The HOT Categories

The phrase “close but no cigar” often hits way too close to home for some local businesses each July, as chicken wing and barbecue joints battle it out, alongside lingerie stores and live music enclaves, for the oh-so-coveted Nappie. Every year, we notice there are a few categories that are so close they just cannot be decided until every vote is counted and every hanging and pregnant chad is examined and re-examined by our election officials, (also known as our intern).

True, we are not electing a president here, but we are figuring out Mobile’s “Bar Bathroom Most Likely to be Replicated in Hell.”

Which winner is more likely to solve the Middle East Crisis? I think we all know the answer to that, so without further ado, Lagniappe presents this year’s slugfests….

So maybe the Sons of the Confederate Veterans wouldn’t want to see some lady’s bodacious tatas draped in this bikini. But for those who do, Nicolina Bradley at The Gift Spot can fix those boobies right on up with the above “heritage not hate” selection, or with any number of skimpy pieces guaranteed to get someone’s cannon firing. The G Spot once again edged out NT Lingerie this year for “Best Lingerie Store.”

Hot, tangy, spicy, mild or sweet? No, I’m not talking about how some judges prefer their teenaged boys. No, I’m talking about the wings of chickens and how they are prepared.

Everyone seems to have an opinion about these delicious drumsticks — from how they are prepared to what they are covered in and served with, and this year, Buffalo Wild Wings edged out the formidable Baumhower’s Wings for the Nappie for “Best Wings.”

If a delicious filet covered in shrimp and smothered in Gorgonzola cheese didn’t push Osman’s over last year’s winner for Best Locally-Owned Restaurant, La Pizzeria, then surely it was their gnocchi? Or could it have been their succulent mussels? No, it had to be their schnitzel, which is about the size of Texas and oh-so-tender. How does it get so tender, you ask? Osman’s, tucked away on Halls Mill Road, is the only restaurant in town where you can actually hear the chef beating a schnitzel like it’s a detainee at Gitmo and is withholding a state secret. It would be pure torture not to get to go to Osman’s again, soon!

The bar at The Cannon Grill almost bested Alabama Music Box for Best New Bar. While they couldn’t quite grab that title away from the LoDa music enclave, they did snatch Best MiMo Bar away from such tough competitors as Trolleys and the Double Olive. This bar and eatery located at the Loop, in the former Bilotti’s location, also took home the Nappie for Best New Casual Restaurant. Not too shabby!

Videos of dudes peeing on walls and women flashing their boobs couldn’t get Alabama Music Box shut down by the Mobile City Council for being a public nuisance less than a year from the day when they opened their doors. And we’re sure it wasn’t all this nonsense that made Lagniappe readers choose the Dauphin Street music hall as their pick for “Best New Bar.” No, this club has been a welcome addition for Mobile music lovers, as they have brought in a steady and motley stream of new acts to this burg.

Style

Best Bartender

W: Cheryl Shifflet @ Callaghan’s

HM: Candy @ Cannon Grill

HM: Gina @ Veet’s

Best All Around Bar

W: Callaghan’s

HM: Garage

Best Dive

W: Garage

HM: Hayley’s

Best New Bar (Under a year old)

W: Alabama Music Box

HM: Cannon Grill — 1850 Room

Best Eastern Shore Bar

W: McSherry’s

HM: Moe’s

Best WeMo Bar

W: Crooked Martini

HM: Bojangles

Best MiMo Bar

W: Cannon Grill

HM: Trolley’s

Best LoDa Bar

W: Hurricane Brew Pub

HM: Garage

Best SoMo Bar

W: Zebra Lounge

HM: Julie’s

Best Beach Bar

W: LuLu’s

HM: Flora-Bama

Favorite Casino

W: Hard Rock Casino

HM: IP Resort & Casino

HM: Beau Rivage

Best Alternative Lifestyle Bar

W: B-Bob’s

HM: Visions Twist

Best Bar Bathroom

W: Double Olive

HM: Bike Shop

Bar Bathroom Most Likely to be Replicated in Hell

W: Hayley’s (Retired)

