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Est. 2014

Winners of the Med City Beat's 2016 Rochester's Finest competition

Winners of the Med City Beat's 2016 Rochester's Finest competition

Winners of the Med City Beat's 2016 Rochester's Finest were announced at a celebration party on Saturday, May 21. Winners were selected following two rounds of voting, in which we received more than 7,000 total votes.


Restaurants & Bars

Overall restaurant: Chester's*

Forager, Terza, ZZest

New Restaurant: Forager

Five West, Half Barrel, Terza

Fine Dining Restaurant: Pescara*

Chester's, Terza, Victoria's

Family Restaurant: Whistle Binkies on the Lake

Broadway Pizza, Canadian Honker, North Mr. Pizza

Ethnic Restaurant: Fiesta Mexicana

La Poblana, Mango Thai, Pho Chau

Place for Take-Out: Nupa (north)

China Star (downtown), Hunan Garden, Pho Chau

Overall Bar: Tap House*

Doggery, Half Barrel, Loop

Bar for Craft Cocktails: Doggery*

300 First, Half Barrel, La Vetta

Brewery or Brewpub: Forager

Grand Rounds, Kinney Creek, LTS

Place for Nightlife: Tap House

Dooley's, Kathy's, Loop

Place for a First Date: Redwood Room

Cafe Steam, Chester's, Loop

Place for Couples: 300 First

Forager, Redwood Room, Terza

Coffee Shop: Cafe Steam*

Bravo Espresso, Dunn Brothers (north), Kutzky Market

 
 

Community Favorites

Venue for Live Music: Wicked Moose*

Kathy's, North Star, Redwood Room

Entertainment Venue: Canvas and Chardonnay

Bowlocity, Goonie's, Rochester Civic Theatre

Wedding Venue: Mayowood Stone Barn

History Center of Olmsted County, Plummer House, Rochester Art Center

Grocery Store: Hy-Vee (West Circle Drive)

Hy-Vee (Barlow), People's Food Co-op, Trader Joes

Place for a Haircut: Hair Studio 52

r!ah Hair Studio, Salon Chic, Serenity Couture

Car Repair Shop: Virgil's*

Babcock, Rochester Service on 2nd, Tilson's

Specialty Retailer: Tangerine*

Dwell Local, Shades of Green, TerraLoco

Clothing Boutique: Posh

Hers, Mainstream Boutique, Primp

Park or Public Area: Quarry Hill*

Peace Plaza, Silver Lake Park, Soldiers Field

Community Event: Thursdays on First & 3rd*

Down by the Riverside, Farmers Market, Rochesterfest

 
 

Making an Impact

Musical Performer/Group: Incognito

Jeremy Jewell, JT & the Gunslingers, Suite

Bartender/Server: Mike Erickson (Doggery)

Brad Olson (Terza/La Vetta), Chris Fierst (Half Barrel), Lucy Lampland (Grand Rounds)

Community Leader: Mayor Ardell Brede

Jamie Sundsbak (BioAM), Lisa Clarke (Destination Medical Center), Michael Wojcik (City Council)

Volunteer: Kelly Corbin

Danielle Teal, Jen Murillo, Jeff Hansel

Business Person: Hunter & Traci Downs (Area 10 Labs)

Joe Powers (Powers Ventures), Nate Nordstrom (BrandHoot), Rob Gregory (Rochester Ford)

Educator: Amy Monson (Mayo High)

Jaime Smoody (Willow Creek Middle), Michael Olson (Folwell Elementary), Sandy Nieland (John Marshall High)

Impact Maker in Health Care: Dr. Amit Sood (Professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine)

Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti (Neurologist at Mayo Clinic), Dr. Fredric Meyer (Neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic), Dr. Victor Montori (Professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine)

Winners are in bold with other finalists in italics. *Indicates repeat winner.


Thank you

We want to extend our appreciation to everyone who came out for the first-ever Rochester's Finest celebration party at Studio324. The event would not have been possible without the following individuals and businesses:

  • Studio324 (Shawn and Michelle Fagan)
  • Claire Walling
  • Adam Salmi
  • Dave Beal
  • Grand Rounds Brewpub
  • Push & Turn
  • Zach Ashton

Our Celebrity Jeopardy winner was Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, who came from behind in the final round to win a $250 donation to the Rochester/Olmsted County Law Enforcement Memorial Association.

Runner-ups Jenna Bowman, of the Rochester Downtown Alliance, and Nick Campion, of the Rochester City Council, won $50 and $25 donations to the Women's Shelter and Mission 21, respectively. 

 
 

Feedback

What did you like about this year's competition? What improvements could we make for next year? At the Med City Beat, we take your feedback seriously.


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(Cover photo: Licensed / Getty)

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