2014 Best of Whitefish results
Results from the 2014 Best of Whitefish reader poll:
Best Whitefish Restaurant
Buffalo Cafe
514 3rd St. East, 862-2833
Runner Up: Whitefish Lake Restaurant
Honorable Mention: Tupelo Grille, Wasabi
Best Restaurant for a First Date
Tupelo Grille
15 Central Ave., 862-6136
Runner Up: Wasabi
Honorable Mention: Whitefish Lake Restaurant, Latitude 48 Bistro
Best New Restaurant
Stillwater Fish House
2635 U.S. 93, 730-1230.
Runner Up: Bonsai Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention: Tupelo Lounge
Best Family Restaurant
Buffalo Cafe
514 3rd St. East, 862-2833
Runner Up: McKenzie River Pizza
Honorable Mention: Haskill Station, Loula’s
Best Fine Dining
Whitefish Lake Restaurant
1200 U.S. 93 N., 862-5285
Runner Up: Tupelo Grille
Honorable Mention: Cafe Kandahar, Latitude 48
Best Burger
Bulldog Saloon
44 Central Ave., 862-5636
Runner Up: Buffalo Cafe
Honorable Mention: Craggy Range
Best Burrito
Wrap N’ Roll
224 Spokane Ave., 862-7447
Runner Up: Taco Del Sol
Honorable Mention: Pescado Blanco
Best Breakfast
Buffalo Cafe
514 3rd St. East, 862-2833
Runner Up: Loula’s
Honorable Mention: Swift Creek Cafe
Best Pizza
Jersey Boys
550 1st St., 862-2212
Runner Up: Second Street Pizza
Honorable Mention: McKenzie River Pizza
Best Bakery
Loula’s
300 2nd St E., 862-5614
Runner Up: Central Ave. Bakery
Honorable Mention: Montana Coffee Traders
Best Sandwich
Quickee Sandwich Shop
250 2nd St E., 862-9866
Runner Up: Buffalo Cafe
Honorable Mention: Piggyback BBQ
Best Dessert
Sweet Peaks
419 E 3rd St., 862-4668
Runner Up: Tupelo Grille
Honorable Mention: Loula’s
Best Coffee
Montana Coffee Traders
110 Central Ave., 862-7667.
Runner Up: Cowgirl Coffee
Honorable Mention: Montana Expresso
Best Barista
Cowgirl Coffee girls
902 Wisconsin Ave., 862-6911
Runner Up: Matthew Brussard at Montana Coffee Traders
Honorable Mention: Montana Expresso girls
Best Waitress / Waiter
Ryan Brown at Tupelo
Runner Up: Kate Siddall at Craggy Range
Honorable Mention: Jade Seefeldt at Buffalo Cafe
Best Customer Service
Nelson’s Ace Hardware
224 Central Ave., 862-3573
Runner Up: Bonsai Brewing Project
Honorable Mention: Victorian Casino
Best Salon
Reecia’s Salon and Spa
110 Lupfer Ave., 863-9900
Runner Up: Red Union
Honorable Mention: 33 Baker
Best Veterinarian
Whitefish Animal Hospital
245 West 2nd St., 862-3178
Runner Up: Alpine Animal Hospital
Best Real Estate Agent
Mike Anderson
National Parks Realty
205 Spokane Ave. 862-8458
Runner Up: Stephanie Sunshine
Honorable Mention: Kelly Laabs
Best Insurance Agent
Tim Murphy
State Farm Insurance
346 Central Ave., 862-7747
Runner Up: Joe Akey
Honorable Mention: Tony Veseth
Best Financial Institution
First Interstate Bank
306 Spokane Ave., 863-8888
Runner Up: Glacier Bank
Honorable Mention: Whitefish Credit Union
Best Place to Work Out
The Wave
250 Baker Ave., 862-2444
Runner Up: Exhale Pilates Studio
Honorable Mention: Studio 48
Best Doctor
Dr. John Kalbfleisch
1111 Baker Ave., 862-2515
Runner Up: Dr. Randy Beach
Honorable Mention: Dr. Jay Erickson
Best Dentist
Dr. Mark Colonna
6516 Highway 93 South, 862-1010.
Runner Up: Dr. Dale Bax at Alpenglow Dental
Honorable Mention
Best Chiropractor
Ryan Wigness
Whitefish Chiropractic 938 Hwy 93 S., 862-2121
Runner Up: Garth Chiropractic
Honorable Mention: Chris Wambeke
Best Physical Therapist
Don Bestwick at Northern Physical Therapy and Amity Sparks at Whitefish Therapy and Sport Center tied for first place.
