Official Readers Poll Winners.

The Best of Monterey County winners were selected by the Weekly's readers in a poll that ran in the issues of Feb. 1-7 and Feb. 8-14.

AROUND TOWN, part 1 >>

Best Place For A First Date:Fisherman's Wharf
Best Place For Intelligent Conversation:Cafe Noir
Best Place For Mindless Chatter:Starbucks
Best Place To Eavesdrop:Morgan's/East Village Coffee Lounge
Best Place To People Watch:Fisherman's Wharf
Best Place To Reclaim Your Inner Child:Dennis The Menace Park
Best Place To Take Visitors:Monterey Bay Aquarium
Best Architectural Treasure:Carmel Mission
Best Beach:Carmel Beach
Best Surf Spot:Asilomar State Beach
Best Golf Hole:18th Hole At Pebble Beach Resorts
Best Place To Watch The Sunset:Carmel Beach
Best Park For A Picnic':Lovers' Point
Best Hiking Trail:Garland Ranch Regional Park
Best Place To Bike:Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
Best Hangout For Little Kids:Dennis The Menace Park
Best Hangout For Teens:Del Monte Shopping Center
Best Hangout For Seniors:Carmel Foundation
Best Volunteer Organization:Casa Monterey County
Best Place To Work:Home
Best Place To Get Married:Lovers Point Park

AROUND TOWN, part 2 >>

Best Local Website:www.mbayaq.org
Best Radio Station:103.9 FM Santa Cruz X
Best Radio DJ:Joey Martinez
Best TV News:KSBW
Best TV Anchor:Dan Green
Best Professor:Rich Kezirian At Monterey Peninsula College
Best Male Athlete:Gabe Chase
Best Female Athlete:Alyson Davi
Best Use Of Local Tax Dollars:Window On The Bay Park
Best Local Politician:Sam Farr
Best Place To Argue Politics:Red's Donuts
Best Local Power Broker:Leon Panetta
Best Local Do-Gooder:Dina Ruiz Eastwood
Best Local Event:AT&T; Pebble Beach Pro-Am

ARTS AND ENTERTAINNMENT, part 1 >>

Best Artist:Steven Whyte
Best Stage Actor:Lloyd J Brewer
Best Photo Gallery:Weston Gallery
Best Art Gallery:Carmel Art Association Gallery
Best Club DJ:DJ Angel
Best Place For Karaoke:Britannia Arms Pub
Best Bar For Folks Over 50:Mission Ranch Restaurant
Best Place You Can't Take Your Parents:Nu-Art Theater
Best Club For Rock:Lava Lounge
Best Club For Blues:Sly McFly's Jazz & Blues Lunch & Dinner House
Best Club For Jazz:Cibo Ristorante Italiano
Best Dance Club:Club Octane
Best Local Musician:Mike Marotta
Best Local Band:Jonah & The Whalewatchers

ARTS AND ENTERTAINNMENT, part 2 >>

Best Happy Hour:The Mucky Duck Restaurant & Bar
Best Pub:The Crown & Anchor
Best Martini:Lallapalooza Restaurant
Best Margarita:Baja Cantina & Grill
Best Neighborhood Bar:The Mucky Duck Restaurant & Bar
Best Drink With A View:Schooners Bistro On The Bay
Best Selection Of Wines By The Glass:Rio Grill
Best Selection Of Beers On Tap:The Mucky Duck Restaurant & Bar
Best Place To Shoot Pool:Easy St Billiards
Best Bar For Darts:Penny Farthing Tavern
Best Sports Bar:Knuckles Historical Sports Bar
Best Singles Bar:The Mucky Duck Restaurant & Bar
Best Coffeehouse:Starbucks Coffee
Best Movie Theater:Osio Plaza Theatre
Best Place To Hangout After The Movie:Cafe Noir

RESTAURANTS, part 1 >>

Best New Restaurant of 2006:Cantinetta Luca
Best Restaurant More Than 10 Years Old:Fishwife Seafood Cafe
Best Restaurant In Monterey County:Pacific's Edge
Best Restaurant/Big Sur:Cielo At Ventana
Best Restaurant/Carmel:Casanova Restaurant
Best Restaurant/Carmel Valley:Will's Fargo Restaurant
Best Restaurant/Marina:AJ Spurs
Best Restaurant/Monterey:Montrio Bistro
Best Restaurant/North County:Phil's Fish Market & Eatery
Best Restaurant/Pacific Grove:Passionfish
Best Restaurant/Pebble Beach:Roy's At Pebble Beach
Best Restaurant/Salinas:Hullaballoo Restaurant

RESTAURANTS, part 2 >>

Best Restaurant/Sand City:Papa Chano
Best Restaurant/Seaside:Fishwife Seafood Cafe
Best Restaurant/South County:The Windmill
Best Breakfast:First Awakenings
Best Cheap Eats:Turtle Bay Taqueria
Best Place For A Business Lunch:Tarpy's Roadhouse
Best Family Restaurant:Bubba Gump Shrimp Co
Best Chinese:Tommy's Wok
Best French:Fifi's Bistro Cafe
Best Indian:India's Clay Oven
Best Italian:Little Napoli
Best Japanese/Sushi:Robata Grill & Sake Bar
Best Korean:Orient Express

