Ottawa XPress - Best of Ottawa 2008

Ottawa XPress
July 22nd, 2010

	Hit List
	Community Garden [1]
	Picture This [4]

	Chromeo
	NEeMA

Dinner for Schmucks

Odyssey Theatre's They All Do It

Anna Frlan's Kitchen Anatomy

Burrito Borracho

The Best of Ottawa Awards recognizes the people, places and things
that make the National Capital a great place to live.

RESULTS ARE IN!
Best of Ottawa 2008: Results

Read also:
Best of 2008 online reader survey: Editorial
Best of Ottawa 2008 in photos

1. FOOD & DRINK

Best African
Horn of Africa (364 Rideau)
East African Restaurant (376 Rideau)
Kasbah Village Moroccan Cuisine (261 Laurier)
Eri Café (953 Somerset)
Habesha (1087 Wellington)
La Gazelle (33B Gamelin, Gatineau)
Chez Fatima (103 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Blue Nile (577 Gladstone)
Zam Zam (111 Mann)
Other

Best all-you-can-eat
East India Company (210 Somerset)
Du Barry (33 Selkirk)
Govinda's (212 Somerset)
Nagina (217 Rideau)
Moni Mahal Buffet (164 Laurier)
1000 Sushi Islands (1696 Carling)
Ceylonta (2920 Carling)
Coconut Lagoon (853 St. Laurent)
Light of India (730 Bank)
Tucker's Marketplace (61 York)
Haveli (39 Clarence)
Sushi Kan (1440 Merivale Road)
Chez Fatima (103 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Other

Best appetizers/tapas
222 Lyon (222 Lyon)
Petit Bill's Bistro (1293 Wellington)
Murray Street Restaurant (110 Murray)
Allium (87 Holland)
Humphreys On Bank (683 Bank)
The Manx (370 Elgin)
E18hteen Restaurant and Bar (18 York)
OZ Kafe (361 Elgin)
Urban Pear (151 Second Avenue)
A'roma Meze (239 Nepean)
Mambo (77 Clarence)
107 Fourth Avenue Wine Bar (107 Fourth Avenue)
Le Faubourg du Vieux-Hull (75 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Other

Best bakery
Harvest Loaf (all locations)
The French Baker (all locations)
Bread & Sons (195 Bank)
Three Bakers and a Bike (1281A Wellington)
Art-is-in Bakery (all locations)
Middle East Bakery (all locations)
Kettleman's Bagel (all locations)
Three Tarts Bakers (1320 Wellington)
B.Goods (Byward Market)
Boko Bakery (280 Elgin)
Brown Loaf (264 Elgin)
Ichiban Bakery (1490 Bank)
Le Moulin De Provence (55 ByWard Market Square)
Pipolinka (8 Valley, Wakefield)
Rideau Bakery (384 Rideau)
Golden Baguette Bakery (240 Bank)
The Wild Oat Bakery (817 Bank)
Other

Best bistro
Allium (87 Holland)
Atomic Rooster (303 Bank)
OZ Kafe (361 Elgin)
Jak's Kitchen (479 Bronson)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Trio (307D Richmond)
The Wellington Gastropub (1325 Wellington)
Absinthe (1208 Wellington)
Benitz Bistro (327 Somerset)
Fresco Bistro Italiano (354 Elgin)
Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)
Other

Best brunch
Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Cora's (all locations)
Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)
Maxwell's Bistro&Club (340 Elgin)
Lieutenant's Pump (361 Elgin)
The Wild Oat Bakery (817 Bank)
Jak's Kitchen (479 Bronson)
Wilfrid's Restaurant (1 Rideau)
Stoneface Dolly's (416 Preston)
Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)
Von's Bistro (819 Bank)
Black Tomato (11 George)
Scone Witch (388 Albert)
Memories Café (7 Clarence)
Other

Best burger
The Works (all locations)
Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Hino (1013 Wellington)
Zak's Diner (14 Byward Market Square)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Fraser Café (143 Putman)
Le Twist Café (88 Montcalm, Gatineau)
Other

Best catering
The Whalesbone Oyster House (504A Kent)
Epicuria (419 Mackay)
Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)
Dish Catering (119 Ross)
Other

Best up and coming restaurants
Jak's Kitchen (479 Bronson)
Murray Street (110 Murray)
Fraser Café (143 Putman)
b/Side (323 Somerset)
Navarra (93 Murray)
Other

