So as you kick off the new year, make it a resolution to try out some of the best of our best. You may find that your pants fit a little tighter, and your wallet may end up a little lighter, but you’ll definitely leave with a full belly and a happy heart.
Teri Horsley's menu
Best Ethnic — Sultan's Mediterranean Cuisine — West Chester Twp.: Mehmet and Mustafa make everyone feel welcome as they immediately stop and greet you as you enter this Turkish restaurant. The food was fresh and the lamb was the best that I have ever eaten, bar none. Even though it was a bit expensive, the food, huge portions, sleek Turkish decor, and friendly staff make it a must try for any special occasion.
Best Decor — Mahogany's in Hamilton: Entering Mahogany is like entering a chic jazz club. It's contemporary, tasteful and it gives one the feeling that even if the food were bad (which it isn't), the trip wouldn't be a loss. Just soaking up the ambiance makes the trip to Mahogany's a first-class experience.
Best Pizza (since I've visited a lot of pizza places) — Pisanellos in Franklin: It might be styled like a small town diner, but the creativity behind the pizza at Pisanellos, needs to be experienced . Ask for the specialty pizza menu that features things like turkey and dressing pizza, hamburger pizza and more.
Most Creative Theme — Grand Ole Pub in West Chester: Even if they aren't Republican, politicos will enjoy the political theme of this newly opened pub. With the wall of presidents and the copies of the Constitution that are given to diners, a stop at the Grand Ole Pub will put most anyone in a patriotic mood.
Best Bar Food — Major Leagues in Hamilton: The outdoor deck, and the Dixie-Style hamburgers and deep fried Twinkies make Major Leagues the perfect stop for anyone looking to kick back with friends. In addition, If you stop in next 4th of July, you'll probably see me there enjoying the best fireworks viewing spot in the city.
Best Outdoor Dining — Banana Leaf in Mason: The side patio at this Modern Thai restaurant so inspired me that I tried to recreate it at my home. Even though it's small, the plants and ironwork make it an enjoyable space, suitable for fine dining or a cocktail with friends.
Best Home Style Cooking — again, Mahogany's in Hamilton: As a food critic I hate to say it, but I typically don't like Home Style food. I like fine, creative cuisine. The Shrimp and Grits at Mahogany's combines the best of both, and for an interesting kick, ask for hot sauce to blend into the mix. It will make you want to slap your mama, it's so darn good.
Best place for Families with Small Children — Flavors in West Chester: I don't have small children, but if I did I'd head to Flavors so they could play with toys, watch videos and be generally entertained by the staff as I dined with my husband or friends.
Best New Menu — Ryan's Tavern in Hamilton: A great update. The expanded menu at Ryan's includes new favorites like a variety of chicken dishes, and steaks. Traditionalists will still be satisfied with their native favorites.
Best Dessert — (Tie) Lolita's in Hamilton, Ryan's in Hamilton: I don't typically eat dessert but the Tres Leches Cake at Lolita's is simply to die for. It's sweet, it's huge, it's delicious and the hint of brandy in the sauce will make any dieter weak in the knees. As for Ryan's Bailey's cake, it should be bottled and sold as a cure for most any disease.
Best Service/Friendliest — Lolita's in Hamilton: Lolita Bohn is one of the nicest restaurant owners I've ever met. Of course, she had me with the fresh chips and salsa as I entered the door. If you ever want to open a restaurant, Lolita's sets the standard for just how friendly your staff should be.
Best Kept Secret — again, Flavor's in West Chester: It sits behind Skyline on Ohio 747 and the fact that I hate hummus and yet I ate a lot of it, makes this the Best Kept Secret in Butler County.
Best Restaurant with a Cause — Matera Caffe in Franklin: The owner is sending part of her profits to help build schools for children in Honduras. She dreamed up the name, because of the movie, "The Passion of the Christ." If you have a heart full of faith and charity, and you like café style dining then Matera's is a must.
Best of the Best — Hands down it is Sultans in West Chester: I still have dreams of that lamb. Perhaps it was a technique the chef picked up in Istanbul, but to get lamb that moist and tender is an art, and to have waiters that cute is a combination that's hard to beat.
Sue Perine O'Reilly's menu
Every restaurant I review leaves a best-taste dish or beverage on my palate -- one I’ll always remember. For the year 2010, here is my “Best Taste” List. This list is in chronological order for eleven of the twelve months of 2010.
