We asked and you answered

You like your weathercasters. And lots of different restaurants.

And you feel strongly about your coffee shops (and not just for the coffee).

The results are in from the very unscientific News-Gazette poll of readers' favorite restaurants, stores and places to go. They include some perennial winners – Custard Cup, Papa Del's, Judy Fraser – but also some surprises.

Many of you spurned the chains, although Steak 'n Shake finished first in the "best burger" balloting, Talbot's was voted best women's clothing store (just ahead of another chain, Bergner's), and both Dairy Queen and Starbucks tallied respectable totals in those most essential categories, best ice cream and coffee.

You showed an eclectic taste in restaurants, with a different winner in each of nine categories.

And a casual little place, Billy Bob's in Ogden, managed to get mentioned in 10 categories, including best place to go without the kids – and best place to go with the kids. Was it a concerted effort to get out the vote?

"I hadn't even heard about it," manager Kellie McBride said of the poll. But she was happy to hear of the votes for Billy Bob's, which features steaks, fish, a full-service bar, Sunday brunch and video games for the kids.

"It's a pretty laid-back place," McBride said. "You don't have to get fancy around here for us."

The most competitive races came among coffee shops, festivals, workout gyms and best place to take a date, with just a few votes separating winners from the runners-up.

Of course, "If one has to have a PLACE to impress a date, they are in trouble," notes reader Diane Pritchard if Champaign.

The most telling category, perhaps, was the "best place to go without the kids." Answer: Anywhere.

Throughout this section, we will show you the winners, the also-rans and some of your comments:

Best coffee shop

Winner: Panera and Espresso Royale (tie)

Runner-up: Cafe Kopi, downtown Champaign

Of note: Only one vote separated our winners. Voters seem to like the food as much as the coffee.

Quote on Panera: "I like that you can walk in there, put a dollar and a quarter in the little jar and get your coffee. You don't have to wait in line, and they trust you. We go for the soup. I love the pastries, too. It's a neighborhood place, and it's consistently good. They're very efficient, very nice. It's just a nice place to go." – Kathy Alexis, Champaign

Best festival or fair

Winner: Arcola Broomcorn Festival and Taste of Champaign (tie)

Runner-up: Urbana Sweetcorn Festival

Of note: Another close one, with just two votes between the winners.

Quote on Broomcorn Fest: "The Arcola Broomcorn Festival is an event we rarely miss. It is an outstanding all-around good time with friendly people, outstanding vendors, delicious food and a parade that puts a smile on one's face for many a day ... We look forward to our trip to Arcola all year." – Mary June Sobota, Deerfield

Quote on Taste: "It's an old festival that the whole family can come to, and there's something for all ages." – Charlotte Brady, Seymour.

Best day trip

Winner: Allerton Park, Monticello

Runner-up: Chicago's various sights (Michigan Avenue, Art Institute, Navy Pier)

Of note: Allerton trounced the competition, with nearly twice as many votes as Chicago.

Quote: "I go out there to be alone and just enjoy walking with nature. You can be outdoors in a manicured environment and literally walk through the grass on your bare feet. And if you want to get off the beaten path you can go hiking as much as you want and see a lot of wildlife. It's kind of idyllic." – Adam Senalik, Champaign

Best burger

Winner: Steak 'n Shake

Runner-up: Courier Cafe, Urbana

Of note: Farren's, in downtown Champaign, finished a close third.

Quote: "They just kind of melt in your mouth. They're not greasy. They just have such a good taste." – Deanna Reinhart, Villa Grove.

Best pizza

Winner: Papa Del's, Champaign

Runner-up: Monical's

Of note: Readers nominated more than 30 restaurants from Champaign-Urbana and beyond.

Quote: "Papa Del's is different. When I first had the pizza, I just remember it being the best I had ever tasted. It was more like homemade." – Joni McCowan, Sidney

Best international food

Winner: Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant

Runner-up: World Harvest Gourmet and International Foods, Champaign

Of note: Siam Terrace in Urbana finished close behind. Mexican restaurants as a group pulled in the most votes, followed by Thai and Chinese.