Best cheap eats
Ikea (2685 Iris)
Costco (1100 Maloney, Gatineau)
Olga's Delights (588 Bank)
Golden Baguette Bakery (240 Bank)
Zam Zam (111 Mann Avenue)
Ahora (307 Dalhousie)
Govinda Vegetarian Buffet (212 Somerset)
Pho Bo Ga (all locations)
German Town Deli (212 Slater)
Ottawa Peace Kitchen (320 Elgin/Jack Purcell Community Centre)
Peace Garden Café (47 Clarence)
Dirienzo's Grocery (111 Beech)
Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)
Other

Best Chinese
Shanghai Restaurant (651 Somerset)
Golden Palace (2195 Carling)
Golden Baguette Bakery (240 Bank)
Mays Garden (122 Preston)
So Good Restaurant (717 Somerset)
Palais Imperial Chinese Restaurant (313 Dalhousie)
Royal Treasure Restaurant (774 Somerset)
Yangtze Dining Lounge (700 Somerset)
Chu Shing Restaurant (691 Somerset)
Mekong (637 Somerset)
Jadeland (625 Somerset)
Other

Best chip wagon
The Chip Wagon (Bank/Sunnyside)
The Blooming Onion (York/Dalhousie)
JP's Chip Stand (Merivale)
S&G Fries (Carling/Maitland)
Sasha's (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York)
Tzan's Chip Wagon (Bank/Laurier)
Glen's Chip Wagon (Richmond/Kirkwood)
Fritomania (St. Joseph/Orleans)
Other

Best tea/coffee house
Bridgehead (all locations)
Bubblicity (all locations)
Planet Coffee (24 York)
Starbucks (all locations)
Tim Hortons (all locations)
Second Cup (all locations)
I Deal Coffee (176 Dalhousie)
The Tea Store (53 York)
Morala Specialty Coffee (734 Bank)
The Tea Party (119 York)
Temptation Tea Shop (324 Bank)
Caffe Ventuno - Il Negozio Nicastro (1355 Wellington)
Moca Loca (all locations)
Other

Best cozy nook
The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room (690 Lyon)
Whalesbone (430 Bank)
Aunt Olive's (209 Gilmour)
The Tea Party (119 York)
Avant-Garde Bar (135 Besserer)
Café Gaia (both locations, Gatineau)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Other

Best deli
La Bottega (64 George)
Nate's Deli (316 Rideau)
Olga's Delights (588 Bank)
Luciano's (106 Preston)
La p'tite épicerie du quartier (158 Notre Dame de l'Ile, Gatineau)
Sausage Kitchen (5 Byward Market Square)
Budapest Delicatessen (54 Byward Market Square)
Nicastro's (all locations)
Dirienzo's Grocery (111 Beech)
Other

Best dessert
Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington)
Stoneface Dolly's (416 Preston)
Memories Restaurant (7 Clarence)
Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)
Aux Délices Boulangerie & Patisserie (32 Byward Market Square)
Three Tarts Bakers (1320 Wellington)
Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston)
Oh So Good (25 York)
Three Bakers and a Bike (1281A Wellington)
Cakes by Tatiana (1202 Bank)
Other

Best diner
Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)
Mello's Diner (290 Dalhousie)
Fil's Diner (1205 Wellington)
John's Diner (Hintonburg)
Zak's Diner (14 Byward Market Square)
Bramasole Diner (428 Bank)
Mayflower (247 Elgin)
Dunn's Famous Deli (220 Elgin)
Ada's Diner (510 Bank)
Other

Best farmers' market
Byward Market
Parkdale Market
Ottawa Organic Farmers' Market (Bank/Heron)
Ottawa Farmers' Market (Lansdowne)
Carp Farmers' Market
Wakefield Farmers' Market
Other

Best French
Les Fougères Restaurant (783 Route 105, Chelsea)
Le Saint-O (327 St. Laurent)
Metropolitan Brasserie (700 Sussex)
L'Orée du Bois (15 Kingsmere, Chelsea)
Le Tartuffe (133 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
Le Panaché (634 Somerset)
L'Aubergine (138 Wellington, Gatineau)
Pied De Cochon (248 Rue Montcalm)
Other

Best Greek
Greek on Wheels (all locations)
Theo's Greek Taverna (911 Richmond)
Greek Souvlaki House (1200 Prince of Wales)
Dolmades (460 Bronson)
Pilos Restaurant (876 Montreal)
A'roma Meze (239 Nepean)
Mystiko (281 Kent)
Other

