Thank you to everyone who voted for Tops of the Town 2014. The votes are in and we are pleased to announce the winners of this year's list. For more on the winners, pick up the January 2014 issue of New Orleans Magazine.
Don't miss our big Tops of the Town party, presented by Northwestern Mutual of Louisiana, coming up on Jan. 23! Find tickets and details here.
PEOPLE
New Orleanian of the year
1) Drew Brees
2) Mayor Mitch Landrieu
3) Tom Benson
New Orleanian I admire most (female)
1) Angela Hill
2) Senator Mary Landrieu
3) Gayle Benson
New Orleanian I admire most (male)
1) Drew Brees
2) Mayor Mitch Landrieu
3) Tom Benson
Favorite politician
1) Mayor Mitch Landrieu
2) Senator Mary Landrieu
3) Councilmember-At-Large Stacy Head
Favorite New Orleans musician (living in the city)
1) Kermit Ruffins
2) Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews (tie)
2) Malcolm “Mac” Rebennack Jr. aka Dr. John (tie)
3) Jeremy Davenport
Favorite New Orleans musician (living outside the city)
1) Harry Connick Jr.
2) Aaron Neville
3) Wynton Marsalis
Favorite local band
1) Rebirth Brass Band
2) Bucktown All-Stars
3) Bag of Donuts (tie)
3) Cowboy Mouth (tie)
Favorite local actress/actor (local theater)
1) Becky Allen
2) John "Spud" McConnell
3) Bryan Batt
Favorite live theater
1) Saenger Theatre
2) Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré
3) Mahalia Jackson Theatre (tie)
3) Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre (tie)
Favorite Saints player
1) Drew Brees
2) Jimmy Graham
3) Darren Sproles
Favorite local TV news anchor
1) Sally-Ann Roberts
2) Karen Swensen
3) Lee Zurik
Favorite TV sports reporter
1) Jim Henderson
2) Fletcher Mackel
3) Juan Kincaid
Favorite TV meteorologist
1) Bob Breck
2) Margaret Orr
3) Carl Arredondo
Favorite local TV station
1) WWL-TV Channel 4
2) WDSU NewsChannel 6
3) WVUE-TV FOX 8
Favorite local radio personality
1) John "Spud" McConnell
2) Garland Robinette
3) Bobby Hebert
Favorite radio station
1) WWOZ 90.7 FM
2) WWNO 89.9 FM
3) WWL AM870
Favorite local writer
1) Chris Rose
2) Anne Rice
3) Poppy Z. Brite
Favorite festival
1) New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
2) French Quarter Fest
3) The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Favorite Carnival parade
1) Krewe of Muses
2) Krewe of Endymion
3) Krewe of Bacchus
Favorite private elementary school
1) Ursuline Academy
2) Academy of the Sacred Heart
3) St. Martin's Episcopal School
Favorite private secondary/high school
1) Ursuline Academy
2) Academy of the Sacred Heart
3) Jesuit High School
Favorite charter school
1) Lusher Charter School
2) Ben Franklin High School
3) Edward Hynes Charter School
PLACES
Favorite gym
1) Elmwood Fitness Center
2) New Orleans Athletic Club
3) Anytime Fitness
Favorite day spa
1) The Ritz-Carlton Spa
2) Earthsavers
3) Belladonna Day Spa
Favorite boutique
1) Fleurty Girl
2) Hemline
3) Ballin's LTD
Favorite antiques store
1) M.S. Rau Antiques
2) Greg's Antiques
3) Magazine Antique Mall
Favorite florist
1) Villere's Florist
2) Federico's Family Florist
3) Tommy's Flowers
Favorite lawn/garden supply
1) Perino's Garden Center
2) The Home Depot
3) Jefferson Feed (tie)
3) Lowe’s Home Improvement (tie)
Favorite movie theater
1) The Theatres at Canal Place
2) The Prytania Theater
3) AMC Elmwood Palace 20
Favorite place to hear live music
1) Tipitina's
2) House of Blues
3) d.b.a.