Best fine dining

Winner: Timpone's, Urbana

Runner-up: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, Champaign

Of note: Milo's in Urbana was a close third. Friday's got one vote.

Quote: "I chose Timpone's because it consistently has excellent food. I eat dinners there with my husband, and lunches there with professional colleagues, and have even been there for a private party. The food has always been excellent." – Andrea Beller, Champaign

Best restaurant

Winner: The Ribeye, Champaign

Runner-up: Possum Trot, Oakwood

Of note: Voters were all over the map, from Home Town Buffet to Jim Gould.

Quote: "We like to go there for special occasions. It's just always good food, and we love their salad bar. It's always fresh, and very tasty." – Linda VanRoosendaal, Champaign.

Best restaurant in a county you don't live in

Winner: Beef House, Covington, Ind.

Runner-up: Bayern Stube, Gibson City

Of note: Beef House won by 3-1 margin.

Quote: "We go there for special occasions. Of course we love the rolls. The salad bar is fantastic. The beef is always good. I've never had anything that wasn't good." – Lois Gohlson, Danville.

Best place to impress a date

Winner: Jim Gould, Champaign

Runner-up: Kennedy's and Silver Creek, Urbana (tie)

Of note: Answers ranged from "the bank" to Engineering Open House and the Rare Book Room at the UI Library.

Quote: "No matter what the occasion, Jim Gould's is a great place to go. The food is absolutely some of the best in town. You get an amazing serving for the price you pay and it is always presented in a beautiful manner. The staff is extremely friendly and do their best to make sure you have a great evening. Sometimes, on the weekends, it's nice to finish up dinner by listening to the music in the bar." – Stacy Swisher, Tolono

Best place to eat at 3 a.m.

Winner: Merry Ann's Diner, Champaign

Runner-up: Steak 'n Shake

Of note: Merry Ann's trounced the competition, with Steak 'n Shake and "home" the only others to get double figures.

Quote: "I do home and hospice care, and I get a patient occasionally who will want something out of the ordinary. At 3 a.m., that's about the only place that's open. I know I can get something fresh. I know I can get exactly what they want. The service is always incredible, especially at 3 in the morning!" – Carla Keeler, nurse, Tolono.

Best bookstore

Winner: Pages for All Ages, Savoy

Runner-up: Border's and Barnes and Noble (tie)

Of note: Pages was the runaway winner.

Quote: "I do a lot of shopping there. I love to patronize a local business. I think what they have is wonderful, and the people go out of their way to be helpful. They have fabulous variety. If they don't have something, they will find it for you. They're most knowledgeable, especially about children's books. ... I can't walk out of there without buying something." – Paulette Graziano, Champaign

Best gym

Winner: Mettler Center (by a nose)

Runners-up: Gold's Gym and Fitness Center (tie)

Of note: Cardinal Fitness was just one vote behind in fourth. "The great outdoors" also received a vote.

Best famous former resident

Winner: Alison Krauss, 20-time Grammy winner

Runner-up: Roger Ebert, film critic and founder of his "Overlooked Film Festival"

Of note: Olympic speedskater Bonnie Blair and actor Dick Van Dyke tied for third. HAL, the computer from "2001" also got a vote.

Quote on Krauss: "I think she represents herself well as a musical artist. She's not full of herself. She's not a spoiled celebrity. She seems like a real genuine person. I think that's what her appeal is." – Mike Balogh, Champaign

Best place to go without the kids

Winner: Anywhere

Runner-up: Savoy 16

Of note: Combined, various incarnations of "movies," "drive-in" and specific theaters would win this category.

Quote: "Everywhere we go, we always go with the kids. Whenever you get to go anywhere by yourself it's kind of a treat. ... I actually think I'd just sit at home and read a book." – Cara Fitton, Paxton, who has three boys ages 5, 8 and 9.