Best ice cream/gelato
Pure Gelato (350 Elgin)
Piccolo Grande (all locations)
La Cigale (241 Old Chelsea, Chelsea)
Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana (200 Preston)
Malak Lebanese Pastry (1216 Bank)
The Purple Cow (798 Bank)
Other

Best South Asian
East India Company (210 Somerset)
Aahar (727 Churchill)
Ceylonta (403 Somerset)
Coconut Lagoon (853 St. Laurent)
Light Of India (730 Bank)
Haveli (39 Clarence)
Taj Mahal (925 Bank)
Other

Best Italian
Giovanni's (362 Preston)
Chianti (160 Metcalfe)
Bella's (all locations)
Carmello's (all locations)
Mamma Teresa Ristorante (300 Somerset)
Fratelli (all locations)
Johnny Farina's (216 Elgin)
Il Primo Ristorante (371 Preston)
Il Piccolino (449 Preston)
Caffe Ventuno - Il Negozio Nicastro (1355 Wellington)
Mamma Grazzi's (25 George)
Vittoria Trattoria (35 William)
Other

Best Japanese
Suisha Gardens/Kaedeya Mart (208-210 Slater)
Ichibei (197 Bank)
Japanese Village (170 Laurier)
Sushi 88 (690B Somerset)
Genji (175 Lisgar)
Kinki (41 York)
Hino (1013 Wellington)
Wasabi (41 Clarence)
Other

Best Korean
Joy (315 Somerset)
Kochu (361 Elgin)
Korea Garden (470 Rideau)
Seoul House (601 Somerset)
Kwon's Korean BBQ (332 Wilbrod)
Miga (399 Bank)
Arum (512 Bank)
Alirang (134 Nelson)
Other

Best Mexican/South American
Ahora (307 Dalhousie)
Agave Grill (1331 Wellington)
Pancho Villa (361 Elgin)
Feleena's (742 Bank St.)
Mexicali Rosa's (1800 Bank)
Azteca (41 William)
La Cabana (848 Merivale)
El Pavo Loco (53 Vaudreuil, Gatineau)
Other

Best Middle Eastern
Saffron Restaurant (426 Rideau)
Efes Turkish Restaurant (484 Preston)
Jericho (840 Bank)
Maroush (all locations)
Persian Cuisine Express (340 Laurier)
Middle East Bakery (all locations)
Le Mezzé (76 Murray)
Other

Best natural food store
Herb & Spice (both locations)
Natural Food Pantry (both locations)
La Boite a Grains (both locations)
Rainbow Foods (1487 Richmond)
The Wheatberry (206 Main)
The Wild Oat (817 Bank)
Other

Best patio
The Courtyard (The Black Tomato, Mamma Grazzi's, The Courtyard Restaurant, Social, Helsinki)
Elgin Street courtyard (The Lieutenant's Pump/Oz Kafé/Pancho Villa)
The Irish Village (67 Clarence)
Arrow & The Loon ( 99 Fith )
Pancho Villa ( 361 Elgin)
Dominion Tavern (33 York)
Pub Italia ( 434 Preston)
The Blackthorn Café (15 Clarence)
Kinki (41 York)
Milestones (700 Sussex Drive )
Métropolitain Brasserie (700 Sussex Drive )
Feleena's (742 Bank)
Sweetgrass (108 Murray)
Le Twist (88 Montcalm)
Other

Best pizza
Colonnade (all locations)
Gabriel's (all locations)
Louis Pizza (181 McArthur, Vanier)
La Dolce Vita (180 Preston Street)
Forno Antico (683 Bronson)
Bronson Pizza ( 368A Bronson)
Pavarazzi's ( 443 Somerset W )
Johnny's Pizza (233 Laurier E )
House of Georgie and Sorento's (211 Gilmour)
Calabria (193 Bell N )
Cheezy Pizza (World Exchange Plaza)
Piz'za-za (36 Laval, Gatineau)
Other

Best poutine
Elgin Street Diner (374 Elgin)
Sasha's (next to Dominion Tavern, 33 York)
Fast Food Grocery (Bank/MacLaren)
The Works (all locations)
The Chip Wagon (Bank & Sunnyside)
La Patate Dorée (153 Eddy, Gatineau)
La Pataterie Hulloise (311 St. Joseph, Gatineau)
Other

Best pub
The Manx Pub (370 Elgin)
Pub Italia (434 Preston)
The Prescott (379 Preston)
Irene's (885 Bank)
Quinn's (1070 Bank)
Darcy McGee's ( 44 Sparks )
The Clock Tower Brew Pub (575 Bank)
Irish Village (67 Clarence)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Wellington Gastropub (1325 Wellington)
The Wood (1237 Wellington)
Barley Mow (1060 Bank)
Patty's (1186 Bank)
Other

