Akron Life magazine's 330 Flavor Awards 2022

by Alexandra Sobczak, Kelly Petryszyn

March 31, 2022 11:52 AM

The 330 Flavor Awards includes several categories from best chef to best breakfast. Check out this list of the Top 3 in each category from our 2022 competition:

Best Restaurant in The 330

1. Sylvester’s North End Grille

2. The Merchant Tavern

3. Luigi’s Restaurant

Best New Restaurant in The 330

1. El Patron Tequileria & Cuisine

2. Vinifera Wine-to-Whiskey

3. Mama’s Hot Dogs

Best Restaurant in Downtown Akron

1. Diamond Grille

2. Luigi’s Restaurant

3. Crave

Best Restaurant in Medina County

1. Santosuossos’ Pizza Pasta Vino

2. Thyme2

3. 111 Bistro

Best Restaurant in Summit County

1. Luigi’s Restaurant

2. Kingfish

3. The Bistro of Green

Best Restaurant in Portage County

1. Ray’s Place

2. Arnie’s West Branch Steak House

3. The River Merchant

Best Restaurant in Stark County

1. Sylvester’s North End Grille

2. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

3. Bender’s Tavern

Best Chef in The 330

1. Tony Sledge, Kingfish

2. Beau Schmidt, Beau’s Grille

3. John G. Bahas, Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

Best Restaurateur

1. John G. Bahas

2. Ken Stewart

2. John Kolar

3. Beau Schmidt

Best Service Staff

1. Rosewood Grill

2. Kingfish

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Breakfast

1. Farmer Boy Restaurant

2. Fred’s Diner

3. Wally Waffle

Best Chicken and Waffles

1. Beau’s Grille

2. Wally Waffle

3. Blue Door Cafe & Bakery

Best Benedict

1. Rosewood Grill

2. Wally Waffle

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Sandwiches

1. D & M Grille

2. Menches Bros. Restaurant

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Classic Burger

1. D & M Grille

2. Swensons Drive-In

3. Pub Bricco

Best Specialty Burger

1. Menches Bros. Restaurant

2. Swensons Drive-In

3. The Rail

Best Veggie Burger

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Swensons Drive-In

3. Butcher & Sprout

3. Mustard Seed Market & Cafe

Best Reuben

1. Diamond Deli

2. Beau’s Grille

3. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

Best Barbecue

1. Big Eu’es BBQ

2. City Barbeque and Catering

3. Winking Lizard Tavern

Best Wings

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Winking Lizard Tavern

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Fried Chicken

1. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

2. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

3. Gionino’s Pizzeria

Best Steakhouse

1. Diamond Grille

2. Rosewood Grill

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Gastropub

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Table Six Kitchen & Bar

3. Lager and Vine Gastropub & Wine Bar

Best Tacos

1. El Fogon Mexican Grill

2. Bomba Taco & Bar

3. Barrio

Best Mexican Restaurant

1. El Fogon Mexican Grill

2. Tres Potrillos

3. El Patron Tequileria & Cuisine

Best Jojos

1. Euro Gyro

1. Gionino’s Pizzeria

2. Rizzi’s Ristorante & Pizzeria

3. Showcase Meats

3. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

Best Sauerkraut Balls

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

3. Ken Stewart’s Grille

Best Appetizer Menu

1. Kingfish

2. Beau’s Grille

3. Rosewood Grill

Best Charcuterie

1. Beau’s on the River

1. 750 ml Wine Bar

2. Vinifera Wine-to-Whiskey

3. Butcher & Sprout

Spiciest Food in The 330

1. Sushi Asia Gourmet

2. Cilantro

3. Taste of Bangkok

3. House of Hunan

Best Cocktails

1. Kingfish

2. Brubaker’s Pub

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Happy Hour

1. Kingfish

2. Rosewood Grill

3. Brubaker’s Pub

Best A.M. Adult Drinks

1. Burntwood Tavern

2. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

3. Caston & Main Brew Yard

Best Margarita

1. El Fogon Mexican Grill

2. El Patron Tequileria & Cuisine

3. El Meson Mexican Restaurant

Best Mules

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Beau’s Grille

3. Edgar’s Restaurant

Best Restaurant Beer Selection

1. Winking Lizard Tavern

2. The Lockview

3. Ray’s Place

Best Brewery

1. Eighty-Three Brewery

2. Lock 15 Brewing Co.

2. Hoppin’ Frog Brewery

3. Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.