Honorable Mention: Beth Sobba
Best Fitness Instructor
Delia Buckmaster at Exhale Pilates Studio
126 Central Ave., 862-6488.
Runner Up: The Wave team
Honorable Mention: Erin Sabin
Best Massage Therapist
Jennie Payne
Runner Up: Olivia Stark
Honorable Mention: Rayme Canton
Best Art Gallery
Going to the Sun
137 Central Ave., 862-2751
Runner Up: Whitefish Pottery
Honorable Mention: Local Color Studio
Best Local Artist
Rob Akey
www.robakey.com
Runner Up: Danielle Taylor
Honorable Mention: Lorinda Smith
Best Local Photographer
Lindsey Jane Photography
525 Railway St., 253-3145
Runner Up: Chuck Haney
Honorable Mention: Scott Wilson
Best Theater Group
Alpine Theatre Project
www.atpwhitefish.org
Runner Up: Whitefish Theatre Co.
Honorable Mention: Stumptown Players
Best Local Musician
John Dunnigan
Runner Up: 1985 New Wave Time Trippers
Honorable Mention: Sordid Seeds
Best Local Author
Laura Munson
www.lauramunson.com
Runner Up: Doug Chadwick
Honorable Mention: Matt Halloway
Best Bicycle Shop
Glacier Cyclery
326 East 2nd St., 862-6446
Runner Up: Sportsman Ski Haus
Honorable Mention: Great Northern Cycles
Best Ski/Snowboard Shop
Sportsman Ski Haus
Mountain Mall, 862-3111
Runner Up: Stumptown Snowboards
Honorable Mention: The White Room
Best Place for Outdoor Gear
Sportsman Ski Haus
Mountain Mall, 862-3111
Runner Up: Army Navy
Honorable Mention: The White Room
Best Park
WAG Dog Park
Runner Up: Les Mason State Park
Honorable Mention: City Beach
Best Place to Walk Dogs
WAG Dog Park
Runner Up: Whitefish Trail
Honorable Mention: The forest
Best Hiking Trail
Whitefish Trail
Runner Up: Danny On
Best Mountain Bike Area
Whitefish Mountain Resort
www.skiwhitefish.com
Runner Up: Whitefish Trail
Honorable Mention: Spencer Mountain
Best Nordic Ski Area
Whitefish Lake Golf Course
Runner Up: Stillwater Nordic Center
Honorable Big Mountain
Best Fishing Spot
That’s a secret!
Runner Up: Whitefish River
Honorable Mention: Blanchard Lake
Best Hole at Whitefish Lake Golf Course
No. 6 North
Runner Up: No. 7 South
Honorable Mention: No. 17 South
Best Sports Bar
Bulldog Saloon
144 Central Ave., 862-5636
Runner Up: Great Northern Bar
Honorable Mention: Craggy Range
Best Casino
Victorian Casino
6550 Highway 93, 862-6692
Runner Up: Remington
Honorable Mention: Emerald City Casino
Best Selection of Beers on Tap
Bonsai Brewing Project
Mountain Mall, 730-1717
Runner Up: Great Norther Bar
Honorable Mention: Great Northern Brewing Co.