Best romantic restaurant
Absinthe (1208 Wellington)
Savana Café (431 Gilmour)
OZ Café ( 6-361 Elgin)
Sweetgrass (108 Murray)
Black Tomato ( 11 George )
Domus Café (85 Murray)
L'Orée du Bois (15 Kingsmere, Chelsea)
Juniper (245 Richmond)
Urban Pear (151 Second)
Benny's Bistro (119 Murray)
Le Tartuffe (133 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
Signatures (453 Laurier, Cordon Bleu)
Other

Best sandwich
La Bottega (64 George)
DiRienzo's Grocery (111 Beech)
Chez Lucien (137 Murray)
Luciano's ( 106 Preston)
Olga's ( 588 Bank)
The Village Café (295 Richmond)
Harvest Loaf (all locations)
Gooney's Sandwich Works (360 Laurier)
Culinary Conspiracy (541 Rideau)
Aunt Olive's (209 Gilmour)
La Petite Épicerie du Quartier (158 Notre-Dame-de-l'Île, Gatineau)
Other

Best seafood
LaPointe's (all locations)
Whalesbone Oyster House (430 Bank)
Pelican Grill (1500 Bank)
One Fish Two Fish (1463 Merivale)
Other

Best shawarma
Shawarma King (all locations)
Civic Shawarma ( 915 Bank)
Istanbouli ( 33 Richmond)
Maroush (380 Elgin St.)
Shawarma Palace (464 Rideau)
Really Lebanese Garlic King (321 Dalhousie)
Other

Best splurge
Beckta (226 Nepean)
Social (537 Sussex Drive )
Perspectives (525 Legget Dr ive ., Kanata)
Sweetgrass (108 Murray)
The Urban Pear (151 Second)
Fraser Café (143 Putman Ave)
Whalesbone ( 430 Bank)
Le Baccara (Casino Lac Leamy, Gatineau)
Les Fougères (783 Route 105, Chelsea)
Juniper Kitchen (245 Richmond)
E18hteen (18 York)
Signatures by le Cordon Bleu (453 Laurier E )
Benitz Bistro (327 Somerset)
Domus Café (85 Murray)
Other

Best steakhouse/steak
Al's Steakhouse ( 327 Elgin)
Empire Grill (47 Clarence )
The Keg (all locations)
Hy's Steakhouse (170 Queen)
Sterling Steakhouse and Seafood (835 Jacques-Cartier, Gatineau)
SomRuedee Steakhouse (428 Preston)
Prime 360 (407 Laurier W )
Hino (1013 Wellington)
Other

Best sushi
Kinki (41 York)
MHK Sushi (all locations)
Suisha Gardens (208 Slater)
Takara ( 366 Dalhousie)
Sushi 88 (690 B Somerset)
Wasabi (41 Clarence)
Fuji Sushi (163B Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Genji (175 Lisgar)
Other

Best take-out
Greek on Wheels (all locations)
Temptation Tea Shop (324 Bank)
The Red Apron (All locations)
Indian Express Food & Sweets (1104 Somerset W )
Sushi Go + Tea Express (48 Byward Market Square)
Thyme and Again (1255 Wellington)
Other

Best Thai
Hot Peppers (495 Somerset W)
Nokham Thai (747 Richmond)
Bangkok Thai Garden (370 Dalhousie)
Royal Thai (272 Dalhousie)
Sacred Garden Vegetarian Thai (1300 Bank)
Sweet Basil (1585 Bank)
Coriander Thai (282 Kent)
Som Tum Thai ( 260 Napean)
Anna Thai (91 Holland)
Khao Thai (103 Murray)
Siam Kitchen (1050 Bank)
Soupçon (759 Riverside Drive Wakefield)
Siam Bistro (1268 Wellington)
Chez Le Thaï (31 Laval, Gatineau)
Green Papaya (both locations)
Other

Best vegetarian
Green Door (198 Main)
Café Soup'Herbe (168 Old Chelsea Rd., Chelsea)
Perfection, Satisfaction, Promise (167 Laurier E)
The Peace Garden Café (47 Clarence)
Sacred Garden (1300 Bank)
So Good (717 Somerset W)
The Pantry Vegetarian Tea Room (690 Lyon)
Café Gaïa (both locations)
Fleur de Sel (59 Laval, Gatineau)
Govinda's (121 Somerset)
The Table (1230 Wellington)
Other

