Best of Glenside recap

Once again, we’d like to congratulate the winners of this year’s Best of Glenside. Many of the victories were hard fought, with leaders changing every day in some categories.

Arts & Entertainment

We might need a category for Best Live Venue that’s not the Keswick Theater. Our local gem simply crushed it.

Beauty

For Best Barber, it was a very close shave, but Ralph’s Barbershop won by a hair. Belle Amie also teased out a close win in the Best Salon category.

Events

The Glenside 4th of July Parade & Celebration is Glenside’s Superbowl. How can anyone compete with those Bolivian marchers?

Food & Drink

This was predictably the section with the most votes, and it’s where Darryl’s Pastries frosted their Best Bakery category while Union Jack’s Olde Glory Pub up in North Hills just edged out its first place finish for Best Bar Scene. At the same time, it took Best Beer List by a wide margin, scored well with Best Happy Hour, and soared past its competition for Best Wings.

Giuliano’s Deli walked away with Best Beer-to-Go, affirming the wisdom of catering to the craft beer craze several years ago, but they only won by 14 votes! They also took Best Deli, but by a much wider margin. For Best Breakfast, the Village Diner in Keswick Village scrambled their competition this year while Elcy’s Cafe ground out Best Coffee and Best Coffee Shop wins again this year with another strong and robust vote count.

Best Brunch goes to Jenkintown’s West Ave Grille, showing that Glensiders will venture into the little borough, at least on Sundays. Best Burger went to Bullseye Burger as it should since the word is in its name. It’s hard not to get hungry walking past when they fire up the grill over there. Best BYOB going to Trevi didn’t surprise us, but seeing their own homemade wine and local beers on the menu did! Just gets better and better over there, which explains why they also took Best Italian.

With little competition, Best Mexican went to Señor Salsa. They do offer an excellent experience, but we can never have enough Mexican food.

We knew we’d see a fight for Best Cheesesteak, but like the first Rocky movie, the title character took it on the chin, losing out to Pizza Box, which also took Best Pizza (take that Jeff Adamo!).

In Best New Business, we had some excellent nominees this year, but the top spot belongs to Ways Brewery and Restaurant, which has hardly slowed down since opening last May. The Brothers Way also took Best Brewery — a welcome new category this year. The Best Outdoor Dining umbrella puts Bernie’s Restaurant in the shade over in Switchville with ample seating and fresh air just beyond its four walls for fine fare.

Best Catering and Best Grocer belong to O’Neill’s Market, with a vote count that confirms the reverence we all have for this classic corner grocer. And finally, downtown Glenside’s Jasmine Asian Bistro built a great wall that its competition could not breach.

We will be notifying these businesses by phone or by email about their wins with an invite to a benefit celebration at Roberts Block on August 15. If you don’t think we have your email, please contact me at randy@burbmedia.com so we can give you more details.

Arts & Entertainment

Best Live Venue
Keswick Theatre

Beauty

Best Barber
Ralph’s Barber Shop

Best Salon
Belle Amie Hair Designs

Best Spa
Healing Path Massage Therapy

Best Tattoo Parlor
Keswick Tattoo

Events

Best Outdoor Events or Series
Glenside July4th Parade and Celebration

Food & Drink

Best Bakery
Daryl’s Pastries

Best Bar Scene
Union Jacks Olde Glory Pub

Best Beer List
Union Jack’s Olde Glory Pub

Best Beer To-Go
Giuliano’s Deli

Best Breakfast
Village Diner

Best Coffee
Elcy’s Café

Best Brunch
West Ave Grille

Best Burger
Bullseye Burger House

Best BYOB
Trevi

Best Cheesesteak
Pizza Box

Best Deli
Giuliano’s Deli

Best Italian
Trevi

Best Mexican
Señor Salsa

Best New Business
The Ways Restaurant And Brewery

Best Outdoor Dining
Bernie’s Restaurant & Bar

Best Pizza
Pizza Box

Best Happy Hour
Union Jack’s Olde Glory Pub

Best Ice Cream
Carminati Creamery

Best Place to Watch a Game
Jerzee’s Sports Bar

Best Wings
Union Jacks Olde Glory Pub

Best Caterer
O’Neill’s Food Market

Best Asian Restaurant
Jasmine Asian Bistro

Best Brewery
The Ways Restaurant And Brewery

Best Coffee Shop
Elcy’s Café