1. The Smokin' Ox, in Oxford. The best food and beverages I had there were: In-house slow-smoked pulled pork sandwich and homemade hot chocolate with Amaretto liqueur. Delicious on a January day.
2. Sara Jane's Country Cooking, in Monroe. Fried green tomatoes and Hot Decaf Coffee topped this restaurant's list. The only other place I've had southern fried green tomatoes that compared to these, was, of course, in a restaurant in the Deep South.
3. Tied for Best Decor; Best Kept Secret: Sushi Nara, in Oxford. This plush Japanese Sushi Bar and Restaurant IS just like the ones I ate at when I visited Japan in 2005. When I walked in and sat at the Sushi Bar at Sushi Nara, I felt like I was back in Japan. The Décor was authentic Japanese. The food was perfectly authentic, especially the Red Double and Red Fire. It is Oxford's best-kept secret because the outside décor of the restaurant is completely Midwestern. So I was pleasantly surprised, like most customers would be, when I saw the Sushi Bar. The menu also offers Japanese, Korean, Thai and Chinese food.
4. Most Creative Theme: Captain 9's Pizza & Subs, in Germantown. Captain 9's Pizza & Subs has a firehouse theme, with firehouse paraphernalia, such as donated fireman hats, uniforms and logos on the walls. Captain 9's is even named after its owner, Charles Zechar, who is the captain of the Germantown Volunteer Fire Department. And you guessed it – his number is 9. The most memorable food I ate there was firehouse pizza, pickled beets, pickled eggs and mushroom steak sub.
5. Best Pizza: Micomonaco's, in Middletown, Ohio. Micomonaco's is inexpensive, yet, like other customers, I ate high-quality Italian food, such as taco pizza and homemade House Red Italian dressing.
6. Best Homestyle Food: The State Street Diner in Trenton, Ohio -- Biscuits and Sausage Gravy.
7. Best Ethnic -- Taj Mahal ll, in Oxford, Ohio. This family-owned, Indian restaurant offers authentic Indian cuisine in a small town. It's great to walk into a restaurant like this and have a choice of a wonderful buffet or food items on the menu. I especially liked Saag Paneer and a beverage called Mango Lassi.
8. Best Bar Food -- The Wise Owl Wine, Bar & Tapas, in West Chester, Ohio. "Tapas" is Spanish for "little plates" of food, and that's exactly what I got at this upscale bar. The sweet surprise is that the servers, chef and manager will help any customer pair their plate of choice with a wine that complements or completes the taste of the food. My favorite: Smoked Chicken Pate on Toasted French Baguette paired with a sweet Moscato D' Asti wine.
9. Tied for Best Decor; Best Outdoor Dining; Most Family Friendly; Best Dessert: Bier Haus, in Miamitown. This place is so much more than meets the eye. If you haven't been there, you must go. It's beautifully decorated, informally, inside and out. It sits along the Great Miami River, and weather permitting, customers use the outdoor stone fire pits, the outdoor appetizer kitchen and other tiered areas, including patios. Inside, there are two fireplaces, a large window with a view, and great food, including a Mett & Kraut dinner, melt-in-your mouth sauerkraut, and homemade potato pancakes. Not to mention the Schwein pork chop dinner or Chocolate cake.
10. Best New Menu; Best Restaurant With A Cause: Quarter Barrel Brew Pub, in Oxford. This pub fills a void in town because it offers three things in the same area: A coffee specialty bar, a microbrewery, and a limited, but well thought-out menu, with daily specials. I especially liked the Spinach and Artichoke Lavosh (kind of like an Armenian flatbread pizza) and Cafe Claddagh latte.
11. Best Homestyle Cooking: Friendliest/Best Service -- Morning Sun Cafe, in Oxford. There are many homestyle dinner options – including breakfast and lunch selections served all day and after five – that make you feel comfortable and like you're getting dinner at home. The food selections range from classic homestyle dishes to just about anything a customer wants on his food, if the café has it. The café gets as much food locally as possible, and the café owners and manager have started a farm to supply more customer needs in the future. My favorites include: Applewood smoked bacon on toasted flatbread sandwich, the Italian grilled cheese sandwich, and cucumber salad. The second most important thing to the manager of this place is friendliness. It's not unusual for customers to say "thank you" and wave as they walk out the door.
Best Overall or my favorite restaurant of the year: Bier Haus in Miamitown.