View Best of Omaha™ 2013 winners:
directory.bestofomaha.com
directory.bestofomaha.com
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
1992
Annual Event
River City Roundup
1
1992
Apartment Complex
Applewood on the Green
1
1992
Arts Entertainment
Joslyn Art Museum
1
1992
Bakery
The Garden Cafe
1
1992
Bike Trail
Keystone Recreation Trail
1
1992
Brunch
Maxine's Restaurant & Lounge
1
1992
Buffet
Old Country Buffet
1
1992
Burger
Fuddruckers
1
1992
Deli
Spirit World
1
1992
Dry Cleaner
Max I Walker
1
1992
Family Restaurant
The Garden Cafe
1
1992
Financial Institution
First National Bank of Omaha
1
1992
Fitness Center
Prairie Life Center
1
1992
Florist
Baker's Flowers
1
1992
Free Entertainment
Jazz on the Green
1
1992
Furniture Store
Nebraska Furniture Mart
1
1992
Golf Course
Miracle Hill Golf & Tennis Center
1
1992
Happy Hour
Arthur's
1
1992
Hospital
Methodist Hospital
1
1992
Italian Restaurant
Grisanti's Casual Italian Restaurant
1
1992
Jewelry Store
Borsheim's
1
1992
Known Omahan
Warren Buffet
1
1992
Live Music
Ranch Bowl
1
1992
Local Band
High Heel & The Sneekers
1
1992
Men's Clothing Store
Landon's
1
1992
Mexican Food
Julio's
1
1992
Movie Theater
Indian Hills 4 Theatre
1
1992
Not on Ballot
KKCD Radio
1
1992
Nursery
Earl May Nursery & Garden Center
1
1992
Omaha Tradition
River City Roundup
1
1992
Oriental Food
The Great Wall
1
1992
Outdoor Event
College World Series
1
1992
People Watching
Malls
1
1992
Pet Center
Fish Bowl
1
1992
Picnic Spot
Elmwood Park
1
1992
Pizza
Zio's Pizza
1
1992
Place to Buy CDs and Tapes
Homer's Record Store
1
1992
Place to Dance
Arthur's
1
1992
Place to Jog
Elmwood Park
1
1992
Place to Meet SIngles
Paradise Lounge
1
1992
Place to Take Kids
The Henry Doorly Zoo
1
1992
Real Estate Company
CBS Real Estate
1
1992
Reason to Live in Omaha
People
1
1992
Ribs
Smoke Pit BBQ
1
1992
Romantic Dining
French Cafe
1
1992
Salon
Salon Tino
1
1992
Shoe Store
Payless ShoeSource
1
1992
Shopping Center/Mall
Crossroads Mall
1
1992
Steak House
Ross' Steak House
1
1992
Tourist Attraction
The Henry Doorly Zoo
1
1992
Travel Agency
Travel & Transport Inc.
1
1992
Weekend Getaway
Kansas City, MO
1
1992
Women's Clothing Store
Younkers
1
1992
Yogurt
TCBY Yogurt
1 (tie)
1992
Soft Drink
Coke
1 (tie)
1992
Soft Drink
Pepsi
2
1992
Annual Event
College World Series
2
1992
Apartment Complex
Embassy Park
2
1992
Arts Entertainment
The Omaha Community Playhouse
2
1992
Bakery
Gerda's Bakery
2
1992
Bike Trail
Chalco Hills Recreation Area
2
1992
Brunch
The Garden Cafe
2
1992
Buffet
Valentino's
2
1992
Burger
Runza
2
1992
Deli
Baker's
2
1992
Dry Cleaner
Martinizing
2
1992
Family Restaurant
Grandmother's Restaurant & Lounge
2
1992
Financial Institution
Norwest Bank Nebraska NA
2
1992
Fitness Center
Gold's Gym
2
1992
Florist
Janousek Florist & Greenhouse Inc
2
1992
Free Entertainment
Shakespeare on the Green
2
1992
Furniture Store
O'Brien's Furniture
2
1992
Golf Course
Benson Park
2
1992
Happy Hour
3 Cheers
2
1992
Hospital
Bergan Mercy
2
1992
Italian Restaurant
The Olive Garden
2
1992
Jewelry Store
Malashock's Jewelry
2
1992
Known Omahan
Mayor PJ Morgan
2
1992
Live Music
Orpheum Theater
2
1992
Local Band
The Rumbles
2
1992
Mexican Food
Romeo's
2
1992
Movie Theater
Cinema Center Theatres
2
1992
Not on Ballot
University of Nebraska at Omaha
2
1992
Nursery
Mulhall's Nursery
2
1992
Omaha Tradition
College World Series
2
1992
Oriental Food
Imperial Palace
2
1992
Outdoor Event
Jazz on the Green
2
1992
