Best of Worcester Living.

Byline: Laura Porter

The following correction was published in Worcester Living on November 22, 2010:

Correction: A sharp-eyed reader of the fall issue of Worcester Living points out that the name of the governor of Massachusetts during the Civil War was John Andrew, not Andrews, as was published in a story about Col. George Ward, a Worcester native and Civil War hero. Also, incorrect street numbers were published in the fall issue. Worcester Historical Museum, mentioned in the same story, is at 30 Elm St. Sprout, the Best of Worcester Living winner for Flowers, is at 118A June St. in Worcester.

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The votes are in!

On the pages that follow, check out The Best - more than 70 winners in our third annual Best of Worcester Living contest.

It's the biggest contest so far, with new ideas for places to visit, eat, shop or relax. We added several new categories - where to have a picnic, take a scenic drive or eat ice cream, to name a few.

We listed honorable mentions when the tally was close (5 votes or less) to give you more suggestions of the favorite haunts of Worcester Living readers.

Our rules: We counted one ballot per person and asked readers to vote in at least 20 categories. Businesses and venues had to be located in Central Massachusetts.

You'll see some favorites from past years in our winners' circle, and some new names, too.

Enjoy - and to the winners - congratulations!

Food and Drink

Pizza

Corner Grille

806 Pleasant St., Worcester

(508) 754-8884

www.cornergrille.com

When Raena Heppenstall opened the Corner Grille in 1998, she turned a tiny corner space into a bright and quirky destination for delicious sandwiches, salads and homemade baked goods. Soon after came pizza, an ultra-thin crust with a secret high-end cheese blend and inventive toppings that immediately captured the city's taste buds. Heppenstall, a trained pastry chef who learned to cook from her grandmother, often adapts familiar recipes. Greek Pie reflects her grandmother's spanakopita; the Sweet Tomato and Basil Pie borrows from Roma tomato and fresh mozzarella salad. The best seller? Chicken Caesar Salad Pie: chicken, tomatoes and cheese topped with chilled Caesar salad.

Honorable mention

Wonder Bar

121 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

(508) 752-9909

www.wonderbarrestaurant.com

Burger

Wild Willy's Burgers

317 West Boylston St., Worcester

(508) 459-2088

www.wildwillysburgers.com

Honorable mention

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

537 Lincoln St., Worcester

(508) 853-2000

www.fiveguys.com

Barbecue

West Side Steak BBQ

2 Richmond Ave., Worcester

(508) 756-6328

Ribs, pulled pork and chicken wings, eaten outside on a warm fall evening amid the sound of laughter and good conversation. West Side has been a welcome addition since Elaine Barroso-Peters opened in 2007, with her brother, Evandro Barroso, running the kitchen. They offer tacos, burritos and salads to balance the barbecue, but meat - and delicious sides - reign supreme here. The neighborhood restaurant, which is BYOB, appeals to a diverse, multicultural clientele, especially families and college students. "The neighborhood," says Barroso-Peters, "has been very supportive."

Steak

111 Chop House

111 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

(508) 799-4111

www.111chophouse.com

Seafood

Sole Proprietor

118 Highland St., Worcester

(508) 798-3474

www.thesole.com

Chinese/Asian

Nancy Chang

372 Chandler St., Worcester

(508) 752-8899

www.nancychang.com

Mexican/Southwestern

Mezcal Tequila Cantina

166 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

(508) 926-8308

www.mezcalcantina.com

Middle Eastern

El Basha Restaurant

424 Belmont St., Worcester

(508) 797-0884

www.elbasharestaurant.com

Dessert

Sweet

305 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

(508) 373-2248

www.sweetworcester.com

Deli/sandwich shop

Bushel'N Peck Deli

643 Chandler St., Worcester

(508) 799-6305

www.bushelnpeckdeli.com

With close to 100 wraps, sandwiches and grinders, Bushel'N Peck, on Chandler Street and at 17 East Mountain St., has prided itself on tremendous variety throughout its 30-year history. Former manager Michael Bartosiewicz bought the business from Tom Oliveri Jr. almost five years ago. He has added a few new touches, like Dell's Lemonade, local sodas and fresh summer vegetables straight from a local farm, but "85 percent of the menu is the same," he says. "I believe in `if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'" Excellent service is as important as fresh sandwiches prepared right in front of the customer, and Bartosiewicz calls his loyal longtime staff "a huge blessing."

Vegetarian/organic

Evo

234 Chandler St., Worcester

(508) 753-1889

www.evodining.com

Italian

Dino's Restaurant

13 Lord St., Worcester

(508) 753-9978

www.dineatdinos.com

"I think they built the restaurant around the tree," says Joseph Evangelista, referring to the sparkling tree at the very center of the restaurant his parents opened in 1982. Continuity with an appreciation for innovation is key at Dino's, which specializes in Southern Italian food with red sauce, sauteed veal dishes, pizza and fish. Eggplant is the top seller. "We appeal to all ages," says Evangelista, who estimates that 85 percent of his business is from repeat customers who return for "a decent product at a fair price." Couples get engaged here and children grow up to come back with their own children. A recent renovation made sure to preserve the seating and layout of the dining room. "People have a lot of memories."

Bakery

Crown Bakery

133 Gold Star Blvd., Worcester

(508) 852-0746

www.thecrownbakery.com

Swedish pastries and cookies, fresh bread and luscious cakes have been the hallmark of this family bakery for more than 40 years. In recent years, owner Jon Lundstrom has also added soups and fresh sandwiches. No matter how long the line, friendly service is the rule here. A cup of coffee, a Danish, the newspaper and a sunny table in the corner offer the perfect start to the morning. And on your way out, be sure to pick up a raspberry jellyroll or order a cake for a special birthday.

Sushi

Baba Sushi Restaurant

309 Park Ave., Worcester

(508) 752-8822

www.babasushi.com

The simple frame house on Park Avenue belies the sophisticated interior of Chef Wilson Wang's sushi restaurant, open since 2007. Wang was a chef in his native China, New York City and Boston before bringing his blend of high-quality Japanese cuisine and personal warmth to Worcester. At Baba, the extensive list of sushi and sashimi is complemented by a selection of Japanese salads and chicken and seafood entrees. In addition, notes Wang with enthusiasm, "we have a beautiful menu for drinks," including unusual martinis, as well as "the number one patio in Worcester" for outdoor dining.

Beer selection

Brew City

104 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

(508) 752-3862

www.brew-city.com

Honorable mention

Armsby Abbey

144 Main St., Worcester

(508) 795-1012

www.armsbyabbey.com

Wine selection

KJ Baarons

220 Summer St., Worcester

(508) 753-3400

www.kjbaarons.com

Ranging from domestic wines from California and Oregon to labels from Europe, South America and Australia, every wine at KJ Baarons is "selected with great care" by owner Katie Krock and wine manager Edward Stacy. Stacy's particular passion for all things French contributes to the "detailed French selection," says Krock, but...