Best place to go with the kids

Winner: Curtis Orchard, Savoy

Runners-up: Sholem Pool, Champaign, and Kamakura Japanese Restaurant, Champaign (tie)

Of note: Apparently, watching people chop food is just as much fun as going down a water slide. Also winning votes were IGA, church and the state penitentiary (wise guy).

Best place to hear live music

Winner: Assembly Hall

Runner-up: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Of note: Cowboy Monkey, High Dive and the Virginia Theater rounded out the top five. Churches won eight votes.

Best bar

Winner: The Esquire Lounge, Champaign

Runner-up: Boltini and Blind Pig, Champaign

Of note: Downtown Champaign rocks

Best women's clothing store

Winner: Talbot's, Champaign

Runner-up: Bergner's (a close second)

Of note: The highest-rated locally owned store was Circle's in Champaign.

Best men's clothing store

Winner: Kuhn's, Champaign

Runner-up: Kohl's

Of note: Delbert's in Arthur finished third.

Quote: "The prices are fair, and the store is clean. If it's solid and lasts a long time, I buy it. I look for quality." – Roger Miller, Champaign.

Best UI building

Winner: Illini Union

Runner-up: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Of note: Memorial Stadium, now undergoing a $116 million renovation, ranked third.

Best TV personality

Winner: Judy Fraser, WCIA

Runner-up: Robert Reese, WCIA

Of note: Former WCIA anchor Jerry Slabe, who left hasn't been on the air here since 2000, received seven votes. Mr. Roberts and Keith Page, both deceased, each received one, as did Bob Barker.

Quote: "You hear her, you see her, and you feel like you know her." – Mary Howell, Champaign.

Best place to play golf

Winner: Stone Creek, Urbana

Runner-up: University of Illinois courses (Orange and Blue)

Of note: Blue Needles, Catlin, finished one vote back in third, followed by miniature golf courses.

Best place to camp

Winner: Turkey Run, Indinana

Runner-up: Lake Shelbyville (various sites)

Of note: The good ol' backyard ranked third.

Best picnic spot

Winner: Lake of the Woods, Mahomet

Runner-up: Meadowbrook Park, Urbana

Of note: Allerton Park finished third, followed by Hessel Park and Kickapoo State Park.

Quote on Lake of the Woods: "It's a great place to fish. I used to go there for years and years and years every weekend, and it was really nice. The museum they have, and the trails, and the garden is so beautiful. It's just peaceful." – Diane Brown, Urbana.

Best local radio personality

Winner: Stevie Jay, WDWS

Runner-up: "Mike in the Morning" Haile, WHMS

Of note: Jim Turpin of WDWS ranked third.

Best local attraction

Winner: Crystal Lake Park, Urbana

Runner-up: Rockome Gardens, Arthur

Of note: Illini sports and the UI campus would win this category combined.

Quote: "You're kidding, right?" one reader wrote.

Best local artist

Winner: Larry Kanfer, photographer

Runner-up: Charlotte Brady, painter

Of note: Kanfer won in a landslide.

Quote: "I moved here from the Chicago suburban area, and I have to admit I thought the prairie lacked a lot. Slowly I'd look at those Kanfer pictures, and I'd say, 'Yeah.' It sort of led me to seeing the beauty of the prairie." – Dorothy Neumann, Urbana

Best ice cream

Winner: Jarling's Custard Cup, Champaign

Runner-up: Sidney Dairy Barn

Of note: The Dairy Barn gave Jarling's a run for its money this year but still lost by more than 2-1. Paxton partisans made a push for Dad's Frozen Custard, with one voter entering it in no less than eight categories, including "best picnic spot" and "best day trip."

Quote: "They have the most amazing ice cream. Being a chocoholic, I can get chocolate custard and put cold fudge on top of it, and pralines, and it's just heaven in a cup. And my dog really likes it, too." – Christy Johnson, Champaign

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