Middletown Young Professionals announced and celebrated the winners of the 2018 poll during a snazzy Sept. 6 event at The Windamere.
The effort kicked off in late March with online voting at www.bestofmiddletown.com. When the voting ended, Middletown Young Professionals carefully analyzed all the data to determine the winner in each category, according to Mallory Greenham, the organization's president.
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How many of these places have you visited?
| CATEGORY | WINNER |
| ART & CULTURE | |
| Best Art Gallery | Pendleton Art Studio |
| Best Historical Destination | Sorg Opera House |
| Best Local Artist | Chris Walden |
| Best Local Author | Cassie Dyer |
| Best Public Mural Art | 913 Central |
| Best Local Theatre Company | Performing Arts Academy |
| Best Local Dance Group | Performing Arts Academy |
| FOOD | |
| Best Appetizers | Gracie's |
| Best Beer Selection | Middletown Fine Wine & Spirits |
| Best Breakfast | Milton’s Donuts |
| Best Burger | The Jug |
| Best Cheap Drinks | At the Square |
| Best Creative Cocktails | West Central Wine |
| Best Ethnic Food | Veracruz Mexican Restaurant |
| Best Food Truck | Brent's Smokin Butts |
| Best Hangover Food | The Jug |
| Best Happy Hour | West Central Wine |
| Best Hidden Gem | Combs BBQ |
| Best Ice Cream | Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop |
| Best Late Night Eats | The Slice |
| Best Local Brewery | Rolling Mill Brewing Company |
| Best Local Coffee Shop | Triple Moon Coffee Company |
| Best Lunch Spot | Comb’s BBQ |
| Best New Restaurant in 2018 | Bourbon's Craft Kitchen and Bar |
| Best On Tap Selection | Spoken Bicycles |
| Best Overall Restaurant | Gracie’s |
| Best Pastries/Desserts | Milton’s Donuts |
| Best Patio Dining | Combs BBQ |
| Best Pizza (chain) | Cassano’s |
| Best Pizza (local) | Shaddock's Pizza and Drive Thru |
| Best Place to Grab a 'Cold One' | Spoken Bicycles |
| Best Quick Eats | The Jug |
| Best Restaurant to Meet Your Partner | Gracie’s |
| Best Restaurant to Take the Kids | The Jug |
| Best Service/Hospitality | Veracruz Mexican Restaurant |
| Best Vegetarian/Vegan Selection | Mockingbird’s Café |
| Best Wine Selection | West Central Wine |
| Best Bottle + Can Beer Selection | Middletown Fine Wine + Spirits |
| Most Unique Menu | Bourbon's Craft Kitchen and Bar |
| FUN | |
| Best Event Venue | The Windamere Event Center |
| Best Festival/Event | Light Up Middletown |
| Best Indoor Activity | Eastern Lanes |
| Best Local Attraction | Light Up Middletown |
| Best Outdoor Activity | Smith Park |
| Best Place to Golf | Brown's Run Country Club |
| Best Place to Sweat | Planet Fitness |
| Best Place to Take a Visitor | Light Up Middletown |
| Best Time/Place to Take a Selfie with a Friend | Light Up Middletown |
| Best Park | Smith Park |
| LIFE | |
| Best Middletonian | James Anderson |
| Best Fire Department | City of Middletown Division of Fire |
| Best Office 'Keeping it Real' (Realtors, Real Estate Offices) | Coldwell Banker Oyer, Inc. |
| Best Office to Pick a Policy (Insurance Agencies or Offices) | Miller Insurance Inc. |
| Best Office with Attention to Detail (Law Firms, Attorneys) | Casper & Casper, LLC |
| Best Place to Capture Your Favorite Memories | Shutter Girls Photography |
| Best Police Department | City of Middletown Division of Police |
| Best Place to Catch the Sunset | Smith Park |
| SHOPS & SERVICES | |
| Best Car Wash | Elliott Auto Bath |
| Best Florist | Flowers by Roger |
| Best Hair Salon / Barber Shop | Leading Image Hair Salon |
| Best New Store/Business | Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop |
| Best Pet Grooming | Lucy's Wash-N-wag Grooming & Boarding/Daycare |
| Best Place for Antiques and Collectibles | Lester's Rock N Roll Shop |
| Best Place to Find a Gift | Kathryn's Home Accents and Gift Shop |
| Best Place to Take Your Vehicle in for a Checkup | Assured Automotive |
| Best Tattoo Studio | Bold Traditions Tattoo |
| Best Veterinary/Pet Care | Western Hills Veterinary Clinic |
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