The Best of Omaha contest, sponsored by Omaha Magazine , began in the mid-80′s. It started with votes from the magazine staff, but eventually expanded to the public in 1992. Readers could vote for their favorite Omaha businesses and services on paper ballots and fax or mail them; but today, all of the voting is done electronically. By switching to online voting, the contest became more secure and added a sense of validity, allowing only one log-in per IP address during the voting period (July 1st – Sept. 30th).
As the contest gained more popularity, the categories also began to expand. There are currently 176 Best of Omaha categories with around 425,000 votes from around 20,000 voters. The five most popular categories are Grocery Store, Mexican Dining, Pizza, Bank, and Italian Dining. Most of the Best of Omaha winners don’t actually advertise with Omaha Magazine; and since the magazine is the only sponsor with its staff calculating the results, the businesses and services nominated in the contest can’t gain any headway by advertising.
The Best of Omaha results come out every year in Omaha Magazine ‘s January/February issue with a readership over 115,000 during the two month shelf-life.
Look up previous Best of Omaha® winners
Use this search form to find a particular company.
1
1997
"Party Place"
Guitars & Cadillacs
1
1997
"Pick-Up" Place
Ten Lies
1
1997
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Valentino's
1
1997
Bakery
Garden Cafe
1
1997
BBQ Restaurant
Ozark Smoked Meats
1
1997
Book Store
Barns & Noble
1
1997
Burger
Goldberg's
1
1997
Car Wash
VIP
1
1997
CDs & Tapes
Buy
1
1997
Cellular Phone Service
Air Touch Cellular
1
1997
Coffee House
MJ Java
1
1997
College/University
UNO
1
1997
Deli-Style Sandwich
Quizno's
1
1997
Department Store
Dillard's
1
1997
Family Restaurant
Applebee's
1
1997
Financial Institution
First National Bank
1
1997
Fitness Club
Gold's Gym
1
1997
Florist
Baker's Supermarket
1
1997
French Fries
Runza
1
1997
Grocery Store
Baker's Supermarket
1
1997
Hair Styling Salon
Creative Hair Design
1
1997
Happy Hour
Grandmother's
1
1997
Home Electronics Store
NFM Mega Mart
1
1997
Hospital
Methodist
1
1997
Internet Service
American OnLine
1
1997
Italian Restaurant
Pasta Amore
1
1997
Jewelry Store
Borsheim's
1
1997
Kids Clothing Store
Gap
1
1997
Known Omahan
Warren Buffett
1
1997
Live Music
Ranch Bowl
1
1997
Local Music Group
Fish Heads
1
1997
Men's Clothing Store
Barrett-Reed Menswear
1
1997
Mexican Restaurant
Fernando's
1
1997
Movie Theater
20 Grand
1
1997
New Car Dealership
H & H
1
1997
Nursery/Garden Center
Mulhall's
1
1997
Pizza
Zio's
1
1997
Place to Meet Friends
Old Market
1
1997
Public "Hangout"
Old Market
1
1997
Romantic Dining
The Jaipur
1
1997
Shopping Center/Mall
Oak View
1
1997
Steak House
Outback
1
1997
Sunday Brunch
Garden Cafe
1
1997
Tanning Salon
TanFastic
1
1997
Tourist Attraction
Henry Doorly Zoo
1
1997
TV News Personality
Pat Persaud
1
1997
TV Newscast
Channel 6 WOWT
1
1997
Used Car Dealership
Huber
1
1997
Video Store
Blockbuster
1
1997
Weekend Getaway
Kansas City
1
1997
Women's Clothing Store
Younkers
2
1997
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Old Country Buffet
2
1997
Bakery
Baker's Supermarket
2
1997
BBQ Restaurant
McKenna's
2
1997
Book Store
Borders
2
1997
Burger
Burger King
2
1997
Car Wash
Buchanan's Amoco
2
1997
CDs & Tapes
Homer's
2
1997