Favorite happy hour
1) Domenica
2) Superior Grill
3) The American Sector (tie)
3) Carousel Bar & Lounge (tie)
Favorite jazz club
1) Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro
2) Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse
3) Preservation Hall
Favorite museum
1) New Orleans Museum of Art (tie)
1) The National WWII Museum (tie)
2) Ogden Museum of Southern Art
3) Louisiana Children's Museum
Favorite historical landmark
1) Jackson Square
2) St. Louis Cathedral
3) Robert E. Lee Statue, Lee Circle
Favorite remodeled/renovated building
1) Saenger Theatre
2) Mercedes-Benz Superdome
3) La Petite Théâtre du Vieux Carré/ Tableau Restaurant
Favorite place to spot celebrities
1) French Quarter
2) Whole Foods Market
3) Magazine Street
Favorite place to play hooky
1) French Quarter
2) Audubon Park
3) Audubon Zoo
Favorite golf course
1) Audubon Park Golf Course
2) City Park New Orleans North Gold Course
3) English Turn Golf & Country Club
Favorite weekend getaway
1) Destin, Fla.
2) Biloxi, Miss.
3) Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Favorite up-and-coming neighborhood
1) Bywater
2) Lakeview
3) Mid City
Favorite neighborhood in which to raise a family
1) Uptown
2) Lakeview
3) Old Metairie
Favorite place to buy a wedding dress
1) Town and Country Bridal Salon & Ladies Apparel
2) Yvonne La Fleur
3) The Bridal Boutique by MaeMe
Favorite place to place your bets
1) Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
2) Harrah’s Casino
Favorite hotel
1) Hotel Monteleone
2) The Roosevelt New Orleans
3) Windsor Court Hotel
Favorite bed & breakfast
1) Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast
2) Park View Guest House
NEW ORLEANS DINING
Quick and Easy
Favorite place to buy King Cakes
1) Manny Randazzo King Cakes
2) Haydel's Bakery
3) Rouses Supermarkets
Favorite fried chicken
1) Popeyes
2) Willie Mae's Scotch House
3) Mr. Ed's (tie)
3) Raising Cane's (tie)
Favorite poor boys
1) Parkway Bakery and Tavern
2) Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar
3) Johnny's Po-Boys (tie)
3) Mahony's Po-Boy Shop (tie)
Favorite tacos
1) Juan's Flying Burrito
2) Felipe's Taqueria
3) The Rum House
Favorite sushi
1) Sake Café
2) Kyoto Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant
3) Little Tokyo Restaurant
Favorite wings
1) WOW Café & Wingery
2) Buffalo Wild Wings
3) Bayou Hot Wings
Favorite onion rings
1) Ye Olde College Inn
2) Mandina's Restaurant
3) Mahony's Po-Boy Shop
Favorite pizza restaurant
1) Theo's Neighborhood Pizza
2) Reginelli's Pizzeria
3) Slice Pizzeria
Favorite snow balls
1) Plum Street Snoball
2) Hansen's Sno-Bliz
3) Sal's Sno-Ball Stand
Favorite grocery store/deli
1) Rouses Supermarkets
2) Whole Foods Market
3) Dorignac's Food Center
Native Cuisine
Favorite place for Cajun food
1) K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
2) Cochon Restaurant
3) Mulate's
Favorite place for Creole food
1) Dooky Chase's Restaurant
2) Galatoire's Restaurant
3) Commander's Palace (tie)
3) Emeril's Delmonico (tie)
Ethnic
Favorite Middle Eastern restaurant
1) Mona's Cafe
2) Lebanon's Cafe
3) Byblos Restaurant
Favorite Italian restaurant
1) Vincent's Italian Cuisine
2) Venezia Restaurant
3) Irene's Cuisine
Favorite Asian restaurant
1) Five Happiness
2) La Thai Uptown
3) Magasin Vietnamese Cafe (tie)
3) Pho Tau Bay (tie)
Favorite Indian restaurant
1) Nirvana
2) Taj Mahal
Favorite Mexican/Southwest restaurant
1) El Gato Negro (tie)
1) Juan's Flying Burrito (tie)
2) Felipe's Taqueria
3) Superior Grill
Seafood
Favorite seafood restaurant
1) Drago's Seafood Restaurant
2) GW Fins
3) Deanie's Restaurant
Favorite place to get raw oysters
1) Acme Oyster House
2) Drago's Seafood Restaurant
3) Casamento's Restaurant
Favorite place to get boiled crawfish
1) Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant, Bucktown
2) Big Fisherman Seafood
3) Schaefer & Rusich Seafood
Meat
Favorite restaurant for steaks
1) Ruth's Chris Steak House
2) Mr. John's Steakhouse
3) Crescent City Steakhouse
Favorite burger
1) Port of Call
2) The Company Burger
3) Cowbell
Favorite hot dog
1) Dat Dog
2) Lucky Dogs
3) Bud's Broiler
Soup
Favorite place for gumbo
1) Gumbo Shop
2) Mr. B's Bistro
3) Mandina's Restaurant
Favorite place for turtle soup
1) Commander's Palace
2) Mandina's Restaurant
3) Arnaud's
Coffee and Dessert
Favorite coffee house
1) PJ's Coffee
2) CC's Coffee House
3) Starbucks Coffee Company
Favorite coffee house for food
1) Caffe! Caffe!
