Best of Southwest 2012

Thank you to the hundreds of Southwest readers who participated in Best of Southwest 2012, Southwest Orlando Bulletin’s fifth annual survey of residents’ favorite restaurants, salons, resorts and more.

Congratulations to this year's winners

Best Place to Live

1. Windermere
2. Dr. Phillips
3. Isleworth

Best Golf Club / Course

1. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge
2. West Orange Country Club
3. Isleworth Golf & Country Club

Best Family Restaurant

1. TooJay’s Original Gourmet Deli
2. Dixie Cream Café
3. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza

Best Fine Dining Restaurant

1. Seasons 52
2. Morton’s The Steakhouse
3. Bonefish Grill

Best Fast-Food Restaurant

1. Chick-fil-A
2. Chipotle Mexican Grill
3. McDonald’s

Best Lunch Locale

1. Press 101
2. Yellow Dog Eats
3. Panera Bread

Best Sushi Restaurant

1. Amura
2. Aji Sushi & Teppan
3. Seito Sushi

Best Dessert Locale

1. Twistee Treat
2. Menchie’s
3. Allen’s Creamery & Coffee House

Best New Restaurant

1. 4Rivers Smokehouse
2. Papa Gio’s Pizzeria
3. Dixie Cream Café

Best New Business

1. Dave & Buster’s
2. Splash of Color Salon
3. Bed, Bath & Beyond in the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves

Best Sports Bar

1. Gators Dockside
2. Miller’s Ale House
3. Bar Louie

Best Wine Shop / Bar

1. Tim’s Wine Market
2. Vines Grille & Wine Bar
3. Total Wine & More

Best Public Figure

1. Arnold Palmer
2. Jameer Nelson
(tie)
3. Dick Batchelor
3. Teresa Jacobs

Best Park

1. Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
2. Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake
3. Keene’s Pointe Park

Best Fitness Facility

1. Gold’s Gym
2. Roper YMCA Family Center
(tie)
3. Dr. P. Phillips YMCA Family Center
3. Zero Gravity Fitness

Best Day Spa

1. The Woodhouse Day Spa
2. Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
3. Massage Envy

Best Hair Salon

1. Spa Affair
2. Salon Salon
3. Vintage Sky Salon

Best Movie Theater

1. West Orange 5 Cinema
2. AMC Downtown Disney 24
3. Regal Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 & IMAX

Best Shopping Venue

1. The Mall at Millenia
2. Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves
3. The Florida Mall

Best Local Resort

1. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
2. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
3. Rosen Shingle Creek

Best Wedding Location

1. Walt Disney World Resort
2. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
3. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Best Venue for a Child's Birthday

1. Let’s Skate Orlando
2. Monkey Joe’s
3. Dave & Buster’s

Best Theme Park

1. Magic Kingdom
2. Universal Studios
3. Islands of Adventure

Best Charity Gala

1. Orlando Margarita Society — Margarita Ball
2. Give Kids The World — Black & White Gala
3. Hope & Help Center of Central Florida Inc. — Headdress Ball

Most Needed Improvement

1. More gas stations and restaurants in Winter Garden/Windermere
2. To complete road construction
3. Traffic on Sand Lake Road in Orlando