Best Vietnamese/pho
New Mee Fung (350 Booth)
Springroll House Café (1093 Wellington)
Golden Turtle (343 Booth)
Cam Kong (726 Somerset)
Pho Bo Ga (all locations)
Vietnam Noodle House (706 Somerset)
New Pho Bo Ga La (763 Somerset W)
Café Indochine (105B Clarence)
Sweet Art (309 Dalhousie)
Pho Mi Bo Ga (2430 Bank)
Other

Best wings
The Clock Tower Brew Pub (575 Bank)
Local Heroes (all locations)
Honest Lawyer (141 George)
Minglewoods (101 York)
Wild Wings (1263 Donald)
Highlander Pub (115 Rideau)
Lonestar Texas Grill (780 Baseline)
St. Louis Bar & Grill (399 Elgin)
The Cock 'n' Bull Pub & Eatery (3791 Richmond)
Carleton Tavern (223 Armstrong)
Quinn's Ale House (1070 Bank)
Other

Best watering hole
Aloha Room (323 Bank)
The Manx (370 Elgin)
The Royal Oak (all locations)
Dominion Tavern (33 York)
Avante Garde (155 Besserer)
The Elmdale Tavern
Other

2. ARTS & CULTURE

Best alternative to a multiplex movie theatre
ByTowne Cinema
Divergence Movie Night (Club SAW)
Rainbow Theatre
Canadian Film Institute
Cinema Politica (Ottawa U)
Centretown Movies (summer only)
Ottawa Film Society (Rideau)
IFCO's Reel Thursdays (Mercury Lounge)
Other

Best art gallery (besides the National Gallery of Canada!)
SAW Gallery (2 Daly)
Artguise
Ottawa Art Gallery (2 Daly)
Cube Gallery (7 Hamilton)
Dale Smith Gallery (137 Beechwood)
La Petite Mort (306 Cumberland)
CUAG (Carleton University)
Axenéo7 (80 Hanson, Gatineau)
Daïmõn (78 Hanson, Gatineau)
Other

Best dance performance in 2008
Akram Khan Company & The National Ballet of China: Bahok (NAC)
Jan Fabre/ Troubleyn: Angel of Death (NAC)
Marie Chouinard Company: Orphee et Eurydice - Canada Dance Festival '08
Louise Levavalier: Lone Epic - Canada Dance Festival '08
Dance Lab: The House
Hit The Deck
Other

Best festival of 2008
Bluesfest
Ladyfest Ottawa
International Jazz Festival
CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival
Westfest
Chamber Music Festival
I (Heart) Music Mini-Festival
Ottawa International Animation Festival
Pride 2008
Reggae Fest
Ottawa Fringe Festival
Winterlude
Ottawa International Writers Festival (both editions)
Festival X Photography Festival
Hip-Hop 360
Other

Best film by a local filmmaker in 2008
(Some films came out in Ottawa in '07, but screened around the world in '08 )
Lee Demarbre: The Dead Sleep Easy
Will Inrig: The Depose of Bolskivoi Hovannes
Brookstreet Pictures: Jack Brooks Monster Slayer
Vampiro: Angel, Devil, Hero by Lee Demarbre
Other

Best film festival of 2008
Ottawa International Animation Festival
Saturday Night Sinema
Painted Lips and Lolly Licks: The Sexy Film Festival
Festival Du Film de l'Outaouais
One World Film Festival
European Union Film Festival
Latin American Film Festival
IFCO Shorts (Summer)
IFCO Winter Gala
International Silent Film Festival
Other

Best folk/country album/EP of 2008
Marie-Josee Houle: Monsters
Lynne Hanson: Eleven Months
Kyrie Kristmanson: Pagan Love
Adam Puddington
Gianna Lauren
The Sadies
Kathleen Edwards: Asking for flowers
JW Jones: Blueslisted
The Habit: The Sacred And Profane
Kate Maki "On High"
Other

Best live music show of 2008
K-OS @ Winterlude
Wolf Parade @ Capital Music Hall
Broken Social Scene @ Folk Festival
Sarah Harmer @ Folk Festival
Buck 65 @ Bronson Centre
The Wailers @ Bluesfest
Metric @ Bluesfest
Black Crowes @ Bluesfest
HiLo Trons @ The Black Sheep
Snoop Dog @ Bluesfest
Mark Berube @ Mercury Lounge
Foo Fighters
Primus
Feist @ Bluesfest
Hoedown In O-Town
GAGA Weekend
Jay Reatard
Monotonix
King Khan and the Shrines
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble vs Soul Jazz
The RZA
Jamie Lidell
Bad Religion
Apocalyptica @ Capital Music Hall
Land Of Talk @ West Fest
Young Galaxy @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
Other