HM: Garage

Bar where you’re most likely to get lucky

W: Grand Central

HM: Garage

HM: Bojangles

Bar where you are most likely to pick up a cougar

W: Chantilly’s

HM: The Bakery

HM: Sammy’s

Best Jukebox

W: Garage

HM: Callaghan’s

Best place to shake your booty

W: B-Bob’s

HM: Seven

Best beer selection

W: Bike Shop

HM: Mellow Mushroom

Best Hair Stylist

W: Lauren Deakle @ Nouveau

HM: Rachel Andrews @ Bella

Best Massage Therapist

W: Heather Harris @ Full Circle

HM: Leah Jeffreys @ Polish

Best local athlete

W: Julio Jones with U of A

HM: Jamarcus Russell with Oakland Raiders

HM: Jake Peavy with San Diego Padres

Most eligible bachelor

W: Dr. Jim Bailey

HM: Andy Newton

HM: Pat Looney

Most eligible bachelorette

W: Jene Young

HM: Lois White-Spunner

Best Tattoo/ Body Piercing

W: Royal Street Tattoo

HM: Kaoz

Best Veterinarian

W: Chris Rehm

HM: John Courtney

HM: Bob Gregory

Best dentist

W: Tommy Johnson

HM: Jim Bailey

Best Hoo-ha Doctor

W: Helen Rogers

HM: Max Rogers

HM: Kirby Plessala

Gentlest Proctologist

W: Coleman Oswalt

HM: Harbor Stephens

Best Cosmetic Surgeon

W: Michael Lyons

HM: Charles Dyas

Best Place to Antique

W: Antiques @ the Loop

HM: Olde Mobile Antiques

Best “Meet” market

W: Grand Central

HM: Gabriel’s

Best Place to take out-of-towners

W: Wintzell’s

HM: Bellingrath Gardens

Hippest/Trendiest Clothing Store (Men)

W: Eighty-Six

HM: G Harvell

Hippest/Trendiest Clothing Store (Women)

W: Lotus Boutique

HM: Femme

Best Lingerie

W: Gift Spot

HM: NT Lingerie

Best Lawyer if your spouse is a ho (divorce)

W: Jennifer McDonald

HM: Claude Boone

Best Lawyer to keep you from becoming someone’s bitch (criminal)

W: Jeff Deen

HM: Dom Soto

Music

Best club to see live music

W: Soul Kitchen

HM: Blind Mule

Best outdoor bar to see live music

W: The Bluegill

HM: Moe’s BBQ

Best non-bar venue to see live music

W: Saenger Theatre

HM: The Wharf

Best local band

W: El Cantador

HM: Lowdown Throwdown

Best new local band (under one year old)

W: Super Nice Bros

HM: The Old Guard

Best Underground Band

W: Subject Matters

HM: Hush Hush Revolution

Best Band Name

W: Fat Man Squeeze

HM: El Cantador

Local band with the hottest groupies

W: Roman Street

HM: Peek

Local band with the homeliest groupies

W: The Western Lands

HM: El Cantador

Best solo musician

W: Lisa Mills

HM: Phil Procter

Best area guitar player

W: Timmy Dennis with Peek

HM: Brett LaGrave

Best area singer

W: Heath Underwood w/ El Cantador

HM: Lisa Zanghi

HM: Kristy Lee

Best area drummer

W: Andy Scott w/ The Old Guard

HM: John Hamilton

Best area bass player

W: Johnny Gwin w/ El Cantador

HM: Andy with Peek

Best area piano player

W: Chris Spies

Favorite concert/show of the last year

W: Kid Rock @ BayFest

HM: Amos Lee @ Oysterella’s (92 Zew Free Concert)

