The List

Here’s the list of all the places to hit this year.  I’ve crossed off places we’ve been before or places we’ve hit this year (if this year, the date is next to the crossout).

2009 Individual Awards

Best American–Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Best American Breakfast–Kerbey Lane Cafe

Best Appetizer–FINO

Best Bagels–Einstein Bros. Bagels

Best Bakery–Upper Crust Bakery

Best Barbecue–The Salt Lick

Best Bargain Dish–Juan in a Million

Best Beer Selection–The Ginger Man

Best Bowl of Pho–Kim Phung Chinese & Vietnamese Restaurant

Best Bread–TIE: Texas French Bread, Whole Foods Market

Best Buffet–TIE: Buffet Palace, Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Best Cajun/Creole–Gumbo’s Louisiana Style Cafe

Best Chef–Uchi

Best Chicken Dish–Pluckers Wing Bar

Best Chicken-Fried Steak–Threadgill’s Old No. 1, Hoover’s Cooking

Best Chile-Pepper Dish–Chuy’s

Best Chinese–Chinatown

Best Chips & Hot Sauce–Chuy’s

Best Coffee–Starbucks Coffee (I know, sad, isn’t it?)

Best Comfort Food–Hoover’s Cooking

Best Decor–Uchi

Best Delivery–Austin Pizza

Best Desserts–Chez Zee

Best Dim Sum–Chinatown

Best Enchiladas–Chuy’s

Best Fast Food–P. Terry’s Burger Stand May 17, 2009

Best French–Chez Nous

Best French Fries–Hyde Park Bar & Grill

Best Full-Service Bakery–Upper Crust Bakery

Best Gelato–TEO Espresso, Gelato & Bella Vita

Best Hamburger–TIE: P. Terry’s Burger Stand May 17, 2009, Hut’s Hamburgers

Best Happy Hour/Free or Cheap Deal–Z’Tejas

Best Hot Dog–TIE: Dog Almight, Mighty Fine

Best Ice Cream–Amy’s Ice Creams

Best Indian–The Clay Pit

Best Italian–Vespaio Ristorante

Best Japanese–Uchi

Best Korean–Korea House

Best Late Night/All Night–Magnolia Cafe

Best Local Chocolate–Miles of Chocolate

Best Mexican (Not Tex-Mex)–Fonda San Miguel

Best Mexican Breakfast–Juan in a Million  (Tamale House No. 3 has been added for Best Breakfast Taco, not a Chronicle award but bestowed by the Great Chef Kate Hayman)

Best Middle Eastern–Alborz Persian Cuisine

Best New Restaurant–La Condessa July 18, 2009

Best Other Ethnic–Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant

Best Other Oriental/Asian–Imperia

Best Other Restaurant Worth Noting–The Steeping Room

Best Patio/Beer Garden–Shady Grove

Best Pizza–Home Slice

Best Place to Take Kids–Phil’s Icehouse May 24, 2009

Best Place to Take Parents–TIE: Manuel’s, The Salt Lick

Best Pub Grub–TIE: The Dog & Duck Pub, Pluckers Wing Bar

Best Restaurant Within 60 Miles–The Salt Lick

Best Romantic–Romeo’s

Best Salad/Dressing–leaf

Best Sandwich–ThunderCloud Subs

Best Seafood Dish–Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

Best Service/Waitstaff–Uchi

Best Soup–The Soup Peddler

Best Steak–Austin Land & Cattle Co.

Best Street Food–hey cupcake!

Best Sunday Brunch–Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Best Sushi–Uchi

Best Taco–Torchy’s Tacos May 30, 2009

Best Takeout–Pei Wei Asian Diner

Best Taqueria–Torchy’s Tacos May 30, 2009

Best Tex-Mex–Chuy’s

Best Thai–TIE (no pun intended): Thai Passion, Thai Kitchen

Best Tofu Dish–Veggie Heaven June 21, 2009

Best Upscale–Jeffrey’s Restaurant and Bar

Best Vegetables–Threadgill’s Old No. 1

Best Vegetarian–Mother’s Cafe & Garden

Best Vegetarian Dish–Mother’s Cafe & Garden

Best Vegetarian Natural–Mother’s Cafe & Garden

Best Veggie Burger–P. Terry’s Burger Stand May 17, 2009

Best Vietnamese–Sunflower Restaurant

Best Wild-Game Dish–Hudson’s on the Bend

Best Wine List–vino vino

2009 Critics Picks

Best New Cocktails — La Condesa July 18, 2009

Best Brunch on Congress–The Woodland

Best Brunch on the Lake–Cafe Blue

Best Wine Dinners–TIE: TRIO, Mirabelle

Best Frito Pie–Spec’s on Hwy 71

Best Nonsecret Use of Jalapeños–T&S Seafood’s Salt & Pepper Seafood Platter

Best Secret Use of Jalapeño Peppers–R.O.’s Outpost’s Jalapeno Apple Crisp Pie

Best Cheap Eats for Two: Continental Class–Aquarelle’s Bar Dinner

Dim Sum for the True Aficionados–TIE: Shanghai Restaurant, Chinatown

Best New York Neighborhood Pizzeria–Niki’s Pizza North (because Niki is there)

Best South Indian Street Food Eaten at a Table in North Austin–Bombay Express

Best Throwback (Way Back) Southern Blueplate Diner–Arkie’s Grill

Best Exclusive Foodie Splurge–TIE: Uchi, Aquarelle

Best Lebanese Street Food–Byblos Falafel & Deli

Best Bowl of Soft Polenta–ASTI

Best Hybrid Sandwich–Whip In’s Panaani Sandwiches

Best Pork Product–Smoked Hungarian Pork Loin at Phoenicia Bakery

Totally Texas Thai–Thai Fresh

Best and First Restaurant Garden–Eastside Cafe

Best Charcuterie–Enoteca Vespaio

Best Ever-Changing Wine List and Menu–Taste Select Wines

Best Caesar Cocktail–Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar

Best Tex-Indianized Chili–Whip In

Best Octopus Dish–Tostadas de Pulpo at La Condesa July 18, 2009 (but not this dish)

Best Cookie Fix–Cookie Lounge May 25, 2009

Best Night Club with Brazilian Food–Rio’s at Vintage Lounge

Best Spicy Sushi–Sushi bomb at Tomodachi

Best Retail-Restaurant Combination–TIE: Quality Seafood, Asia Market

Reader Favorites

1. Uchi
2. FINO
3. Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
4. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
5. parkside
6. ASTI June 6, 2009
7. Manuel’s
8. Imperia
9. The Clay Pit
10. Trudy’s
11. Vespaio Ristorante
12. Chon Som
13. wink restaurant
14. Chuy’s
15. The Salt Lick
16. Fonda San Miguel
17. Home Slice Pizza
18. La Condesa July 18, 2009
19. Torchy’s Tacos May 30, 2009
20. Changos Taqueria
21. Z’Tejas
22. Matt’s Famous El Rancho
23. Eastside Cafe
24. Sazón
25. Maudie’s
26. The Steeping Room
27. Mighty Fine
28. Cypress Grill
29. Mama Fu’s Asian House
30. Shady Grove
31. Galaxy Cafe
32. Lamberts
33. Paggi House
34. Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q
35. Hula Hut