Best lounge
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward)
Aloha Room (323 Bank)
Avant-Garde Bar (135 Besserer)
Helsinki (15 George)
The Collection/Bar 56 (56 Byward Market Square)
Foundation (18B York)
Le Petit Chicago (50 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau)
Trio Lounge (307 Richmond)
Other

Best museum
National Gallery of Canada
Museum of Civilization
War Museum
Nature Museum
Science and Technology Museum
Other

Best new musical artist/group
Politique
J'envoie
Lindsay Ferguson
Sadie Hell
Giant Hand
The Balconies
Tall Ships
The Irons
People Project
Brights
Sedatives
The Ship Shapes
The Felines
Other

Best night out
Rock N Roll Pizza Party (Bytown Tavern)
Techcetera @ The Freehouse (Elgin)
One Night Stands @ La Petite Mort
Guerrilla Gay Bar/ Faire (all locations)
iPod Battles @ Barrymore's
Metal Night @ The Royal Oak
Muyafrofunke @ Mercury Lounge
Spins and Needles (different locations)
Cinema Politica @ University of Ottawa
Disorganised @ Babylon
Retro '80s Night @ Barrymore's
Sunday's Mod Club @ Babylon
Hump Wednesdays @ Helsinki
Industrial Strength @ Zaphod's
Heaven Saturdays @ Heaven Nightclub
Timekode @ Eri Café
Other

Best place to hear live music
Barrymore's (323 Bank)
Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield)
Zaphod's (27 York)
Babylon (317 Bank)
Capital Music Hall (128 York)
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square)
The Rainbow (76 Murray)
Mavericks (221 Rideau)
Avant-Garde Bar (135-1/2 Besserer)
First Baptist Church (140 Laurier)
Irene's (885 Bank)
The Bronson Centre (211 Bronson)
Heaven Nightclub (400 Dalhousie)
Le Petit Chicago (50 Portage, Gatineau)
Café Dekcuf (221 Rideau)
The Elmdale Tavern
Other

Best punk/metal/hard rock band of 2008
The Creeps
Mother's Children
The Suicide Pilots
Sedatives
Brights
Buried Inside
Muffler Crunch
Bastardator
Holy Cobras
Fuck The Facts
Savage Crimes
Evil Farm Children
Other

Best punk/metal/hard rock album/EP of 2008
Brights "Heartbreakers"
Fuck The Facts "Disgorge Mexico"
Suicide Pilots "The War on Satire"
The Creeps "Lakeside Cabin"
Clock Strikes Music: Heavy, heavy roots
Sedatives "s/t"
Holy Cobras "Keep your hands off my stuff"
Other

Best rock/pop/dance/other band of 2008
Love Machine
Trevor Walker
The White Wires
HiLo Trons
DJ Illo
Ukrainia!
Male Nurse
DJ Zattar
Tokyo Sex Whale
Holy Cobras
Other

Best rock/pop/dance/other album/EP of 2008
HiLo Trons "Happymatic"
The Soft Disaster: "Outposts"
The Soiree: "Minor Details"
Videotape: "My favourite thing"
Other

Best theatrical performance in 2008
Macbeth @ NAC
Die Roten Punkt @ Ottawa Fringe Festival
Way Of The World @ NAC
Playing Bare @ Evolution Theatre
Iron @ Arts Court
Plan B @ GCTC
Cirque Du Soleil's Corteo
Other

Best visual arts exhibit of 2008
Hayden Menzies @ Art Guise
Moncton Rock @ SAW
The 1930's: Making of the New Man @ NAG
World Press Photo '08 @ The War Museum
Peter Schmelzer @ La Petite Mort
The Encampment by Thomas Sokoloski
Dave Cooper @ La Petite Mort
Verticality by Enriched Bread Artists (Gallery 101)
Indie 613
Hollywood In Cambodia @ La Petite Mort
Other

Best work of fiction/non-fiction/poetry by local writer
Rob Winger's "Muybridge's Horse" (poetry)
Ballad of a thin man: In search of Ryan Larkin by Chris Robinson (non-fiction)
Canadian Animation: Looking for a place to happen by Chris Robinson (non-fiction)
Remembering the bones by Frances Itani (non-fiction)
Stolen Angels by Kathy Cook (non-fiction)
Out of Orbit by Chris Jones (non-fiction)
Chase And Haven by Mike Blouin
Eva's Threepenny Theatre by Andrew Steinmetz (fiction/ memoir)
Some days I think I know things: The Cassandra Poems by Rhonda Douglas (poetry)
A Week Of This by Nathan Whitlock
The Crimson Woman by Patricia McCarthy
Other

