The readers of Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide have voted Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster Best Steakhouse in our Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants. Longtimer Linda’s La Cantina was second and Bull & Bear at the Waldorf Astoria came in third.

Christner’s recently celebrated its 25th anniversary (though its first 20 years were as Del Frisco’s) and was the subject of a review in November. “Best steaks in town,’ wrote Tomas DeAddio. “Love Bull but it’s about the steak and Christners is number one.”

“Christners by far,” said Beat Gfeller. “There should not even be a vote. Everything else is fake news.”

Following her vote, Trisha Malkiewicz Colvin wrote, “Love La Cantina. Their ribeye is the best and I love the casual homey feel.”

And Michael V. Elsberry said, “Voted for Christner’s as Best, but best value is Linda’s based on price and quality. Can’t beat. Christner’s filet however!”

Nicole Giordano preferred Bull & Bear. “Great service, nice ambiance, and the best food. No knife needed to cut your steak. Super tender and flavorful. #1 for sure, no question.”

Thanks to everyone who voted and commented. And congratulations to the winners.

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Bull & Bear, the fine dining steakhouse at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, has been voted 2018 Best Restaurant Overall in our Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants. Two restaurants — Victoria & Albert’s and Kadence — tied for second place. Osprey Tavern came in fourth.

Of Bull & Bear, Richard E. Brown wrote, “Great Food and the staff is top notch, all under the directions of chef Richard.”

Victoria & Albert’s was a winner in this category last year, as well. Kadence, the nine-seat sushi restaurant in Orlando, is new on the list.

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Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine has been voted the Best New Restaurant of 2018. Wine Bar George takes second place and Winter Park’s The Glass Knife is third.

Many of the people who voted for Selam took the time to leave lengthy comments supporting their choice. “We’ve traveled and visited many restaurants across the state,” wrote RealVision Enterprises. “However this one deserves our review after a great experience with excellent food, excellent drink, fantastic staff/customer service and an excellent manager running the show. Definitely worth many more visits in the future.”

“To me Selam Ethiopian/ Eritrean restaurant is the best because the food is gluten free and includes vegan and vegetarian dishes and they also have delicious meat varieties, the customer service is wonderful, family friendly environment with a great coffee ceremony,” wrote Ferewion Yibkaw.

Wine Bar George, of course, is the Disney Springs restaurant owned by master sommelier George Miliotes. And although the Glass Knife’s forte is with cakes and other baked goods, its savory menu also has a lot of fans.

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Newcomer The Hangry Bison has been voted Best Burger 2018 in our Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants. Perennial favorite Tap Room at Dubsdread was second. Kiwi’s Pub & Grill of Altamonte Springs was third.

If you need any further demonstration that every vote counts, consider this: only three votes separated first place from second place.

The Hangry Bison is merely months old but the Winter Park Villager has become a burger destination.

“Come hangry, leave happy,” wrote Roxanne Marie Mojave after placing her vote. “The Hangry Bison has the best beef,” added Billy Dover.

“Tap Room is always number 1,” wrote Teresa Luttrell Castleman. And it was in 2017 when it took first place in our first ever Foodster Award poll.

“What an array of burger options at Kiwi’s!” said Jim cain. “Kiwi’s Pub & Grill is primarily a sports bar, but they put a lot of emphasis on the quality of their food and drinks.” Kiwi’s is a place that has escaped my notice, but I’m planning to attend soon.

Our final two categories for the year will be Best New Restaurant and Best Restaurant Overall. Watch for the nomination phase next week.

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La Luce, the Hilton at Bonnet Creek restaurant created by the late Donna Scala, has been voted Best Italian in our Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants.

Stefano’s Trattoria in Winter Springs took second place and Maitland’s Francesco’s Ristorante and Pizzeria was third. Only two votes separated those two restaurants.

Nancy Brundage wrote, “La Luce has a fantastic wine list, awesome pizza, great salad choices and appetizers, delicious entrees that taste as great as they are beautiful and decadent desserts all in an casually elegant atmosphere. The service staff is very knowledgeable and eager to make your experience a memorable one. I’d give it 3 thumbs up but I only have 2 thumbs.”

In placing her vote, Tina Raditz said, “Stefano’s Trattoria is my favorite all time restaurant.” And Vance Maiorana wrote, “Stefano’s, best food, best atmosphere, best people.”

“Francesco’s,” Marcy Birnberg Kast wrote, “is consistently excellent. The food is delicious, the portions are generous, the presentation is lovely, the atmosphere is warm, the servers, hosts and Francesco himself are friendly and accommodating, and the prices are reasonable. Bottom line, Francesco’s checks all the boxes!”

This category proved to be a popular one, and many voters left passionate notes about their choices. Some particularly heated exchanges dealt with Stefano’s and its relationship to Nonno’s in Longwood, which came in fourth in the poll. Stefano’s Trattoria was previously owned by Stefano LaCommare, who is now with Nonno’s. Some commenters wondered if voters knew that the ownership of the Winter Springs restaurant had changed. Others said they knew but still preferred Stefano’s.

But the outcome has one positive note: Central Florida has a lot of very good Italian Restaurants.

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite restaurant for Best Burger here.

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The Greek Corner, the Greek restaurant located, um, on a corner in the Ivanhoe district, has been voted Best Greek in our Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants.

The recently reopened Mykonos, in Longwood, placed second and Mediterranean Deli of Orlando was third.

The Greek Corner, which opened in 2005, is known for its patio with a view of Lake Ivanhoe across the street. It’s popular for its gyro sandwiches but also such traditional dishes as moussaka and avgolemeno soup.