3. Fat Head’s Brewery

Best Wine Selection

1. Rosewood Grill

2. Ken Stewart’s Grille

3. Beau’s Grille

Best Winery

1. Red Horse Winery

2. The Winery at Wolf Creek

3. Sarah’s Vineyard

3. Gervasi Vineyard

Best Coffee / Espresso

1. Nervous Dog Coffee Bar

2. Angel Falls Coffee Co.

3. Artisan Coffee

Best Coffee Shop Atmosphere

1. Angel Falls Coffee Co.

2. Nervous Dog Coffee Bar

3. Artisan Coffee

Best Sushi

1. Kasai Japanese Restaurant

2. Sushi Asia Gourmet

3. Sushi Katsu

Best Chinese Takeout

1. Lucky Star Chinese Carryout

2. House of Hunan

3. Sushi Asia Gourmet

Best Thai Cuisine

1. Rice Paper Thai Cuisine

2. Cilantro

3. Thai Lanna & Sushi Bar

Best Indian Food

1. The Saffron Patch

2. Bombay Sitar

3. Jaipur Junction

Best Mediterranean Food

1. Aladdin’s Eatery

2. Papa Gyros

3. Continental Cuisine

Best Ethnic Market

1. DeVitis Italian Market

2. Asia Market

3. Falls Mediterranean

Best Pizza

1. Gionino’s Pizzeria

2. Pavona’s Pizza Joint

3. Foster’s Tavern of Hinckley

Best Italian Restaurant

1. Luigi’s Restaurant

2. Santosoussos’ Pizza Pasta Vino

3. Vacarro’s Trattoria

3. Dontino’s Fine Italian Cuisine

Best Noodles

1. Sushi Asia Gourmet

2. Rice Paper Thai Cuisine

3. Pad Thai

Best Seafood

1. Kingfish

2. Beau’s Grille

3. Bender’s Tavern

Best Salads

1. Beau’s Grille

2. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

3. Luigi’s Restaurant

Best Vegetarian / Vegan Food

1. Nepali Kitchen

2. Mustard Seed Market & Cafe

3. Ms. Julie’s Kitchen

Best House-made White French Dressing

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

3. Beau’s Grille

Best House-made Italian Dressing

1. Luigi’s Restaurant

2. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

3. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

Best Cheesecake

1. Sweet Mary’s Bakery

2. Niko’s Sandwich Board

3. Papa Gyros Greek Grill

Best Cake

1. The West Side Bakery

2. Sweet Mary’s Bakery

3. Aladdin’s Eatery

3. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

Best Cupcake

1. Sweet Mary’s Bakery

2. A Cupcake a Day

3. The West Side Bakery

Best Doughnuts

1. Jubilee Donuts

2. North Hill Donuts

3. Mary Ann Donuts

Best Frozen Dessert

1. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt

2. Pav’s Creamery

3. Stricklands Frozen Custard

Best Chocolate

1. Hartville Chocolate Factory

2. Heggy’s Nut Shop

3. Malley’s Chocolates

Best Caterer

1. D & M Grille

2. Beau’s Grille

3. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

Best Food Truck

1. D & M Grille

2. Barrio

2. Swensons Drive-In

3. The Funky Truckeria

Best View

1. Beau’s on the River

1. Gervasi Vineyard

2. The Jetty at Sheraton Suites

3. Lannings Restaurant

Best Sports Bar

1. Jerzee’s Sports Grille

2. Winking Lizard Tavern

3. Brubaker’s Pub

Best Place to Eat and Watch a Live Performance

1. Jilly’s Music Room

2. Gervasi Vineyard

3. Blu Jazz

Best Place to Eat at the Bar

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Kingfish

3. Beau’s Grille

Most Romantic Restaurant

1. The Bistro of Green

2. Lanning’s Restaurant

3. D.B.A.

Best Restaurant to Take the Kids

1. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery

2. Waterloo Restaurant and Catering

3. Dewey’s Pizza

Best Casual Dining

1. The Merchant Tavern

2. Rosewood Grill

3. The Lockview

Best Fine Dining

1. Diamond Grille

2. Kingfish

3. The Bistro of Green

Best Festival

1. Summit County Italian-American Festival

2. FreedomFest

3. Rib White & Blue