2021 was the eighth year for the annual Best of Erie Awards, and it was our biggest one yet. More than 650,000 votes were cast in over 120 different categories (657,678 votes in 124 categories to be exact). This bested last year's total by more than 300,000 votes, nearly doubling that record-breaking count. Despite the fact that there were 19 categories either debuting this year or returning — many were rendered inapplicable due to restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Erie has spoken, and the Best of Erie Awards have struck an important chord in the community. It's certainly worth paying attention to.

There were a few surprises this year, and a few extremely close races. Some categories have seen virtually the same winners from the beginning, while some manage to switch it up annually.

Every year, nominations are open to the public for an extended period of time. This year, the month of October supplied anyone interested time to provide nominees prior to voting going live. Next year will be no exception, so keep on the lookout for the ninth annual Best of Erie Awards when they open back up in early fall of 2022.

(Runners up listed in order of vote total)

Photos by Jessica Hunter

Jump to section: Culture and Nightlife // Food and Drink // People and Places 

Goods and Services

Best Local Business

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners Up: Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners, Odis 12

Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: Gordon's Butcher & Market, Firestone's, Paris's Cap & Cork

Runners Up: Bro-Man's Sammiches, Main Street Cakery at Copperleaf

Best Locally Made Product

Winner: Smith's Hot Dogs

Runners Up: Romolo Chocolates, Mighty Fine Donuts

Best Car Dealership

Winner: Bianchi Honda

Runners Up: Auto Express Kia, New Motors

Best Bank

Winner: Erie Federal Credit Union

Runners Up: PNC Bank, Northwest Savings Bank

Best Antique Shop

Winner: Claudine's Consignment

Runners Up: Oregon Antiques, Buttons & Bows

Best Boutique

Winner: Grasshopper

Runners Up: Lollie & Co, Glass Growers Gallery

Best Consignment Shop

Winner: Sassy Peacock

Runners Up: Claudine's Consignment, Thrifty Shopper

Best Jewelry Store

Winner: Dahlkemper's Jewelry Connection

Runners Up: Sacred Piercing, Breakiron Jewelers

Best Furniture Store

Winner: John V. Schultz Furniture & Mattress

Runners Up: Arthur F. Schultz Company, Furniture Row

Best Local Book Store

Winner: Pressed Books & Coffee

Runners Up: Books Galore, Werner Books

Best Barbershop

Winner: Ruiz Barbershop

Runners Up: V's Barbershop, Colony Barber Shop

Best Spa

Winner: Coventina Day Spa

Runners Up: Panache Salon and Spa, Ambridge Rose 

Best Beauty Salon

Winner: Panache Salon and spa

Runners Up: Moxi Hair Salon, Coventina Day Spa

Panache Salon and Spa is perennially in style with Best of Erie voters, winning this year's award for Best Beauty Salon and finishing runner up for Best Spa.

Best Dog Groomer

Winner: Paws N Claws

Runners Up: Mud Puppies, Buzz n' B's

Best Pet Daycare

Winner: Paws N Claws

Runners Up: Peninsula Pups, Buzz n' B's

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

Winner: The ANNA Shelter

Runners Up: Erie Humane Society, Because You Care

Best Bike Shop

Winner: 814 Outdoor Sports

Runners Up: John Adams Cycling & Fitness, Competitive Gear

Best Auto Repair Shop

Winner: Bonnell's Collision Center

Runners Up: Bianchi Honda, Tires For Less - West 26th Street

Best Web Developer

Winner: Epic Web Studios

Runners Up: Erie Multimedia, DiBello Designs

Best Graphic Designer

Winner: Brink Ink

Runners Up: Sharper Images, Ali Desanti

Best Advertising Agency

Winner: RFrank Media

Runners Up: Epic Web Studios, Papa Advertising

Best Law Firm

Winner: MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP

Runners Up: Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, Quinn Law Firm

Best Real Estate Agency

Winner: Agresti Real Estate Agency

Runners Up: Howard Hanna Agency, Marsha Marsh Real Estate Services

Best Bed and Breakfast

Winner: Victoria Inn Bed & Breakfast

Runners Up: Grape Arbor Bed and Breakfast, Spencer House Bed & Breakfast

Best Smoke/Vapor Shop

Winner: Smoker Friendly

Runners Up: Hippie and Hound Vapor Store and Lounge, Vapor Cabana 

Best CBD Shop

Winner: Grasshopper

Runners Up: RISE Peach Dispensary, Hippie and the Hound

Best Tattoo Parlor

Winner: Ink Assassins

Runners Up: Wayward Tattoo, Mid-Town Tattoo

Best Florist

Winner: Potratz Floral Shop & Greenhouses

Runners Up: Allburn Florist, Gerlach's Garden & Floral

Best Greenhouse

Winner: Stan's Garden Center 

Runners Up: Mason Farms, Potratz Floral Shop & Greenhouses

Best Place to Camp

Winner: Sparrow Pond Family Campground

Runners Up: Sara's Campground, Camp Sherwin (YMCA of Greater Erie)

