An Excruciatingly Opinionated Guide to the Connecticut Shoreline

Winners of the 2012 Best of the Shoreline Readers Poll

Published: 06/29/2012 by Erica

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I absolutely love the Annual Reader’s Poll. After doling out my two cents all year long, it’s great to find out what you think AND I always discover some new “bests” to check out. Most fun of all is reading the answers to “anything we’ve forgotten”. Beach Donuts (Clinton) got so many votes it warrants its own category. Apparently Jessica Berthiaume is the best Shoreline psychic and East Haven High School has the best marching band. I omitted best indie bookstore, because there are only two left (I think), and I LOVE them both (as do you): R.J. Julia (Madison) and Breakwater Books (Guilford). Lots of you are fans of Atlantic Seafood and Coffee’s Country Market (me, too!). Here are the winners. Congrats to all!


Best Restaurant:
1) River Tavern, Chester
2) Liv's Oyster Bar, Old Saybrook
3) Cafe Routier, Old Saybrook
 
Best Massage:
2) Vitality, Old Lyme
3) Rituals, Guilford
 
Best Hair Salon:
1)  Timothy Pamment Salon, Madison
2)  Essence, Old Saybrook
3)  Echo, Guilford
 
Day Spa:
1) Spa of Essex 
2) Rituals Spa, Guilford 
3) Vitality Spa, Old Lyme 
 
Mani/Pedi:
1) Oasis, Madison
2) Hands Down, Clinton
3) Cozy Nails, Old Saybrook
 
Med Spa:
1) Fuzion, Branford 
2) YOLO, Guilford 
3) Rituals Spa, Guilford 
 
Facials:
1) Spa of Essex
2) Rituals Spa, Guilford 
3) Essence, Old Saybrook
 
Take Out:
1) Pasta Vita, Old Saybrook 
2) Zhang's, Old Saybrook
3) Bradley & Wall, Madison 
 
Outdoor Dining:
1) Bill's Seafood, Westbrook
2) Blue Oar, Haddam  
3) The Place, Guilford 
 
Pizza:
1) Da Vinci's 
2) Bufalina, Guilford 
3) Pizzaworks, Old Saybrook 
 
Ethnic Food:
1) Som Siam, Guilford & Old Saybrook
2) Darbar, Branford 
3) Hanami, Clinton 
 
Bread/Bakery:
1) 4 & 20 Blackbirds, Guilford
2) Howard's Bread, Farmer's Markets and Fromage   
3) Tied: Vanderbrooke's, Old Saybrook and  Simon's, Chester
 
Family Dining:
1) Lenny & Joe's, Madison
2) Chip's Pub, Clinton
3) Pizzaworks, Old Saybrook 
 
Cafe:
1) Paperback Cafe, Old Saybrook
2) Perk on Church, Guilford 
3) Ashlawn Farm, Lyme
 
Ice Cream:
1) Ashley's
2) Old Lyme Ice Cream Shoppe
3) Main Street Sweet Shoppe, Deep River
 
Breakfast/Brunch:
1) Christy's, Westbrook
2) Hidden Kitchen, Guilford
3) Whistle Stop, Deep River
 
Caterer:
1) Cloud Nine, Old Saybrook
2) Coffee's Country Market, Old Lyme
3) Pasta Vita, Old Saybrook
 
Cocktails:
1) River Tavern, Chester
2) Cafe Routier, Westbrook
3) The Griswold Inn Wine Bar, Essex
 
Fitness:
1) Shoreline Health and Fitness, Old Saybrook and Clinton
2) Squared Circle, Deep River
3) Inshape, Branford
 
Specialized Gym:
1) Squared Circle, Deep River
2) Shoreline Health and Fitness
3) Athena's Fitness Synergy
 
Pilates:
1) Essex Pilates & Yoga
2) Pilates for Life, Essex
3) Athena's Fitness Synergy, Guilford
 
Personal Trainer:
1) Danielle Graham, Synergy Health and Fitness 
2) Kati Papooshka, Shoreline Health and Fitness 
3) Athena Thompson, Athena's Fitness Synergy
 
Women's Clothing:
1) Ella Where She Shops, Guiilford
2) Flutterby, Guilford
3) Third place tie: Swish (Guilford and Branford) and Azul (Old Saybrook)
 
Men's Clothing:
1) Anchor & Compass, Deep River
2) J. Alden Clothiers, Essex
3) Flutterby, Guilford
 
Outdoor Outfitter/Sporting:
1) Trailblazer, Branford
2) Soundrunner, Old Saybrook and Branford
3) Guilford Sports 
 
Antiques:
1) Treasures, Old Lyme
2) Gather, Ivoryton
3) Maximus Antiques, Old Saybrook
 
Vintage/Consignment:
1) First place tie: Tova's, Old Saybrook and Peonies, Centerbrook
2) Cinderella's Attic, Guilford
3) Fantasia, Old Saybrook
 
Jewelry:
1) BSK Design, Guilford
2) Deep River Design
3) Taken for Granite, Stony Creek
 
 
Gift:
1) Bowerbird, Old Lyme
2) Flutterby, Guilford
3) Mix Design Store, Guilford
 
Furniture:
1) Saybrook Country Barn, Old Saybrook
2) Venetucci Home, Westbrook
3) Madison Furniture Barn
 
Lingerie:
1) Lulu's, Guilford
2) Beneath the Gown, Clinton
3) Fripperies, Mystic
 
Shoes:
1) Trudy's European Shoes, Guilford
2) Clinton Bootery, Clinton
3) Shoetique, Branford
 
Hardware Store:
1) Page Hardware & Appliance Co., Guilford
2) Essex Hardware
3) Laysville Hadware, Old Lyme
 
Florist:
1) Ashleigh's Garden, Essex
2) Madison Flower Shop, Madison
3) White House Florist & Greenhouse, Guilford
 
Cheese:
1) Fromage Fine Foods, Old Saybrook
2) The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook, Centerbrook
3) Foxglove and Madison Cheese, Madison
 
Wine:
1) Coastal Liquors, Branford
2) Frank's Package Store, Guilford
3) Shoreline Discount Liquors, Deep River
 
Gallery:
1) Greene Art Gallery, Guilford
2. BSK Design, Guilford
3) The Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme
 
Movie Theater:
 
Live Theater:
1) The Kate, Old Saybrook 
2) Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam
 
 
Kid's Store:
1) Red Balloon, Essex
2) Tied for second:  Deep River Toy Company and Jordie's Toy Store
3) Just Hatched, Guilford
 
Kid's Parties:
1) Stay and Play, LLC, Old Sabyrook
2) Bounce U, North Branford 
3) Ray of Light Farm, East Haddam
 
Seamstress/Alterations:
1) Lucy's Tailors, Branford
2) Angie Lu, Guilford
3) Ideal Cleaners, Essex
 
Dog Groomer:
1) A Hair of the Dog, Guilford
2) Tied for second: Dogs to Dragons and Pet's Choice
 
Furniture Refinisher: 
3) Furniture Doctor