Best of Plano Magazine 2016

The Best of Plano Magazine nominees were chosen by Plano Magazine staff and contributors. These nominees were voted on by the public at PlanoMagazine.com to determine the winner (nominee with the highest number of votes) for each category.

After 144,075 votes, here are your Best of Plano Magazine 2016 winners. 

BEST OF ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Best Children’s Theater in Plano:
Genesis Children’s Theatre

Plano Children’s Theatre (2nd)
Art Centre Theatre (3rd)

Best Event/Festival in the Past Year in Plano:
InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival

Plano International Festival (2nd)
AsiaFest (3rd)

Best Event Venue in Plano:
Courtyard Theater

event1013 (2nd)
Celebration Event Center & Ballroom (3rd)

Best Family Outing on a Budget in Plano:
Thunderbird Roller Rink Cheap Skate Night

Cinemark 10 Theater (2nd)
Heritage Farmstead Museum (3rd)

Best Grown-up Art Classes in Plano:
Painting With a Twist

Bottle and Bottega (2nd)
Pipe and Palette Home Outfitters & Mixed Media (3rd)

Best Place to Explore Plano’s Past:
Heritage Farmstead Museum

Historic Downtown Plano (2nd)
Interurban Railway Museum (3rd)

My Plano Favorites:

My most frequented places are Plano Municipal Center, where we all put in the work to keep Plano excellent, and my house––my sanctuary. My favorite salon is my barber shop, Stevie J’s Sport Cuts. I appreciate my barber L.A. for keeping my fade tight!

Harry LaRosiliere, City of Plano Mayor

Best Place to Hear Live Music in Plano:
Love and War in Texas 

Courtyard Theater (2nd)
Taverna Rossa (3rd)

Best Place in Plano to Take Kids on a Rainy Day:
Pinstack

Thunderbird Roller Rink (2nd)
Studio Movie Grill (3rd)

Best Theater Company in Plano:
Rover Dramawerks

Art Centre Theatre (2nd)
Theatre Britain (3rd)

Best Way to Get Artsy in Plano:
Plano Metropolitan Ballet

Collin County Ballet Theatre (2nd)
Chamberlain Performing Arts (3rd)

Best Way to Get Your Heart Rate Up in Plano:
Dark Hour Haunted House

Assassination City Roller Derby (2nd)
Go Ape Treetop Adventures (3rd)

BEST OF SHOPPING

 

Best Consignment, Resale or Thrift Shop in Plano:
Hope’s Door Resale Store

Habitat for Humanity ReStore (2nd)
B & B Furniture Consignment 3

My Plano Favorites:

I really love when the Shops at Legacy have all their lights turned on; whether it’s the holidays or not, it just looks so nice. I also love to put my earbuds in and take off walking or running at Arbor Hills. While everyone knows it’s there, it feels like a hidden little area tucked away.

Pete Delkus, WFAA Chief Meteorologist, Emmy award winner

Best Gift Shop in Plano:
The Feathered Nest

Paper Affair (2nd)
The Culinary Connection (3rd)

Best Kid’s Boutique in Plano:
The Nappy Shoppe

Once Upon A Child (2nd)
Sweet as Sugar (3rd)

Best Market for Foodies in Plano:
Central Market

Trader Joe’s (2nd)
Eatzi’s (3rd)

Best Pet Store in Plano:
Woof

DFW Reptarium (2nd)
Three Dog Bakery (3rd)

Best Shop in Plano for Games, Toys, Hobbies and Comics:
FX Game Exchange

Bricks and Minifigs (2nd)
Madness Games & Comics (3rd)

Best Shopping Area in Plano:
The Shops at Legacy

The Shops at Willow Bend (2nd)
Downtown Plano (3rd)

My Plano Favorite:

I’ve lived within a 3-mile radius of Jack Carter Park for 15+ years. It’s where I learned to run, my husband and I enjoy going for walks, I’ve met the friendliest pups at the dog park and the spring wildflowers can’t be beat.

Shannah Hayley, City of Plano Director of Marketing and Community Engagement

Best Women’s Boutique in Plano:
Southern Vintage Glam

Brooklyn + West (2nd)
Ella Bleu (3rd)


BEST OF SERVICES

 

Best Gym for Men in Plano:
Gracie Gym Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Omega CrossFit (2nd)
Destination Dallas (3rd)

Best Gym for Women:
The Barre Code

The Bar Method (2nd)
Willow Bend Fitness Club (3rd)

Best Workout in Plano:
Lync Cycling

9Round Plano Kickboxing Fitness at Preston (2nd)
9Round Plano Kickboxing Fitness at Legacy (3rd)

Best Yoga Place in Plano:
Yoga Tree

SunstoneFIT (2nd)
Alternative Yoga Therapy (3rd)

Best Men’s Hair Salon in Plano:
Finley’s Barber Shop

The Boardroom Salon for Men (2nd)
18|8 Fine Mens Salons (3rd)

My Plano Favorite:

My husband and I became members of Gleneagles Country Club in 2011 and absolutely love it there. I have gained some amazing new friends through tennis and Ladies’ Night Out events. I love bringing along my godchildren for lots of swim time and plenty of ice cream!”