Best Neighborhood Grocer

Winner: Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat 

Runners Up: Gordon's Butcher & Market, Bello's Shur-Fine Food Mart

Best Landscaper

Winner: Gerlach's Property Maintenance

Runners Up: Dahlkemper Landscape Architects & Contractors,  JJ Wurst Landscape Contractors and Garden Center

Best Electrician

Winner: Church & Murdock Electric

Runners Up: Dobrich Electric, Knorr Electric

Best Plumber

Winner: Tj's Plumbing and Heating

Runners Up: H Jack Langer, Jackson Plumbing

Best Residential Roofer

Winner: Angelo's Roofing

Runners Up:  Brink Roofing, Dougherty Contracting

Best General Contractor

Winner: Father and Son Remodeling

Runners Up: Matt Krol Construction, Cornerstone Construction

Best HVAC

Winner: J.J. Agnello Heating & Cooling

Runners Up: Reeves Plumbing and Heating, Keep Heating & Cooling 

Jump to section: Goods and Services // Food and Drink // People and Places 

Culture & Nightlife

Best Museum

Winner: Erie Art Museum

Runners Up: ExpERIEnce Children's Museum, Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Best Art Gallery

Winner: Glass Grower's Gallery

Runners Up: PACA, House of the Potter

Best Community Theatre

Winner: The Erie Playhouse

Runners Up: PACA, Mercyhurst University Theatre Program

Best Dance School

Winner: Long's School of Dance

Runners Up: Little Dance Studio, Marguerite's Academy of Dance

The Erie Art Museum is a pillar of Erie's arts and culture scene and the obvious choice for Best Museum.

Best Photographer

Winner: Katie Mihalak

Runners Up: Sarah Peach, Robert Frank
 

Best Fine Artist

Winner: Kaitlyn Page

Runners Up: Adam Stempka, Helen Tullio

Best Band (Original)

Winner: Eric Brewer & Friends

Runners Up: LUCiD, Six Year Stretch

Best New Band/Musician (Last Two Years)

Winner: Phunkademic

Runners Up: Hooligan's Holiday, Danny and the Daddios

Best Cover Band

Winner: The Geek Army

Runners Up: The Groove, Refuge

Best Vocalist

Winner: Lindsay Vendetti

Runners Up: Audra Miller, Erika Kuhn

Best MC

Winner: Jonny Evans

Runners Up: Brandi "FRESCO" Carlini, CEE Brown

Best Instrumentalist

Winner: Eric Brewer

Runners Up: Abby Barrett, Rayna Tabarez

Best DJ

Winner: Millennium Sound Productions

Runners Up: DJ BILL PAGE, BIGBAR / DJ Slide-Waze

Best Happy Hour

Winner: Plymouth Tavern

Runners Up: BIGBAR, Odis 12

Best Irish Pub

Winner: Molly Brannigan's Irish Pub

Runners Up: McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe, U Pick 6 Public House

Best Patio

Winner: Pier 6 Rooftop Bar

Runners Up: Sloppy Duck, Oliver's Beer Garden

Best Festival

Winner: Peek'n Peak Fall Fest

Runners Up: North East Wine Festival, Erie Food Truck Festival

Best Music Series

Winner: 8 Great Tuesdays

Runners Up: Sunset Music Series, Erie Philharmonic "In Your Hometown"

Jump to section: Goods and Services // Culture and Nightlife // People and Places 

Food & Drink

Best Restaurant

Winner: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Runners Up: Federal Hill Smokehouse, The Cork 1794

Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Winner: Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Grill

Runners Up: Oliver's Rooftop, Firestone's

Best Chef

Winner: Jean Paul (Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro)

Runners Up: Jason Finnerty (The Cork 1794), Ashley Sayre de Rivas (Lavery Brewing Co.)

