The Loon
• Best lounge: Candleroom
• Best happy hour: Blue Mesa
• Best wine bar: Veritas Wine Room
• Best pub: The Ginger Man
• Best gay/lesbian bar: A tie -- Rainbow Lounge and JR's Bar & Grill
• Best place for beer: The Ginger Man
• Best patio: Patrizio
• Best sports bar: BoomerJack's

Arts & entertainment:

• Best musician/band: Josh Weathers
• Best karaoke: Family Karaoke
• Best theater group: Casa Manana
• Best music venue: Granada Theater
• Best museum: Kimbell Art Museum
• Best dance club: Lizard Lounge
• Best comedy club: Dallas Comedy House
• Best art gallery: Vetro Glassblowing Studio & Gallery
• Best record store: Good Records
• Best movie house: The Angelika Dallas

Goods & services:

• Best antique store: Montgomery Street Antique Mall
• Best tattoo parlor: Elm Street Tattoo
• Best hair salon: Shelton's
• Best nail salon: Hollywood Nails and Spa
• Best spa: The Spa at the Crescent
• Best florist: Lilium Floral Designs
• Best car wash: A tie -- Uptown Car Wash and Red Carpet Car Wash
• Best vintage clothing store: Buffalo Exchange
• Best gym: UberKinetics
• Best boutique: Hip, Chic Boutique

*Disclaimer: The winners of this contest are solely based on Pegasus News users' votes. We do not pick the winners ourselves. If you don't think we got it right, please consider reviewing your favorite businesses by searching for them here and then writing a critique at the bottom of the business page.

Shannon Sutlief, Laura Evans, Alex Bentley, John P. Meyer, and Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.