Best of Route 1 Reader Poll 2021

Best of Route 1 2021 logoHere are the results of the Hyattsville Wire’s fifth annual Best of Route 1 Reader Poll, which included some longtime favorites as well as some new entrants.

Best Restaurant: Franklins

Despite a lot more competition than in years past, the Hyattsville hangout still came out on top, followed by Pennyroyal Station, the newly relocated Krazi Kebob, 2Fifty Texas BBQ, Banana Blossom Bistro, Shagga and Taqueria Habanero.

Restaurant With the Best Curbside Pickup: Krazi Kebob

With more eateries beginning to offer curbside pickup during the pandemic, there were more options than in the past, but the College Park kebob joint beat Franklins, 2Fifty Texas BBQ, Banana Blossom Bistro, Burton’s Grill and Bar and Federalist Pig.

Restaurant With the Best Outdoor Seating: Franklins

In another pandemic-inspired category, the Hyattsville favorite was the far-and-away winner for its outdoor Tiki Bar, followed by The Hall C.P., Pennyroyal Station, Busboys and Poets, Pizzeria Paradiso and Burton’s Grill and Bar.

Best Pizza: Pizzeria Paradiso

The Hyattsville pizzeria was hands-down the winner in this category, followed in a distant second by the recently reopened Ledo Pizza in College Park, under-new-ownership Dumm’s in Riverdale Park and Potomac Pizza in College Park.

Best Asian Restaurant: Banana Blossom Bistro

The Vietnamese restaurant in Riverdale Park narrowly edged out another perennial favorite, Northwest Chinese in College Park, with Aroy Thai in College Park and Tara Thai in Hyattsville also picking up some votes.

Best Latin American Restaurant: Taqueria Habanero

The College Park Mexican restaurant came in tops in this category, followed by its own spinoff from the same owners, Cocineros in Hyattsville, with Riviera Tapas in Riverdale Park and upstart Tacos a la Madre also getting support.

Best Coffee: Vigilante Coffee

The Hyattsville roastery and College Park coffee shop were the runaway winners in this category, although sizable contingents supported Proteus Brews, the coffee shop inside the College Park bike shop, Starbucks and the Board and Brew.

Best Brewery: Streetcar 82 Brewing Co.

The Hyattsville brewery took the top honor, beating out runner-up Franklins heartily, followed closely by Denizens Brewing Co. in Riverdale Park.

Best Distillery: Sangfroid Distilling

The Hyattsville distillery, which recently reopened its tasting room, was the easy favorite, although a contingent of voters preferred Beltsville’s Shmidt Spirits.

Best Meadery: Maryland Meadworks

The Hyattsville hotspot remains the most popular — and only — meadery on the Route 1 corridor, with live music and Sunday brunch.

Best Wine Bar: Era Wine Bar

The Mount Rainier wine bar has already received rave reviews from D.C. media, and it’s proving popular with Route 1 residents too.

Best Halal Restaurant: Krazi Kebob

The top vote-getter was the College Park kebob place, but votes were also cast for Pizza Roma, Spice 6, Aladdin Sizzler, Habit Burger, Mediterranean CafeZZ Pizza and Kabob and Jalapeño Bistro in Laurel.

Best Restaurant for People With Food Allergies: Burton’s Grill and Bar

The Riverdale Park restaurant, which trains its staff on food allergies and safety, came in tops again in this category, with others casting votes for Banana Blossom Bistro, Busboys and Poets and Gangster Vegan.

Best Bookstore: My Dead Aunt’s Books

The Hyattsville used bookstore, previously run as Robert Harper Books, was the hands-down winner in this category, with Busboys and Poets bookshop a distant second, while others voted for Big Planet comic store, BookHolders and Little Free Libraries.

Best Piece of Public Art: Sir Rulean

The big blue bear statue in the Station at Riverdale Park’s Bear Square was the winner, followed by the nearby Ercoupe plane, a Black Lives Matter mural near The Spot in Hyattsville, and a new mural at Maryland Meadworks.