Best Bakery

Winner: Art's Bakery

Runners Up: Icing On The Lake, Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Best Coffee Shop

Winner: Tipsy Bean

Runners Up: Ember + Forge, Brew Haha at the Colony

Best Ice Cream Shop

Winner: Whippy Dip

Runners Up: Sara's, The Straw Hat

 The allure of Romolo Chocolates cannot be denied — the local confectioner enjoyed a sweet showing in this year's Best of Erie, voted Best Local Business, Best Dessert, and Best Chocolates or Candy

Best Dessert

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners Up: Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe, Icing on the Lake

Best Chocolates or Candy

Winner: Romolo Chocolates

Runners Up: Stefanelli's Candies, Pulakos Chocolates

Best Donut Shop

Winner: Mighty Fine Donuts

Runners Up: H & K Donut Shop, Jack Frost Donut Shop

Best Dinor

Winner: Flip Cafe

Runners Up: Gem City Dinor, Panos' Restaurant

Best Brunch

Winner: The Breakfast Place

Runners Up: Flip Cafe, Peek'n Peak

Best Brewery

Winner:  Erie Brewing Company

Runners Up: Voodoo Brewing Company, Lavery Brewing Co.

Best Locally Made Beer

Winner: Erie Brewing Company - Railbender

Runners Up: Lavery Brewing Company - Dulachan, Arundel - Caramel Apple Cider

Best Winery

Winner: Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co.

Runners Up: Mazza Vineyards, Heritage Wine Cellars

Best Distillery

Winner: Altered State Distillery

Runners Up: Luminary Distilling at Fuhrman's Cider Eatery, Erie Distillery
For over two years, Altered State Distillery (winner of Erie's Best Distillery) has been consistently lifting Erie's spirits with both its celebrated libations and regular live music.

Best Bar Food

Winner: Plymouth Tavern

Runners Up: Odis 12, BIGBAR

Best Sandwich Shop

Winner: Picasso's

Runners Up: Teresa's Italian Deli, Lucky Louie's Beer & Wieners

Best Deli

Winner: Teresa's Italian Deli

Runners Up: Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meat, Gordon's Butcher & Market

Best Burger

Winner: Odis 12

Runners Up: Bro Man's Sammiches, BIGBAR

Best Pizza

Winner: John's Wildwood Pizza

Runners Up: Valerio's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Virgil's Plate

Best Wings

Winner: Odis 12

Runners Up: One Way Inn, Park Tavern

Best Sushi

Winner: Wegmans 

Runners Up: Samurai Kitchen + Sushi, Chopstix Express

Best Food Truck

Winner: Bro Man's Sammiches

Runners Up: The Que Abides, The Atacolypse Food Truck 

Best Place for Vegan or Vegetarian Food

Winner: The Juice Jar

Runners Up: Wegmans, Erie Food Co-op

Best Barbecue Restaurant

Winner: Federal Hill Smokehouse

Runners Up: Underdog BBQ, Three B Saloon

Best Seafood Restaurant

Winner: Smuggler's Wharf

Runners Up: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro, Calamari's Squid Row

Best Asian Restaurant

Winner: Samurai Kitchen + Sushi

Runners Up: Imperial Buffet, Golden Wok

Best Italian Restaurant

Winner: Mi Scuzi

Runners Up: Valerio's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Colao's Ristorante

Best Mexican Restaurant 

Winner: El Canelo

Runners Up: Torero's, El Amigo Mexican Grill

Best Thai Restaurant

Winner: Like My Thai

Runners Up: Khao Thai, Thai Eatery

Best Mediterranean or Middle Eastern Restaurant

Winner: Bistro 26

Runners Up: Habibi, Casablanca Grill

Best Alcoholic Slushie

Winner: Rum Runners

Runners Up: 9th & State Beer Store & Slushies, Altered State Distillery

Best Caterer

Winner: Teresa's Italian Deli

Runners Up: Cali's West, The Cork 1794

Best Waterfront Dining

Winner: Oliver's Rooftop

Runners Up: Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Grill, Rum Runners

Best Romantic Restaurant

Winner: Oliver's Rooftop

Runners Up: The Cork 1794, Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Since its opening in 2020, Erie has fallen head over heels for Oliver's Rooftop, winner of this year's Best Romantic Restaurant and Best Waterfront Dining categories and a finalist for Best Place for a 1st Date and Best New Restaurant.

