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
2004
Annual Local Event
College World Series
2
2004
Annual Local Event
July 4th Fireworks at Rosenblatt
3
2004
Annual Local Event
Summer Arts Festival
1
2004
Asian Restaurant
PF Chang's China Bistro
2
2004
Asian Restaurant
Kobe Steakhouse
3
2004
Asian Restaurant
China Road
1
2004
Assisted Living
Immanuel Lakeside Terrace
2
2004
Assisted Living
Silver Crest
3
2004
Assisted Living
Parsons House on Eagle Run
1
2004
Bakery
Panera Bread
2
2004
Bakery
Lithuanian Bakery
3
2004
Bakery
Pettit's Pastry
1
2004
Bank
First National Bank
2
2004
Bank
Wells Fargo
3
2004
Bank
Commercial Federal
1
2004
BBQ
Famous Dave's
2
2004
BBQ
McKenna's
3
2004
BBQ
Amarillo
1
2004
Brew House
Upstream
2
2004
Brew House
Crescent Moon
3
2004
Brew House
Jaipur
1
2004
Buffet
Valentino's
2
2004
Buffet
Ameristar
3
2004
Buffet
Old Country Buffet
1
2004
Burger
Goldberg's
2
2004
Burger
Fuddrucker's
3
2004
Burger
Red Robin
1
2004
Cigar Shop
Cigarros
2
2004
Cigar Shop
David's Briar Shop
3
2004
Cigar Shop
Nickleby's Tobacconist
1
2004
Coffee Shop
Scooters Java Express
2
2004
Coffee Shop
Starbuck's
3
2004
Coffee Shop
Crane Coffee
1
2004
Cosmetic Surgery
Dr. Joel Schlessinger
2
2004
Cosmetic Surgery
Dr. Jeffrey Popp
3
2004
Cosmetic Surgery
Dr. Steven Dennenberg
1
2004
Family Restaurant
Outback Steakhouse
2
2004
Family Restaurant
Millard Roadhouse
1
2004
Fitness Club
24-Hour Fitness
2
2004
Fitness Club
YMCA
3
2004
Fitness Club
Prairie Life Center
1
2004
Florist
Piccolo's Florist and Gifts
2
2004
Florist
Stems
3
2004
Florist
Janousek
1
2004
Formal Dining
French Cafe
2
2004
Formal Dining
Brother Sebastian's Steak House & Winery
3
2004
Formal Dining
V. Mertz
1
2004
Furniture Store
Nebraska Furniture Mart
2
2004
Furniture Store
Rod Kush' Furniture
3
2004
Furniture Store
Ethan Allen
1
2004
Golf Course
Champions Club
2
2004
Golf Course
Tiburon
3
2004
Golf Course
Indian Creek
1
2004
Grocery Store
Hy-Vee
2
2004
Grocery Store
Baker's Supermarket
3
2004
Grocery Store
Super Target
1
2004
Hair Salon
Creative Hair Design
2
2004
Hair Salon
Garbo's
3
2004
Hair Salon
Toglia's
1
2004
Home Builder
Benchmark Homes
2
2004
Home Builder
Hearthstone
3
2004
Home Builder
Celebrity Homes
1
2004
Interior Designer
Interior Design Firm
2
2004
Interior Designer
Interiors by Joan
3
2004
Interior Designer
The Designers
1
2004
Investment Advisor
Edward Jones
2
2004
Investment Advisor
Smith Barney
3
2004
Investment Advisor
Securities America
1
2004
Jewelry Store
Borsheim's
2
2004
Jewelry Store
Helzberg's Diamonds
3
2004
Jewelry Store
Zales
1
2004
Known Omaha
Warren Buffet
2
2004
Known Omaha
Eric Crouch
3
2004
Known Omaha
Rose Blumkin (Mrs. B)
1
2004
Local Radio Personality
Todd & Tyler (Z-92)
2
2004
Local Radio Personality
TJ & Gina (103)
3
2004
Local Radio Personality
Tim & the Animal, with Johnny Royal (The Dam)
2
2004
Martini
Velvet Lounge
3
2004
Martini
Prestige Lounge
1
2004
Mexican Restaurant
La Mesa
2
2004
Mexican Restaurant
Fernando's
3
2004
Mexican Restaurant
Carlos O'Kelly's
1
2004
Mortgage Company
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
2
2004
Mortgage Company
First National
3
2004
Mortgage Company
Commercial Federal Bank
1
2004
New Car Dealer
Woodhouse Ford Lincoln Mercury
2
2004
New Car Dealer
H & H Chevrolet
3
2004
New Car Dealer
Sid Dillon Chevrolet
1
2004
Nursery/Landscaper
Mulhall's Nursery
2
2004
Nursery/Landscaper
Lanoha
3
2004
Nursery/Landscaper
Earl May
1
2004
Pet Store
Petco
2
2004
Pet Store
Petsmart
3
2004
Pet Store
Nebraska Humane Society
1
2004
Pizza
Valentino's
2
2004
Pizza
Zio's
3
2004
Pizza
La Casa
1
2004
Place to Eat Lunch
Panera Bread
2
2004
Place to Eat Lunch
Runza
3
2004
Place to Eat Lunch
Ruby Tuesday
1
2004
Place to Meet People
The Old Market
2
2004
Place to Meet People
University of Nebraska at Omaha
3
2004
Place to Meet People
Anchor Inn
1
2004
Place to Take a Date
The Old Market
2
2004
Place to Take a Date
Henry Doorly Zoo
3
2004
Place to Take a Date
AMC Theaters
1
2004
Prime Rib
The Pink Poodle
2
2004
Prime Rib
Farmer Brown's Steakhouse
3
2004
Prime Rib
Brother Sebastian's Steak House & Winery
1
2004
Romantic Restaurant
Brother Sebastian's Steak House & Winery
2
2004
Romantic Restaurant
V. Mertz
3
2004
Romantic Restaurant
The French Cafe
1
2004
Shopping Area
Oak View Mall
2
2004
Shopping Area
Westroads Mall
3
2004
Shopping Area
One Pacific Place
1
2004
Sports Bar
Ice House
3
2004
Sports Bar
Buffalo Wild Wings
1
2004
Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse
2
2004
Steakhouse
Gorat's Steakhouse
3
2004
Steakhouse
Johnny's Cafe
1
2004
Sushi
Sushi Ichiban
2
2004
Sushi
Blue Sushi Sake & Grill
3
2004
Sushi
Mr. Fuji's
1
2004
Tire Store
Jensen Tire
2
2004
Tire Store
Walker Tire
3
2004
Tire Store
Tires Plus
1
2004
Travel Agency
AAA Travel Agency
2
2004
Travel Agency
Travel & Transport
3
2004
Travel Agency
Corporate & Leisure Travel
1
2004
Used Car Dealer
Woodhouse Ford Lincoln Mercury
2
2004
Used Car Dealer
Lexus of Omaha
3
2004
Used Car Dealer
Sid Dillon's
1
2004
Wine Seller
Spirit World
2
2004
Wine Seller
The Winery
3
2004
Wine Seller
World Market
1
2004
Wireless/Cellular
Verizon
2
2004
Wireless/Cellular
Sprint
3
2004
Wireless/Cellular
Alltel
