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Readers' Choice: Best of Washington

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Published Friday, June 20, 2008

For July's Best of Washington issue, on stands now, we surveyed more than 2,500 readers about their favorite restaurants, celebrities, nightlife, and more—plus the people and places they don’t like. Here are the results.

Comments

Who is Lee Folson kidding? I will avoid his business just to spite his post below. First he defends the chains, then he points out that he came in second to a chain despite having just one location. Get a life, Loser.

Posted by: Bill S., Jul 15, 2008 04:40:25 PM

This is a horrible list. The Washingtonian is really losing touch with its readership. Why are we talking about Outback, Five Guys, Domino’s, Papa John’s, etc... Why don’t you cut out those garbage responses and produce a list that is meaningful?

Posted by: Flaming Liberal, Jul 15, 2008 04:38:01 PM

This list is nothing more than a BIG marketing ploy. Check out Rick’s response from Rejuvenations. That says it all.

All you need to do is get your clients to vote for you and your up on the list. Most business owners do not even know about these lists. Its really not a true "Who is the Best" of anything. Its "Who knows the list is being published and gets thier clients to vote". I guess that’s us, DC, politics. : (

Posted by: Concerned Public, Jul 13, 2008 07:52:04 AM

I agree with most of the comments here and couldn’t relate to some of the #1 picks.....However, I will say that for local radio personality, there couldn’t be a better #1 choice (Elliot in the Morning). Class, thanks for making me laugh in the morning!

Posted by: Taya, Jul 11, 2008 12:12:10 PM

What about Grand Cru Wine Bar?

Posted by: Mark Driscol, Jul 07, 2008 07:21:45 AM

I am happy to see the spa I attend made it to #2. I can tell you the Spa did ask its customers to vote for them, and many us must really love Fountains!! And, if you wanna see what all the Hoopla is about you should check out Foundations for yourself during the month of August and get 20% off. Believe me it’s worth it!!

If people want more diversity in the other catergories I think they need to spread the word to their friends to vote next year.

Posted by: Chemayn G., Jun 26, 2008 07:48:15 AM

The reason there are so many chains is b/c they tend to have more locations, therefore more customers = more votes. That’s life I guess, but it is possible to get picked with just one location. My single location business was choosen # 2 behind a chain that has over 15 locations.

Posted by: Lee Folson, Jun 24, 2008 12:19:36 PM

I get nothing out of these lists. They should be changed to the "Most Easily Identifiable..." or "Most Well Known..." The word "Best" is a misnomer. Readers Choice awards are a pointless exercise.

Posted by: BobbyBob, Jun 24, 2008 08:52:02 AM

Very refreshing. I’m so tired of pretentious lists that assume a "chain" restaurant is too pedestrian for consideration. Just one of the reasons I prefer DC to NYC: most of us don’t buy into the "if it’s not obscure or hard to get into it then it can’t be any good" fallacy.

Posted by: George F., Jun 24, 2008 07:22:51 AM

Commenters, thanks for all the great tips for your fellow readers.

Anyone out there who voted who wants to comment on the selections? Just curious if there’s anyone from the voting pool who wants to weigh in.

Angie: The lists were compiled from the results of over 2,500 surveys. And believe me, I was surprised by some of the choices, too!

Craig: I’m going to pass your suggestions on for those categories to Leslie Milk, the editor who runs the survey. Thanks for the ideas! Those are good ones, and hopefully they’ll show up on our survey next year.

Posted by: Emily [at Washingtonian.com], Jun 23, 2008 01:41:06 PM

I have apparently grossly misjudged the makeup of your readership if this truly reflects what they said. We have an enormous selection of great independent restaurants and they’re not well-represented here at all. It’s just interesting to see this. To the readers: start going to the places the writers of this publication recommend in the Food and Dining section. You might be surprised.

Posted by: Andy, Jun 23, 2008 12:59:16 PM

Wow... I don’t know if I should laugh, or cry. Did they interview a bunch of college kids for the Food section??

Posted by: Angie, Jun 23, 2008 10:22:24 AM

The continued prevalence of chains in these lists is just ridiculous and undermines the legitimacy of them.

Posted by: Jay, Jun 23, 2008 07:43:19 AM

For the Moderator-
We were listed under best massage- could you put the whole name of the company up? Rejuvenations Massage Therapy. There are a number of places in he Spa world around here with Rejuvenations as part of their name and it might prove confusing- Thank you, Rick Morgan- owner- Rejuvenations Massage Therapy 703-437-9059

Posted by: Rick- from Rejuvenations, Jun 22, 2008 03:13:05 PM

Yes, lets just remind everyone again of Washington’s unsophisticated palate. Apparently, we only know chains! Legal for best seafood? Clyde’s for out-of-towners? Give me a break!

Posted by: , Jun 22, 2008 11:16:52 AM

People still wait for Outback? Joe Gibbs? Yeah a bit dated.

They forgot:

Bast places to drink on the weekends:
1. Midtown
2. Georgetown (any place without cover)
3. In traffic

Worst places to drink on the weekends:
1. K street lounge
2. Coyote Ugly
3. in your basement

Posted by: Craig M., Jun 21, 2008 09:04:54 AM

Joe Gibbs, huh? Really? Is this the 1983 issue?

Posted by: Jim D., Jun 20, 2008 01:20:39 PM

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