2018 Carroll's Best: Readers' picks for the best restaurants and dining in Carroll County

Results from the 2018 Carroll's Best Readers Choice contest for best restaurants, food and dining experiences.

BEST BAGELS

WINNER: Panera Bread, Eldersburg & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Kismet Café, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Dunkin’ Donuts, Finksburg, Hampstead & Westminster

BEST BAKERY

WINNER: JeannieBird Baking Company, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Snickerdoodles Bakery & Coffee House, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: Starry Night Bakery and Coffeehouse, Westminster

BEST BREAKFAST

WINNER: Bob Evans, Eldersburg & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: JeannieBird Baking Company, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: IHOP, Westminster & Eldersburg

BEST BUFFET

WINNER: Bullocks Country Meats & Farm Market Family Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Johansson’s Dining House, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: LIBERATORE’S Ristorante & Catering, Eldersburg and Westminster

BEST BURGERS

WINNER: Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Eldersburg, Hampstead and Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Oscar’s Alehouse, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Rafael’s, Westminster

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

WINNER: Forbidden City Chinese Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Asian Sakae, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: China Manor, Westminster

BEST COFFEE

WINNER: Dunkin’ Donuts, Finksburg, Hampstead & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Starbucks, Eldersburg, Mt. Airy & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Birdie’s Café, Westminster

BEST COFFEE HOUSE

WINNER: Birdie’s Café, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Starbucks, Eldersburg, Mt. Airy and Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: French Twist, Sykesville

COLDEST BEER

WINNER: Oscar’s Alehouse, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Rafael’s, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Maggie’s, Westminster

BEST CRAB CAKE

WINNER: Fratelli’s Italian and Seafood, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: RockSalt Grille, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Basta Pasta, Eldersburg

BEST DELI

WINNER: Giulianova Groceria, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Big Belly Deli, Sykesville

HONORABLE MENTION: Blue Bistro Restaurant & Catering, Westminster

BEST DESSERT

WINNER: Snickerdoodles Bakery & Coffee House, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: JeannieBird Baking Company, Westminster

BEST DINNER

WINNER: Plum Crazy Diner, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Baugher’s Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Bistro 91, Finskburg

BEST FAST FOOD

WINNER: Chick-Fil-A, Eldersburg and Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Taco Bell, Westminster, Eldersburg & Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: McDonald’s, Eldersburg, Hampstead, Taneytown & Westminster

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

WINNER: Royal Farms, Gamber & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Bullock’s Country Meats & Farm Market Family Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Westminster

BEST HOT WINGS

WINNER: BuffaloWildWings, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: E.W. Becks Restaurant & Pub, Sykesville

HONORABLE MENTION: G.L. Shacks, Sykesville

BEST ICE CREAM

WINNER: Hoffman’s Home Made Ice Cream & Deli, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: JJHoffman’s Creamery, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: Firehouse Creamery, Sykesville

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: LIBERATORE’S Ristorante & Catering, Eldersburg & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Paradiso Ristorante, Westminster

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: Papa Joe’s Mexican Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Cinco De Mayo Mexican Restaurant and Bar, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Los Aztecas, Sykesville

BEST MILKSHAKE

WINNER: Hoffman’s Home Made Ice Cream & Deli, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Chick-fil-A, Eldersburg & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Twin Kiss, Westminster

BEST PIT BBQ

WINNER: Smoky’s Barbeque Restaurant, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: Lone Star Barbeque, Westminster

BEST PIZZA

WINNER: Genova’s To Go, Hampstead, Manchester & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Ledo Pizza, Westminster, Eldersburg & Mt. Airy

HONORABLE MENTION: Mediterraneo, Westminster

BEST SALAD BAR

WINNER: Ruby Tuesday, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Bullock’s Country Meats & Farm Market Family Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Giant Food, Westminster

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

WINNER: RockSalt Grille, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Salerno’s Restaurant & Catering, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

BEST STEAK RESTAURANT

WINNER: Texas Roadhouse, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Bullock’s Country Meats & Farm Market Family Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: LIBERATORE’S Ristorante & Catering, Eldersburg & Westminster

BEST STEAMED CRABS

WINNER: Blue Point Crab House, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Captain Dan’s Crabhouse, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Salerno’s Restaurant & Catering, Eldersburg

BEST SUBS

WINNER: Subway, Eldersburg, Finksburg, Hampstead, Mt.Airy, Sykesville, Taneytown & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Genova’s To Go, Hampstead, Manchester & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Firehouse Subs, Westminster

BEST SUSHI

WINNER: J&Y Sushi Restaurant, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Asian Sakae, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Katana, Mt. Airy & Westminster

BEST TEA ROOM

WINNER: Gypsy’s Tea Room, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: CUP Tea Bar & Café, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Sweet Simplici-Tea, Sykesville

Best dining experience

BEST BANQUET FACILITY

WINNER: Martin’s Caterers, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Salerno’s Restaurant & Catering, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: The Inn at Roop’s Mill, Westminster

BEST CATERER

WINNER: Blue Bistro Restaurant & Catering, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Salerno’s Restaurant & Catering, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: Outlaw BBQ Smokehouse, Hampstead

BEST FAMILY DINING

WINNER: Baugher’s Restaurant, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Texas Roadhouse, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

BEST HAPPY HOUR

WINNER: Rafael’s, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Oscar’s Ale House, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: O’Lordans Irish Pub & Restaurant, Westminster

BEST NIGHT SPOT

WINNER: Rafael’s, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Oscar’s Ale House, Eldersburg

HONORABLE MENTION: The Stables at Westminster, Westminster

BEST PATIO/DECK DINING

WINNER: Rafael’s, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: RockSalt Grille, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: E.W. Becks Restaurant & Pub, Sykesville

BEST ROMANTIC DINING

WINNER: Paradiso Ristorante, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Ristorante, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: LIBERATORE’S Ristorante & Catering, Eldersburg & Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

BEST WAIT STAFF/ CUSTOMER SERVICE

WINNER: RockSalt Grille, Westminster

HONORABLE MENTION: Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood, Hampstead

HONORABLE MENTION: Chick-fil-A, Eldersburg & Westminster