In placing his vote for Mykonos, Brian N Bengie Murray said, “Much improved quality of food, service and atmosphere at the new and improved Mykonos in Longwood. Our new “go to” place for Greek food since the restaurant moved and reopened.”

Mediterranean Deli, on Fairbanks Avenue, is liked as much for the friendly owners as for the delicious food.

Congratulations to the winners and to all of the finalists.

Nominations are currently being accepted for Best Italian restaurant. Place your vote before Oct. 17. The restaurants with the most nominations will advance to the finals.

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Bad As’s Sandwich, the Milk District sandwicherie, is the winner of the Best Sandwich Foodster Award for Independent Restaurants. Beefy King, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, took second place and Yellow Dog Eats came in third.

“Bad As’s has very creative sandwiches that you won’t find anywhere else,” said a comment left under the name Allison Benner Andrews Chancey on the Foodsters page. “It’s a tiny restaurant, but what it lacks in tables it makes up for in taste.”

James McLane wrote, “It’s all about Bad As’s! Inventiveness, creativity, perfection between bread.”

Tiffany Wilkes was just as adamant in her vote for Beefy King. “Their classic and simple roast beef sandwich, spuds (tater tots), and signature sauces are worth driving out of your way for,” she wrote in her comment. “Seriously, we drove 162 miles from Palm Beach County to Orlando last month just to celebrate Beefy King’s 50th anniversary. It is that good!”

Terry Hladky Smith agreed: “Beefy King…Lots of delicious choices & the service is down home friendly.”

Sandwich was one of the most hotly contested Foodster categories to date. Nice to see so many people passionate for their favorite sandwichmakers.

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The gold Foodster Award for Best New Restaurant went to 1921 by Norman Van Aken. The Mount Dora restaurant has become a hit with Dorians and people in Orlando who find the drive for excellent food so worthwhile.

In the video, Van Aken talks about some new projects in Miami and the possibility of bringing one of them to Central Florida.

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Here are the 2017 winners of Scott Joseph’s Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants.

Best Restaurant Overall:

Platinum Award: Morimoto Asia

Gold Award: Victoria & Albert’s

 

Best New Restaurant:

Platinum Award: Reyes Mezcalaria

Gold Award: 1921 by Norman Van Aken

 

Best Barbecue

Platinum Award: Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa

Gold Award: Porkie’s Original BBQ

 

Best Breakfast

Platinum Award: Shakers American Cafe

Gold Award: Se7vn Bites

 

Best Brunch

Platinum Award: Santiago’s Bodega

Gold Award: Two Chefs Seafood Oyster Bar

 

 

 

Best Burger

Platinum Award: Tap Room at Dubsdread

Gold Award: The Whiskey

 

 

 

 

Best Cocktails

Platinum Award: Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming

Gold Award: Imperial at Washburn Imports

 

Best Craft Beer

Platinum Award: Nora’s Sugar Shack

Gold Award: Sloppy Taco Palace

 

Best Craft Tacos

Platinum Award: Hunger Street Tacos

Gold Award: Black Rooster

 

Best Fine Dining

Platinum Award: Victoria & Albert’s

Gold Award: Bull & Bear

 

Best Hotel Restaurant

Platinum Award: MOOR

Gold Award: Old Hickory Steakhouse

 

Best Irish Pub

Platinum Award: Raglan Road

Gold Award: Fiddler’s Green

 

Best Mexican

Platinum Award: Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant

Gold Award: Agave Azul

 

Best Microbrewery

Platinum Award: Bowigens Beer Company

Gold Award: Hourglass Brewing

 

Best Pizza

Platinum Award: Pizza Paradiso

Gold Award: Papa Joe’s

 

Best Power Lunch

Platinum Award: Tap Room at Dubsdread

Gold Award: Nona Tap Room

 

 

Best Sushi

Platinum Award: Nagoya Sushi

Gold Award: Dragonfly

 

Best Tex-Mex

Platinum Award: Pepe’s Cantina

Gold Award: JJ’s Grille

 

Most Romantic

Platinum Award: Bistro on Park Avenue

Gold Award: Cress

 

The Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants is an ongoing program. Check this link for current nominees and this link for open voting.

 

The voters chose Reyes Mezcalaria as the best new restaurant. Reyes, you’ll recall, took over the Citrus restaurant space last spring. It’s a Mexican restaurant with a heavy tequila following, from owners Sue and Jason Chin. Coming in second was 1921 by Norman Van Aken, the Mount Dora restaurant from Florida’s celebrity chef. And Luke’s Kitchen and Bar from the folks who brought you Luma on Park and Prato, which is also on park, was third.

 

The restaurants listed here are nominated for Best New Restaurant in Scott Joseph’s Foodster Awards for Independent Restaurants. The nominees were chosen from among the notable restaurants that opened within the past 18months.

Unlike other categories, write-in candidates for Best New Restaurant will not be accepted.

To vote for a restaurant, click the box next to its name and then click the VOTE button. you may vote for only one restaurant. If the VOTE button does not show, it means that you’ve already voted for that category.

After you place your ballot, leave a comment below telling us why you think it’s the Best Restaurant Overall. Be sure to give the name of the restaurant in your comment, otherwise we won’t know which one you’re referring to.

To thank you for participating, Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide will give away a $100 gift card to the winner of the Best Restaurant Overall category. The winner will be selected by random drawing from among the list of Scott’s e-letter recipients. If you already receive the weekly mailing, you’re already entered to win. If not, click here and enter your email address; simple as that.

Voting will continue through Jan. 10 and the winning restaurant will be announced in the Jan. 11 edition of the e-letter.

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