People Watching
Old Market
2
1992
Pet Center
Humane Society
2
1992
Picnic Spot
Dam Site 16
2
1992
Pizza
Godfather's Pizza
2
1992
Place to Buy CDs and Tapes
Pickles Records & Tapes
2
1992
Place to Dance
Ranch Bowl
2
1992
Place to Jog
Keystone Recreation Trail
2
1992
Place to Meet SIngles
Grocery Store
2
1992
Place to Take Kids
Omaha Childrens Museum
2
1992
Real Estate Company
Home Real Estate
2
1992
Reason to Live in Omaha
Cost of Living
2
1992
Ribs
The Amarillo
2
1992
Romantic Dining
Brother Sebastian's
2
1992
Salon
Garbo's
2
1992
Shoe Store
Lloyd's Shoes
2
1992
Shopping Center/Mall
Westroads
2
1992
Soft Drink
Diet Coke
2
1992
Sporting Event
Lancer Hockey
2
1992
Steak House
Gorat's Steak House
2
1992
Tourist Attraction
Old Market
2
1992
Travel Agency
AAA Travel Agency
2
1992
Weekend Getaway
Embassy Suites Hotel
2
1992
Women's Clothing Store
Limited Express
2
1992
Yogurt
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt
2 (tie)
1992
Men's Clothing Store
Dillard
2 (tie)
1992
Men's Clothing Store
Jerry Ryan
2 (tie)
1992
Men's Clothing Store
Younkers
3
1992
Annual Event
Septemberfest
3
1992
Apartment Complex
Lionshead
3
1992
Arts Entertainment
Omaha Symphony Orchestra
3
1992
Bakery
Hy-Vee Bakery
3
1992
Bike Trail
Dam Site 16
3
1992
Brunch
Allie's
3
1992
Buffet
The Choice Smorgasbord
3
1992
Burger
Goldberg's Bar
3
1992
Deli
Little King
3
1992
Dry Cleaner
Evans Cleaners
3
1992
Financial Institution
FirsTier Bank
3
1992
Florist
Younkers Flower Shop
3
1992
Italian Restaurant
Caniglia's Venice Inn
3
1992
Jewelry Store
Helzberg Diamonds
3
1992
Known Omahan
Sen. Bob Kerrey
3
1992
Live Music
Arthur's
3
1992
Local Band
Johnny Ray Gomez
3
1992
Mexican Food
El Aguila Retaurant
3
1992
Movie Theater
Dundee Theatre
3
1992
Not on Ballot
Baker's
3
1992
Nursery
The Yard Co.
3
1992
Omaha Tradition
Mannheim Steamroller
3
1992
Oriental Food
House of Hunan
3
1992
Outdoor Event
Shakespeare on the Green
3
1992
People Watching
Airport
3
1992
Picnic Spot
Central Park Mall
3
1992
Pizza
La Casa Pizzaria
3
1992
Place to Dance
Peony Park
3
1992
Place to Jog
Memorial Park
3
1992
Real Estate Company
NP Dodge Co
3
1992
Reason to Live in Omaha
Economy
3
1992
Ribs
Skeets Barbecue Drive In
3
1992
Romantic Dining
Maxine's Restaurant
3
1992
Salon
Haircrafters
3
1992
Shoe Store
Haney Shoe Store
3
1992
Shopping Center/Mall
Oak View Mall
3
1992
Soft Drink
Diet Pepsi
3
1992
Sporting Event
Nebraska Football
3
1992
Steak House
Johnny's Cafe
3
1992
Tourist Attraction
Boys Town
3
1992
Weekend Getaway
Mahoney State Park
3
1992
Women's Clothing Store
Dillard
3
1992
Yogurt
Dannon
3 (tie)
1992
Family Restaurant
Old Country Buffet
3 (tie)
1992
Family Restaurant
Valentino's
3 (tie)
1992
Free Entertainment
Music in the Parks
3 (tie)
1992
Free Entertainment
Old Market
3 (tie)
1992
Furniture Store
Allen Furniture
3 (tie)
1992
Furniture Store
Mrs. B's Warehouse
3 (tie)
1992
Golf Course
Applewod
3 (tie)
1992
Golf Course
Elmwood Park
3 (tie)
1992
Happy Hour
Grandmother's
3 (tie)
1992
Happy Hour
Mickey Finn's Sports Cafe
3 (tie)
1992
Hospital
Clarkson Hospital
3 (tie)
1992
Hospital
UNMC
3 (tie)
1992
Pet Center
Bob's Animal Kingdom
3 (tie)
1992
Pet Center
Pet O'Mine
3 (tie)
1992
Place to Meet SIngles
Arthur's
3 (tie)
1992
Place to Meet SIngles
Church
3 (tie)
1992
Place to Take Kids
Peony Park
3 (tie)
1992
Place to Take Kids
Showbiz Pizza Place
3 (tie)
1992
Travel Agency
Pegasus Travel Center
3 (tie)
1992
Travel Agency
Younkers Travel Service