Best Tacos

Winner: El Amigo

Runners Up: Torero's, Atacolypse Food Truck

Best Health Food Store

Winner: Erie Food Co-op

Runners Up: Wegmans, Juice Jar

Best Cocktail

Winner: Room 33

Runners Up: Altered State Distillery, BIGBAR

Jump to section: Goods and Services // Culture and Nightlife // Food and Drink

People & Places

Best Place to Work

Winner: Wegmans

Runners Up: Erie Insurance, UPMC Hamot

Best Place for a First Date

Winner: Presque Isle State Park

Runners Up: Oliver's Rooftop, Erie Otters Hockey

Best Place to Take Your Dog

Winner: Presque Isle State Park

Runners Up: Frontier Park, Asbury Woods

Best Radio Station

Winner: Happi 92.7

Runners Up: 93.9 The Wolf, Star 104

Best Radio Personality (or Radio Team)

Winner: Sammy Stone (Happi 92.7)

Runners Up: Jessica Curry Carlson (Star 104), Mojo & AC (Rocket 101)

Best TV Personality

Winner: Tom Atkins

Runners Up: Sean Lafferty, Dave Belmondo

Best Filmmaker

Winner: Jesse James

Runners Up: Jason O'Neill, John C. Lyons

Best Yoga Space

Winner: yogaErie

Runners Up: YMCA, Presque Isle Winery/yoga with goats

Best Tattoo Artist

Winner: Jason Dunn - Mid-Town Tattoo

Runners Up: Rachel Travis - Steadfast Tattoo, Garret Ybanez - InkXpressions

Best Local Actor

Winner: Shawn Clerkin

Runners Up: Zachary Hoffman, Domenic Del Greco

Best Local Actress

Winner: Adele Crotty

Runners Up: Krista Perry, Kate Neubert-Lechner

Best Nonprofit

Winner: The ANNA Shelter

Runners Up: Erie Zoo, Emma's Footprints

Best Bartender

Winner: AJ Hanson (Plymouth Tavern)

Runners Up: Sarah Mazzone (Lavery Brewing Co.), Crystal Cote (Voodoo Brewery Erie)

Best University

Winner: Penn State Behrend

Runners Up: Edinboro University, Gannon University

Best Fitness Club

Winner: Planet Fitness

Runners Up: YMCA, Iron Oxygen

Best Bowling Alley

Winner: Greengarden Lanes

Runners Up: Eastway Lanes, Rolling Meadow Lanes

Best Team to Root for

Winner: Erie Otters

Runners Up: Erie SeaWolves, Eerie Roller Girls

Best Lawyer

Winner: John Knox

Runners Up: Chad Vilushis, Mary Jarvi

Best Dentist

Winner: Plaza Dental

Runners Up: Beautiful Smiles, Doleski & Wolford Orthodontics

Best Golf Course

Winner: Whispering Woods Golf Club

Runners Up: Lawrence Park, Mound Grove Golf Course

Best Real Estate Agent

Winner: Sarah O'Neill - Agresti Real Estate 

Runners Up: Jennie Bizzarro Bone, Levi Marsh

Best Local Entrepreneur

Winner: RJ Messenger - Iron Empire Clothing/Underdog BBQ

Runners Up: Kyle Bohrer - Gordon's Meat Market, Dave Freeman - BIGBAR

Best Local Podcast

Winner: Our Erie

Runners Up: Idiotville: Erie, PA's Favorite Podcast, Girls Night In

Best Hiking Trails

Winner: Wintergreen Gorge

Runners Up: Asbury Woods, Presque Isle State Park

Best Park

Winner: Presque Isle State Park

Runners Up: Frontier Park, Asbury Woods

Best Outdoor Adventure Activity

Winner: Erie Zoo

Runners Up: Asbury Woods, Peek'n Peak Mountain Adventures

Best Wedding Venue

Winner: Peek'n Peak 

Runners Up: Port Farms, Whispering Trees Manor

Best Veterinarian

Winner: The ANNA Shelter

Runners Up: Glenwood Pet Hospital, Erie Animal Hospital

Best Athletic Competition

Winner: Barber Beast on the Bay

Runners Up: Save an Eye Game, Erie Marathon at Presque Isle

Best Heritage Festival

Winner: Zabawa Polish Heritage Festival

Runners Up: Panegyri Greek Festival, Saint Paul's Italian Festival