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
2003
Annual Local Event
College World Series
1
2003
Apartment Complex
Thomasville Apartments
1
2003
Area College
University of Nebraska at Omaha
1
2003
Assisted Living Center
Remington Heights
1
2003
Auto Service
Jensen Goodyear Tire & Complete Auto Service Centers
1
2003
Bank
First National Bank of Omaha
1
2003
BBQ
Famous Dave's
1
2003
Burger
Goldberg's
1
2003
Business Leader
Warren Buffet
1
2003
Coffee
Scooters Java Express
1
2003
Dance Bar
The Max
1
2003
Dentist
James Polerecky
1
2003
Electronics
Mega Mart
1
2003
Employer
Mutual of Omaha
1
2003
Family Restaurant
Grandmother's Restaurant & Lounge
1
2003
Fitness Club
24-Hour Fitness
1
2003
Florist
Piccolo's Florist
1
2003
Formal Dining
French Cafe
1
2003
Furniture
Nebraska Furniture Mart
1
2003
Golf Course
Champions Club
1
2003
Grocery Store
Hy-Vee Food Store
1
2003
Hair Salon
Creative Hair Design
1
2003
Home Builder
Benchmark Homes
1
2003
Ice Cream
TCBY Treats
1
2003
Jewelry
Borsheim's
1
2003
Known Omahan
Warren Buffet
1
2003
Massage
Creative Hair Design
1
2003
Movie Theater
AMC Oak View 24
1
2003
New Car Dealer
Woodhouse Ford Lincoln Mercury
1
2003
Nursery/Landscaper
Mulhall's Home & Garden Showcase
1
2003
Optical
ShopKo
1
2003
Pizza
Zio's Pizzeria
1
2003
Politician/Civic Leader
Mike Fahey
1
2003
Radio Personality
Todd & Tyler, KEZO, Z-92 FM
1
2003
Recreational Area
Mahoney State Park
1
2003
Retirement Community
Immanuel Lakeside Village
1
2003
Shopping
Oak View Mall
1
2003
Sports Bar
Ice House
1
2003
Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse
1
2003
Takeout
Tony Roma's
1
2003
Tourist Attraction
Henry Doorly Zoo
1
2003
Travel Agency
AAA
1
2003
Used Car Dealer
Woodhouse Ford Lincoln Mercury
1
2003
Wireless/Cellular
Alltel
1 (tie)
2003
Web Site
DiscoverOmaha.com
1 (tie)
2003
Web Site
Omaha.com
2
2003
Apartment Complex
Old Market Lofts
2
2003
Area College
Creighton
2
2003
Assisted Living Center
Good Samaritan Center
2
2003
Auto Service
Kosiski Auto Parts
2
2003
Bank
Wells Fargo
2
2003
BBQ
Tony Roma's
2
2003
Buffet
Old Country Buffet
2
2003
Burger
Don & Millie's
2
2003
Business Leader
Walter Scott, Jr.
2
2003
Coffee
Crane Coffee
2
2003
Dance Bar
Guitars & Cadillacs
2
2003
Dentist
Roger Curry
2
2003
Electronics
Buy
2
2003
Employer
ConAgra
2
2003
Family Restaurant
Applebee's
2
2003
Fitness Club
Prairie Life Center
2
2003
Florist
Baker's
2
2003
Formal Dining
V. Mertz
2
2003
Golf Course
Indian Creek
2
2003
Grocery Store
Bakers Supermarket
2
2003
Hair Salon
Garbo's
2
2003
Home Builder
Dan Witt Homes
2
2003
Ice Cream
Culver's
2
2003
Jewelry
Brodkey's
2
2003
Known Omahan
Bob Kerrey
2
2003
Massage
Omaha School of Massage
2
2003
Movie Theater
Twin Creek CInema
2
2003
New Car Dealer
H & H Chevrolet
2
2003
Nursery/Landscaper
Lanoha's Nursery
2
2003
Optical
Pearle Vision Center
2
2003
Pizza
Big Fred's Pizza Garden
2
2003
Politician/Civic Leader
Hal Daub
2
2003
Radio Personality
TJ, KXKT, 103 FM
2
2003
Recreational Area
Zorinsky Lake
2
2003
Retirement Community
Alegent Lakeside
2
2003
Shopping
Westroads Mall
2
2003
Sports Bar
DJ's Dugout
2
2003
Takeout
Famous Dave's
2
2003
Tourist Attraction
Old Market
2
2003
Travel Agency
Travel & Transport
2
2003
Used Car Dealer
Jeff Schrier Ford
2
2003
Web Site
TheOmahaChannel.com
2 (tie)
2003
Annual Local Event
River City Roundup
2 (tie)
2003
Annual Local Event
Summer Arts Festival
2 (tie)
2003
Furniture
Allens
2 (tie)
2003
Steakhouse
Austin's Steakhouse
2 (tie)
2003
Steakhouse
Gorat's
3
2003
Annual Local Event
SeptemberFest
3
2003
Apartment Complex
Steeplechase Apartments
3
2003
Area College
Metropolitan Community College
3
2003
Assisted Living Center
Immanuel Lakeside Village
3
2003
Bank
Commercial Federal
3
2003
BBQ
McKenna's
3
2003
Buffet
China Buffet
3
2003
Burger
Runza
3
2003
Business Leader
Bruce Lauritzen
3
2003
Coffee
Starbucks
3
2003
Dance Bar
Safari Bar
3
2003
Dentist
Steven Wegner
3
2003
Electronics
RadioShack
3
2003
Employer
Union Pacific
3
2003
Family Restaurant
Valentino's
3
2003
Fitness Club
Gold's Gym
3
2003
Florist
Taylor's Flower Shop
3
2003
Furniture
Rod Kush's Furniture
3
2003
Golf Course
Tiburon Golf Club
3
2003
Grocery Store
Albertson's
3
2003
Hair Salon
Salon Tino
3
2003
Home Builder
Celebrity Homes
3
2003
Ice Cream
Dairy Queen
3
2003
Jewelry
Helzberg Diamonds
3
2003
Known Omahan
Willy Theisen
3
2003
Massage
Design of the Times
3
2003
Movie Theater
20 Grand Cinema
3
2003
New Car Dealer
Baxter Chrysler Plymouth Jeep
3
2003
New Car Dealer
Baxter Chrysler Plymouth Jeep
3
2003
Nursery/Landscaper
Earl May Nursery & Garden Center
3
2003
Optical
Lenscrafters
3
2003
Politician/Civic Leader
Lee Terry, Jr.
3
2003
Radio Personality
Jack & Fred, Mix 96.1 FM
3
2003
Recreational Area
Memorial Park
3
2003
Shopping
One Pacific Place
3
2003
Sports Bar
Brewsky's Food & Spirits
3
2003
Steakhouse
Johnny's Cafe
3
2003
Takeout
Outback Steakhouse
3
2003
Travel Agency
World
3
2003
Used Car Dealer
H & H Chevrolet
3
2003
Web Site
WOWT.com
3
2003
Wireless/Cellular
Sprint PCS
3 (tie)
2003
Auto Service
Dave's Auto Repair
3 (tie)
2003
Auto Service
Jiffy Lube
3 (tie)
2003
Formal Dining
Brother Sebastian's
3 (tie)
2003
Formal Dining
Flatiron Cafe
3 (tie)
2003
Retirement Community
New Cassel Retirement Center
3 (tie)
2003
Retirement Community
Remington Heights Retirement