2) PJ's Coffee
3) Cafe Du Monde (tie)
3) Starbucks Coffee Company (tie)
Favorite dessert menu
1) Commander's Palace
2) Cheesecake Bistro by Copeland’s
3) Sucré
Favorite bakery
1) Haydel's Bakery
2) Gambino's Bakery (tie)
2) La Boulangerie (tie)
3) Maple Street Patisserie
Favorite sweet shop
1) Sucré
2) Angelo Brocato's Italian Ice Cream & Italian Desserts
3) Blue Frog Chocolates
Favorite ice cream/gelato shop
1) Angelo Brocato's Italian Ice Cream & Italian Desserts
2) Creole Creamery
3) Sucré
Ambiance
Favorite restaurant for fine dining
1) Commander's Palace
2) Galatoire's Restaurant
3) Arnaud's
Favorite casual restaurant
1) Mandina's Restaurant
2) Joey K's Restaurant (tie)
2) Katie's Restaurant (tie)
3) Drago's Seafood Restaurant (tie)
3) Mr. Ed's (tie)
3) Zea Rotisserie & Grill (tie)
Favorite outdoor dining
1) The Court of Two Sisters
2) Café Amelie
3) Martinique Bistro
Favorite restaurant for a power lunch
1) Galatoire's Restaurant
2) Commander's Palace
2) Ruth's Chris Steak House
3) Mr. B’s Bistro
Drinks
Favorite house specialty drink
1) Sazerac, Sazerac Bar
2) Hurricane, Pat O'Brien's
3) Pimm’s Cup, Napoleon House Bar & Café
Favorite place for margarita
1) Superior Grill
2) Juan's Flying Burrito
3) El Gato Negro
Favorite wine list
1) Emeril's Delmonico (tie)
1) Martin Wine Cellar (tie)
2) The Delachaise
3) Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro
Favorite sports bar
1) Manning's
2) Cooter Brown's Tavern & Oyster Bar
3) Walk-On's
Favorite dive bar
1) Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar (tie)
1) The Club, Ms. Mae's (tie)
1) Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge (tie)
Favorite hotel bar
1) Carousel Bar & Lounge, Hotel Monteleone
2) Davenport Lounge, The Ritz-Carlton
3) Sazerac Bar, The Roosevelt New Orleans
Favorite corner bar
1) The Bulldog
2) Cure
3) The Delachaise
Miscellaneous
Favorite French bread
1) Leidenheimer Baking Co.
2) Alois J. Binder Bakery (tie)
2) Reising's French Bread (tie)
3) La Boulangerie
Favorite place for salad
1) Houston's
2) Caffe! Caffe!
3) La Madeleine
Favorite place for vegetarian dishes
1) Green Goddess
2) Carmo
3) Mona's Cafe
Favorite health-conscious restaurant
1) City Greens
Favorite place for breakfast or brunch
1) Ruby Slipper Cafe
2) Surrey's Café & Juice Bar
3) Camellia Grill
Favorite place for late-night dining
1) The Camellia Grill
2) Verti Marte
Cleanest restaurant
1) Commander's Palace
2) Casamento's Restaurant
3) Arnaud's
Personalities and Places
Favorite chef
1) John Besh
2) Emeril Lagasse
3) Susan Spicer
Favorite restaurant
1) K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
2) Commander's Palace
3) Galatoire's Restaurant
Favorite restaurant opened in 2013
1) Tableau (tie)
1) Pêche Seafood Grill (tie)
2) Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails (tie)
2) McClure's Barbecue (tie)
3) Blue Crab Restaurant & Oyster Bar (tie)
3) Dominique's on Magazine (tie)
3) Little Vic's (tie)
3) Restaurant R'evolution (tie)
Favorite restaurant worth the drive
1) Middendorf's Seafood Restaurant
2) Mosca's Restaurant
3) La Provence
Favorite caterer
1) Pigéon Caterers
2) Joel Catering and Special Events
3) Martin Wine Cellar (tie)
3) Rommel's Catering Inc. (tie)
