Best of Route 1 Reader Poll 2022

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

Best Restaurant: Franklins. The perennial favorite came out on top again, but it was a closer-than-usual race with Mount Rainier’s Pennyroyal Station, followed by 2Fifty Texas BBQ, Taqueria Habanero, Shagga, and Northwest Chinese.

Restaurant With the Best Curbside Pickup: Franklins. In a much-closer category, the Hyattsville hangout narrowly beat out 2Fifty Texas BBQ, followed by Little Miner Taco, Busboys and Poets, Burton’s Grill and Bar and Tara Thai.

Restaurant With the Best Delivery: Cocineros. The Hyattsville eatery from the owners of Taqueria Habanero narrowly beat Dumm’s Pizza, which is now run by the folks behind 2Fifty Texas BBQ. Also doing well were Tara Thai, Potomac Pizza and Three Brothers Italian in Bladensburg.

Restaurant With the Best Outdoor Seating: Franklins. The restaurant’s pandemic-inspired outdoor tiki bar has turned out to be a popular addition, helping it win this category by a huge margin. But readers also liked dining al fresco at Pennyroyal Station, Busboys and Poets, The Hall CP, 2Fifty Texas BBQ and Denizens Brewing Co.

Best Pizza: Pizzeria Paradiso. The Hyattsville pizzeria was another runaway winner, followed distantly by the resurgent Dumm’s Pizza, nostalgia-favorite Ledo’s Pizza in College Park, Ramona’s Pizza Garden and Potomac Pizza in College Park.

Best Asian Restaurant: Northwest Chinese. The College Park institution easily carried this category, though there was a fight for second place among Aroy Thai in College Park and Tara Thai in Hyattsville, and Hanami and SeoulSpice in College Park.

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 Little Miner Taco in Brentwood, Tacos a la Madre in College Park and Riviera Tapas in Riverdale Park also getting support.

Best Brunch: Busboys and Poets. The Hyattsville restaurant’s new outdoor seating may have helped it narrowly win out over other Route 1 favorites such as  Pennyroyal Station, Riviera Tapas in Riverdale Park, and Milk and Honey, The Hall CP and Board and Brew in College Park.

Best Food Truck: Federalist Pig. The barbecue joint’s Fedmobile was so popular that they brought it back to Hyattsville after briefly closing. Readers also like Brentwood’s Little Miner Taco and La Michoacana, which got their starts as food trucks and still run them, and Mount Rainier’s Eat Well MD by I.M., often found at Streetcar 82.

Best Coffee Shop: Vigilante Coffee. With locations in Hyattsville and College Park, the Route 1 roastery was hands-down the winner here, but readers also mentioned Proteus Brews and Board and Brew in College Park, Zeke’s Coffee in Woodridge, and Shagga Ethiopian restaurant in Hyattsville.

Best Brewery: Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. The Hyattsville hangout was tops in this category, with Riverdale Park’s Denizens Brewing Co. coming in second and Franklins in Hyattsville also getting a lot of votes.

Best Distillery: Sangfroid Distilling. The Hyattsville distillery was far and away the winner in this category but Beltsville’s Schmidt Spirits also got some support.

Best Meadery: Maryland Meadworks. There may only be one meadery on Route 1 but that doesn’t mean it’s not still everyone’s favorite.

Best Wine Bar: Era Wine Bar. Mount Rainier’s new wine bar was everyone’s favorite in another category without much competition, but a few readers mentioned the robotic dispensers at Town Center Market in Riverdale Park.

Best Halal Restaurant: Pizza Roma. Run by Muslim business owners who use halal meat on all menu items, this College Park pizza joint came out on top. Readers also mentioned Krazi Kebob in College Park, Aladdin Sizzler in Mount Rainier, and Spice 6 in Hyattsville. You can find other halal restaurants on Route 1 here.

Best Restaurant for People with Food Allergies: Burtons Grill and Bar. The Riverdale Park restaurant was by far the winner, with several readers noting it “bends over backwards” for their allergies. Busboys and Poets and Pennyroyal Station also got shout-outs from some readers.

Best Bookstore: My Dead Aunt’s Books. The Hyattsville used bookstore, which hosts live music, was the easy winner, although a few readers also mentioned the book section of Busboys and Poets.

Best Place to Go for a Run: Lake Artemesia.

Best Place to Go Biking: Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail.

Best Playground: University Park playground on Wells Run.

Best Charity or Nonprofit: Pyramid Atlantic Art Center.

Best Fitness Studio: OpenBarre. The College Park barre fitness studio was the hands-down winner in this category, but Posh Cycling and Fitness also did well. Some readers mentioned OrangeTheory Fitness and CrossFit Hyattsville as well.

Best Bicycle Shop: Proteus Bicycles. The College Park bike shop and cafe handily beat Hyattsville’s Arrow Bicycle, with some readers mentioning College Park Bicycles and Gearin’ Up Bicycles in Woodridge.

Best Vintage Shop: Suffragette City.

Best Grocery Store: Trader Joe’s. The recently opened College Park store is winning the local grocery wars for now, but there’s tough competition from Mom’s Organic Market in College Park, Whole Foods Market in the Station at Riverdale Park, Lidl in College Park and Yes! Organic Market in Hyattsville.

Best Community-Supported Agriculture: ECO City Farms.

Best Artist: Harper Matsuyama.

Best Musician(s): Wild Anacostias.

Best Bartender: Pablo at Denizens.

Best Real Estate Agent: Emily Jackson at Northrop Realty.

Best Hair Stylist: Kathleen Hellington at Bananas.

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