Cellular Phone Service
Aliant Cellular
2
1997
Coffee House
Downtown Grounds
2
1997
College/University
Creighton University
2
1997
Deli-Style Sandwich
Subway
2
1997
Department Store
Younkers
2
1997
Family Restaurant
Valentino's
2
1997
Financial Institution
Norwest Bank
2
1997
Fitness Club
Prairie Life Center
2
1997
Florist
Piccolo's
2
1997
French Fries
McDonald's
2
1997
Grocery Store
Hy-Vee Supermarket
2
1997
Hair Styling Salon
Garbo's
2
1997
Happy Hour
Arthur's
2
1997
Home Electronics Store
Buy
2
1997
Hospital
Bergan Mercy
2
1997
Ice Cream
TCBY
2
1997
Internet Service
Netscape
2
1997
Italian Restaurant
Lo Sole Mio
2
1997
Jewelry Store
Brodkey's
2
1997
Kids Clothing Store
Gymboree
2
1997
Known Omahan
Hal Daub
2
1997
Live Music
Arthur's
2
1997
Local Music Group
Blue Moon Ghetto
2
1997
Men's Clothing Store
Parsow's
2
1997
Mexican Restaurant
Romeo's
2
1997
Movie Theater
Indian Hills
2
1997
New Car Dealership
Baxter
2
1997
Nursery/Garden Center
Earl May
2
1997
Place to Meet Friends
Church
2
1997
Public "Hangout"
Heartland of America Park
2
1997
Romantic Dining
French Cafe
2
1997
Shopping Center/Mall
Westraods
2
1997
Steak House
Austin's
2
1997
Sunday Brunch
Valentino's
2
1997
Tanning Salon
Tan Huts
2
1997
Tourist Attraction
Old Market
2
1997
TV News Personality
John Knicely
2
1997
TV Newscast
Channel 7 KETV
2
1997
Used Car Dealership
H & H
2
1997
Video Store
Hollywood Video
2
1997
Weekend Getaway
Mahoney State Park
2
1997
Women's Clothing Store
Ann Taylor
2 (tie)
1997
"Party Place"
18th Amendment
2 (tie)
1997
"Party Place"
Paddy Murphy's
2 (tie)
1997
"Pick-Up" Place
M's Pub
2 (tie)
1997
"Pick-Up" Place
The Mall
3
1997
"Party Place"
Arthur's
3
1997
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Golden Corral
3
1997
Bakery
Gerda's
3
1997
BBQ Restaurant
Tony Roma's
3
1997
Book Store
Waldenbooks
3
1997
Burger
Runza
3
1997
Car Wash
Mr. Suds
3
1997
CDs & Tapes
Blockbuster Music
3
1997
Cellular Phone Service
Sprint PCS
3
1997
College/University
UNL
3
1997
Deli-Style Sandwich
Blimpie
3
1997
Department Store
Von Maur
3
1997
Family Restaurant
Garden Cafe
3
1997
Financial Insitution
Commercial Federal
3
1997
Fitness Club
Westroads Club
3
1997
Florist
Stems at Countryside
3
1997
French Fries
Arby's
3
1997
Grocery Store
Albertson's Food & Drug
3
1997
Hair Styling Salon
Great Clips
3
1997
Happy Hour
Billy Frogg's
3
1997
Home Electronics Store
Circuit City
3
1997
Hospital
UNMC
3
1997
Ice Cream
Goodrich Dairy
3
1997
Internet Service
Radiks
3
1997
Italian Restaurant
Valentino's
3
1997
Jewelry Store
Bergman's
3
1997
Kids Clothing Store
Kids "R" Us
3
1997
Known Omahan
Chip Davis
3
1997
Live Music
McKenna's
3
1997
Local Music Group
Labels
3
1997
Men's Clothing Store
Structure
3
1997
Mexican Restaurant
Julio's
3
1997
Movie Theatre
Q Cinema 9
3
1997
New Car Dealership
Atchley
3
1997
Nursery/Garden Center
Lanoha
3
1997
Pizza
Godfather's
3
1997
Place to Meet Friends
Upstream Brewery
3
1997
Public "Hangout"
Memorial Park
3
1997
Romantic Dining
V Mertz
3
1997
Shopping Center/Mall
One Pacific Place
3
1997
Steak House
Lone Star
3
1997
Sunday Brunch
Maxine's
3
1997
Tanning Salon
Alexander's Hair Artistry
3
1997
Tourist Attraction
College World Series
3
1997
TV News Personality
Dave Webber
3
1997
TV Newscast
Channel 3 KMTV
3
1997
Used Car Dealership
Stan Olsen
3
1997
Video Store
Baker's Supermarket
3
1997
Women's Clothing Store
The Limited
