Best Restaurants 2006

A readers’ poll reveals Wichita’s finest eateries.

People say our jobs here at the magazine must be fun. True, we have enviable positions! Counting ballots for our annual restaurant readers poll is surely a highlight. We love to know what’s on your mind, and also savor being the first to know.

Our readers hold on tight to their favorites. Once again, they voted YiaYia’s Eurobistro into the top spot in the Top 5. Comparing this year’s results with 2005, we see that newcomer Chester’s Chophouse along with Scotch & Sirloin, a local favorite since the 1960s, soared into the Top 5 overall category. Olive Tree, P.F. Chang’s and Chili’s made their way into the fifth slot.

Survey results put Granite City into the top spot for best new restaurant. Mort’s is gaining respect as the after-work scene and downtown place to be seen. Garozzo’s has become synonymous with Italian and Sumo by Nambara equals Japanese and sushi, while the overriding favorite for barbecue is Famous Dave’s.

Some of these selections may surprise you, others rank among Wichita’s long-time favorites. We present the results of the Top 5 on the opposite page, along with those restaurants’ rankings in other categories. The complete results in forty-three categories follow on pages 34 and 35. These results reflect the opinions of readers who responded to ballots found in the January/February issue. So if your favorite hangout didn’t make it to number one this year, look for next year’s ballot in the January/February 2007 issue. Then exercise your right to vote. It counts!

Top 5 Restaurants
(and how they ranked in other categories)

1. YiaYia’s Eurobistro
Special Occasion/Fine Dining, first place; Brunch, first place; Outdoor Dining, first place; Dessert, first place; Wine List, first place; Stylish Atmosphere, first place; Service, first place; Business Lunch, first-place tie; Pre-Music Theatre Hot Spot, second place; Romantic, second place; Bar Menu, third place

2. Cibola
Romantic, first place; Seafood, first place; Outdoor Dining, second place; Dessert, second place; Wine List, second place; Special Occasion/Fine Dining, second place; Stylish Atmosphere, second place; Service, second place; Steak, second-place tie

3. Chester’s Chophouse
New Restaurant, second place; Steak, second-place tie; Stylish Atmosphere, third-place tie

4. Scotch & Sirloin
Wichita Institution, first place; Steak, first place; Business Lunch, first-place tie; Special Occasion/Fine Dining, third place; Stylish Atmosphere, third place tie

5. PF Chang’s (tie)
Chinese, first place; Outdoor Dining, third place; Vegetarian, third place tie

   Olive Tree Bistro (tie)   

   Chili’s (tie)

Final Results:

Best Restaurants
1. YiaYia’s Eurobistro
2. Cibola
3. Chester’s Chophouse
4. Scotch & Sirloin
5. PF Chang’s (tie)
    Olive Tree Bistro (tie)
    Chili’s (tie)

New Restaurant
1. Granite City
2. Chester’s Chophouse
3. Texas Roadhouse

Special Occasion/Fine Dining
1. YiaYia’s    
2. Cibola    
3. Scotch & Sirloin

Good Food & Value
1. Bella Luna Café
2. Shorty Small’s
3. Granite City

Wichita Institution
1. Scotch & Sirloin
2. Old Mill Tasty Shop
3. Artichoke

Outdoor Dining
1. YiaYia’s
2. Cibola
3. PF Chang’s

Place to Take the Kids
1. Red Robin    
2. Applebee’s    
3. BG Bolton’s

Dessert
1. Yia Yia’s    
2. Cibola
3. Redrock Canyon Grill

Wine List
1. Yia Yia’s    
2. Cibola
3. Garozzo’s

Beer Selection
1. Old Chicago
2. Fox & Hound
3. River City Brewery

Bar Menu
1. Old Chicago
2. Granite City
3. Yia Yia’s (tie)
    Fox & Hound (tie)

Music
1. Margarita’s Cantina
2. Lettuce
3. Texas Roadhouse

Romantic
1. Cibola
2. Yia Yia’s
3. Café Bel Ami

Service
1. Yia Yia’s
2. Cibola
3. Redrock Canyon
    Grill (tie)
    Chelsea’s (tie)

Stylish Atmosphere
1. Yia Yia’s
2. Cibola
3. Scotch & Sirloin (tie)
    Chester’s Chophouse (tie)

Bakery/Café
1. Panera
2. Bagatelle Bakery
3. La Galette

Breakfast
1. The Good Egg
2. Beacon
3. Livingston’s (tie)
    Jimmie’s Diner (tie)
    Village Inn (tie)

Brunch
1. Yia Yia’s
2. Legends at the
    Wichita Airport Hilton
3. The Good Egg

Barbecue
1. Famous Dave’s
2. Hog Wild
3. Two Brothers

Chinese
1. PF Chang’s
2. Kwan Court
3. Yen Ching

Coffeehouse
1. Starbucks Coffee    
2. Watermark Café
3. Riverside Perk

Comfort Food
1. Stroud’s
2. Jimmie’s Diner
3. Redrock Canyon Grill

Deli
1. Jason’s Deli    
2. Panera (tie)
    Cinnamon’s (tie)
    Artichoke (tie)

Greek
1. Bella Luna Café (tie)
    N&J Bakery & Café (tie)
2. Le Monde

Italian
1. Garozzo’s
2. Angelo’s
3. Sweet Basil

Japanese
1. Sumo by Nambara
2. Kobe Steak House
3. Tokyo Steakhouse

Lebanese/Middle Eastern
1. N&J Bakery & Café
2. Bella Luna Café
3. Nouvelle

Mexican
1. Felipe’s
2. On the Border
3. Abuelo’s

Vegetarian
1. Thai Tradition
2. Il Vicino
3. Village Inn (tie)
    PF Chang’s (tie)

Burgers
1. Red Robin
2. Ty’s Diner
3. Walt’s

French Fries
1. Red Robin
2. Freddy’s Frozen Custard
3. Ty’s Diner

Pizza
1. Il Vicino
2. Old Chicago
3. Knolla’s

Sandwiches
1. Old Mill Tasty Shop
2. Artichoke
3. Planet Sub (tie)
    Jason’s Deli (tie)

Seafood
1. Cibola
2. Red Lobster
3. Sumo by Nambara

Steak
1. Scotch & Sirloin
2. Cibola
3. Chester’s Chophouse

Sushi
1. Sumo by Nambara
2. Kwan Court

Business Lunch
1. Scotch & Sirloin (tie)
    Yia Yia’s (tie)
2. Chelseas Bar & Grill
after-work scene
1. Mort’s
2. Old Chicago
3. Fox & Hound

Day-Trip Restaurant
1. Carriage Crossing
2. Beaumont Hotel

Downtown
1. Mort’s (tie)
    Old Mill Tasty Shop (tie)
2. Uptown Bistro

Late-Night Dining
1. Old Chicago
2. Granite City
3. Fox & Hound

Neighborhood
1. Bella Luna Café
2. Jimmie’s Diner
3. Watermark Café

Pre-Music Theater Hot Spot
1. Larkspur
2. YiaYia’s
3. Southwinds at the Hyatt