RESTAURANTS, part 3 >>

Best Mediterranean:Epsilon Fine Greek Restaurant
Best Mexican:Peppers Mexicali Cafe
Best Thai:Yangtse's Taste Of Thai
Best Appetizers:Montrio Bistro
Best Outdoor Dining:Forge In The Forest Restaurant
Best Restaurant For Vegetarians:Tillie Gort's
Best Restaurant For Steak:Whaling Station Prime Steaks & Seafood
Best Restaurant For Seafood:Monterey Fish House
Best Clam Chowder:Old Fisherman's Grotto
Best Restaurant To Splurge:Marinus At Bernardus Lodge
Best Wine List:Passionfish

SPECIALTY FOODS, part 1 >>

Best Restaurant For Romantic Dining:Pacific's Edge
Best Bakery:Layers
Best Bagels:Bagel Bakery
BEst BBQ:Curly's BBQ
Best Burger:In & Out Burger
Best Burrito:Chipotle Mexican Grill
Best Calamari:Abalonetti Seafood Trattoria
Best Deli Sandwich:Compagno's Market & Deli
Best Butcher Shop:Grove Market
Best Cheese Selection:The Cheese Shop Inc
Best Takeout Food:Tommy's Wok
Best Cup Of Coffee:Acme Coffee
Best Desserts:Rosine's Restaurant
Best Ice Cream:Coldstone Creamery
Best Pizza:Gianni's Pizza
Best Salads:Crazy Horse Restaurant
Best Juice/Smoothies:Jamba Juice
Best Local Red Wine:Bernardus Winery
Best Local White Wine:Talbot Vineyards
Best Local Beer/Brewery:English Ales Brewery

SHOPPING & SERVICES, part 1 >>

Best Shopping District/Center:Del Monte Shopping Center
Best Place To Buy Art/Craft Supplies:Beverly Fabrics
Best Place To Buy Art/Craft Supplies:Searle Art Supplies
Best Antique Shop:Trotters
Best Bank:Wells Fargo
Best Bike Store:Aquarian Bicycles
Best Bookstore - Used:Book Haven
Best Bookstore - New:Borders Books Music Movies & Cafe
Best Car Dealer - New:Sam Linder Cadillac Honda
Best Car Dealer- Used:Cardinale Automobile Group
Best Car Repair Shop:Forest Hill Auto Service
Best Car Wash:El Estero Hand Car Wash
Best Computer Store:PC People
Best Dive Shop:Bamboo Reef Enterprises
Best Dry Cleaner:Vapor Cleaners
Best Ethnic Market:Filipino Indian Super Market
Best Florist:Swenson & Silacci Flowers
Best Realtor:Keller Williams Realty
Best Golf Shop:Golf Mart

SHOPPING & SERVICES, part 2 >>

Best Health Club:Carmel Valley Athletic Club
Best Yoga Studio:Bikram Yoga Monterey Bay
Best Massage Therapist:Kassie Clark At Aquablue
Best Spa:Aquablue
Best Salon:Mantra An Aveda Concept Spa Salon
Best Tanning Salon:Malibu By The Sea
Best Esthetician:Monterey Skin Fitness Center
Best Furniture Store:Homescapes Carmel
Best Jewelry Store:Tiffany's
Best Internet Provider:Redshift
Best Men's Clothing Store:Pacific Tweed
Best Women's Clothing Boutique:Bliss Boutique
Best Secondhand Clothing Store:Goodwill
Best Shoe Store:Head Over Heels
Best Store For Musical Instruments:Music Unlimited
Best Neighborhood Market:Bruno's Market & Deli
Best Outdoor Gear Store:Outdoor World
Best Nursery:McShane's Nursery & Landscape Supply
Best Pet Store:PetSmart
Best Pharmacy:Long's Drugs

SHOPPING & SERVICES, part 3 >>

Best Photo Store:Myrick Photographic
Best Grocery Store:Trader Joe's
Best Selection Of Liquor:Bottles N Bins
Best Wine Market:Rancho Cellars
Best Seafood Market:Sea Harvest Fish Market
Best Organic Produce Market:Whole Foods Market
Best Gourmet/Kitchen Shop:Clementine's Kitchen
Best Plumber:Wilson's Plumbing & Heating
Best Electrician:Select Electric
Best Hardware Store:Ace Hardware Pacific Grove
Best Gift Shop:Never On Sunday
Best Place To Buy Music:Borders Books Music Movies & Cafe
Best Place To Buy A Cell Phone:Sand City Verizon
Best Surf Shop:On The Beach Surf Shop
Best Thrift Store:Salvation Army Thrift Shop
Best Place To Rent Videos/DVDs:Video To Go
Best Shoe Repair Shop:Federico's Drive In Shoe Service
Best Toy Store:Sandcastles By The Sea
Best Tattoo Artist:Orlando Ferron

The text was written by Kera Abraham, Mark C. Anderson, Daniel Burr, Michelle Caldwell, Leslie Connolly, Traci Hukill, Eric Johnson, Jessica Lyons, Joby Martin, Ray Napolitano, Zachary Stahl, Stuart Thornton and Jessica Yates, and edited by Traci Hukill and Eric Johnson.