3. AROUND TOWN

Best art supplies
Wallack's (all locations)
The Sassy Bead Company (all locations)
Artguise (590 Bank)
Omer DeSerres (499 Bank)
Other

Best bar staff
Manx (370 Elgin)
Babylon (317 Bank)
Lieutenant's Pump (Elgin)
Lago (Dow's Lake)
The Lookout (York St.)
Zaphod's (27 York)
Barrymore's (323 Bank)
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Square)
Aloha Room (323 Bank)
Dominion Tavern (33 York)
Helsinki (15 George)
Avant-Garde (135 Besserer)
Heaven (400 Dalhousie)
Chez Lucien (Murray)
The Elmdale Tavern
Other

Best beauty salon/spa
Le Nordik Scandinavian Spa (16 Nordik, Chelsea)
York Street Spa (11 York)
Westboro Spa and Hair Studio (455 Churchill)
Saab (376 Bank)
Amalfi (Rideau Centre)
Salon Salwa (70 George)
Shear and Spa Studio (1266 Wellington)
Le Spa (429 MacLaren)
Other

Best bike shop
Pecco's (both locations)
Bushtukta (Richmond)
Full Cycle (427 St. Laurent)
Fresh Air Experience (Wellington St)
Joe Momma's (216 Pretoria)
The Bike Dump (407 Catherine)
McCrank's Cycle (889 Bank)
Cycle Logik (358 Richmond)
Cyco's (5 Hawthorne)
Phat Moose (98 Hawthorne)
Other

Best bookstore
Octopus Books (116 Third)
After Stonewall (Bank St.)
Perfect Books (258 Elgin)
Singing Pebble (Main St.)
Collected Works (1242 Wellington)
The Book Bazaar (417 Bank)
Mother Tongue (1067 Bank)
All Books (327 Rideau)
Nicholas Hoare Bookstore (419 Sussex)
Other

Best comic/gaming store
The Comic Book Shoppe (both locations)
Silver Snail Comics (391 Bank)
Game Power (835 Bank)
Wizard's Tower (all locations)
Fandom II (162 Laurier)
Myths, Legends and Heroes (240 Montreal)
Other

Best flowers
Tivoli Florist (both locations)
Mood Moss (186 Beechwood)
Scrims (262 Elgin)
Bel Fiore (276 Elgin)
Phulero Dola the Swing of Flowers (111 Albert)
Other

Best fun outdoors
A hike/bike in Gatineau Park
Ziplining at Laflèche
Spelunking in Laflèche Caverns
Sunbathing at Mooney's Bay
Nailing a birdie at Jacques-Cartier Park's disc golf course
Splooshing down a waterslide at Mont Cascades Waterpark (Cantley)
Rearranging your spinal column at Great Canadian Bungee (Morrison's Quarry, Wakefield)
Skateboarding at Legacy
Whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River
Skiing at one of Ottawa's medium-sized ski hills
Walking around the ByWard Market
Cross-country skiing/snowshoe hiking. in the snow somewhere
Skating on the Rideau Canal
Hot air balloon ride
Other

Best furniture store
Ikea (2685 Iris)
Envy Home (333 Dalhousie)
EQ3 (60 Byward Market Square)
Phillip Van Leeuwen (10 Byward Market Square)
Found Design (1090 Bank)
Structube (111 Murray)
Other

Best independent record/CD store
End Hits (407 Dalhousie)
Vertigo (193 Rideau)
Black Tomato (11 George )
Birdman Sound (593-B Bank)
Sounds Unlikely (5 Arlington)
Legend Records (1315 Wellington)
Compact Music (all locations)
Other

Best jewellery store
Magpie (all locations)
Sassy Bead (all locations)
Milk (234 Dalhousie)
Workshop Boutique (242 Dalhousie)
Bija Bijoux (1307 Wellington)
Other

Best men's clothing store (not a chain)
Top of the World (158 Rideau)
Norml Clothing (184 Rideau)
Slaysh (775 Bank )
Milk(234 Dalhousie)
Babyface (153 Bank)
Shoreline Surf Shop (325 Richmond)
Trustfund (493 Sussex)
Ruby X (243 Bank)
Other