Best Place to Go for a Run: Lake Artemesia

The 38-acre lake remains a popular spot with runners, followed at a distant second by the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, with other votes for the Northwest Branch Trail, Buddy Attick Lake Park, and Driskell Park.

Best Place to Go Biking: Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail

The four-mile trail from south Hyattsville to College Park was the top vote-getter, but the Anacostia River Trail was also popular, followed by Lake Artemesia, the Paint Branch Trail and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.

Best Hidden Gem: OpenBarre Studios

The College Park fitness studio came in first, followed by Posh Cycling and Fitness, Town Center Market, Macy’s Backstage, Comedor San Alejo, the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, and Greenbelt Park.

Best Locally Owned Shop: Proteus Bicycles

The College Park bike shop with its own in-house cafe came in tops, followed by OpenBarre Studios, Franklin’s, Posh Cycling and Fitness, Three Little Birds Sewing Co., Vigilante Coffee, and Red Onion Records.

Best Charity or Nonprofit: Community Forklift

The Hyattsville nonprofit, which accepts and resells home improvement supplies, was ahead of Greater Riverdale Cares, which gives restaurant meals to needy families, followed by the Anacostia Watershed Society, Art Works Now, and Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Best Yoga Studio: OpenBarre Studios

The College Park studio took the top spot in a crowded field, followed by Yoga Space and Love Yoga in Hyattsville, Bee Yoga Fusion in Greenbelt, Bikram Yoga Works in Riverdale Park and Numi Yoga in College Park.

Best Fitness Studio: OpenBarre Studios

The College Park studio was also tops in this category, followed by Posh Cycling & Fitness in College Park, CrossFit Hyattsville, Gold’s Gym in the Station at Riverdale Park, Orangetheory Fitness in College Park and LA Fitness in Hyattsville.

Best Woman-Owned Business: OpenBarre Studios

The College Park studio again took the top honor, followed by Proteus Bikes and Brews and Posh Cycling & Fitness in College Park; Three Little Birds Sewing Co., Suffragette City and Tanglewood Works in Hyattsville; and Denizens Brewing Co. in Riverdale Park.

Best Bike Shop: Proteus Bikes and Brews

The long-running College Park bike shop and its accompanying coffee shop was far and away the top choice, but substantial numbers also voted for Arrow Bicycle in Hyattsville, followed by College Park Bicycles.

Best Vintage Shop: Suffragette City

The Hyattsville boutique won the top spot, followed by Peg Leg Vintage in Greenbelt, Tanglewood Works and Cheeky’s Vintage in Hyattsville, Community Forklift in Edmonston and Red Onion Records in Hyattsville.

Best Grocery Store: Mom’s Organic Market

The College Park grocery started by a University of Maryland alum took the top spot but only narrowly over Whole Foods, followed by Lidl in College Park, Yes! Organic Market in Hyattsville and The Glut in Mount Rainier and the Greenbelt Co-op.

Best Community Supported Agriculture: ECO City Farms

The Riverdale Park nonprofit with farms in Edmonston and Bladensburg was the favorite, followed by Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, Little Wild Things Farm, and Blue Berwyn Farm in Berwyn Heights.

Best Artist: Harper Matsuyama

The Hyattsville native, who designed the mural outside Maryland Meadworks, won the top spot, followed by Vanadu Gardens designer Clarke Bedford, illustrator Gareth Hinds, photographer Juliette Fradin,

Best Musician or Band: The Wild Anacostia

The zydeco band led by Joe Atkins, formerly of Mt. Rainier and currently of Hyattsville, got the most votes, followed by psychedelic rock-reggae band Higher Education, College Park’s Humbalaya, the Hyattsville Jazz Collective and jazz singer Lena Seikaly.

Best Barista: Annie Lemieux at Proteus Brews

Best Bartender: Alex Chacon at Franklins

Best Doctor: Dr. Keisha Robinson at MedStar Health

Best Dentist: Dr. Gunita Singh at iSmile Family Dentistry

Best Real Estate Agent: Emily Jackson at Northrop Realty

Best Hairstylist: Kathleen Hellington at Bananas

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