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)