Best women's clothing store (not a chain)
Milk (234 Dalhousie)
Slaysh (775 Bank)
Allegro (55 William)
Attic (203 Dalhousie)
Trustfund (493 Sussex)
Workshop Boutique (242 Dalhousie)
Victoire (238 Dalhousie)
Red Velvet (253 Elgin)
Other

Best musical instrument store
St. John's Music (1541 Merivale)
Retrotown Music (422 Richmond Road)
Steve's Music Store (308 Rideau)
Spaceman Music (388 Gladstone)
Ottawa Folklore Centre (1111 Bank)
Long & McQuade (2631 Alta Vista)
Lauzon Music Centre (1345 Wellington)
Other

Best outdoor store
Mountain Equipment Co-Op (366 Richmond)
Bushtukah Great Outdoor Gear (203 Richmond)
The Expedition Shoppe (43 York)
Trailhead (1960 Scott)
The North Face (342 Richmond)
Other

Best pool hall
MacLaren's On Elgin (301 Elgin)
Dooly's (2277 Gladwin)
Orange Monkey (250 City Centre)
Honest Lawyer (141 George)
Le Skratch (1642 Merivale)
Cue'N Cushion (319 Bank)
The Broken Cue (442 Hazeldean)
Other

Best sex/erotica shop
Venus Envy (320 Lisgar)
Aren't We Naughty? (1531 Merivale)
Adult Fun Superstore (1565 St. Laurent)
Classixxx Adult Store (all locations)
Boutique Erotica Plus (22 Eddy, Hull)
Couples Love & Romance (both locations)
Wilde's (367 Bank)
Wicked Wanda's Adult Emporium (1473 Richmond)
Other

Best skate shop
Top of the World (158 Rideau)
West 49 (both locations)
Slaysh (775 Bank)
On Deck (141 Bentley)
En Equilibre (140 Gréber, Gatineau)
Riders Village (650 Kanata, Kanata)
Other

Best tattoos/piercing
Planet Ink (306 Rideau)
Living Colour (412 Dalhousie)
New Moon Tattoo (all locations)
Five Cents Tattoo (201 Dalhousie)
Universal Tattoo (156 Rideau)
Other

Best video rentals store
Invisible Cinema (319 Lisgar)
Elgin Video (258 Elgin)
Blockbuster (all locations)
Other

Best vintage clothing
Ragtime (43 Flora)
Attic (203 Dalhousie)
Hush ReSale Clothing (1440 Wellington)
Value Village (all locations)
Heaven to Betsy (1243 Wellington)
Orange (145 York)
Aunt Olive's (209 Gilmour)
June's (1094 Wellington)
The Clothes Secret (1136 Bank)
Other

4. LOCAL LORE

Best architectural addition to the city
Best architectural addition to the city
The Gladstone Theatre (910 Gladstone)
New Desmarais Building (University of Ottawa campus)
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (1233 Wellington)
Somerset footbridge
Swap Box Project
War Museum (1 Vimy Place)
All them new freakin' condos!
Orléans's new art building: Shenkman Arts Centre
Other

Best architectural eyesore
The Duke Of Somerset
Bank St.
Preston St.
American Embassy
Nepean City Centre
Barrymore's (exterior only)
Lansdowne Park
Rideau Centre
So-called "improvements" to the exterior of the Nature Museum
Other

Best Ottawa neighbourhood to live in
Centretown
The Glebe
Westboro
Sandy Hill
The Market
Old Ottawa South
New Edinburg
Hintonburg
Chinatown
Other

Best new idea for the city
Cross walks that give ten second count down for hard of hearing
Other

Best radio station
CBC 91.5
CKCU 93.1
The Bear 106.9
Chez 106.1
Live 88.5
Hot 89.9
CHUO 89.1
Oldies 1310
Other

Best reason to cheer the city
Larry O'Brien
Finally upgrading the 100+year old sewage system
Lots of shiny new buses
2007 snowfall
Transit Plan approved
2008/ 2009 Ottawa Senators
Daniel Alfredsson
Other

Best reason to jeer the city
Larry O'Brien
How long it is taking to replace a 100 + year old sewage system
2007/ 2008 Ottawa Senators
2007 snowfall
Other

Best scandal
When Larry O'Brien's assistant disguised his voice to call into CFRA and support his boss
Jack Layton refusing to take part in official debates if Elizabeth May and Green Party included
Harper's Defence guy with the biker chick
OC Transpo driver motoring off with toddler
The Ray Emery saga
The Cadman affair
Poop overflow in the river
Other