Best Cocktails
Latitude 48/Red Room
147 Central Ave., 863-2323
Runner Up: Crush Lounge
Honorable Mention: Tupelo
Best Happy Hour
Great Northern Bar
27 Central Ave., 862-2816
Runner Up: Bonsai Brewing Project
Honorable Mention: Casey’s Bar
Best Place for Live Music
Great Northern Bar
27 Central Ave., 862-2816
Runner Up: Craggy Range
Honorable Mention: Crush Lounge
Best Bartender
Bonsai Brewing crew
Mountain Mall, 730-1717
Runner Up: Aaron Goodman at Great Northern Bar
Honorable Mention: Donna Simpson at Victorian Casino
Best Poker Table
Bulldog Saloon
144 Central Ave., 862-5636
Runner Up: Remington
Honorable Mention: Casey’s Bar
Best Place for Home Improvement
Nelson’s Ace Hardware
224 Central Ave., 862-3573
Runner Up: Western Building Center
Best Place for Home Decor
Piney Creek Interiors
100 Central Ave., 862-7463
Runner Up: Bear Mountain Mercantile
Honorable Mention: Whitefish Pottery
Best Place for Auto Repair
Howie’s Tire and Alignment
6470 Highway 93, 862-6666
Runner Up: Don K
Honorable Mention: Mike’s Auto Repair
Best Flower Shop
Mum’s Flowers
520 East 2nd St., 862-2757
Runner Up: Beargrass Gardens
Honorable Mention: Bungalow
Best Antique Shop
Big Sky Antiques
209 Central Ave., 862-7536
Runner Up: Shops Under One Roof
Honorable Mention: Stageline Antiques
Best Place for Romantic Gifts
Sage and Cedar
214 Central Ave., 862-9411
Runner Up: McGough and Co.
Honorable Mention: Mum’s Flowers
Best Place for Unique Gifts
Crystal Winters
232 Central Ave., 862-6104
Runner Up: Sappari
Honorable Mention: Meriwether
Best Place for Women to Shop
The Toggery
122 Central Ave., 862-2271
Runner Up: The Village Shop
Honorable Mention: Sappari
Best Place for Men to Shop
The Toggery
122 Central Ave., 862-2271
Runner Up: Sportsman Ski Haus
Honorable Mention: Army Navy
Best Place for Kids to Shop
Imagination Station
221 Central Ave., 862-5668
Runner Up: Crystal Winters
Honorable Mention: Sprouts / Nature Baby Outfitter
Best Grocery Store
Super 1 Foods
6475 Highway 93, 862-2222
Runner Up: Safeway
Honorable Mention: Third Street Market
Best Beer Selection
Markus Foods
9 Baker Ave., 862-7258
Runner Up: Super One Foods
Honorable Mention: Alpine Village Market
Best Wine Selection
Markus Foods
9 Baker Ave., 862-7258
Runner Up: Alpine Village Market
Honorable Mention: Super One Foods
Best Convenience Store
Markus Foods
9 Baker Ave., 862-7258
Runner Up: Alpine Village Market
Honorable Mention: Frank’s West Side
Best Teacher
Colleen Sullivan
Runner Up: Lonnie Collinsworth
Honorable Mention: Lynda Morrison
Best Coach
Derek Schulz
Runner Up: O’Brien Byrd
Honorable Mention: Julio Delgado
Best Volunteer
Carol Atkinson
Runner Up: Ride Guy team
Honorable Mention: Kent Morrison
Best Whitefish Athlete
Maggie Voisin
Runner Up: Whitefish Thunder Special Olympics team
Honorable Mention: Marlow Schulz
Most Interesting Public Official
Mayor John Muhlfeld
Runner Up: Velvet Sullivan
Honorable Mention: Ryan Zinke
Most Famous Whitefish Native
Cowboy Gerald
Runner Up: Maggie Voisin
Honorable Mention: John Dunnigan
Best Place to People Watch
City Beach
Runner Up: Central Avenue
Honorable Mention: Farmers Market
Best Whitefish Event
Winter Carnival
Runner Up: Fourth of July
Honorable Mention: Farmers Market
Best Local Attraction
Whitefish Lake
Runner Up: Big Mountain
Honorable Mention: Farmers Market
Why I love Whitefish
Small town charm
Runner Up: It’s home
Honorable Mention: The beauty