Victoria Snee, Legacy West Director of Marketing, TV and radio personality

Best Women’s Hair Salon in Plano:
Classy and Sassy Salon

Drybar (2nd)
Marbles Beauty (3rd)

Best Nail Salon in Plano:
M Spa and Beauty Nails

MiniLuxe (2nd)
Luxy Nails (3rd)

Best Spa/Massage in Plano:
Spavia Day Spa

Woodhouse Day Spa (2nd)
Spa Habitat (3rd)

Best Pet Boarding/Daycare in Plano:
Canine Republic

East Plano Doggie Daycare (2nd)
Pet Paradise (3rd)

Fanciest Car Dealership in Plano:
Classic BMW

Mercedes of Plano (2nd)
Park Place Lexus (3rd)


Best of Food + Drink

 

Best Bar Food in Plano:
Holy Grail Pub

Vickery Park (2nd)
The Fillmore Pub (3rd)

My Plano Favorites:

Bob’s Steak & Chop House. For a simple steak, it’s the best in the city. Zoe’s Kitchen – I eat there at least three days a week for lunch. I just love their food, super tasty and healthy! Sea Breeze – for seafood, it’s the best. Rick Oruch is a true fishmonger!

Kenny Bowers, Chef/Partner at Kenny’s Burger Joint and Kenny’s Smoke House

Best BBQ Joint in Plano:
Lockhart Smokehouse

Kenny’s Smoke House (2nd)
Smoke (3rd)

Best Brunch/Breakfast in Plano:
Poor Richard’s Cafe

Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery (2nd)
Whiskey Cake (3rd)

Best Burger in Plano:
Kenny’s Burger Joint

Twisted Root Burger Co. (2nd)
Country Burger (3rd)

Best Chinese Restaurant in Plano:
Mr. Wok

Yao Fuzi Cuisine (2nd)
Little Hunan of Plano (3rd)

Best Coffee & Tea Shop in Plano:
Fourteen Eighteen Coffeehouse

Chocolate Angel Cafe and Tearoom (2nd)
Dubs Tea and Water (3rd)

Best Healthy Eating in Plano:
Wholesome Grub

Seasons 52 (2nd)
Zoe’s Kitchen (3rd)

My Plano Favorites:

Some of these places, we have been going to for MANY years. Covino’s for great neighborhood Italian food, Sugar and Spice bakery for great cookies, Shell Shack for the best shrimp in town, Sea Breeze for the best lobster roll and Tino’s Too for the best chicken flautas.”

Jo Via, Executive Director of InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival

Best Indian Food in Plano:
Kumar’s

Aroma Indian Cuisine (2nd)
Kesari (3rd)

Best Margaritas in Plano:
Mi Cocina

Mexican Sugar (2nd)
Urban Rio (3rd)

Best Mexican Food in Plano:
Chuy’s

Mi Cocina (2nd)
Mexican Sugar (3rd)

Best Patio for Day Drinking in Plano:
Katy Trail Ice House Outpost

Urban Crust (2nd)
The Fillmore Pub (3rd)

Best Pizza in Plano:
Urban Crust

Taverna Rossa (2nd)
Fireside Pies (3rd)

Best Place for Carnivores in Plano:
Bob’s Steak and Chop House

The Capital Grille (2nd)
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar (3rd)

My Plano Favorites:

My nephew’s wife’s dad, Nathan Shea, is the reason why downtown Plano suddenly became cool again. His two restaurants there, Urban Crust and Urban Rio, are both delicious and an alternative to all the chain restaurants along 75.

John Benjamin Hickey, Plano native, TV and movie actor, 2011 Tony award winner

Best Place for a Cold Treat in Plano:
Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream

Paciugo (2nd)
Braum’s (3rd)

Best Place in Plano to Drink Too Many Trendy Cocktails:
Whiskey Cake

Mexican Sugar (2nd)
Pepper Smash (3rd)

Best Place to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth in Plano:
Amazeballz

Dude, Sweet Chocolate (2nd)
Sugar Ray’s Bake Shop (3rd)

Best Queso in Plano:
Torchy’s Tacos

Urban Rio (2nd)
Chum’s (3rd)

Restaurant with the Best Selection of Beer in Plano:
Ringo’s Pub

Holy Grail Pub (2nd)
The Fillmore Pub (3rd)

Best Sandwiches in Plano:
Mr. G’s Deli

East Hampton Sandwich Co. (2nd)
Fred’s Downtown Philly (3rd)

My Plano Favorites:

I like Covino’s and Mama’s Pizza, two staples that have been around forever. And you can’t beat the Fish Shack for seafood or Mi Dia for Mexican food.

Robert T. Dry, Retired Judge of the 199th District Court in Collin County

Best Seafood in Plano:
Fish Shack

Sea Breeze Fish Market and Grill (2nd)
Rockfish Seafood Grill (3rd)

Best Southern/Home Cooking in Plano:
Poor Richard’s Cafe

Mama’s Daughter’s Diner (2nd)
Julia Pearl Southern Cuisine (3rd)

Best Sushi in Plano:
RA Sushi

Densetsu (2nd)
Uni Sushi (3rd)

Best Thai Restaurant in Plano:
Samui Thai

Mango Thai (2nd)
Nam Thai (3rd)

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