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The Answer Book 2005

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The best of 'the best of'

BY The News-Gazette
© 2009 THE NEWS-GAZETTE
    News-Gazette readers are good at going out - a total of 292 restaurants and drinking establishments received votes in the recent 2004 Best of East Central Illinois balloting.
   Then again, people are good at staying home, with "home" winning the most votes for where to spend a Saturday evening, watch an Illini game or hang out with friends.
   Without further ado, here are the results of last fall's totally unscientific, just-for-fun "survey" of the best places, things and people in East Central Illinois. Ballots were published in E3, which appears in Thursday editions of The News-Gazette.
   Dining
   Mexican food: Dos Reales.
   Italian food: Biaggi's.
   Chinese/Asian food: Hot Wok. Votes were all over the place with so many Chinese restaurants in the area.
   Pizza: Papa Del's. Monical's gave them a run for their money, though.
   Steak: The Ribeye.
   Seafood: Red Lobster. Kennedy's was second.
   Buffalo wings: Hooters, with Buffalo Wild Wings virtually tying.
   Sandwiches: Jimmy Johns. Panera, Subway and Courier Cafe followed.
   Burgers: Courier Cafe.
   Barbecue: Hickory River Smokehouse (formerly Longhorn Smokehouse). Famous Dave's and Li'l Porgy's tied for second.
   Fish sandwiches: Legends, which inherited the legacy of the old Deluxe Pool Hall at the same site. Sappy's was second, Seaboat third.
   French fries: McDonald's.
   Salad bar: Courier Cafe. The Ribeye was second.
   Appetizers: TGI Friday's. More than 40 establishments received votes.
   Buffet: Hometown Buffet.
   Brunch: Silvercreek was the runaway winner.
   Ice cream: Jarling's Custard Cup, another runaway winner.
   Popcorn: Savoy 16.
   Margaritas: Chevy's. Margaritas was second.
   Wine selection: Friar Tuck, followed by Silvercreek, Bacaro and Sun Singer.
   Lemon shakeups: Champaign County Fair.
   Slushies: Dairy Queen.
   A quiet dinner: Silvercreek, with Kennedy's a close second. Forty restaurants received votes.
   Dinner and a good time: Alexander's, with Silvercreek in a virtual tie. A whopping 57 eateries received votes.
   Large-party dining: Silvercreek.
   A good ol' meal, small-town style: Apple Dumpling, which received more than twice the votes of its closest competitor.
   Best place to:
   Have a picnic: Allerton Park. Lake of the Woods trailed by one vote.
   Hear live music: The Canopy Club.
   Catch a flick: Savoy 16.
   Hang out with friends: Home. But answers were all over the place  "walking country roads," the Jolly Roger, downtown Champaign, Record Service,
   OTB, Espresso Royale, the "Little League field," you name it.
   Get a cup of java: Cafe Kopi.
   Watch an Illini game: Home.
   Make new friends: Church. School was second, work was third. A whole slew of bars, coffee houses, clubs  even a farmers' market  also made the list.
   Eat at 3 a.m.: Merry Ann's Diner. Steak 'n Shake was second.
   Pamper yourself: BJ and Company Grand Spa.
   Buy books: Pages For All Ages.
   Meet for drinks: Esquire, although balloting was widely split. A total of 49 establishments received votes.
   Get a haircut: Kane and Company. Again, everyone has a favorite spot. There were 65 vote-getters in this category.
   Spend a Saturday evening: Home.
   Get a tan: Classic Tan.
   View art: Krannert Art Museum. No contest.
   Take the kids: Curtis Orchard. The Orpheum Children's Science Museum came in second. Fifty-one other places (including "baby sitter") got at least one vote.
   Go without the kids: Krannert Center.
   Relieve stress: Living Yoga Center. Other choices, in no particular order: fishing, the mall, Curves, Timothy John's, Prairie Ensemble, jog, walk, Savoy 16, church and so on.
   Enjoy a sunny afternoon: Allerton Park.
   Go camping: Kickapoo.
   Play a round of golf: Stone Creek. Lake of the Woods was second.
   Go biking: Meadowbrook Park.
   Play a game of pool: Jillian's. Jupiter's came in second.
   Go canoeing: Turkey Run. The Middle Fork was second.
   Play tennis: Hessel Park, followed by the Atkins Tennis Center.
   Go dancing: Regent Ballroom. The Highdive came in second.
   Favorites:
   Radio station: WILL.
   Local radio personality: Mike Haile, WHMS.
   TV station: WCIA.
   Local TV personality: Judy Fraser, WCIA. (She always wins.)
   Gym: Fitness Center.
   Bartender: Paul at the Iron Post. Bartenders are popular people  60 of them received votes.
   Local parade: Fourth of July Freedom Celebration in Champaign-Urbana.
   Florist: Rick Orr Florist.
   Local attraction: Allerton Park. Rockome Gardens was second.High school rivalry: Champaign Central vs. Champaign Centennial.
   Local band: Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets.
   Park: Allerton Park.
   Beer garden: Mike 'n' Molly's. Cowboy Monkey was a close second.
   DJ: Diane Ducey, WHMS.
   Local sports team: Illinois.
   Restaurant: Silvercreek. Many disparate votes in a very broad category.
   Minister: Father George Remm, since retired from St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Urbana.
   Bowling alley: Old Orchard.
   School principal: Rose Costello of Holy Cross School in Champaign.
   Festival/fair: Taste of Champaign-Urbana.
   Local coach: Bruce Weber, coach of the Illinois men's basketball team.
   Thrift store: Goodwill.
   Local athlete: Dee Brown, UI men's basketball player.
   C-U bar: The Esquire, followed by the Iron Post and Cowboy Monkey.
   Fishing hole: Kaufman Lake.
   Local artist: Photographer Larry Kanfer.
   Small-town bar: Philo Tavern.

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