Best non-local band who plays here regularly

W: The Molly Ringwalds

HM: Justin Townes Earle

Arts

Best Local Artist

W: Sarah Haas

HM: Wanda Sullivan

Best Art Gallery

W: Cathedral Square Gallery

HM: Skinny Gallery

Best Museum

W: Mobile Museum of Art

HM: Museum of Mobile

Best Theatre Group

W: Joe Jefferson Playhouse

HM: Mobile Theatre Guild

Cuisine

Best Locally Owned Restaurant

W: Osman’s

HM: La Pizzeria

Best New Restaurant – Fine Dining

W: The Bull

Best New Restaurant – Casual

W: Cannon Grill

HM: Ashland Midtown Pub

Best Chain Restaurant

W: Zea

HM: Bonefish Grill

Best Beach Restaurant

W: LuLu’s

HM: Cosmo’s

Best Chef

W: Chakli Diggs @ NoJa

HM: George Panayiotou

Best Atmosphere

W: La Pizzeria

HM: The Wine Loft

Most Underrated Restaurant

W: La Pizzeria

HM: Yen

Most innovative menu

W: True

HM: NoJa

HM: Dauphin Street Taqueria

Best Outdoor Dining

W: Oysterella’s

HM: Ed’s Seafood Shed

Best Sweet Tea

W: Spot of Tea

HM: Café 219

Best Biscuits

W: Hardee’s

HM: Tiny Diny

Best Service

W: Ruth’s Chris

HM: Café 219

Best Dessert

W: Ruth’s Chris

HM: NoJa

Best Wine Selection

W: Ruth’s Chris

HM: The Wine Loft

Best Wings

W: Buffalo Wild Wings

HM: Baumhower’s Wings

Best Chicken Fingers

W: Foosackly’s

HM: Guthrie’s

Best Ice Cream/Yogurt/Gelato

W: Cammie’s Old Dutch

HM: Serda’s

Worst Service

W: Krystal’s

HM: Subway

Best Lunch Spot

W: Café 219

HM: Spot of Tea

Best Ice

W: Foosackly’s

HM: Heroe’s

Best Market

W: The Fresh Market

HM: Market @ the Square

Best Wine Shop

W: Taste

HM: Red or White

Best Gumbo

W: Wintzell’s

HM: Original Oyster House

Best Po-boy

W: Boiling Pot

HM: French Market Cafe

Best sushi

W: Liquid

HM: Samurai J

Best Bakery

W: Pollman’s

HM: Buttercream Dreams

Best Hamburger

W: Butch Cassidy’s

HM: Callaghan’s

Best Steak

W: Ruth’s Chris

HM: Osman’s

Best Seafood

W: Felix’s

HM: Original Oyster House

Best Brunch

W: Callaghan’s

HM: Café 615

Best Ethnic Food

W: Jerusalem Café

HM: Yen

HM: Purple Cafe

Best Mexican Restaurant

W: Dauphin Street Taqueria

HM: La Cocina

Best Margarita

W: Aztecas

HM: Dauphin Street Taqueria

Best Italian Restaurant

W: La Pizzeria

HM: Via Emilia

Best Pizza

W: Mellow Mushroom

HM: La Pizzeria

Best Coffeehouse

W: Serda’s

HM: Carpe Diem

HM: Satori

Best Barbecue

W: Moe’s Original BBQ

HM: Saucy Q

Best Drunk Food

W: Waffle House

HM: Krystal’s

Best Hangover Food

W: Callaghan’s

HM: Foosackly’s

Best Bloody Mary

W: Café 615

HM: T.P. Crockmier’s

Media

Radio

Favorite Radio Station

W: WZEW

HM: WABB

Best Radio Morning Show or DJ

W: Sean and Wayne FM 106.5

HM: Uncle Henry

Best Local DJ

W: Catt Sirten @ WZEW

HM: Sean Sullivan @ FM 106.5

DJ whose voice leads you to believe you may want to see him naked

W: Q-Tip @ WABB

HM: Mark the Shark @ TK101

DJ whose voice you leads you to believe you may want to see her naked

W: Candy @ TK 101

HM: Emily Hayes @ WZEW

Best Talk Radio host

W: Uncle Henry

HM: Sean And Wayne

Television

Best Local Evening Newscast

W: FOX 10

HM: WKRG

Best Local Morning Newscast

W: WPMI

HM: WALA

Best Anchor

W: Mel Showers @WKRG

HM: Bob Grip @ Fox 10

Best Meteorologist

W: John Edd Thompson @ FOX 10 (retired)

HM: Alan Sealls @ WKRG

Best investigative reporter

W: Jenna Susko @ WPMI

HM: Tiffany Craig @ WKRG

Best sports coverage

W: Randy Patrick and WKRG

HM: Fox 10

Sexiest local news person (male)

W: Jason Smith @ Fox 10

HM: Mel Showers @ WKRG

Sexiest local news person (female)

W: Lenise Ligon @ FOX 10

HM: Jenna Susko @ WPMI

Biggest TV news story/feature

W: John Edd’s retirement

HM: Herman Thomas

Print

Favorite Lagniappe section

W: Cuisine

HM: Commentary

Favorite Lagniappe column

W: Hidden Agenda by Ashley Toland-Trice

HM: Damn The Torpedoes by Rob Holbert

Favorite Lagniappe feature story

W: Herman Thomas series by Rob Holbert

HM: Colonel Dixie Murder by Kevin Lee

Favorite Lagniappe Cover

W: Judge Herman Thomas by Dan Anderson

HM: Last Year’s Nappie Cover – Best Hoo-ha Doctor Helen Rogers by Dan Anderson

Favorite Press-Register reporter

W: Mark Kent

HM: George Talbot

Favorite Press-Register columnist

W: George Talbot

HM: David Holloway

Politics

Best use for Barton Academy

W: Museum

HM: Art College

Hardest-working city councilperson (Mobile)

W: Reggie Copeland

HM: Gina Gregory

Hardest-working city councilperson (Eastern Shore)

W: Lonnie Mixon (Fairhope)

Issue you are most tired of hearing about? (Mobile) W: Tanker

HM: Gulf Coast Classic

HM: John Edd’s retirement

Issue you are most tired of hearing about? (Eastern Shore)

W: Taxes

Who will be our next Governor?

W: Artur Davis

HM: Bradley Byrne

HM: Charles Barkley

Davis Reacts to Winning a Nappie

“I appreciate the support from the readers of Lagniappe, one of Alabama’s best publications. I hope that Lagniappe continues to follow this governor’s campaign. I believe this election has the potential to change Alabama for good and I’m glad that Lagniappe will have a front row seat.”

– Artur Davis, Alabama’s next governor according to Lagniappe readers